Withdrawals from Effexor XR 150mg

[Jan48313]

I've recently been laid off from my employer and my mediacal insurance is ending. I decided to quit taking my effexor xr after discussing it with my doctor. I quit cold turkey about four days ago and feel all the withdrawal symptoms that are described, one side effect that I don't see though is extremely itchy skin. It's bad enough to be dealing with all the bizare dreams, constant dull throbbing pain in my head, fatigue, severe crying episodes, and not wanting to do anything but lay on the couch and sleep, but the itchy skin is making matters worse. Has anyone had this happen to them, and how long will these symptoms last before I should be concerned.

[van_bc_604]

I'm in the same boat.
It's my second day.
I noticed if I start getting stressed or start worrying, withdraw is 100 times worse.
Been keeping myself busy to take my mind of it.
Humour helps. (but it depends if the other guy's a smart ***) lol

[patcoz]

Well, I was forced to break open another pill and start counting beads.  I still count beads, I'm down to 15 or so a day.  This is a nightmare.  I still have dizziness, nausea, and body aches.  Also twitching muscles and spasms.  I've been on it for almost 10 years, so, now, I think that this withdrawal is gonna b a long one.  I don't have the brain zaps as bad, but I'm still weepy at times.  The newest thing is that I am cold, hot, or can't tell.  Also I can never tell when or if I'm hungry.  It's like some of these autonomic body signals aren't working.  I'm very tired.  The weather where I live absolutely *****.  We haven't seen the sun in 4 days, again, and I really notice a difference in my mood when the sun does come out.  I feel way better.  I'm not depressed, but finally sensitive to some of the stuff that I should have been aware of when it was actually happening.  I've learned this:  You can't take pills to stop feeling or cover feelings or assuage feelings.  These feelings are the result of something, and that something and the attendant feelings must be dealt with eventually.  I think it's better to deal with the events and feelings at the time.  Because, you can never run away.  Eventually, you WILL have to deal with your ****.

[bosnianworrier]

I am an effexor user. I am planning to wean myself off but am scared to start by reading all these stories.

Would it help to withdraw if you add another antidepressent that sort of replace effexor until you are completely off of it and then quit the substitute after?

[patcoz]

I think that this must be what it's like for a junkie to get off heroin or something.  Unless you're a rich junkie and can afford to go to one of those places where they put you in a coma until after the withdrawal is over.  I have been weaning myself off Effexor XR since March '09.  I went to my shrink last week and told him I was down to 1 pill (75mg) a day.  I was doing ok, and he said that I was not at a therapeutic level, so I might as well go off it altogether.  This last stretch has been HELL.  Every once in a while, I've been breaking open a pill and taking 1/2 or a 1/4 of a dose up until the last three days, during which I have taken none.  I am barely functional, nauseous, in screaming pain, dizzy, can't read, and the brain "zaps" are constant.  I'm better today than I was yesterday, but every once in a while, I dissolve in tears because of the pain, the illness and the fear that this will go on forever.  I will continue to endure this until it's over, because to succumb and go back to even a few "beads" will only prolong the inevitable.  People must be made aware of the horrors of Effexor withdrawal.  This is a @#$% nightmare.

[rach747]

Just to add to my last post--- my doctor put me on Doxycycline for the staph infection that she diagnosed as folliculitis.  It was definitely connected.  Remember, too, that stress can cause itchy skin rashes that will subside when your stress does, as well.

[rach747]

I came off of Effexor (150 mg from 75 mg) completely cold turkey about 6 weeks ago.  The withdrawals were hell and I also developed a skin staph infection that was itchy all over that came as soon as my dosage had been increased.  Now, after six weeks, I am symptom free, except for the lingering depression, which came on harder and stronger since the withdrawal.  I had EVERY withdrawal symptom that you mentioned and more and it seemed to get worse each day until about the 3 week mark and then it started to get better.  I believe the time frame can vary from individual to individual, but a doctor can prescribe something to help take the edge off of the symptoms if you are able to get to one.  If you have no health coverage, remember that you can go to the E.R. if you are in bad shape and they may be able to prescribe you something to help for the short term.  Good luck and just know it does get better, the clouds do subside and the pain eases over time.

[Hensley258]

What about the new generic form of Effexor XR? Have you looked into that as a less expensive option?

[Jan48313]

The Effexor XR did work great for me, but unfortunately with the loss of my job (being laid-off) comes the loss of my medical insurance which means no rx co-pay. I can't afford it anymore. Thanks and have a great day.

[Hensley258]

I took Effexor at 350Mgs a day for 4 years until it stopped working and had to switch drugs like you are doing now. To do it I got my hands on lower dosage capsules of the Effexor and stepped down 75Mgs every two weeks until I got down to just 37.5 and then did the every other day at 37.5mgs for another couple weeks.

Doing this slow taper took me about 8 weeks to slowly wean off Effexor and even then I still got withdrawls that felt much like your having now.

On a cold turkey stopage like your doing.... It's hard to say some people say three weeks and others say they had withdrawl for 3 months.

I must ask...If Effexor was working to control your depression then why try to swap it for another medication? It kind of like trying to fix a car that isn't broke.

I used to take Prozac and the withdrawl I got from it when I stopped it was no better, nor were the side effects compaired to Effexor.

[lizzibabe]

I'm going through it now. It is literally hell on earth for me. I got myself down to 37.5 ER a year ago from 150....and I was siick to death of the weight gain, sexual side effects, etc. I am a 21 year old college senior and have been on this shyt since 10th grade, or age 15. SO wrong.  I decided I was done. I knew this was gonna suck because Im one of those people who if they forgot their dose the night before would know it the second I'd wake up. UGHHHHH forgot my damn Effexor. So I'd take it, roll over, nap, and then 45 mins later I'd be fine. So here I am, trying to quit cold turkey, and I am STRUGGLING. Cant eat, diarrhea, restlessness, feeling nauseaus, pain everywhere, that "out of body" feeling...liike youre floating on drugs, but its a BAD TRIP. My brain feels like a penny and my head like a tin can and everytime I move I feel my brain being thrashed from side to side. I cry randomly and constantly. Every molecule in my body is screaming at me that something is wrong. But something smaller than a peanut is not going to control my effing life. I want to whoop this things ***! I was just wondering what everyone elses experience going off was...I'm trying the prozac thing and I guess thats helping a little....but how long til I'm done? how long until it doesnt hurt? Ive heard some say up to three weeks...not good to hear on day 3. Any other ideas on makinig it bareable, gettinig it OUT faster? I'd love to hear from anyone.

[Hensley258]

With Effexor it is alway wise to do a slow (very slow and long) taper off program if you should decide to quit.

I have been thru Effexor withdrawl and it ain't fun. The symptoms you described are on target for Effexor withdrawl. Even with a slow taper I still got withdrawls, but not as bad.

[laius]

I quit efexor 150 cold turkey as well but the only withdrawl effect I felt was twitching of the muscles which wasn't that bad. My depression came back though and it became even than before. I think your crying episodes and fatigue are probably a result of your depression returning. I'm not sure about the itchy skin. You should consult your doctor about that.