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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Petrucci914 on April 20, 2011, at 10:47:36
So I've stopped my Effexor XR 300mg cold-turkey after being on it for about a year. It was the first AD that made a difference in me but frankly I'm sick of being medicated, having brain fog, sexual issues, and memory problems. I'm just sick of medications period and I know I'm quite crazy quitting this med, especially, cold turkey. I can deal with brain zaps.....dealt with those plenty of times before. Right now I'm just dealing with a lot of somnolence, my guess is the REM rebound. Anybody else have any experiences with quitting this crap?
Not sure what, if anything, I move to after this.
Posted by jms600 on April 20, 2011, at 11:16:57
In reply to Stopping Effexor XR, posted by Petrucci914 on April 20, 2011, at 10:47:36
> So I've stopped my Effexor XR 300mg cold-turkey after being on it for about a year. It was the first AD that made a difference in me but frankly I'm sick of being medicated, having brain fog, sexual issues, and memory problems. I'm just sick of medications period and I know I'm quite crazy quitting this med, especially, cold turkey. I can deal with brain zaps.....dealt with those plenty of times before. Right now I'm just dealing with a lot of somnolence, my guess is the REM rebound. Anybody else have any experiences with quitting this crap?
>
> Not sure what, if anything, I move to after this.
I know it's probably not what you want to hear as a long term solution, but have you considered Prozac? It has a much longer half life then Effexor. If you can get hold of some, you can switch to the Prozac and then slowly reduce the dose. I have heard that it's easier to withdraw from Prozac than it is with other SSRIs/SNRIs.
Posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2011, at 13:05:35
In reply to Re: Stopping Effexor XR, posted by jms600 on April 20, 2011, at 11:16:57
First ad you say? Are you still depressed? If not you may be one that needs no further treatment. Only time will tell. What's your doc say about this? Phillipa
Posted by rculater on April 20, 2011, at 16:12:34
In reply to Stopping Effexor XR, posted by Petrucci914 on April 20, 2011, at 10:47:36
Be cautious stopping venlafexine cold turkey it has one of the most difficult drugs to withdraw from - you may be lucky. I had 2 weeks of hell when I tapered quickly.
Posted by sleepygirl2 on April 20, 2011, at 20:34:58
In reply to Stopping Effexor XR, posted by Petrucci914 on April 20, 2011, at 10:47:36
stopping/reducing is unpleasant, very unpleasant
I hope you can tolerate it better than me.
good luck
Posted by wilyee on April 21, 2011, at 13:18:47
In reply to Re: Stopping Effexor XR, posted by jms600 on April 20, 2011, at 11:16:57
I have my own efexor story,AT age 19 at the start of my depression i go to the doc for the first time.Very sad,he tells me im gonna give u a pill that will fix ya right up.
So i start it and basicaly feel much more worse.
Finaly at the age of 19,never getting on a pc yet having no idea of psy.began what i did not know was a efexxor w/d
I remeber one night sitting on the floor ripping a magazine up page by page in angerPacing non stop/
My brain feeling like a blank page.
I had no idea efexxor was the culprit.,i thought i was dying,i told my girl im not right,theres no thoughts nothing just a blank page in mym ind.
So i got some video games locked myself in my room and got hooked on 1 or 2.
They saved me.focusing on these addicting game woke my mind and i slowly cam back.
Imagine at the age of 19 having that kind of pain,not knowing what the hell is going on.
At least now u can know and take methods like benzos to help.
I was very hARD,my idea of getting addicted to games helped bring my mind back to life but i was never the same.its a dangerous process to go through/
Posted by Petrucci914 on April 21, 2011, at 22:33:43
In reply to Re: Stopping Effexor XR, posted by wilyee on April 21, 2011, at 13:18:47
Ugh, I caved in and took a pill. I'm going to have to withdraw slowly. Crazy brain zaps, temperature variations, nausea, brain fog.....wow.
So it looks like I'll have to make a doctor appointment and do it slowly with the doc's help.......not ideal for me as I've only gotten anywhere because of my decisions and struggles.
Posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2011, at 18:47:33
In reply to Re: Stopping Effexor XR, posted by Petrucci914 on April 21, 2011, at 22:33:43
I feel you did the right thing taking the pill. Seems like effexor is a very hard med to discontinue. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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