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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by notcrazy on February 10, 2005, at 14:30:29
I'm trying to figure out what's happening to me. Just googled effexor...ended up here. I am having Major withdrawal symptoms. Went off cold turkey a few days ago...bad idea. Never had these kinds of problems before I started taking it about 2 years ago. Dr. didn't tell me about withdrawal when it was prescribed. How long could this last? Is it dangerous? (I mean, physically dangerous to quit abruptly.) Everything seems sort of unreal right now, and I'm not sure how to find my way around this site. Sure could use some help!
notcrazy
Posted by Jen2 on February 10, 2005, at 21:43:37
In reply to effexor XR, posted by notcrazy on February 10, 2005, at 14:30:29
Hey notcrazy,
I'd suggest that you go to the main board, "psycho-babble", and check for posts on withdrawal off Effexor. There's been lots and lots of discussion about withdrawal, symptoms, treatments, etc. on that board so you should not only check current posts but old ones too.
You are not alone. Withdrawal off Effexor is one of the worst, and lots of people have a horrible time of it.
Jen
Posted by notcrazy on February 10, 2005, at 22:31:11
In reply to Re: effexor XR, posted by Jen2 on February 10, 2005, at 21:43:37
> Hey notcrazy,
>
> I'd suggest that you go to the main board, "psycho-babble", and check for posts on withdrawal off Effexor. There's been lots and lots of discussion about withdrawal, symptoms, treatments, etc. on that board so you should not only check current posts but old ones too.
>
> You are not alone. Withdrawal off Effexor is one of the worst, and lots of people have a horrible time of it.
>
> JenOkay, there is really someone there! I did look up some stuff on the subject, that's how i found you, I am having trouble figuring out how this post works, and couldn't even get back to it finally. If your message hadn't gone to my email, I would have been completely lost.
I'm having all kinds of withdrawl symptoms... to the point i wonder if anyone ever died from it.!
This 'electrical shock' thing... I thought it was like an adrenalin surge when you get startled...every two or three seconds today. Wow.
It's no freekin' wonder I'm starting to hurt all over. I just want to get through this...don't know if that's possible.
notcrazy (notsure)
Posted by jen2 on February 11, 2005, at 14:30:14
In reply to Re: effexor XR, posted by notcrazy on February 10, 2005, at 22:31:11
Hey notcrazy,
You WILL get through this. You will.
I haven't dealt with withdrawal because I'm still on the Effexor, but I sure had lots of horrible side effects when I first started - the stupid pharmacist dispensed 75mg instead of 37.5mg so I got a real hammer dose from the beginning. I was sure I was going to die. Nausea, vision changes, feeling disconnected, jittery, nervous, anxious, depressed, racing heartbeat... horrible horrible. I was white-knuckling it through my days. But after about four days it cleared, and after about 12 days I started to feel better.
I understand from the others that have posted to the main board that the withdrawal can take from several days to a couple of months to clear, but there are things you can do to help. Be sure to taper off VERY VERY slowly. I've heard that people even go so far as to remove a number of the little pellets from the caplets on an incremental basis from day to day to taper as slowly as possible. Also, some kinds of antihistamines can help with the withdrawal symptoms; apparently Claritin is often used for this by others.
I hope you were able to figure out how to access the info on the main board. If not, let me know and I'll see if I can help.
You will get through this. Just hang on. Get some exercise, drink lots of water, check the other board for ideas, and talk to your doctor.
Keep in touch,
Jen
Posted by jen2 on February 13, 2005, at 21:29:38
In reply to Re: effexor XR, posted by notcrazy on February 10, 2005, at 22:31:11
I just realized I was wrong about the Claritin. DO NOT take Claritin as it could give you an adverse reaction. Take Benadryl instead.
Jen
Posted by notcrazy on February 14, 2005, at 10:27:09
In reply to Re: effexor XR » notcrazy, posted by jen2 on February 13, 2005, at 21:29:38
> I just realized I was wrong about the Claritin. DO NOT take Claritin as it could give you an adverse reaction. Take Benadryl instead.
>
> JenI figured that out. benadryl makes sense, bu at this point i don't even care if thr eis an 'adverse reaction' . that's funny. exactky what reaction would make this any worse?? coma sounds good to me. alcohol workr=ed even better tahn benadryl,. but i dond't want to substitiiiiute new addiction in case i live thru this and would then have to deal with that too.
Does this post thred thing work without (outside) email? i thought i was at asite when I signed up,this is too many steps.
i cant figure it out . Does any one thingk that bob guy is scarey looking? Its the haisr. He's not a real person, right? screew spellcheck.
notcrazy
Posted by jen2 on February 14, 2005, at 13:04:14
In reply to Re: effexor XR » jen2, posted by notcrazy on February 14, 2005, at 10:27:09
Hey notcrazy. Good to hear from you.
> exactky what reaction would make this any worse?? coma sounds good to me. alcohol workr=ed even better tahn benadryl,. but i dond't want to substitiiiiute new addiction in case i live thru this and would then have to deal with that too.
Yeah, getting hit on the head with a heavy pan several times in rapid succession while standing on hot coals and having someone poke you in the eye with a sharp stick sounds like fun compared to what withdrawal sounds like. I'm not looking forward to it.
> Does this post thred thing work without (outside) email? i thought i was at asite when I signed up,this is too many steps.Sorry, I don't think I understand your question. (You just go to www.dr-bob.org/babble and follow the threads from there. You don't need to have email in order to post.)
> Does any one thingk that bob guy is scarey looking? Its the haisr. He's not a real person, right?
Yes, Dr. Bob is a real person. In fact, he reads these posts. You may notice that he sometimes intervenes and redirects posts to other boards when people get off topic. I don't know if he reads them all, but he sure seems to keep good track of what's going on on the boards. I think he uses these boards as part of his ongoing research into the use of the internet in mental health treatment. I think that's why he set them up in the first place.
Hope you're feeling better. Keep in touch about how things are going for you. If you just need to vent, please do so. It's good for the soul.
Also, Dr. Bob just set up a new withdrawal board for sharing info on withdrawal symptoms and strategies, so maybe you can check that out to get tips on how to cope. It's at www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl.
Jen
Posted by notcrazy on February 14, 2005, at 15:15:01
In reply to Re: effexor XR » notcrazy, posted by jen2 on February 14, 2005, at 13:04:14
i see this little whitebox here to type in ,so i will do that, have no fkin clue what i'm doing. ithink im still in e-mail. do you want to know what it feels like to be stupid... put something in your braain that will make itself indispensible,and then try to make your brainwork without it, iwant to know what is happening to me physicaly in my brain. I think i can HEAR the electrical firing or smisfirng in my head. makes this little snapping/crackling sound (rice crispies) when i try to think or see any;thing bright oer red. or startling.or taste sharp. feels like adrenalin surge. only i can hear it.too. if my computer made these noudss, i would assume it was abou t to start smoldering. they say sometimes peopld just catch on fire for no apparent reason...wondering if tha's a possibility. theres one for the medical journals! warning label on med bottle: withdrawal can cause patient to spontaneously combust. do not stand near flamable objects.
dr probably kneew this when prescribing , and didn't think it would be important to mention.
i'm not usually very stupid, but can not follow the directions to move around this website. maybe the terminolgy isn't registering. or it is too confusing for people who are in a mental meltdown and not very computer literate. i see if i go realllllll slow, i can almost type, .
i am having waymuch trouble retaining information short term. also losing bits of time which is unnerving as all hell.
ddddr.bob, if yuuo are real, sorry i said youare scarey looking.,,.didn't think you were real, and can't fuigure out the hairthing,also the music scard me, 'cause it usually isn't turned on, and i thought i ws hearing things other than the snapcracklpop. i like the elf in the picture.
gonna hit the'submit post' button, and maybe find this place againn or not. looking at the check spelling button and laughing. afarid everything will poof disappear.
Posted by jen2 on February 16, 2005, at 7:56:01
In reply to Re: effexor XR, posted by notcrazy on February 14, 2005, at 15:15:01
Hey notcrazy,
How are you doing? Let me know how things are going for you today.
Jen
Posted by notcrazy on February 17, 2005, at 17:08:24
In reply to Re: effexor XR, posted by jen2 on February 16, 2005, at 7:56:01
> Hey notcrazy,
>
> How are you doing? Let me know how things are going for you today.
>
> JenJen,
I'm alive. In fact it's getting much better! I don't know for sure how long it has been. I think maybe a week. (?)
I finally ventured out of the house yesterday and today. Didn't drive, but I'm sure I could drive today if I needed to go somewhere. More importantly, I'm confident I could now find my way home!Maybe I will even figure out how to find my way around this site. I haven't tried. I am an artist (sculptor)with a boatload of orders to fill, and need to get to that as soon as possible.
Withdrawal symptoms are 90% GONE!!! No electrical surges... not 'shocked' by bright colors or tart flavors... no snap/crackel/pop... passage of time seems mostly normal (no jumping ahead. I feel like I may be a bit slow, but that's okay for now.) My hands aren't shakey or jumpy... not sure what that was. I can type!
Still feeling 10% out of sorts: Slightly noticeable buzz now and then....Tired... Still hurt all over, but not so much... Having trouble focusing on my work. (easily distracted by e-mail!) My hands are cold. My house is a WRECK! (will clean tommorow!) I'm a little testy (my family points this out!)
I don't remember if I told you this; I went off EffexorXR cold turkey. Obviously the withdrawal symptoms were horrific. But I read some of the posts from other people when I found them (day three or four maybe... haven't seen the 'site' since!) People saying they have been trying to wean themselves off for months and having awful withdrawal the whole time. Makes me wonder why they stretch it out. (?)
Do the DOCTORS know what this stuff does to you when you try to quit? I'd like to think mine didn't know when she prescribed it! I will go back to her, or call anyway, and let her know about the withdrawal. Her other patients have a right to know!!! Is there some medical mumble-jumble information available that I could forward to her? Sometimes doctors look at us patients like we must be stupid. (okay, sometimes we are, but I'm pretty sure I now know more about this than she does!)
Who are you? Thank you for being there.
I'm notcrazy
Posted by Jen2 on February 17, 2005, at 17:55:38
In reply to Re: effexor XR » jen2, posted by notcrazy on February 17, 2005, at 17:08:24
> Jen,
> I'm alive. In fact it's getting much better!
That's great! I was a little worried about you after your last post. Glad to hear you're doing so much better and that the effects have 90% gone.
> I am an artist (sculptor)with a boatload of orders to fill, and need to get to that as soon as possible.
Cool! I'm always impressed with people who are able to make their living off their art. And I'm always impressed by people who do for their work what they love to do. (I suppose I'm assuming that you love your work....?)
> My hands aren't shakey or jumpy... not sure what that was.
That was your brain getting its equilibrium back with the serotonin, I suppose. It's so odd this whole medication thing, how it messes with your chemistry so much.
> I don't remember if I told you this; I went off EffexorXR cold turkey. ... Makes me wonder why they stretch it out. (?)
I think because they're afraid of having the really bad symptoms, even if it is for a short time. I know there are some people who have tried to go off cold turkey and have had such bad experiences that they had to start taking it again. YMMV (your mileage may vary), as they say.
> Do the DOCTORS know what this stuff does to you when you try to quit?
This is a common complaint. My doctor didn't tell me anything about withdrawal when she prescribed it, but when I talked to her after starting to take it and after reading these boards, she nodded as though she knew that the withdrawal was awful. I wish she would have told me.
> Is there some medical mumble-jumble information available that I could forward to her?
I think there's a continuing discussion about that. I'm not sure where that information might be, but when you figure out the boards you could look back through old posts - the URLs should be there. Or maybe someone who reads this can let us both know.
> Who are you? Thank you for being there.You're welcome. I'm just another Effexor-taker (depression/anxiety, GAD, first-time med user, and never thought I'd be using meds) passing along the good karma I got from the people on these boards when I first started my meds in mid-January.
We've got to stick together, eh?
Keep in touch.
> I'm notcrazy
Me too!
Jen
Posted by StayceeIB on April 22, 2005, at 1:28:39
In reply to Re: effexor XR » notcrazy, posted by Jen2 on February 17, 2005, at 17:55:38
Hey Staycee here
You guys out there as I stare at this botle of Effexor XR 37.5 prescribed yesterday, I am panicing just thinking of taking it.. I am reallly sacred and not sure what to do...Help anyone..I really have bad anxiety attacks as it is and when i think about taking this i get so scared.. Does it really help ?? What costs? also I smoke daily ...will I have a a bad interaction??
really need advice..obsessing over this too!
Jen,
>
> > I'm alive. In fact it's getting much better!
>
> That's great! I was a little worried about you after your last post. Glad to hear you're doing so much better and that the effects have 90% gone.
>
> > I am an artist (sculptor)with a boatload of orders to fill, and need to get to that as soon as possible.
>
> Cool! I'm always impressed with people who are able to make their living off their art. And I'm always impressed by people who do for their work what they love to do. (I suppose I'm assuming that you love your work....?)
>
> > My hands aren't shakey or jumpy... not sure what that was.
>
> That was your brain getting its equilibrium back with the serotonin, I suppose. It's so odd this whole medication thing, how it messes with your chemistry so much.
>
> > I don't remember if I told you this; I went off EffexorXR cold turkey. ... Makes me wonder why they stretch it out. (?)
>
> I think because they're afraid of having the really bad symptoms, even if it is for a short time. I know there are some people who have tried to go off cold turkey and have had such bad experiences that they had to start taking it again. YMMV (your mileage may vary), as they say.
>
> > Do the DOCTORS know what this stuff does to you when you try to quit?
>
> This is a common complaint. My doctor didn't tell me anything about withdrawal when she prescribed it, but when I talked to her after starting to take it and after reading these boards, she nodded as though she knew that the withdrawal was awful. I wish she would have told me.
>
> > Is there some medical mumble-jumble information available that I could forward to her?
>
> I think there's a continuing discussion about that. I'm not sure where that information might be, but when you figure out the boards you could look back through old posts - the URLs should be there. Or maybe someone who reads this can let us both know.
>
> > Who are you? Thank you for being there.
>
> You're welcome. I'm just another Effexor-taker (depression/anxiety, GAD, first-time med user, and never thought I'd be using meds) passing along the good karma I got from the people on these boards when I first started my meds in mid-January.
>
> We've got to stick together, eh?
>
> Keep in touch.
>
> > I'm notcrazy
>
> Me too!
>
> Jen
>
>
Posted by breezy24 on May 26, 2005, at 9:33:23
In reply to Re: effexor XR » Jen2, posted by StayceeIB on April 22, 2005, at 1:28:39
I was just wondering how it is going with stacee. I too am sitting here looking at my new script for effexor xr. Prescribed 37.5mg for 7 days, then 75mg for 7 days. I'm a wreck thinking about taking this and I noticed it was about a month ago stacee had the same problem. Any advice? It seems most everyone has had a positive experience.
This is the end of the thread.
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