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Effexor XR withdrawal symptoms
I am a 47 year old female. Earlier this year, my Dr. and I decided that the effectiveness of Zoloft for my anxiety had waned after 3-4 years. He choose Effexor XR as a new med. After taking 150 mg of the Effexor XR for a little over 1 month, I decided it wasn't right for me. My libido became non-existent, I was gained weight, my digestive system seemed out-of-wack, and I'm not sure that it helped my anxiety. I'm not sure it was related to the Effexor XR, but I was bruising very easily, and I was obsessive about spending and "projects" during this time. I should also mention that I am on 30 mg of Adderall XR for ADD.
My Dr. decided to switch me to Wellbutrin XR which would also help me quit smoking. He had me drop down to 75 mg of the Effexor for a few days, then to 37.5 for another 2-3 days. The first day off the Effexor, I experienced increasing nausea, vertigo and a "slushy" head. The next two days, the symptoms increased. There was some confusion as to whether it was the Wellbutrin or the Effexor that was causing the symptoms. I had decided that I was the getting used to the Wellbutrin, and I just had to ride it out with the help of over-the-counter motion sickness meds. My Dr. never mentioned that Effexor is associated with withdrawal symptoms.
The effects of the Wellbutrin seemed to kick in almost immediately. My libido jumped way up, and just like that I quit smoking cold turkey. I couldn't stand the smell or taste of cigarettes all of the sudden. Now without the smoking, I also found that my morning coffee was nearly forgotten. (I'm sure that withdrawal from nicotine and caffeine added to my symptoms.)
Nearly two weeks after I stopped the Effexor, I started having extreme irritability & very negative thoughts, followed the next day by nausea and vertigo. Also, I had crying spells. I phoned my Dr. who said that crying wasn't a withdrawal symptom. Since my symptoms worsened the next day, he wanted me to try taking 37.5 mg of the Effexor to see what would happen. Within one hour, I was nearly symptom free. He said that I seemed to be especially sensitive to the drug. He then put me back on 37.5 mg for one week, and then approx. 18.75 mg for another two weeks. Well, the withdrawal symptoms started all over again. Couldn't have this happening at work. I decided to go back to the 37.5 mg. and taper off very slowly - either that or take time off work to get through the withdrawals. I have literally been counting the granuals (there are about 90 in a 37.5 mg capsule). On July 20, I started at 60 granuals, and decreased by 5 every few days to where now, on August 24, I have been taking 20 granuals a day for the past week. The entire time I have been nauseous. My Dr's phone msg. reply was that vertigo, not nausea, is a withdrawal symptom. Actually, I thought vertigo caused nausea. Over Labor Day weekend, I plan to stop the Effexor I hope that any symptoms will disappear over 3 days. Please help me.
My Dr. decided to switch me to Wellbutrin XR which would also help me quit smoking. He had me drop down to 75 mg of the Effexor for a few days, then to 37.5 for another 2-3 days. The first day off the Effexor, I experienced increasing nausea, vertigo and a "slushy" head. The next two days, the symptoms increased. There was some confusion as to whether it was the Wellbutrin or the Effexor that was causing the symptoms. I had decided that I was the getting used to the Wellbutrin, and I just had to ride it out with the help of over-the-counter motion sickness meds. My Dr. never mentioned that Effexor is associated with withdrawal symptoms.
The effects of the Wellbutrin seemed to kick in almost immediately. My libido jumped way up, and just like that I quit smoking cold turkey. I couldn't stand the smell or taste of cigarettes all of the sudden. Now without the smoking, I also found that my morning coffee was nearly forgotten. (I'm sure that withdrawal from nicotine and caffeine added to my symptoms.)
Nearly two weeks after I stopped the Effexor, I started having extreme irritability & very negative thoughts, followed the next day by nausea and vertigo. Also, I had crying spells. I phoned my Dr. who said that crying wasn't a withdrawal symptom. Since my symptoms worsened the next day, he wanted me to try taking 37.5 mg of the Effexor to see what would happen. Within one hour, I was nearly symptom free. He said that I seemed to be especially sensitive to the drug. He then put me back on 37.5 mg for one week, and then approx. 18.75 mg for another two weeks. Well, the withdrawal symptoms started all over again. Couldn't have this happening at work. I decided to go back to the 37.5 mg. and taper off very slowly - either that or take time off work to get through the withdrawals. I have literally been counting the granuals (there are about 90 in a 37.5 mg capsule). On July 20, I started at 60 granuals, and decreased by 5 every few days to where now, on August 24, I have been taking 20 granuals a day for the past week. The entire time I have been nauseous. My Dr's phone msg. reply was that vertigo, not nausea, is a withdrawal symptom. Actually, I thought vertigo caused nausea. Over Labor Day weekend, I plan to stop the Effexor I hope that any symptoms will disappear over 3 days. Please help me.
5th day off of Effexor... vertigo, brain shocks, nausea, difficulty concentrating, over-reacting, fever..... I'm going to get through this though!!!
I'm keeping a tally of days I'm off of it on a board and plan to update my symptoms on here (hope ya'll don't mind) to hold myself accountable.
I also got some 5-HTP at the advice of a friend... hopefully that will help.. I'll let you all know if it lessens the pain.
I'm keeping a tally of days I'm off of it on a board and plan to update my symptoms on here (hope ya'll don't mind) to hold myself accountable.
I also got some 5-HTP at the advice of a friend... hopefully that will help.. I'll let you all know if it lessens the pain.
Hi , Ive been on Efexor for 10 Years, 2 months ago i went off them cold turkey, my depression was was never no better my weight was going up and up.depressing me more.
i went to doctors yesterday, i weighed 20st, im now 17,10 lbs, i feel better , phsyicaly, mentally its hell , hard work , with drawl is hard , im getting nightmares , teary eyed, moody, but i was angery more when i took efexor im more relaxed, strange that, i also slow ar reacting to things as if my brain not the same speed as my eyes. The fight continues.....
i went to doctors yesterday, i weighed 20st, im now 17,10 lbs, i feel better , phsyicaly, mentally its hell , hard work , with drawl is hard , im getting nightmares , teary eyed, moody, but i was angery more when i took efexor im more relaxed, strange that, i also slow ar reacting to things as if my brain not the same speed as my eyes. The fight continues.....
Hey all I've been trying to get off this **** for ages now (about 2 years) with no sucsess as of yet.
Each time I try I experience the usual symptoms, brain shocks, vertigo, etc and I always end up giving in. I have quit smoking and drinking which was a walk in the park compared to this.
I cant understand why this drug is still allowed to be sold? we should all contact wyeth and demand it's discontinuation.!!!
Sorry, but it gets me so angry, they dont even admit to any withdrawwl effects!!. If I was only aware of this before I started taking it......
If anyone is out there reading this and is about to start effexor then, DONT.
Each time I try I experience the usual symptoms, brain shocks, vertigo, etc and I always end up giving in. I have quit smoking and drinking which was a walk in the park compared to this.
I cant understand why this drug is still allowed to be sold? we should all contact wyeth and demand it's discontinuation.!!!
Sorry, but it gets me so angry, they dont even admit to any withdrawwl effects!!. If I was only aware of this before I started taking it......
If anyone is out there reading this and is about to start effexor then, DONT.
I have been on Effexor XR for 10 years now (wow...) I started when I was 12 and just turned 22... it's been much too long to be on this. Anytime I missed a dose over the years I would experience the brain zaps and nausea. I have tried going off of it a few times but after a couple weeks of horrible withdraw symptoms and returning depression/suicidal thoughts I give in and take a pill. I was on 300 mg a day for several years and in the past year after trying to quit once was at least able to get it down to 150 a day and then to 75 and then skipping a day or two in between. I went for about 5 days without taking any, but then on my birthday felt so horrible that I gave in and took one again. That was Wednesday (the 19th) so it has been 4 days now and the symptoms are intense - which prompted me to seek out this site again.
I haven't seen a psychiatrist in years - my doctor just continues to write my refills.
I need to do this for myself though because besides not wanting to be on medication for the rest of my life due to major childhood depression and the choices doctors made for me when I couldn't understand the side-effects, I simply can not afford the medication anymore - nor can I afford to see a doctor to help me ease off of this.
At this moment I'm pretty scared - but it is good to know others have gone through the same thing. I'm disgusted that neither I nor my parents were ever informed of the withdrawal symptoms - nor were they ever discussed with me throughout my therapy even as the doctor continued to increase the dosage. When he mentioned cutting back once, the withdrawal symptoms were never brought up.
I doubt that anyone looking to start effexor is looking at this site now, but I wish people knew how hard and painful it is to stop before they literally get hooked on it.
If anyone is in the Washinton, DC area, I would love to meet up and form a bit of support network for this. I have told a couple close friends about what I am going through, but not having experienced it themselves it is difficult for them to understand.
Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has shared on here and to the site managers, it is truly a relief to find others going through this.
I haven't seen a psychiatrist in years - my doctor just continues to write my refills.
I need to do this for myself though because besides not wanting to be on medication for the rest of my life due to major childhood depression and the choices doctors made for me when I couldn't understand the side-effects, I simply can not afford the medication anymore - nor can I afford to see a doctor to help me ease off of this.
At this moment I'm pretty scared - but it is good to know others have gone through the same thing. I'm disgusted that neither I nor my parents were ever informed of the withdrawal symptoms - nor were they ever discussed with me throughout my therapy even as the doctor continued to increase the dosage. When he mentioned cutting back once, the withdrawal symptoms were never brought up.
I doubt that anyone looking to start effexor is looking at this site now, but I wish people knew how hard and painful it is to stop before they literally get hooked on it.
If anyone is in the Washinton, DC area, I would love to meet up and form a bit of support network for this. I have told a couple close friends about what I am going through, but not having experienced it themselves it is difficult for them to understand.
Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has shared on here and to the site managers, it is truly a relief to find others going through this.
My doctor put me on a three week weaning schedule to go off my 150 mg of Effexor XR. The first week was ok, but this second week has been awfull. I have been constantly vomiting, extreme aggitation, vertigo, brain shocks you name it. I called my doctor the other day, she said it was not normal to have all of these symptoms going off this medication. Now reading all of your comments I am mad. I heard the withdrawal symptoms could last up to a year, once you quit. I hope not, as I have two babies at home and I was put on this medication for post pardom depression. What can everyone do? I hope it gets better.
I had to go back to the last comfortable dose ( when I wasn't experiencing withdrawal). I couldn't put my family through any more torture. I have ordered a book called "The Antidepressant Solution" that is supposed to help me get of this poison the right way, if there is such a thing as the right way! I just want a dependant free life. To be the person I was before this nightmare began.
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