Posted by Althea8869 on February 4, 2004, at 16:13:30
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal, posted by Virginia NP on February 3, 2004, at 10:05:20
> I entered here to find a solution for myself as well as my patients. Thank you ALL for the education from the patient perspective. I feel so fortunate that my own withdrawal has been minor in comparison to so many. I have only experienced the sort of "migraine without pain" that several have described. I was on a 75mg XR maintenance dose for 4 years. My tapering began with a 75 mg capsule every other day for a week. I followed this with roughly 32.5 mg for a week. The symptoms were fairly mild and were experienced briefly the morning I was due for a dose. MOST helpful has been the 20mg of fluoxetine (Prozac) for 2-3 days until symptoms abate. I found this tip from another clinician posting on this site. I needed just one dose, however & feel GREAT now.
> Just wanted to post a positive----Good luck to everyone finding resolution to your withdrawal.
>
> > Well today was a bit better than yesterday. I managed to complete a project i've had sitting for many weeks, I even helped my husband make a closet today, but about mid afternoon I seem to go downhill, but I have to admit I feel better than I did a week ago. Is this feeling of sleepyness part of the withdrawl, and hot and cold flashes?
> >
> >
> > > Norma, it does get better. I'm now at around 2 weeks off Effexor (from a careful taper-down schedule) and except for a few twinges, I'm no longer sick or unable to function. However, my emotions are fluctuating wildly and I feel frustrated that I can't get a grip. Rebound depression is serious.
> > >
> > > Hang in there. Best wishes.
> > > KDi in TX
> >
>
>The prozac trick as well as DHA/Inositol/Klonopin trick really seems to work very well for a lot of people, the prozac being perhaps the most helpful. When I quit effexor (i was at 300mgXR), I read as many posts as could possibly be found and then followed up with a family friend who is psychpharm professor at Harvard - he was the one who reccomended to me this method and he reccomends it to most of his patients who he is trying to get off effexor for obvious reasons. Bottom line, where this drug not as successful as it is for so many people, I suspect it would have to be pulled from the shelves because of the viscious, protracted withdrawl. Anyway, glad youre feeling better.
poster:Althea8869
thread:1016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040204/msgs/309415.html