coming off effexor

Since I last wrote to you I have decreased my Effexor from 225mg. to 75mg.  Today is the first day on 75mg.  I am being very careful and not getting excited about anything.  It is so hot here in Calgary today so I am taking it easy anyway but being that it is Friday the 13th I have decided not to drive the car.  I do have a superstition about the 13th.  I will keep you posted. My head feels a bit strange but no buzzing.  Has anyone else come off Effexor???  I was certainly over medicated. WOW.  Have to find another doctor but that is almost impossible in this city.
Calgary 67
Mary Ann

[Venora Moonwind]

Hi ya sis I have been wondering how you are.Other than feeling strange in the head are you feeling ok? any weight loss?
I started backto the gym now that my sternum is healed finnally.I am pretty sore thanks to all the squats and lunges my trainer has me do.I have to use thae hadicap stall in the loo to hold onto the rails so it isnt quite so painfull to sit on the toilet with excruciating pain.LOL
Glad to see your post.
Love Venora

[Nefersetty]

I have been taking Effexor (150 mg) for about a year now (amongst other painkilling meds) and I decided that enough is enough.I got fed up and I stopped taking it.It's been only a week since I don't take it anymore and it's not easy. A lot of unpleasant symptoms came along but I will fight it through.I want to get off of all my other medications as well and I'm terrified at the thought.
Anyway,I will keep you posted about the quest to come off Effexor.

[KateKate]

Hi from New Brunswick........I don't know why in God's name Doctors prescribe Effexor to people.  Trying to get off them is the worse feeling ever, and you think your depressed before you start taking them.....wait till you stop....I have been on them for 10 years.....up to 425 mg, now I am down to 35 mg or something near that,  I am going to loose my frigging mind!!  Head Zaps when I move my eyes left to right, dizzy, sick to my stomach, crying, feel like I am totally loosing it, I can't cope with life and more.............its terrible.  In my past like way way long ago, I tried cocaine, and did it for about 2 months on the weekends.........it was hard not to do this anymore, but coming off the effexor is WAY worse than this bull...........My friend just got prescribed effexor from her DR....she took it for about 2 days and then she called me and told me how sick she was to her stomach.  I asked her what she was taking and she told me............I told her NOT to take that NEVER and go and get a second opionion and get something else......................if you get those head zaps etc....just lay down and don't move your head......look straight ahead and don't move your eyes, and try to remember its all withdrawls.............I am having a hard time right now and I personally want to die, just to make this ****** feeling go away....I don't want to die die.....but you know........I just want it to stop.........i want the depression to stop......................why am I like this..................anyway all in all stay the hell away from EFFEXOR anyone that reads this   PLEASE PLEASE listen to me.....

[KateKate]

FORGOT..................DO NOT DRIVE your vechile when your all dizzy................take an ativain if you can get them........they help with the bad nerve stuff..........not the dizzyness and zaps, but it will be able to help you cope a bit better thru the day....................if anyone out there knows for sure what I can take to make this all go away tell me, and do not tell me to take effexor

[stacyb23]

OMG.......I feel for you so much!! Please hang in there, I myself have tried many different times to come off the medicine and have had the same symptoms.......its a horrible drug and I warn everyone that I can!! I am still on it but am now down to 125mg.......when I miss a dose, it does the same thing as it did when I tried to go off of it! If you miss a dose does it do that to you as well??

[Dee1959]

I logged onto my pc to find some help in my quest to get off Effexor. I was perscribed Effexor for hot flashes. It has really helped. I take 112 mg daily. I have decided to get off the drug because it's not covered on my insurance and becuae the side effects. Tonight, for example I yelled at my kids, and basically lost it. I feel so trapped by this drug and so helpless. I have been having headaches for the past week, and a feeling in my head that feels like lightening bolts. I have flashes of lights in my field of vision and I feel emotionally out of control. I spoke with a friend of mine who got off Effexor by taking up running. The running has taken the place of a life long battle with clinical depression. My friend said that she has changed medications many times throughout her life, but Effexor was the hardest to kick. I just wanted to post a note to you and any one else who may need to know they are not alone, and no, you're not going crazy, it's the drug. I hope we all can make it through our addictions with out losing our minds or killing our kids! :o) kidding.

[jaylare7]

I am taking Efffexor rx 300mg I have been on it for a year. before that i took 150 for three years. If I miss a dose and forget by that evening I am a monster. I become angry to the point that I will strick people break things and do and say things I always regret. By the next day forgetting that I have not taken it my ead is jsut out of it. when i am screaming I am told i sound like a monster. I am not aware of half of what i do and the time line is scrambled. I want to go off it because i do not want to have the episodes anymore. the are unhealthy for me and my family. I am scared and have finally pushed all my family away. I may have been right about the fight but my actions where not. How do I handle this. Help