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Coming off effexor

I ran out of Effexor and have not had one for four days, my doctor suggested cymbalta since I have  degenerative ostorarthritis, it might help with the pain so I thought I would just get the cybalta in a couple of weeks then start taking that but I am having withdrawals from the Effexor,what to do ?
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1110049 tn?1409402144
Oh for a doctor to say learn to live with it is so wrong.  Pain can drag us down so much.  I have pain and depression.  Like Paxiled said, can be difficult to control the pain but taking anti depressants for it, is not really the answer, because then we have the problem of side effects, or withdrawals.

There are so many people with pain, and also with depression.  I am trying to control my pain in as many ways as I can.  At the moment, I have a TENS machine on my back.  I bought it at a reasonable price, and it helps a bit.  I also have a freezing gel that I spread on my painful back, and that too helps to a certain extent.  I would try anything for some pain relief.  I don't like taking strong pain killers, but that is a personal choice.  

It is a personal choice, and I do hope you find some pain relief.  

Take care, and keep in touch.  Bless those dogs of yours. I hope they give you some comfort.  

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I know I didn't think I would, but at 68 what the heck I just don't want to suffer anymore than I have to, I have three rescue dogs I have to care for, I hate not being able to do what I have always wanted to do, my life now is pretty much staying home, going to the grocery or drug store and I do go to a good Church, but not being able to walk and lift and etc. it is not the same.  I hope you do better and your regime works well for you.  I am doing better but still not back to where I want to be. and then if I ever have to get off Cymbalta, the same thing.  I keep putting off surgery, the doc. says I need both hips replaced, just waiting!
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Avatar universal
Me too, though my pain was caused by a terrible reaction to coming off one of these meds and I haven't slept well or relaxed since.  I'm a mess of pain, keep getting new injuries.  So I understand.  But I would never go on an snri for it, that's just trading difficulty for difficulty.  But that's just me.  Obviously people do very well on these meds, it's just the coming off that's so difficult.
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Avatar universal
You know you might be right I have been on Cymbalta now for a week and the pain is worse than when I was on Effexor, it may take longer, but I do know coming off the Effexor was not fun without the clonidine prescribed by my doctor it would have been worse, I do not like taking medicine either I am 68 years old and have been basically a healthy person except for high blood pressure and high cholesterol until I turned 65 and starting hurting and was told I have all these bone and joint problems, the doctor just said learn to live with it. I could not. I hurt constantly.
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1110049 tn?1409402144
My goodness, you have such a lot to contend.  I am so sorry.  Yes such a lot to take in, and so life changing for you.  

No you didn't make a mistake about the medication.  You did not know.  What are you taking now for the pain?  Have you seen a specialist for your problems?  Is it them who prescribed the Effexor.  They obviously thought it would help you.  Are you getting much withdrawal now?  

Daily pain is so debilitating, I know.  I try to keep going as best I can, but I can understand why it is so difficult for you.  

We never know what life is going to throw at us do we?  How are you managing with your life now?  Are you very restricted in daily activities?  You do sound very positive.

I am not a very positive person, and depression has taken a lot away from me.  But we have to keep going.  I have young grandchildren I want to watch grow up, and I will be strong for my family.  I don't want to be too clingy.  

Take care and let us know how you get on.
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Avatar universal
Thanks Maddie44 for the response. yes loneliness is bad, I have been with my husband over 35 years and am still as lonely as ever, I have regrets, as a younger person, I worked every day, I was in shape and relatively, after retiring, two years ago I began to hurt just about every day, and was told I have osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, sciatica, bone on bone pretty much everywhere, I have also been told I need both hips replaced, all of this after feeling pretty good for 65 years, a lot to take in, to not hurt and have arthritis is something people should be very thankful for.  I will make it, I made a mistake about the medicine but will try to do better.  
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1110049 tn?1409402144
hello there.  I am 73 years old and have been alone for 26 years.  Loneliness is one of the worst things I have to deal with.  I had depression for all that time, and it is only 8 months ago when I stopped the Effexor with my doctor's help.  It was she who suggested it, and as I said, it took 10 months to withdraw, but I did not have any symptoms of withdrawal.  I would have to be really ill to go back on an anti depressant.

Like I said, I also have osteoarthritis, and it has been very painful lately.  Although the doctor prescribed a pain killer, and I asked for a weak one, it still had codeine in it, and that too can be addictive, so I am inclined just to take over the counter pain killers.  I am seeing a physiotherapist at the hospital at the moment, and recently saw an osteopath.  I do exercise they showed me, and I think if you can deal with the arthritis like this, it would be better than taking Effexor, because of the withdrawal symptoms.  I did not even realise that Effexor was prescribed for arthritis pain.  

I am also on the Arthritis site here, and don't know if you have tried that.  The rheumatologist I saw at the hospital referred me to the hospital physiotherapist, and also offered steriod injections, which I refused.  I hope you hope your doctor has referred you to the hospital to see a rheumatologist who will deal with the arthritis pain.  

Let us know how you get on
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Avatar universal
Go back on the Effexor and taper off very slowly if you need to.  However, I'm not sure Cymbalta is better for pain control than Effexor anyway.  Cymbalta is the same class of medication and got certified by FDA for pain control to keep its patent alive longer, but it doesn't treat the source of pain, it just makes people not care as much.  I believe the successor drug to Effexor, Pristiq, has also gotten certified for this purpose, so again I'm guessing that Effexor may be just as effective at controlling pain.  Now, I don't think using these drugs is a good idea for pain because they interfere with the absorption of magnesium, so eventually many people taking these meds experience additional pain, and then if you have to stop taking them it's very very difficult, and even more difficult for people who are in pain.  What I'd find out is whether switching to Cymbalta and going through the difficulty of quitting Effexor, which seems to be working for you, will actually be any better at pain treatment.  This is something I'd want to know first.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the feedback, I never knew about the withdrawal either, you are right the Doctors need to let us know before they give them to us, I had been on Prozac a good while back and when I stopped it never seem to bother me, something is missing in my brain and I may need antidepressants for the rest of my life I just need a good doctor who will tell me what is expected.
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3605625 tn?1385017548
I was on Effexor for 3 years, and coming off it was physically horrible! I got really angry, had dizzy spells and 'brain zaps' and would get really light headed. I reckon I started feeling more normal again after about a month. I have promised myself never again to get on anti depressants! Even though they work great at times when it's needed, I don't think doctors inform us enough of how hard it is to get off them with the horrible withdrawal side effects. But stay strong, ride it out, you will get through this!
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the feedback, my doctor sent  clonidine to help with the
withdrawals, second day, hope it works I take one a day for two weeks, I feel like I might be going crazy, my dad had a nervous breakdown in his 40's and committed suicide at 72, I am now 68, just real anxious, marriage not great, life.  I will try and hold on and hope things settle down, just hate this feeling.
Helpful - 0
1110049 tn?1409402144
Effexor is difficulot to withdraw from without side effects.  I stopped cold turkey once, but last time it took me 10 months to withdraw.

As you have already stopped, perhaps you can ride out the withdrawals, but they may go on for some time.  I too have osteoarthritis, but I do not take anti depressants now, just pain killers.  I had really bad depression for many, many years, and now I am getting old, there is quite a lot of other things to contend with.  But I am lucky that I am not on any prescribed medication.  The doctor recently gave me pain killers with codeine in them, but I hardly ever take them, as can be addictive, and as I withdrew from the anti depressant, did not want to get hooked on a drug again.  I hope things work out for you, but your could get brain zaps and all sorts of other things whilst you are withdrawing from the Effexor.  

Let us know how you get on.  Take care.
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