could my meds be making me feel worse?

hi im 44 and i been taking effexor xr 75 since july 06 first i started on the 37.5 then went to 75 then 150 well the 150 was too strong well im back down to 75 well i decided i want off i dont believe i need them or the xanax anymore i feel worse on these meds then i did before i took them see jan 2006 i had a ovary and tube removed my body went into shock the dr never told me this i think i scared myself into those attacks and my depression comes and goes not as much now i dont cry unless im having a attack and i been depressed mainly because i want off theses meds the meds are making me worse for 1 i cant do nothing alls i do is sleep and thats very depressing since before surgery i never had any of this alls i had was pmdd that was all but if i could stop both meds cold turkey i would if anyone has how long does it take to be completely free of the meds and is it bad withdrawls if i can handle it i may try it but if not i may go to rehab in order to get my life back.any advice???

[sue-aloo]

Of course you would need to speak to your doctor about coming off the meds, however, I know that you need to be weaned off them slowly.  DO NOT STOP COLD TURKEY!  It ususally takes about a month for the anti-depressant to get out of your body once you stop. I know that a doctor would usually take about 3 to 6 months to wean you off any medication.  Start by talking to her so you know the best way is should, and if it should, be done!

[vickie44]

iam im calling my psychiatrist tomorrow to ask him how to ween off so far i have not had anymore panic attacks i cry some but thats prob premenopause  cause i dont cry all the time just once in awhile and the main reason i want off these meds is cause i have no energy nor motivation and alls i do is sleep mostly allday not everyday it just depends like weekends i do allright cause i sleep till 11am but through the week i get up at 6am to get my kids off to school and im feeling fine except for the little bit of crying but it dont last but im no longer scared to go into stores and i can leave my house i just dont have much energy but i been taking vitamins along with calcium pills cause i never had panic attacks or anything till after i had my ovary removed jan 2006 i think i made myself scared when my body went into shock. but yes im going to let my dr ween me off its what i want so im sure im ready.

[suzi-q]

best of luck to you!

[billbaggins]

You have to come off of Effexor slowly. Usually the doctor will tell you to take stepper pills (150, then 75, then 37.5) for a certain period of time.

[billbaggins]

Addendum: You may want to talk to your doctor about taking Xanax to help come off of the Effexor.

Additionally you'll want to try to avoid missing any doses of Effexor as it can have weird side effects as well.