Side Effects of Getting off Effexor XR

[Berly]

I have been on Effexor XR 75 mg for 12 months.  Two weeks ago I went to my doctor and discussed the possibilty of becoming pregnant in the near future, and if I should get off the medicine first.  He said I need to get off the medicine first, and now for two weeks I've been on 37.5 mg which the Dr. said to do for a month, and after a month go back to decide whether then to get completely off it, or if I should take one every other day.  For the last week, however, I've been having awful muscle cramps and spasms in my legs that are painful, and preventing me from sleeping through the nite. My legs jump at nite and its hard to relax them.  I am using a heating pad and I now take a Tylenol PM at night to help with pain and to help me sleep.  Is this a withdrawal symptom from Effexor?  Thank you.

[WendyCalifornia345]

Hello, I'm glad I found this forum. I have been on Effexor xl for about 4 yrs. I've had terrible bouts with depression while on Effexor, wishing the lord would just take me. When I told my doctor that he just put me on a higher dose.....with no improvement. Anyway, I've been trying to take myself off of it.
I've been taking one every other day. Then last month I quit taking effexor. I had terrible dizziness that would bring on such nausea I felt I would throw up. The whole room would spin (frontword.)This went on for 2 weeks.
I thought maybe I had a brain tumor or something!! Then my dad said maybe I should start the effexor again and see if it's the culprit. Well here I am, no more spins. I've been back on it for about a month.
RANKSTER are you still off of the effexor?? How are you doing?
How long did your symptoms last? How is your depression??
Thanks in advance for letting me share, God bless, Wendy

[Rankster]

I just discontinued taking Effexor XR and it was the most difficult and painful thing I have ever done!  The side effects for me were:  increased depression, confusion, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, and on and on and on...
I am so angry that the drug company (Wyeth) and the doctor didn't know what I was talking about!  How can they not know?  They do clinical trials.  
Just ridiculous!  I signed the petition to have it reviewed by the FDA (I was about # 4,500, so I know I'm not alone).  The only relief I am getting is by switching to an SSRI (Celexa).  I just ate my first meal in three days!  Hopefully, the discontinuation of it will be less disruptive.  So, I say, get off the Effexor, it's bad!

[Rebecca70]

If your interested in how different vitimins, minerals, and amino acids affect the levels of serotonin and other brain chemicals, as well as guidelines for developing your own program. I've found it very interesting and am trying to develop my own program so i can avoid the world of anti-dpressents and hopefully not stay on anti-anxiety meds for too long. I'm not too fond of the side-effects, i'm clumsy enough naturally! ;)

Anyway, There's a free e-book written by an MD that describes all this stuff:
http://www.thewayup.com/ebook/ebook.htm

[lissa7]

Thanks for the reply.It makes sense about mineral loss. I'm a dreadful eater . In the past I could just throw myself into my work and not have these reprocussions. 300mgs of E-XR over a long period probably doesn't help either.I'm looking into the info you gave me.I feel really hopeful... Thanks

[lissa7]

I have been suffering from cramping in the legs as well.The GP said it was due to lack of exercise.Being a devoted E.C teacher I couln't quite understand that diagnosis. Thank you for the suggestion of mineral supplements.

[Rebecca70]

those leg cramps can also result if you exercise a lot and thus sweat a lot... that was my problem. not too much exercise though, just not taking enough minerals, esp Poatissium. I've heard that potasium supplements can be hard to come by in the USA, something about if you take insanely HUGE amouts in can be toxic. Bananas and Papayas are among the highest i believe, and its found in many friuts. here's a complet list:

http://www.essense-of-life.com/info/potassiumfoods.htm

I work-out(weight-training, running, etc) 5-6 days a week for at least 2 hours a day- So I both sweat a lot and drink loads of water. This really flushes the minerals out of your body. So i've found it nessesary supllement my diet with a lot of miniarals.

hope it helps you out. those leg cramps are absolute hell!