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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by RWF on March 1, 2003, at 14:50:40
Today was the fourth day completely off of Effexor XR after the "weening" process.
On day one I felt barely anything but a little light-headedness towards the end of the evening.
On day two I was a little nauseous and began feeling dizzy when moving my head in any direction. I then began vomiting due to the dizziness. That evening I discovered what it was like to experience what you on this forum call "Brain Zaps". Not exactly a "Zap" as it was a tremor in my mind that would cause a blip in my vision. This originally scared me at first, but then it would fade and I would feel fine. I notified my Psychiatrist of this problem and he said by the weekend I should be fine. I asked him to raise my Lorazepam up to 1mg, and he declined my request and told me to keep taking the wellbutrin SR at night and the .5 milligram of Lorazepam once a day when needed.
On Day three, the "Zaps" became closer and would occur every time I would move my eyes in any direction. Everyone in my family thinks that I am lying about these feelings....dubbing me to be a "Hypochodriac", and telling me that "I should just get over it and deal with it." I began feeling a little agitated and my hands were beginning to tremor a little bit.
Day Four is here and my body and mind are now two separate machines functioning within the same skin. I am agitated to the point of considering suicide to stop myself from hurting anyone close to me if I happen to lose what is left of my self control. My mind is constantly being zapped and now I am feeling them throughout my arms and my gums. This is worse than anything that I have ever experienced.
I immediately contacted my Psychiatrist's office to have him paged and I was told to go to the emergency room at a local hospital. I am not about to go to a hospital in this condition and let them put me in a psych-ward where I can be talked to and treated like a three year old.
I simply declined and told his paging service that I was going back on the Effexor XR in an attempt to gain control of myself again.
I did and now almost 4 hours later the zaps have lessened a bit and I am less anxious...of course I took a whole milligram of Lorazepam anyway.
So I want to know exactly how am I supposed to trust the man who will give me Effexor XR at will because "it was not addicting"?
I came to him reluctantly for therapy and he pushed the stupid antidepressant drugs on me. I caved in and figured that he was somewhat a professional, but I should have taken note that all he does is "Practice medicine." The key word there being practice.
Now I am addicted to a drug for the first time in my life and I am having a hard time dealing with that. What is the difference if I became a crack head now? I am already an addict....right?
How can I just walk into a doctor's office one day and feel a little depressed...and come out 6 months later a drug addict?
These people are supposed to be helping with the problem, not adding to it.
So now I have to suffer without a sex drive and constantly be tired all the time, as a result of the Effexor XR use or I can become a homicidal maniac during withdrawal.
So tell me something....Why is it now unnacceptable to end my life? Won't that end the pain? Won't that stop the addiction since the Psychiatrist can't seem to do it anyway?
But what will they tell my son or my wife? How will that be explained to them? Will they tell them the truth and explain to them that I could no longer face the fact that I would have to be a drug addict and decided to end it all?
Will the medical industry be honest and take blame for pushing a dangerous mind altering drug upon people or will they cower and hide? I place all my money on the latter of the two?
So who do I trust now? Who can I trust? Not the doctor and not the drugs....maybe the only sure thing in life is death.
To all you people out there who suffer from depression...STAY AWAY FROM EFFEXOR XR!!! It will kill you one way or the other.
Trust me when I tell you that your life will be over the minute you take that drug. I know mine is.
Posted by SBOATRN on March 1, 2003, at 15:33:26
In reply to Effexor XR - Who am I to trust??, posted by RWF on March 1, 2003, at 14:50:40
I'm so sorry for all your problems. PLEASE get HELP.... however you can !!!! Not being here is a permament solution to a problem that IS treatable. I know it doesn't feel that way right now. It hard to be rational when you can't THINK and your pain is so great. The ones you love will never be able to make peace with a decision like the one you describe. I KNOW .... I was a person "left behind" when someone I loved decided that suicide was a solution. You have to realize your life is worth saving for you and all who care for you. PLEASE GET HELP !!!! QUICK!!!!
Posted by sl on March 1, 2003, at 19:40:17
In reply to Effexor XR - Who am I to trust??, posted by RWF on March 1, 2003, at 14:50:40
As much as you probably don't want to hear it, trust US!!!
The folks on this board have been through every medication nightmare known to man!!I was sick for two weeks when I went off EffexorXR, weaning or no weaning, it didn't matter.
I've since heard that the best way is to go one little dot at a time. Like, wean yourself as far back as you can without withdrawal symptoms. Then one day, open your capsule and take out one dot. The next day, take out two. The next day, take out three. ...and so on. Til there's no more. :) You could even go two days at each level if you want, if you feel like you'll get sick.
(I've actually heard of doubling it, but if you're reacting this bad, take it slow, better safe than sorry!)ALSO: I'd like to point out the diff between "addictive" and what you've got. Addictive means you have to take more and more to get the same affect. This is not an addiction. This is a dependence...you can get off it, and even if you didn't you'd never need MORE to get the same effect. And plus, the habit would never kill you. But it doesn't matter, cuz you can get off it. That's the other thing: This WILL go away. You just have to get over the hump...the first few days are the worst, from what I remember. Then the brain-sparks and body-twitches fade off some, and you're only a lil'bit dizzy, etc, and you can get on with your life (carefully).
As for your dumb family: If you are still going thru this and it's horrible, try this. Go out of the house. Go wander around for a while. Come back and tell them you went to the emergency room/urgent care center/whatever. Tell them the doctors said you have a nasty case of the stomach flu, and your'e supposed to have bed-rest and plenty of fluids. Or an inner ear infection works too (actually would fit your symptoms better but a little less likely and therefore a less-believable lie and plus they'd expect you to be taking antibiotics).
Hang in there, remember this too shall pass, the dumb drugs are messing with you, and once you get them out of your system your life will be something worth HAVING! :)sl
Posted by KrissyP on March 1, 2003, at 22:54:05
In reply to Effexor XR - Who am I to trust??, posted by RWF on March 1, 2003, at 14:50:40
I just started Effexor-XR again and I'm still kickin-it works for me
Posted by jay on March 2, 2003, at 3:32:26
In reply to Effexor XR - Who am I to trust??, posted by RWF on March 1, 2003, at 14:50:40
Well, as a former Effexor XR user, I think one of the difficulties is that there are hardly any ad's out there as good as this one, but the main problem is the side and withdrawl effects overshadow the complete benefits.I also imagine your 'rage' was caused by the Wellbutrin. I and many others experienced this on this drug, and I despise it, and will never go near it again. Of course no doctor EVER believes YOUR feelings from a drug! The worst side effect from the Effexor for me was the a) emotional numbing, like I didn't care about anything, or life, and lived in my room for 5 years on it. Seriously...it was that bad. b)it did increase irritability, not always as much as Welbutrin, but at times much as close enough in intensity.
I am now just on benzos, and we still have to wait and see if I can remain fine on these. I also found smaller doses of tricyclics to help, and they did not cause a) emotional numbing like SRI/SNRI's or b)rage, like SRI/SNRI's.
I think the truth is they have NOT developed good enough medications, and most doctors are unwilling and uncooperative in helping with a large unique combination of medications that can bring balance.
If you can, get a)benzos, and then if depression/anxiety is still quite bad, get b) a combination of medications. Read up on your meds, know what EVERY one is avaiable, and present the info to doc on what to try. If the doc say's "no", either use a few different docs to get your prescriptions, or if can't ditch the doc and search until find best one.
It's been a decade for me of suffering because doctors prescribe inadequate medications. You *deserve* and should *demand* the best, because life is too short for any less. Look out "for you", because doctors in the end, really don't care because they will still get their 100,000 grand a year no matter if you are dead or alive.
Your body - your right to put in it what you wish.
Please keep posting, as there are plenty of us dissapointed consumers who are tired of conservative doctors treating us like children, and giving out one medication as if to say "Here's a little..wooly teddy bear to make it all better."
Best,
Jay
Posted by RWF on March 2, 2003, at 8:08:43
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Who am I to trust..not most docs! » RWF, posted by jay on March 2, 2003, at 3:32:26
Jay,
Thank you for your post. It's really good to know that someone was able to get off of the Effexor and live to talk about it.
Can you please tell me how you did it, and how long it took?
I really think that this drug is ruining my life.
I too have felt the emotional numbing from the Effexor XR and it is ruining my marriage.
I am afraid that by the time I rid myself of the Effexor, my family will be gone.
I do take Ativan now, but not enough to keep me low key anymore and My doc won't increase the dosage because he said it is addicting....yet he still prescribes Effexor like it is candy?????
Once again thank you for your post! It really helped...they all helped.
Thanks again,
Rob
Posted by SBOATRN on March 2, 2003, at 10:21:56
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Who am I to trust...Thanks Jay., posted by RWF on March 2, 2003, at 8:08:43
You hang in there. You are supported and you can feel better. I have so benefited from the "kindness of strangers".... I pray alot and you will be in my prayers.
Posted by KrissyP on March 2, 2003, at 13:48:57
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Who am I to trust...Thanks Jay., posted by RWF on March 2, 2003, at 8:08:43
Hi Rob, I'm not Jay, but I hope this helps.......you say-"My doc won't increase the dosage of Ativan because he said it is addicting....yet he still prescribes Effexor like it is candy?????" Ativan is a benzo-and can be extremely addictive and one can build up tolerance. Effexor is an AD that is not so much addictive but one can build up tolerance and the withdrawals are hell. I hear you here.
hang in there and keep us posted,
Kristen-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jay,Thank you for your post. It's really good to know that someone was able to get off of the Effexor and live to talk about it.
Can you please tell me how you did it, and how long it took?
I really think that this drug is ruining my life.
I too have felt the emotional numbing from the Effexor XR and it is ruining my marriage.
I am afraid that by the time I rid myself of the Effexor, my family will be gone.
I do take Ativan now, but not enough to keep me low key anymore and My doc won't increase the dosage because he said it is addicting....yet he still prescribes Effexor like it is candy?????
Once again thank you for your post! It really helped...they all helped.Thanks again,
Rob
Posted by Katia on March 2, 2003, at 17:13:10
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Who am I to trust...Thanks Jay., posted by RWF on March 2, 2003, at 8:08:43
Hi Jay,
I actually have just finished with the horrible effects of the withdrawal from Effexor. It IS a nightmare and even more so when your friends and family don't support you, or try and support by just nodding, but not really getting it. It's a lonely lonely hell. just as depression is.
Taper, taper taper. I weened down to 37.5 for a week then stopped. All those electrical sensations - mind zaps were happening so much I could barely move and my heart was beating irregularly. I just had to take 37.5 on the third day off. Then I took 37.5 two days later and then nothing as my withdrawals were lessening and I could function. You just need to ween yourself down to the last piece until you feel you can tolerate it. You don't have to suffer so much by trying to ride it out. This is your support on this board,esp. when you can't get the empathy you need from the ones in your life. And i can somewhat understand how friends and family don't get this. Even when I read about the withdrawals of Eff. right when I started it, I had now feeling/idea what these people were talking about - mind zaps/shivers? So try and seek support where you CAN get it instead of seeking for it in places you can't and then everyone feels like they are falling short. anyway, I hope that helps.
Katia
> Jay,
>
> Thank you for your post. It's really good to know that someone was able to get off of the Effexor and live to talk about it.
>
> Can you please tell me how you did it, and how long it took?
>
> I really think that this drug is ruining my life.
>
> I too have felt the emotional numbing from the Effexor XR and it is ruining my marriage.
>
> I am afraid that by the time I rid myself of the Effexor, my family will be gone.
>
> I do take Ativan now, but not enough to keep me low key anymore and My doc won't increase the dosage because he said it is addicting....yet he still prescribes Effexor like it is candy?????
>
> Once again thank you for your post! It really helped...they all helped.
>
> Thanks again,
> Rob
Posted by KrissyP on March 2, 2003, at 18:00:45
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Who am I to trust...Thanks Jay. » RWF, posted by Katia on March 2, 2003, at 17:13:10
Katia-wow-thanks-you hit it on the head, when you said,"You don't have to suffer so much by trying to ride it out. This is your support on this board,esp. when you can't get the empathy you need from the ones in your life. And i can somewhat understand how friends and family don't get this." That is why I came to this board, posted, and stayed. It is wonderful! And thank YOU personally for providing me support here.
Take Care,
Kristen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------You don't have to suffer so much by trying to ride it out. This is your support on this board,esp. when you can't get the empathy you need from the ones in your life. And i can somewhat understand how friends and family don't get this. Even when I read about the withdrawals of Eff. right when I started it, I had now feeling/idea what these people were talking about - mind zaps/shivers? So try and seek support where you CAN get it instead of seeking for it in places you can't and then everyone feels like they are falling short. anyway, I hope that helps.
Katia
Posted by KrissyP on March 3, 2003, at 1:44:19
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Who am I to trust..not most docs! » RWF, posted by jay on March 2, 2003, at 3:32:26
AMEN to this---Look out "for you", because doctors in the end, really don't care because they will still get their 100,000 grand a year no matter if you are dead or alive." Example-I went to my psychiatrist Friday, she had to look in the PDR for the dosage of Lamictal in order for me to sign a consent agreement-but first I had to tell her how to spell it.
Language barrier? or Ignorance? grrrrr
Kristen
Well, as a former Effexor XR user, I think one of the difficulties is that there are hardly any ad's out there as good as this one, but the main problem is the side and withdrawl effects overshadow the complete benefits.
I also imagine your 'rage' was caused by the Wellbutrin. I and many others experienced this on this drug, and I despise it, and will never go near it again. Of course no doctor EVER believes YOUR feelings from a drug! The worst side effect from the Effexor for me was the a) emotional numbing, like I didn't care about anything, or life, and lived in my room for 5 years on it. Seriously...it was that bad. b)it did increase irritability, not always as much as Welbutrin, but at times much as close enough in intensity.
I am now just on benzos, and we still have to wait and see if I can remain fine on these. I also found smaller doses of tricyclics to help, and they did not cause a) emotional numbing like SRI/SNRI's or b)rage, like SRI/SNRI's.
I think the truth is they have NOT developed good enough medications, and most doctors are unwilling and uncooperative in helping with a large unique combination of medications that can bring balance.
If you can, get a)benzos, and then if depression/anxiety is still quite bad, get b) a combination of medications. Read up on your meds, know what EVERY one is avaiable, and present the info to doc on what to try. If the doc say's "no", either use a few different docs to get your prescriptions, or if can't ditch the doc and search until find best one.
It's been a decade for me of suffering because doctors prescribe inadequate medications. You *deserve* and should *demand* the best, because life is too short for any less. Look out "for you", because doctors in the end, really don't care because they will still get their 100,000 grand a year no matter if you are dead or alive.Your body - your right to put in it what you wish.
Please keep posting, as there are plenty of us dissapointed consumers who are tired of conservative doctors treating us like children, and giving out one medication as if to say "Here's a little..wooly teddy bear to make it all better."
Best,
Jay
Posted by Jack Smith on March 4, 2003, at 17:03:29
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Who am I to trust...Thanks Jay. » RWF, posted by Katia on March 2, 2003, at 17:13:10
Posted by Jack Smith on March 4, 2003, at 17:07:02
In reply to Effexor XR - Who am I to trust??, posted by RWF on March 1, 2003, at 14:50:40
Posted by Katia on March 4, 2003, at 17:46:39
In reply to How long were you on Effexor? (nm) » Katia, posted by Jack Smith on March 4, 2003, at 17:03:29
Posted by RWF on March 5, 2003, at 9:36:28
In reply to How high a dose were you on and for how long? (nm) » RWF, posted by Jack Smith on March 4, 2003, at 17:07:02
I started on 37.5 for two months and then upped it to 75mg for another two months. Now I am on 37.5mg again and trying to figure out how to stop it completely.
Posted by RWF on March 5, 2003, at 9:36:30
In reply to How high a dose were you on and for how long? (nm) » RWF, posted by Jack Smith on March 4, 2003, at 17:07:02
I started on 37.5 for two months and then upped it to 75mg for another two months. Now I am on 37.5mg again and trying to figure out how to stop it completely.
Posted by KrissyP on March 5, 2003, at 13:41:43
In reply to Re: How high a dose were you on and for how long?, posted by RWF on March 5, 2003, at 9:36:28
Hi, May I ask who this question was asked to? Just would like to keep up. I am also on Effexor. Just wondering?
Thanks, Kristen
I started on 37.5 for two months and then upped it to 75mg for another two months. Now I am on 37.5mg again and trying to figure out how to stop it completely.
Posted by DolphinK on August 4, 2003, at 22:29:42
In reply to Re: How high a dose were you on and for how long? » RWF, posted by KrissyP on March 5, 2003, at 13:41:43
The dosage that you describe seems quite low to me, I'm suprised that you are still having such horrible withdrawal symptoms from it. I can sympathize with your situation. I was at a dose of 450 mg per day of effexor xr. That is well above the maximum recommended dosage per day. I experienced such dizziness and blurred vision everytime I moved or tried to move my eyes, that I had to have someone help me to walk. It was aweful.
Try tapering off gradually, and just stick out the symptoms. Eventually they will go away, even though it may be hell for a bit. They went away for me. I took the medicine for about 7 months at that elevated dosage, and am now able to walk around without dizzy spells. It took about 2 weeks for the withdrawl symptoms to completely subside. Good luck.
Dolphin
Posted by Mwassi on August 31, 2003, at 7:35:45
In reply to Re: How high a dose were you on and for how long?, posted by DolphinK on August 4, 2003, at 22:29:42
How long do the withdrawal symptoms last once stopped taking Effexor XR?
This is the end of the thread.
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