Posted by DissTired on March 17, 2003, at 18:32:46
In reply to ANYONE who has taken Effexor and since stopped..., posted by Andy Drinkard on March 14, 2003, at 19:56:25
> Please! If you have taken Effexor XR for any extended period of time and then stopped (advised or unadvised), please answer the 9 questions below (even if you did not have any problems with the drug).
> -- One-word answers are preferred when possible...no long explanations are necessary.
> Any other comments are definitely welcome after the questions. THANK YOU.
>
> 1) How long did you take Effexor XR?
About four years
> 2) What was the highest dose taken?
150 for a few weeks, but 75 mgs for almost all that time.
> 2) Why did you stop the medication?
Side effects
> 3) Did you "taper off" or stop "cold turkey"?
Tapered
> 4) Did you experience withdrawal symptoms (Y/N)?
Y
> 5) If so, was "brain shivers" one of these symptoms (Y/N)?
Y
> 6) If applicable, what was the single most unpleasant withdrawal symptom?
Brain shivers
> 7) How long did the withdrawal symptoms last from the time of stopping?
Brain shivers one week, other symptoms (GI) four weeks.
> 8) If applicable, did you consult a medical professional about the withdrawal symptoms? What was his or her advise?
Yes consulted, no advice except that brain shivers were not dangerous, and surprised that I got them after tapering for a long time, with 25 mgs dose
> 9) Are the withdrawal symptoms enough to make you wish you had never started Effexor (Y/N)?
No
I got the side effects even after tapering all the wasy down to 25 mgs a day. For the first few days not only did I get brain shivers and bad stomach upset, but the depression was AWFUL. However, the depression got better after about a week. If I ever have to take this antidepressant again (it was very effective in many ways, but left me, foggy and unmotivated/apathetic) and I taper off, I will try doses every other day for a while.
poster:DissTired
thread:209176
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030314/msgs/210136.html