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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Daveuproar on June 4, 2006, at 17:33:16
Anyone have any suggestions on how to ease the Effexor withdrawals? I can't get over the dizziness, headaches, lack of energy, mood swings, brain fog, etc. I read elsewhere that these symptoms can last for months.
I used to take 150mg every other day. When I was put on Strattera, I stopped Effexor immediately. I've been wanting to get off the stuff for months for various reasons.
I feel for anyone who's had to stop Effexor suddenly. Eeek!
Dave
Posted by MSWGradStudent on June 7, 2006, at 6:26:49
In reply to Effexor withdrawal!, posted by Daveuproar on June 4, 2006, at 17:33:16
The one time I was forced to stop suddenly because my meds ran out... I was absolutely miserable beyond repair. I was excessively tearful, couldn't stand up for the dizziness, and felt extremely out of touch with reality.
I'm now tapering my dosage down and I'm miserable again... I am only awake about 4 hrs a day and those times are spent lying in bed, showering, or eating. I made one trip to the store in the last week, and I was physically EXHAUSTED by the time I made it home.
My muscles are now spasming to a point where I'm jerking and restless.
I did yoga for about 15 minutes y-day before everything gave out. It did help me refocus.
I have perscription strength anti histimine (atarax) which I'm taking to self-medicate through this... I just started them y-day and they seem to help. My awake times are now much more awake than before...
Also, for the last week, the doctor has prescribed me an "emergency" perscription for prozac. I'm going to begin taking that as soon as I feel uber-sick from the 37.5 mg pills.
Anyway, I'm rambling and starting to get tired again. Good luck with this... stay strong.
Posted by Daveuproar on June 7, 2006, at 21:44:58
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal!, posted by MSWGradStudent on June 7, 2006, at 6:26:49
MSWGradStudent,
I feel your pain, trust me! Today is day 7 w/o Effexor. Effexor was strange for me-- almost like clockwork. When the 48-hour mark came w/o Effexor the withdrawals would come. They're so hard to explain to people who've never experienced them. It's like your brain shifts and you get this heaviness on your forehead, almost like your eyes are being pushed down. My motivation is gone at that point. I immediately want to sleep. My sister has been on Effexor for 6 years and she experiences the same effects I do.
These headaches are starting to subside thankfully. My insomnia is still there as is the nausea. I'll fall asleep and wake up 20 minutes later-- only this time wide awake. I find it's easier to sleep during the day for some reason. Go figure.
I think I might do some Yoga in the morning when I wake up. Maybe that will make the day go by a bit easier.
Stay strong, and if you need someone to talk to, email me. (DaveUproar@yahoo.com). I know how hard this is (this isn't my first time off Effexor).
Dave
Posted by over 55 on June 16, 2006, at 10:14:24
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal!, posted by Daveuproar on June 7, 2006, at 21:44:58
I feel for both of you. I have been on various AD's for last 15 years. Effexor for the last 5 and now I am in 2nd week of weaning off. Budget constraints have forced the issue and I wanted a cheaper AD so Doc prescribed Prozac (generic) which costs almost nothing compared to Effexor XR to help wean off and try to see how it does for me. Major flu i show I describe being without the meds. Accidently forgot meds on a trip and thought I could make it home. Second day I thought I was dying. Chills, throwing up, killer headache. Only after about 6 hours after taking a dose did I start to feel human. I couldn't beleive how awful that was. Made me realize how much my body depended on it. Yhe Prozac is definitely helping. I hope you find relief soon and I am going to look at the alternatives myself to see what is out there that may help more than it harms.
Posted by labtechcarla on July 13, 2006, at 12:08:55
In reply to Effexor withdrawal!, posted by Daveuproar on June 4, 2006, at 17:33:16
HI
IVE BEEN ON EFFEXOR FOR 6 YEARS AND HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS. IVE TRIED TO GET OFF OF IT BUT HAD MANY REOCCURENCES SO NOW IM ON IT FOR LIFE AND THATS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR MY SANITY. DONT WORRY IF YOU ARE ON THIS MED, LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TAKE PILLS FOR VARIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS. MENTAL ILLNESS IS THE SAME AS ANY OTHER ILLNESS, SO DONT TRY TO FIX WHATS NOT BROKEN. MY ADVICE IS TO STAY ON THIS MED IF ITS WORKING FOR YOU.
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