Posted by Mercedes on October 3, 2003, at 20:53:49
In reply to Re: For ANYONE who is SWEATING (also re quitting), posted by lioness on September 27, 2003, at 20:18:15
Hi Lioness, I posted here back in June. I come back to read sometimes. I read your note and found it interesting that you suffer from Tennitus. I too suffer from Tennitus, something new that developed this past July. It drives me crazy. It's constant. My neuro says it's incurable but didn't relate it to taking Effexor. I also developed severe migranes, which prior to effexor, didn't even have headaches. The sweating was tolerable but got to a point where I couldn't even be in the sun for fear of the migranes. I also have vision problems, having had my glasses changed 5 times in the last year. The killer was that my blood pressure also went very high. I now take blood pressure meds to add to the many other meds I take.
I am also withdrawing from Effexor because of the high blood pressure. I was at the 300mg level and actually felt that my depression/anxiety had lifted tremendously. But I never had any energy like I used to before. I swore on Effexor as having given me my life back, I laughed, smiled more and truly felt like a "happy" person finally after 7 yrs of depression. However I didn't know the drug was going to leave me with more health problems than when I began. I also had terrible problems concentrating, memory problems and being an accountant for 25 yrs, could not even add or subract simple numbers in my head. I guess I became a "happy" STUPID IDIOT.
I've decreased weekly from 300mgs during the past month and now I'm on 75mgs plus my pdoc put me on 25mgs of Paxil. I'm doing fine. I noticed the SE working in reverse as you said, titrating. At first I just had some shooting pings and pangs exiting my body especially my arms and face. But again, this only happened a few days and at the first two decreases. My headaches are not so frequent now. My vision seems to be clearing up a very little bit. I now have appts. with a ENT and a OPthamologist for my new ear & vision problems. I thought I was supposed to get better, now have more doctors than I can count on one hand.
But I'm interested to know how many other's have developed the ringing in the ears or tennitus and like me, just thought "it just happened". and just a little note here, if there is a law suit, I'm IN!
MercedesLioness wrote: September 27, 2003
I have experienced all of the awful withdrawal symptoms, from profuse sweating ( which is also common when titrating up on effexor) to the brain zaps with visual disturbance, and jumping muscles, to name a few. I felt an odd, dissociated feeling and was quick to anger, sensitive to light and sound...etc. When i finally called my doctor, he confirmed that this is typical effexor rebound or withdrawal symptoms. Because effexor has such a short half life, the rapid drop in seratonin levels causes these symptoms. Using a longer half life seratonin agent..prozac is supposed to be best for this...you can alleviate the withdrawal symptoms from the effexor and ease the process. I have taken 10 mg. of prozac for the past three days, and my symptoms seem to be getting better. I still suffer the headache, tinitus and incredible fatigue , but I no longer find myself in a pool of perspiration. Any doctor who says that these symptoms are all in their head has no business prescribing these meds. Effexor works well for many people. I know several people who also take this drug for chemo related maladies and i used it for cfids/fms. However, not every medicine is right for everyone. Some people have to try many different meds before finding what works best with their chemistry. I do know, that if i had known that I would have to go through this much discomfort and distress, I would have opted for a different medication altogether. Live and learn, i guess. Good luck to you all.
poster:Mercedes
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030928/msgs/265367.html