Posted by Jiggitykid on September 1, 2004, at 6:30:57
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal symptoms!, posted by Anandia on August 31, 2004, at 23:16:57
You are describing what I experienced, too. Thankfully, I found this board and discovered that I wasn't completely crazy ;-). Most doctors don't seem to know (and some don't believe) that there is significant physical withdrawal from effexor, no matter the dosage level. I quit cold-turkey at 250 mg. I was "fit to be tied" for two weeks, and not normal for another month. It took a while to get completely out of my system. That was back before Thanksgiving '03. I am "normal" now. I was still having troubles at Christmas, but nothing near what I was dealing with for the first 2 weeks to a month after cessation.
The drug company MUST be held responsible for this. They are ruining lives with this. I know, I know - there are those among us who say that effexor has saved their lives. My caution is that it will NOT last, and quitting the drug is inevitable. I urge them to come back here for support during their withdrawal - they won't get "I told you so," from us, because we have all been there.
Hang in there - take care driving at night. If you have started having visual problems, they might clear up after a while. The "zaps" will go away, but even now, nine months after quitting effexor, I get them in my sleep. I wake up, "zapping," and I never, ever did that before.
Take care of yourself. If you think that there might be a heart-related problem as well, then by all means, see a cardiologist to rule out any suspicions. It does get better!!
> I've been trying to describe to my doctors the weird sensation I have been experiencing since going off of Effexor abruptly a few weeks ago. It's like my arrythmia, only it "pulsates" up my neck into my face/cheeks and simultaneously down my arms to the palms of my hands. The OB who gave me the samples said it wasn't due to withdrawal and that I should see my cardiologist. I was doing some research tonight and saw a list of withdrawal symptoms that included: sensory disturbances (including shock-like electrical sensations)!!! That is what I've been trying to describe! I've also been seriously fatigued, major headaches, anxious and short-tempered, night sweats, nightmares or just bizarre dreams, and gastrologic nastiness (won't go into any more detail there :P). This drug is strange, I've never had withdrawal symptoms like this from ANYTHING I've ever taken. I have also been having strong suicidal ideation but haven't mentioned it to anyone for a variety of reasons, the least of which is because I haven't got health insurance at the moment. The doc who gave me the Effexor (Oh, I was on 75mg XR) gave it to me free - a bunch of samples. I couldn't afford the $120 price tag for the prescription he wrote for me.
poster:Jiggitykid
thread:12459
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040830/msgs/385148.html