Getting off Effexor

[umbrabellator]

I have been on Effexor XR since December 11, 2007. I was perscribed this medication for severe depression and anexity related to my soon-to-be-ex-wife booting me out of our home and serving me with papers. I am getting near the end of that process, but have about a month left before the divorce is final.

Anyway, Effexor is a love/hate relationship for me. It is the only med I have ever been on for depression that actually seems to really help elevate my mood. In fact, I would be willing to call it almost a miracle drug for me. BUT every now and again, I will forget to take it. For the last two evenings I have forgotten to take the med. Now, as I sit here and type this, I am horribly depressed and am crying for no real appearent reason--other than the obvious issues that I am facing in my life right now. While I am not suicidal, I am going into and out of very, very severe bouts of depression.

I believe that this is related to forgetting to take the med for the past 48 hours, because it has happened in the past when I forgot to take it.

Effexor scares the H*** out of me, and I really think it would be a good idea for me to stop it and perhaps repalce it with something else. Better yet, I would love to get off these insidious medications altogether.

Can someone offer some advice here? Do I stay on it? Do I get off it now before I end up being on it for years and years (leading to an even harder time getting off of it)?

What should I do here?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Kirk

[lefty1129]

How do I approach my doctor with all of this information-that this is a part of the withdrawl and side effects?  I was on Effexor since August, Cymbalta before that, and the list goes on.  I have had the brain zaps, stuttering, body tremors, mood swings like you wouldn't believe.  Any way.  I'm off Effexor since Sunday (stepped down since 12/22) and had the withdrawl symptoms all the way.  Still feel like ****.  Hoping this ends soon.  I'm tired of the whole kit and kaboodle.

[umbrabellator]

To: Roger: Thank you for your kind words. I actually am in talk therapy and it is helping a great deal. I spoke to my therapist today actually. He suggested that since it seems to be working for me, that I should stay on it until such a time as we can  determine that I am doing well enough to begin tapering it down. My therapist thinks that maybe my dosage (150 mg) may be too high at this point in my recovery.

To: Sarah: Thank you for your kind words as well. Since posting this thread, I am put my Effexor by my contact lens case. I take my contacts out each and every night, so it should be nearly impossible to forget it at this point.

To: Peachsurprize: It is interesting, because like I said, I have a love/hate relationship with Effexor. Frankly, unless I do forget to take the medication for about two days, I have virtually no side effects that I know of. I love with Effexor does for me--it really does take the edge off of the strong emotions I am experiencing right now--but it scares me because of what I have been through when I forget it for a day or two. When it is time to come off of it completely (who knows how long that will be?), I am worried that I won't be able to come off of it. We shall see, I suppose.

Thank you all for your comments so far.

Kirk

[peachsurprize]

DId you know that this drug causes SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS? Sounds like you may be a candidate for a different drug. You forgot to take the medication because this drug makes you forget everything. I left my kid at daycare! Sorry for your rough time, ask your Dr if you can try something new, it may be more effective and less problematic, Im surprized you didnt ask already based on what you said.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I think the best thing you can do for yourself is to stay on the medication but at the same time get yourself into talk therapy.  The medication controls the depression in part by suppressing your sadness.  It does not make the sadness go away.  You are experiencing a profound loss that has some special meaning in your life and the more you come to grips with that through conscious thinking and exploration, the sooner you will be whole again and that is when you can stop your medication safely and comfortably.

[Rahlala]

Hi, Kirk. I really hope I can help you. I am on a few different meds, and it really helps to have a "med set". -It's a plastic container with the days of the week (or month, whichever you purchase), and you set up your meds ahead of time so you don't forget to take them. DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO KEEP YOUR MED SET HANDY. Put it by your toothbrush and toothpaste, put in in the fridge by the breakfast, or keep it on your nightstand, whatever, just see it so you remember to take your meds. :)

Also, in regards to coming off of Effexor, I am also tapering off of Effexor XR. I've seen some of the other posts from people on this site and I have some of the same symptoms. My suggestion would be to talk with the doctor that regulates your psych meds. Be honest in telling him or her that you haven't been consistent in your intake. They won't judge you. They just want to help figure out how to help you! If you love this medicine, then just work on being consistent. If you don't, I fully suggest tapering off of Effexor with Prozac. It is a wonderful drug to couple tapering with, but your doctor will tell you that. It soaks up most of the real side effects that coming off of Effexor dishes out, and trust me, they aren't fun.
It's very important to your health and well being to be consistent with your dosage and intake of your Effexor, Kirk.

I wish you good health!
-Sarah