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Effexor withdrawal symptoms still -- 2 years later??

Could this possibly be the problem?  Can Effexor still be impacting my life a year and a half after withdrawal?

From July 2006 to December 2006 I went through a slow and difficult withdrawal from Effexor 37.5, after being on Effexor for about 10 years or so. I initially went on it just due to depression over a bad job situation; I ended up staying on it because I felt so lousy every time I tried to quite. Finally, I used the program and supplements from theroadback.org faithfully, to help with the withdrawal, and my doctor was aware of the program. I had symptoms I called "wooziness" all during that time. I always had symptoms when I missed a dose by even a couple hours, so I knew it was going to be difficult. But I was determined to stick it out.

I woke up on the morning of November 11, 2006 with a very odd feeling in my head, more dramatic than just "wooziness".  I thought I had slept wrong, and blamed it on doing headstands during yoga the night before. I thought I had messed up my neck.  I saw neurologists, physical therapists, a dizziness specialist (althought it's not really Dizziness and I don't have nystagmus), chiropractors, a neurologist-chiropractor, and even a reflux doc based on the possibiity that reflux was getting up into my ear canal. No relief from anything I've tried.

I continued with the Effexor withdrawal through 2006, thinking if it WAS effexor-related, the best thing I could do would be to finally get OFF the stuff. But...

Over 1-1/2 years later I still have the symptoms I woke up with that day. It is though I have two weights attached to both sides of my head, and when I move, the weights swing and throw me off balance. When I turn my head, it feels llike my brain hasn't caught up. Sometimes it's accompanied by what feels like an intense tension headache. The symptoms are never gone, although they may vary.  I thought for sure it couldn't be Effexor after all this time...

Is it possible I could still be having Effexor-related symptoms?  If so, what the heck do I do now? Should I try to take a low dose (37.5) for a few days and see if it goes away?  If so, at least my question is answered (and not knowing WHAT THIS IS is almost the worst of it). But I'm afraid to swallow Effexor again.  But the symptoms are having, and have been having, a serious impact on my quality of life. I struggle through each day. This has been going on since 2006 and I am SO tired of feeling bad.

Any ideas?  Help. This is crazy. Thanks.

Wendy
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Avatar universal
I screwed up my courage right after my posting and asked my natural doc about going on Fluoxetine (generic prozac) short-term to see if it helped. I started 10 mg daily on July 21 2008. It is now July 31 and I am sad to say it hasn't been helping at all... last night was terrible. Headache pain (temples and even into the jaw), disorientation and wooziness with any head movement whatsoever. The usual stuff, only worse. Gets better if I lie down for a while and rest the head (as usual). So I don't know if I should stick it out a while longer or give up... because since this problem started in 2006 symptoms have waxed and waned repeatedly (though never gone) and despite all my food/exercise/symptom logging I just can't pinpoint any controllable cause. So I'm not positive Fluoxetine is making it worse, since this has happened before. I DO know that exercise seems to make things worse (I used to be in such great shape, now I can barely take a short walk), and I do have adrenal fatigue issues, so I don't know if THAT's a factor... Shees. What a mess I am at 46!

I do take high doses of fish oil now (I don't have the bottle with me, but it's something like 600/500 mg EPA/DHA 3 times a day).

My sympathies to all others who suffer... if I find any solution I will certainly post it...
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Avatar universal
based on what i've heard others say about effexor... i would say, yes, it's possible your symptoms could still be related to effexor.  

the only thing i've heard others say that's helped them with effexor withdrawal is taking a low dose of prozac.  

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