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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Beastress on March 3, 2003, at 1:26:24
Hi all,
I am a long-time reader that finally had to ask...I was on Effexor for less than a year before the side-effects became too many and too severe to continue. I am pretty medication-sensitive---I found out the hard way. I tapered VERY slowly (4 months to taper off 75 mg.) During the last couple of weeks of the taper I noticed knots in my neck and back and a recurrence of TMJ that I hadn't had since I was 13 (I'm almost forty).It has been 7 months since my last dose of Effexor and I'm in constant muscle pain, I tire very rapidly, have lost a great deal of muscle strength, my memory is shot and I notice something I have seen others mention here called "brain fog." With the exception of the TMJ, these are all new things for me and things that I have found to be most commonly associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and/or Fibromyalgia. Accupuncture has helped with the muscle knots, but they never go entirely away, they just feel somewhat better or somewhat worse. I was hoping that these symptoms would eventually go away as my CNS readjusted back to its pre-effexor state but I'm starting to worry that I'm just stuck in this state permanently.
Is it possible that CFS/FM resides in the body for years before it manifests? Can SSRIs/atypicals create a sort of neuro or immune "short circuit" that makes it active? Most importantly, is there a more effective way to deal with the pain and fatigue? I tried 200mg of SAM-e with a noticeable improvement for a while, but with added brain fog. When I bumped up the dose to 400mg, I immediately broke out and became almost terminally cranky. The increase didn't help the pain or fatigue so I went back down to 200mg, and it stopped working altogether. I'm considering Enada NADH (?). Any suggestions, comments, anecdotes and even non-sequiturs are deeply appreciated.
Posted by linkadge on March 3, 2003, at 7:23:14
In reply to Can SSRI/atypical cessation cause CFS/FM-like, posted by Beastress on March 3, 2003, at 1:26:24
Theres a good possiblity effexor can.
Effexor raised norepinephrine which is an
energising neurotransmitter. If upon
withdrawl you are now lacking in this
chamical, you will feel slowed down, mentally
and physically.As far as pain goes, effexor also has
some interactions with endorphins.
Anyhow, it is used to treat certain pain
disorders. Upon withdrawl you may have an
increased sensitivity to pain - I know I did
upon Celexa withdrawl.You could try taking folic acid suplements
(about 1.2 mg / day - spread out) I heard many
people say this vitamin helps with many of the
symptoms of withdrawl.If any of these symptoms last beyond a month
after final dose - you may have need to resume
a small dose of effexor and retaper that.
Or try some natural alternatives. Folic acid, fish oil, st. Johns wort, SamE etc.Good luck
ps. talk to your doctor if it
continues.
Posted by jrbecker on March 3, 2003, at 10:45:38
In reply to Re: Can SSRI/atypical cessation cause CFS/FM-like, posted by linkadge on March 3, 2003, at 7:23:14
I was on Effexor for 2 and a half years and after getting off of it, I felt something of the same sort of long-term withdrawal you speak of.
NADH worked for me, although there can a bit a bit of tolerance that can build up as well.
Or a low dose (2.5-5mg) of DHEA or pregnenolone in the morning can probably help your CFS symptoms a little too. You won't see any major changes until a couple of weeks down the line though since the effects are subtle at first but indeed very powerful in culmination, so give it time. You might want to even try a dose of 10-20mg for a week or so to speed up the onset, but then you should drop back down again. If you have high anxiety, I would recommend the DHEA over the pregnenolone, but at these dosages you shouldn't have any adverse side effects. You should expect to get a little more focus, energy, increased memory, possible increase in sexual desire, and maybe a slight mood lift. It works wonders for me, even more effective than Testosterone treatment was for me.
If you really miss the NARI side of the Effexor, there's always Strattera, which you can add in at whatever dosage you feel is necessary to givve you back the NE modulation again. Of course, this also comes with some of the side effects that Effexor did. But every drug is different, so maybe it's worth a shot.
Good luck, JRB
Posted by Beastress on March 3, 2003, at 20:35:17
In reply to Re: Can SSRI/atypical cessation cause CFS/FM-like, posted by jrbecker on March 3, 2003, at 10:45:38
Its good to know that there are more options.
Posted by KrissyP on March 3, 2003, at 22:45:06
In reply to Can SSRI/atypical cessation cause CFS/FM-like, posted by Beastress on March 3, 2003, at 1:26:24
WOW you describe exactly what I went through when I stopped Effexor. I am very sensitive to many medications which makes it harder to find the "right" one for each person. *When the time of about 2 months when coming off Effexor hit, I was getting sore knees, knots in my neck and back, and I felt like I had FMS- the muscle pain was unbearable, for someone who has been active all her life, except for the past few years. My depression and mood swings were getting worse so I recently went back on Effexor. I know for some, Effexor is just to hard on side effects for them. It's a shame because I hear others say how well it works for them, but stop due to a few side effects. I'm not a doctor, have you tried chiropractic or get massages-they help me a lot. I wish I could help you more but wanted to share my experience.
Good Luck
Kristen
> Hi all,
> I am a long-time reader that finally had to ask...I was on Effexor for less than a year before the side-effects became too many and too severe to continue. I am pretty medication-sensitive---I found out the hard way. I tapered VERY slowly (4 months to taper off 75 mg.) During the last couple of weeks of the taper I noticed knots in my neck and back and a recurrence of TMJ that I hadn't had since I was 13 (I'm almost forty).
>
> It has been 7 months since my last dose of Effexor and I'm in constant muscle pain, I tire very rapidly, have lost a great deal of muscle strength, my memory is shot and I notice something I have seen others mention here called "brain fog." With the exception of the TMJ, these are all new things for me and things that I have found to be most commonly associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and/or Fibromyalgia. Accupuncture has helped with the muscle knots, but they never go entirely away, they just feel somewhat better or somewhat worse. I was hoping that these symptoms would eventually go away as my CNS readjusted back to its pre-effexor state but I'm starting to worry that I'm just stuck in this state permanently.
>
> Is it possible that CFS/FM resides in the body for years before it manifests? Can SSRIs/atypicals create a sort of neuro or immune "short circuit" that makes it active? Most importantly, is there a more effective way to deal with the pain and fatigue? I tried 200mg of SAM-e with a noticeable improvement for a while, but with added brain fog. When I bumped up the dose to 400mg, I immediately broke out and became almost terminally cranky. The increase didn't help the pain or fatigue so I went back down to 200mg, and it stopped working altogether. I'm considering Enada NADH (?). Any suggestions, comments, anecdotes and even non-sequiturs are deeply appreciated.
>
Posted by KrissyP on March 3, 2003, at 22:50:55
In reply to Re: Can SSRI/atypical cessation cause CFS/FM-like, posted by linkadge on March 3, 2003, at 7:23:14
Thanks so much for sharing this. I didn't know this-->"as far as pain goes, Effexor also has some interactions with endorphins". Is that why my IBS, migraines, and joint pain are decreased when I'm on Effexor? Overall, I don't feel well when I'm not taking Effexor-that's why I decided to go back on it a week ago.
What do you think? You make a great point here thanks so much.
Kristen:-)
-------------------------------------------------
Anyhow, it is used to treat certain pain
disorders. > Theres a good possiblity effexor can.
Effexor raised norepinephrine which is an
energising neurotransmitter. If upon
withdrawl you are now lacking in this
chamical, you will feel slowed down, mentally
and physically. As far as pain goes, effexor also has some interactions with endorphins.
Anyhow, it is used to treat certain pain
disorders. Upon withdrawl you may have an
increased sensitivity to pain - I know I did
upon Celexa withdrawl.
You could try taking folic acid suplements
(about 1.2 mg / day - spread out) I heard many
people say this vitamin helps with many of the
symptoms of withdrawl.
If any of these symptoms last beyond a month
after final dose - you may have need to resume
a small dose of effexor and retaper that.
Or try some natural alternatives. Folic acid, fish oil, st. Johns wort, SamE etc.
Good luck
ps. talk to your doctor if it
continues.
This is the end of the thread.
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