Effexor Xr Withdrawls

[Kaseykhristine]

What I would like to know is how this ever was approved by the FDA? I took Effexor Xr for two years. I finally came to a point that I wanted to quit. Seeing it has other undesirable effects while on it. Lack of any interest in sex. So I weaned down over a month. Two weeks on 75mg then two weeks of 37.5. The first day wasn't bad but OMG the second day was terrible!!! I had to be taken of my job seeing that I was having dizzy spells, confusion,sick to my stomach, anger, generally disorientated and I couldn't even have a conversation without forgetting what I was saying!!! I have never been a drug user but, this feels like what I would imagine that a addict would feel going through withdrawls. I did read some blogs on people quitting effexor  but I had NO IDEA that it would be this bad. My doctor said I would have to tough it out but when you are prescribed you should be informed of the risks. Doctors should only prescribe this drug to people that are really, really depressed. I wish I never would have taken it. I just don't understand why people aren't better warned.

[JKJ]

hi all....

i cannot count the number of posts i've read here and on other forums about ppl having horrible side effects and/or withdrawal effects of meds to include effexor.  i also took effexor and had similar experiences.  i now refuse to take any ADs.  i've been on so many that i can't even name them all!  the side effects have been terrible as well as the withdrawal effects (and most of them just don't work!)

remember, you are in control of what goes into your body....not some pdoc!  i'm very anti-med because of all i've been through with meds.  i do know that for some ppl that meds do work.

please though...if you are thinking about quitting meds...never, never, ever quit cold turkey...this is a very bad thing.  always seek a 2nd opinion if you are able and want to try other meds...maybe there is something else that can work for you.

i just think these are dangerous chemicals that are way overprescribed.  

[LORDINEEDHELP]

i to was on effxor xr after it replaced the generic prozac at 60 mg went from that to 37.5 to 75mg to 175 mg all with in 5 weeks then he just put me on the new version of effxor called pristiq 50 mg(only fda aproved march 08 scary) i feel worse then ever actually im thinking the meds are causing more issues then they work scared that i wont get my self back to what i was dissy not to mention angry paranoid loss of will to do much of anything i am checking with local hospital to see what to do from here sorry to know your feeling bad if i can help just contact me

[remar]

i totally agree with you, why is this drug still on the market? i had horrible side effects. i even went to a cardioligist because of heart palpitations, they said my heart was fine. then i got on the computer and found other people going through the same problems as me. i decided to quit taking it and went through withdrawal for almost two months. i would just sit and cry in my husbands arms because i was so sick. they need to get rid of this drug as far as i'm concerned. you will get over the withdrawal but taper off the effexor very gradually and it will be easier. remar

[k_diamond2001]

I have been on Effexor for over 2.5 yrs now. I am on the maxed out dosage of 375mg daily in conjunction with Wellbutrin 400mg daily. I am a classic "Depressed" patient with suicidal thoughts and manic emotions. I have complained to my doc about the side effects I have been having. I have had 2 large mental breakdowns while ON this medicine and have also been prescribed other meds for the sleeping issues and severe anxiety. My doc says that there is nothing else he can prescribe me as I need so much. But I have a tendancy to want off of the Effexor. I not intentially with let myselft run out with out calling it in and find myselft going thru the withdrawls. I am wanting so bad to get off of it, I feel like it has made me numb where I was most vibrant. I have a strong personality and enjoy being active. The last six months I can barely leave my house or feel motivated to do anything positive. I have found that I was able to quit smoking while on Effexor but found my addiction was replaced with the food. I have had no sexual problems but for wanting it all of the time and taking a very long time to orgasm while by myself. I have also found that I am very emotionally drained with my kids, one who is bi-polar and 11. I feel she is out to get me have of the time with no space or no obedience. All this I know is not true, but the negative talk that goes thru my mind is loud. Im 30 hours without Effexor still taking the Wellbutrin and I am hesitant to get the prescription filled. I wonder how I will be if I go off and if I am that bad without. Advise would be great. Thanks.

[outofit]

I too feel like the medication and its potential problems were no where near given the attention that it deserves. I am sure some people need something this radical and probably does some people good, but I think it is being passed out way to often to patients with mild to mid levels of depression. This medication ultimately has made my overall existance a grade lower than before. I lost a lot of respect from my Clients and co-workers, whom were not aware of the problems I was having and the measures I was taking to deal with them, just simply because I was starting to appear incompetent with the absent mindedness and intermitant work hours I was starting to keep and the progressively slower responses to work issues. I, like you, for the first time in my life new first hand what it meant to be a junky!!!!!! None of this was presented to me in the insipient stages of the prescibed treatment. There should be an FDA mandated Pre test for Doctors to determine if indeed thier patient truly needs this or not!