Posted by KaraS on August 4, 2004, at 16:08:03
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal survey, posted by Trying on August 4, 2004, at 12:48:37
I don't know if you've read any of my posts on this yet but I'm also in the process of withdrawing from Effexor. The key is to go VERY SLOWLY once you get to the 37.5 mg. level. I didn't have much trouble going from 75 mg. to 37.5 but you really need to go especially slowly once you're on the last leg of the trip. I am now cutting back by quarters of a pill and then staying at each level for about 3-4 weeks. I'm probably too cautious here but I have had minimal problems so far.
The other key is that there are other things that can help you. Prozac is known to be the best of the lot. It takes over giving your neurons what they're looking for but it has a very long half-life so that it very slowly leaves your body and you don't get the withdrawal symptoms. Then when you stop the Prozac, no problemo. (You only take that when you're on a low dose of Effexor so as not to produce serotonin syndrome.)
Other things that people on this board have said helped them are Ginkgo, Benadryl, Celexa and St. John's Wort. Again you'd only want to take the Celexa or SJW when you're on a small amount of Effexor. I take one capsule of SJW at night for a night or two when I'm decreasing dosage (once I was at the 37.5 mg. level and less) I think it has helped.
Good luck. (Don't you wish your pdoc had warned you about the withdrawal?)
Kara
poster:KaraS
thread:371721
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040730/msgs/374088.html