Effexor XR Withdrawl

[lynn915]

Does Effexor XR increase or block serotonin?

[justme231]

Effexor is an NSRI - stands for neuro-serotonin re-uptake inhibitor.  It actually increases serotonin levels.  are you having withdrawal symptoms?  If so, how much were you on and at what rate did you come off of it?

[Hensley258]

Effexor (Venlafaxine) is classified as a SNRI. (Selective Neurephineferine Reuptake Inhibitor)

It's method of action is to slow the Reuptake of the Neurotransmitter Neurephineferine.
By slowing this reuptake process in the brain, more Neurephineferine is left in stasis between the brains neuro pathways. This keeps more of your brains naturally generated Neurephineferin from being absorbed (Reuptake) thus keeping higher levels in areas of the brain where they work best to improve mood, well being, Focus, ect...

Effexor does not in itself prompt your brain to make "more" Neurephineferine. It simply allows your brain to utilize what Neuroephineferine is already there to better effect.

Effexor also has some SSRI properties to it such as drugs like Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac have, but to a much lesser extent.

It is a very common mis-understanding that Antidepressant drugs artifically boost chemicles in the brain like, Serotonin, Neurephineferine, Doapamine, ect. The reality is that they don't work like that. Rather they take a more "back door approach" to adjust the levels of these neurotransmitters.

There are drugs that take a very direct approach at flooding the brain with Serotonin, Neurephineferine, and Doapamine. Drugs such a Cocaine, Exstacy, and Heroine are excellent at directly flooding the brain with these feel good neurotansmitters. Problem with that approach to treating Depression..... Well, I'm sure you can imagine the problem of treating depression with those kinds of drugs.

[lynn915]

Thank You for your reply.  I am trying to understand what exactly Efferor XR does or does not do.  I have tapered myself off of this drug.  I started the process in January of this year, 450mg per day then - to 75mg per day - until 0mg 7 days ago.  It has been THE WORST experience of my life to date.  The one thing that I want GONE are the "Brain Zaps".  I have read that Effexor increases serotonin,  I've been told that Effexor blocks serotonin.  If it increases serotonin in the brain, then by not taking the Effexor my brain is re-adjusting to normal serotonin levels?  Is this the reason for the "Brain Zaps"?  Or, does Effexor block serotonin?  

I used to feel like a relatively intelligent person, now I have trouble keeping my thoughts straight.  I do hope this will correct itself in time. Please forgive me if I am not understanding what you are trying to explain.

[Hensley258]

I took 300Mgs of Effexor for about 4 years. It is hard to get off because of the Withdrawl, but I can tell you where you went wrong with your discontinuation process.

You had the right idea about tapering off, but your method was way to steep and fast.

If I could finnaly get off a high dose of Effexor that I took for many years then I know you can too. Here is the method that worked for me......

First question... Are you going to be swaping the Effexor for another AD medication?

[lynn915]

I have absolutely no plan to ever take another prescription drug!  This has been such an eye opening experience.  When you think of the trust that you put into the doctors that prescribe these prescription drugs.  I don't think any of them have a clue what these things do to a person.  I would love to take a ZAP GUN to all of their heads!!  I'm not a violent person, I promise.  The thought of a doctor being allowed to prescribe a drug to a patient when that doctor has No F******ing idea what this drug is capable of doing... well, don't get me started.  It's just infuriating.

I have learned in the last week that I should have tapered off slower.  I haven't taken Effexor for 7 days now.  Each day has gotten a little better.  The brain zaps are still very bad.  I have been in bed for 7 days.  The only relief I get is when i'm laying down.  I only get up to go to the bathroom, then right back to bed.  How long does this zapping last?
Is there something, besides another drug, that will make it stop?

[Hensley258]

Nothing that I know of to stop the withdrawl symptoms. For me it took about 3 months before the brain zaps subsided.

You just have to taper very slow. I used a 3 month taper off method. Even when I got down to only 37.5Mgs per day I took that amount every other day for the last two weeks before stopping. By doing that method I was feeling better by the 2nd or 3rd month.

I'm sure the fact that at the end of my taper I also started a new AD med also helped.

[lynn915]

Why did you start taking a new AD med?  

I spent all day yesterday searching the internet for something to make these Brain Zaps go away.  On one forum, I don't remember which one, someone said they tried Claritin D.  I couldn't find any scientific research why an allergy medication could help with antidepressant withdrawls, but I was desperate.  My husband went to the store and got some for me.  I took it last night at about 10:00.  In the first half hour, I thought I made a mistake.  It seemed to get worse.  About an hour later I got up, when downstairs to get something to drink, and I started crying.  The Brain Zaps were GONE!  They were just gone.  I don't know why or how this could happen by taking Claritin D, I don't care, I am just so thankful that they stopped.  I didn't know how long it would last, again, I didn't care.  Getting relief for a few hours was wonderful.

Today when I got up, the zapping was there again, not as bad as yesterday (although, every day has gotten a little better).  I took another Claritin D and the zapping went away.  I hope this continues to work, because the thought of having Brain Zaps for the next 2 to 3 months was just more than I could handle.  Actually, the thought of having to deal with this for another week was too much.

Thank You for your responses, they have been helpful and I have looked forward to each one.  I will continue to post with my progress.