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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Effexor XR - What is the highest dosage anyone should take?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Effexor XR - What is the highest dosage anyone should take?
by bgebrbr, Nov 19, 2004 12:00AM
Effexor had been perscribed to me about four years ago (75mg.) At first I was pleased with the effect. My problem being work, things continued to get worse and as they did my doctor increased my dosage. (150mg) - (300mg) My last visit dosage was increased to (450mg)this frightend me and after a few months of 450mg I wanted off, at the time I had know idea how I had changed over the years being on Effexor XR. I made it down to (150mg) a day by myself and could not go any further so I contacted my doctor, at that time I was taken to the (75mg) and then (35mg)believe me like all of you have said the side effects were awful, It has been over a month and I'm having mood swings like you can't believe. Before I went on Effexor XR I do not believe I ever felt this bad, I now experience terrable anxiety, doom, parinoid, I cry quite often, I yell about things that would never have bothered me before. I know in the other questions I have read on the site you say about 15 days of side effects, with such a high dosage how long should I expect this to last. Believe me If I only knew, I would have never taken this drug.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Nov 22, 2004 12:00AM
, Nov 22, 2004 12:00AM
yes, it may take you longer but it is hard to predict.. I suggest you ask your doctor about taking you back to a stabilizing dose and gradually withdrawing until your lowest dose is every other day for about two weeks before you stop altogether.
As for how long will this last ... well if it lasts too long then it has probably got more to do with relapse of the original condition than withdrawl of effexor. I recommend you do see a therapist for a more detailed an accurate answer and I'm sorry you feel this way about effexor.
Take care, from hangin'in there!
PS: A doctor will post a response but this may take a day or two. It will appear directly beneath your first post so keep checking ... it will happen!!
I was medicated with Effexor XR 600mg (4x150mg capsules) per day for some months. The psychiatrist increased it to that strength in about 18 months, along with a variety of extras like Wellbutrin, Provigil and such, one in place of the other. I felt like a guinea pig being experimented on. The only say I had in the matter was how I felt each week and it was not good.
I ran out of my Provigil for a couple of days and found I felt a lot better just being on Effexor.I was still feeling very lousy.
One day I asked the psychiatrist if I could get off Effexor XR. He told me I would be on it at least another year. Thinking I was going to be in that condition for so long I took matters into my own hands.
I told my family doctor what I was going to do. He said OK it's your body.He could not for me with such a high dose of Effexor XR. He was afraid of the consequences.
I went to three capsules for the next two weeks, then two capsules for two weeks, then finally one capsule for the next three weeks.This used up the remainder of my 3 month supply of pills.
I felt great that I had accomplished this. It wasn't for long though.
I am now experiencing the withdrawal sypmtons that were never explained. Even though I had tapered off the drug as prescribed.
Horrendous headaches and stiff neck, nausea and worst of all aggression.It is against my nature, but all I seem to be doing is shouting and arguing. It is awful. Right before the holidays too. I am getting quite upset.
The family doctor put me back on Effexor XR 75mg. He prescribes only minimal amounts of anti-depressants.I feel so much better now but it will be a long time until I am off this monster of a drug.
At least this will give us a half decent Christmas.