Effexor

[BonnieH]

   Allmost Three weeks ago, I had elective cosmetic surgery. About 4-5 weeks prior I had  to gradually go off my 75mg.of Effexor because the surgeon said it could cause bleeding. I started back on the Effexor Jan. 19, and I was on 37.5 for a couple of days, and then just went back to 75mg. until February 3rd. because my doctor said I was raising up too fast, because I am very anxious,adjitated, and depressed. I feel horrible. He also has me take .o5 xanax am and pm ( I also take ambien ) Is there anything that would help me better. A friend told me to check to see if Klonapin would help me  instead of the xanax. How long does it take before the effexor starts to help again ? The xanax is only tempoary until the effexor kicks in, but can't xanax cause more depression ? I feel very alone even around people, and I don't even want to go anywhere, but i also don't want to be alone because I feel so scared. Is the normally the way this medication works, I been on it for about 7 years, after breast cancer. Please let me know, I need words of encouragement. When will I feel good again ?   Thank you for your quick response. Bonnie

[mommalisa]

There is an online petition that helped me sort through some of these reactions to Effexor and its withdrawal. Read some of the thousands of entries and see if you recognize anything.
P.S. I missed my first period in 34 years (without pregnancy and breast feeding) and thought that I was starting menopause turns out I was starting effexor..
Also diagnosed with Type II diabetes, also could be a side effect. Two attempts at withdrawal for me included my only two involuntary commitments to mental wards.
I think I am turning out to be the sane one, especially now that I am finding out that so many others are having these weird symptoms. Dr. said it wasn't from the meds, but she also abruptly dropped me from treatment when I was released last week from the hospital where I refused all psych meds and suffered the first week of complete withdrawal.
You can also read some of the govt. medical resources and find that these drugs are all being reevaluated and warnings increased for side effects and difficult withdrawal.

http://www.petitiononline.com/effexor/petition.html

[sky74]

can you go to a lower dose first like 37.5?if you have a daycare how many others do you care for a day?I have a 14, 9, 6&4year old plus own and run a daycare & preschool so i know its realy hard .the children are there and you are so sick it has been a very hard time for me .many managing the mood swings.the little ones want to know why iv been so sick.
good luck!!!!

[Myboyzmom]

Oh thank god for the internet!!  I am so glad I found this site.  Today is my 3rd day off effexor.  I began about 6 months ago taking 75mg per day and after about 4 months I felt like it wasnt working anymore so the Dr increased me to 150mg per day.  I hated the way I was feeling (numb, no emotions) so I thought I would go off of it and try to deal with life on my own.  Yuck!!  I feel sooo wacked out in the head!  Yesterday, day 2, I was ok, just kinda icky in my belly but today I am feeling really shakey and my shoulders are tired even as I am typing right now.  I was extremely hungry earlier and ate like a cow but now I am sick and feel I could puke at any time!  Also, whenever I stand up or move fast I have this power surge in my head, teeth and fingertips that lasts for about 15-30 seconds but this is freakin me out pretty bad.  If this med makes you feel this crapy after only 3 missed doses then I am sooo glad I decided to go off of it, this is so strange.  I have never been one to be under the control of anything and even gave up smoking with no trouble but this is something else!  From what I have read I will probably get worse before I get better, can anyone please tell me what else to expect and how long does all this last?  I work from home (daycare) and have a 13yo and 2yo of my own!  Yep I am crazy which is probably what started me taking this junk to start with hu?!?  Please reply soon.

[sky74]

its been 2 weeks since my last pill ! i feel like i have woke up .i have lost 2 full years of my life. i started to feel so great and, bam a sinus infection ear infection and dehydrated.now after reading forums im wondering if this is going to be a new problem.i wish everyone good luck its hard!

[beanie12003]

TO DeBacker-  i just read your post about the "wah wah" sensations and that made me laugh b/c that is how i describe it too.  And, interestingly enough I have had sinus/cold trouble that will not go away, as well.  
As I sit here, I have a kleenex up my nose (though when i stand up, my nose will become clogged). I have to breathe out of my mouth at night b/c my nose is completely clogged- not with snot but its like the sides of it have grown together.
I'm basically a walking mess. my husband never liked the idea of me being on any meds, and now he is really worried since basically every day he comes home to a cluttered dark dungeon and me in bed. nice life, eh?
i did manage to make dinner last night, so thats something, right?

[beanie12003]

I am so glad i came across this site today.  I  have been on effexor XR for about a year- highest dose in was at 375 (yes, i know...) so i started Wellbutrin XL 3 months ago and am up to 400 mgs of that. So i started tapering off my Effexor ...down to 75....no troubles at all. went from 75 to 0..bad idea. Started 37.5 for a week, per Dr.  Stopped 37.5 down to none last Saturday and let me tell you....

I am miserable.  I can not describe the weird feelings and withdrawal symptoms to do them justice. I just read about 10 posts from this site about withdrawal from Effexor and it feels so good to know i am not going crazy.  YES! when i move my eyeballs I get a ZAP to the brain.  When i stand up, I get a ZAP.  i have cried 2x this week (last time about an hr ago) for no reason.  I started feeling nauseous today. I have been totally off for 6 days and the last 2-3 days have been worse than the others!  i can not get anything done- off balance, dizzy and all zappy in the head. i actually fell over when getting in the fridge for a pickle.

Spoke to the pharmacist and she said to take  1/2 of my granules in the 37.5mg.  I did not want to b/c i want  to be off this med!!  but i finally took them about 30 mins ago. some posts i read said they felt normal again in a few hours. I am praying this is so for me, as the in-laws are coming in town tomorrow and i am seriously retarded right now.

I am so glad everyone is sharing his/her experiences with this drug. BTW- even at that high of a dose, i was still about 75% of my normal self. The day after I took my first Wellbutrin 100mg, I felt about 85% and now at 400mgs, i hope to feel good again as soon as i get over this horrible Effexor withdrawal.

Thanks for listening-
E