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Re: effexor withdrawal IS FINE » bikermiker

Posted by melley on June 25, 2003, at 12:43:22

In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal IS FINE, posted by bikermiker on June 25, 2003, at 10:58:46

> Effexor withdrawal may be going better for you because you never went to a high dose (just 75mg), only stayed on it for a few months and tapered very gradually. I'd like to recount my own experience going (right now) through it. First, some background: I am in excellent health,workout regularly and vigorously, have never done any drugs or had any addictions. I started taking Effexor about two years ago as a result of serious depression and suicidal thoughts that stemmed from the breakout of my marriage. I also started therapy at the same time. The effexor worked very well for me in terms of getting my life back and letting me do the therapy work I needed to do. My doctor worked me up to 225 mg/day of Effexor XR. While I was using, I had manageable side effects (some sexual dysfunction which was alleviated by taking Wellbutrin at the same time). After I left for a trip leaving my meds at home (bad move), and experiencing horrible withdrawal, I decided that I did not need this thing anymore and asked my doctor to get me off of it. At the time I was at 150mg. He tapered me down to 112mg, then 75, 37.5, then 37.5 every third day, all of this over the course of 5 weeks. During the last two weeks, I was taking a low dose of Prozac. I have been now totally drug free for a little over a week. I have a hard time staying awake and sleep like a log. I did not experience the vivid dreams, anxiety and mood swings that accompanied my previous (forced) withdrawal from the drug, but I have had brain shivers (not as bad or as frequent), irritability, diarrhea, nausea (mild), occasional headaches and itching. The most disabling side effect for me is the constant tiredness. I take naps during the day, and that helps a bit. In general I would say my withdrawal symptoms are relatively mild, but I am not functioning at anywhere near 100%.

I would agree with you as to the higher amount. I took my last effexor a week ago yesterday...down from 225mg. My dr did the every two weeks reducing the amount. It hasn't been too, too bad; nothing I couldn't tolerate. I am now on 300mg of wellbutrin. I have been having some of the same symptoms you had, and am relieved to hear it might just be the getting the effexor out of my system. mm


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