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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 Mr K on April 27, 2004, at 6:29:10
I am just about to attempt quitting Effexor for the second time. I was down to one 75mg capsule per day but I have had enough of taking them. I was put on them for depression after Paroxetine did not agree with me. The reasons for my depression are well and truely passed so I decided to just stop taking Effexor, I lasted 7 days but had to go back on them on the 8th day due to headaches, tight back muscles,nausia,light headedness and very bizarre electric shock like sensations through my body whenever I was not lying down!!!!
I was told initially that Effexor were easy to stop by my GP when I did not need them anymore, I have a slight feeling that this was a lie. I am really annoyed because I don't want to take them now but my body can't seem to live without them.
I feel disappointed that i could not do it, I felt the withdrawal on day 2, by day 5 it was a nightmare and by day 7 it was unbearable! Has anybody got any advice for quitting these evil capsules?Cheers
Ben
Posted by Sad Panda on April 27, 2004, at 6:44:59
In reply to Quitting Effexor 2nd attempt, posted by Mr K on April 27, 2004, at 6:29:10
> I am just about to attempt quitting Effexor for the second time. I was down to one 75mg capsule per day but I have had enough of taking them. I was put on them for depression after Paroxetine did not agree with me. The reasons for my depression are well and truely passed so I decided to just stop taking Effexor, I lasted 7 days but had to go back on them on the 8th day due to headaches, tight back muscles,nausia,light headedness and very bizarre electric shock like sensations through my body whenever I was not lying down!!!!
> I was told initially that Effexor were easy to stop by my GP when I did not need them anymore, I have a slight feeling that this was a lie. I am really annoyed because I don't want to take them now but my body can't seem to live without them.
> I feel disappointed that i could not do it, I felt the withdrawal on day 2, by day 5 it was a nightmare and by day 7 it was unbearable! Has anybody got any advice for quitting these evil capsules?
>
> Cheers
>
> Ben
>
>Hi Ben,
When you stop taking Effexor 75mg, switch to Prozac 20mg for a week to get you through the side effects. Your doc should be able to give you a sample pack which would be ideal. Effexor is hard to quit because it has a very short half-life, less than a day, Prozac is easy to quit because it has an enourmously long half life of 7 to 14 days & is self tappering.
I would also look for a new doctor, because you shouldn't really be given antidepressants to get you through rough patches. Antidepressants are for people who don't really know why they are depressed.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Mr K on April 27, 2004, at 6:51:22
In reply to Re: Quitting Effexor 2nd attempt » Mr K, posted by Sad Panda on April 27, 2004, at 6:44:59
> > I am just about to attempt quitting Effexor for the second time. I was down to one 75mg capsule per day but I have had enough of taking them. I was put on them for depression after Paroxetine did not agree with me. The reasons for my depression are well and truely passed so I decided to just stop taking Effexor, I lasted 7 days but had to go back on them on the 8th day due to headaches, tight back muscles,nausia,light headedness and very bizarre electric shock like sensations through my body whenever I was not lying down!!!!
> > I was told initially that Effexor were easy to stop by my GP when I did not need them anymore, I have a slight feeling that this was a lie. I am really annoyed because I don't want to take them now but my body can't seem to live without them.
> > I feel disappointed that i could not do it, I felt the withdrawal on day 2, by day 5 it was a nightmare and by day 7 it was unbearable! Has anybody got any advice for quitting these evil capsules?
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Ben
> >
> >
>
> Hi Ben,
>
> When you stop taking Effexor 75mg, switch to Prozac 20mg for a week to get you through the side effects. Your doc should be able to give you a sample pack which would be ideal. Effexor is hard to quit because it has a very short half-life, less than a day, Prozac is easy to quit because it has an enourmously long half life of 7 to 14 days & is self tappering.
>
> I would also look for a new doctor, because you shouldn't really be given antidepressants to get you through rough patches. Antidepressants are for people who don't really know why they are depressed.
>
> Cheers,
> Panda.
>
>
> Hi Panda,I was given anti depressants at first to stop my huge panic attacks which were caused by anxiety due to stress. Tablets was the last resort as I had tried a lot of alternatives before taking medication. I feel I am ready to get back to normal now, fingers crossed! Thanks for the advice, the withdrawals really are the pits from Effexor. I don't think these types of drugs are properly understood in England yet!!
Posted by Sad Panda on April 27, 2004, at 11:02:50
In reply to Re: Quitting Effexor 2nd attempt, posted by Mr K on April 27, 2004, at 6:51:22
> > > I am just about to attempt quitting Effexor for the second time. I was down to one 75mg capsule per day but I have had enough of taking them. I was put on them for depression after Paroxetine did not agree with me. The reasons for my depression are well and truely passed so I decided to just stop taking Effexor, I lasted 7 days but had to go back on them on the 8th day due to headaches, tight back muscles,nausia,light headedness and very bizarre electric shock like sensations through my body whenever I was not lying down!!!!
> > > I was told initially that Effexor were easy to stop by my GP when I did not need them anymore, I have a slight feeling that this was a lie. I am really annoyed because I don't want to take them now but my body can't seem to live without them.
> > > I feel disappointed that i could not do it, I felt the withdrawal on day 2, by day 5 it was a nightmare and by day 7 it was unbearable! Has anybody got any advice for quitting these evil capsules?
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > >
> > > Ben
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Hi Ben,
> >
> > When you stop taking Effexor 75mg, switch to Prozac 20mg for a week to get you through the side effects. Your doc should be able to give you a sample pack which would be ideal. Effexor is hard to quit because it has a very short half-life, less than a day, Prozac is easy to quit because it has an enourmously long half life of 7 to 14 days & is self tappering.
> >
> > I would also look for a new doctor, because you shouldn't really be given antidepressants to get you through rough patches. Antidepressants are for people who don't really know why they are depressed.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Panda.
> >
> >
> > Hi Panda,
>
> I was given anti depressants at first to stop my huge panic attacks which were caused by anxiety due to stress. Tablets was the last resort as I had tried a lot of alternatives before taking medication. I feel I am ready to get back to normal now, fingers crossed! Thanks for the advice, the withdrawals really are the pits from Effexor. I don't think these types of drugs are properly understood in England yet!!
>
>
That's OK then. Did effexor help your panic attacks?Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Mr K on April 27, 2004, at 11:16:28
In reply to Re: Quitting Effexor 2nd attempt » Mr K, posted by Sad Panda on April 27, 2004, at 11:02:50
> > > > I am just about to attempt quitting Effexor for the second time. I was down to one 75mg capsule per day but I have had enough of taking them. I was put on them for depression after Paroxetine did not agree with me. The reasons for my depression are well and truely passed so I decided to just stop taking Effexor, I lasted 7 days but had to go back on them on the 8th day due to headaches, tight back muscles,nausia,light headedness and very bizarre electric shock like sensations through my body whenever I was not lying down!!!!
> > > > I was told initially that Effexor were easy to stop by my GP when I did not need them anymore, I have a slight feeling that this was a lie. I am really annoyed because I don't want to take them now but my body can't seem to live without them.
> > > > I feel disappointed that i could not do it, I felt the withdrawal on day 2, by day 5 it was a nightmare and by day 7 it was unbearable! Has anybody got any advice for quitting these evil capsules?
> > > >
> > > > Cheers
> > > >
> > > > Ben
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Hi Ben,
> > >
> > > When you stop taking Effexor 75mg, switch to Prozac 20mg for a week to get you through the side effects. Your doc should be able to give you a sample pack which would be ideal. Effexor is hard to quit because it has a very short half-life, less than a day, Prozac is easy to quit because it has an enourmously long half life of 7 to 14 days & is self tappering.
> > >
> > > I would also look for a new doctor, because you shouldn't really be given antidepressants to get you through rough patches. Antidepressants are for people who don't really know why they are depressed.
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Panda.
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Panda,
> >
> > I was given anti depressants at first to stop my huge panic attacks which were caused by anxiety due to stress. Tablets was the last resort as I had tried a lot of alternatives before taking medication. I feel I am ready to get back to normal now, fingers crossed! Thanks for the advice, the withdrawals really are the pits from Effexor. I don't think these types of drugs are properly understood in England yet!!
> >
> >
>
>
> That's OK then. Did effexor help your panic attacks?
>
> Cheers,
> Panda.
>
> Yes it did, it helped me greatly and stopped my panic attacks. I have no problems with the way effexor helped me when I was suffering panic attacks, however i don't want to rely on them anymore. I hope I can taper off this time although after the first attempt I am not looking forward to it!
Posted by jms600 on April 27, 2004, at 16:47:46
In reply to Quitting Effexor 2nd attempt, posted by Mr K on April 27, 2004, at 6:29:10
Just agreeing with Sad Panda - switch to 20mg Prozac and then come off the Prozac as normal.
I switched straight from 225mg Effeor to 20mg Prozac. To start with you may experience diziness, slight nausea, and the odd headache, but nothing as bad as the Effexor withdrawal. Also I found the effects from the switch over, listed above, went away well within 7 days.
Best of luck!
This is the end of the thread.
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