When will I stop feeling "weird"

[Paulina7770]

I'm currently tapering from the devil drug "Effexor".  But every day, all I can think about is how I feel, which is just weird.  It's hard to put my finger on it...just restlessness (akathesia); anxiety, just simply "weirdness".  And, I can't stand it.  This is the worst thing I've been through.  Anyone feel this way?  And, will I ever stop thinking and feeling werid?

[remar]

How long is your taper program? I understand what your going through since I was on effexor at one time myself and tapered off of it. You will feel better. All people are different so I can't give you a time when that will happen. Try to hang in there and know that it does get better. Take care. Remar

[Paulina7770]

I'm 65 days into the taper and at the tail end of it.  Did you feel weird daily? I'm sure one day I'll wake up and this weirdness won't be the first thing on my mind!  Thank you.

[bosnianworrier]

Why do you call effexor the devil drug?

[Paulina7770]

because it has such severe and debilitating withdrawals for 78% of people who are on it.  And I fall into that 78%.  I feel like it should be illegal for such a drug to be prescribed.  I've been told that it would have been easier coming off of heroin!  It has a very short half life which makes it near impossible to come off of.  I was convinced for 8 years by my doctor that "I just need to be on meds the rest of my life."  When in reality, my body was going through withdrawals.  I finally took this into my own hands (and my Naturopath) and researched it.  And, found ***********.org and "The Antidepressant Solution" book.  I just wondered how long I would feel weird and if anyone here felt the same way.  This has been living HELL.  I just want off of it and it is taking me MONTHS!  Thanks Wyeth Pharmaceuticals for your amazing "non-habit forming" drug!  (yes, I'm pretty angry and bitter at the moment).

[juliesculpt]

Well, I know what you mean about general weirdness coming off of effexor.  I tapered off two years ago, but I did it over 6months, very slowly...it actually got a lot easier as I went on, so that I barely noticed the step downs toward the end.  I did fairly well on natural supplements for awhile, but my anxiety is worse than ever now.  But I still would not go back on effexor. You will be done with it soon and the withdrawal symptoms really DO go away.  If the w/d is too harsh, try slowing down the taper a bit. keep us posted.

[redsunset787]

Like you, I consider Effexor a devil drug.  I was on it for only two months but did not feel like me.  It also made me nervous.  I was off for two months and like a fool I let the university psychiatrist talk me into starting it again.  I was on it 3 days and going crazy, so I quit.  It is now 48 hours since I have taken any.  I have never been so miserable in my life.  I am hoping the anxiety, shakes, diarreha, panic my stomach will end soon.  The university doctor convinced me by phone on the third day to continue but I remember my difficulty coming off two months ago.  I am done with Effexor.  Hope I can sleep tonight.  Don't know if there is anything better out there.  If not, I guess I will have to live with my anxiety.  I used to worry about dying now if it comes tomorrow, I could care less.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.  

redsunset15

[bosnianworrier]

You scared me now. I have been on effexor nearly 2 years and was planning to get off of it but am just not ready to fight withdrawal symptoms.

[lynn57]

I was on Effexor a few years ago and  decided I was ready to be off it and I was.  I tapered so slowly that I had no withdrawal at all.  It does have a short half-life (and some people try switching to prozac and then tapering off.)  I was on Effexor xr.  I took a capsule a day.  I began by taking ten or twenty grains out of each capsule the first week and thirty the second and so on.  After awhile I was down to an empty capsule.  It takes a lot of patience, but it can be done.  I do not call it the devil drug.  It helped me through a hard time.  I now take Celexa(cheaper) and am quitting Klonopin.  I am tapering that just as slowly.  Hope you make out OK. Don't give up on feeling better.  There are lots of alternatives.

[Paulina7770]

Thank you all so much for the words of caring.  I do have a naturopath doctor that is helping me, and am doing much better.  I tried going from the 37.5 to nothing and it was hell.  But, now with her help I'm doing better.  I will never touch this stuff again.  For anyone wanting to come off of it be sure you're ready and grab that book I mentioned, a good Naturopath doctor with experience in this and/or The Road Back people.  Good luck to all and God bless!