I stopped Effexor XR 75mg 11 weeks ago... I stopped cold turkey. I took this drug for over 10 years at varying doses - mostly 150 mg...
I was unable to work for almost 4 weeks due to the severe symptoms that it seems like everyone experiences (brain zaps, extreme irritability and crying spells, headaches, flu like aches, inability to concentrate etc etc)
After the first month or so, it seemed like I was finally stabilizing. I have good weeks at a time but there have been several periods of 3-5 days where it seems like the anger, irritability, crying and sadness for no reason wash over me and I can not control it then it seems to subside again and I feel stable again.
Has anyone experienced this? I am wondering HOW LONG I can expect this to continue? MD's just want to put me on another antidepressant and I am NOT willing to do that. It seems like if I just knew how long this will continue and I could see an END POINT, I could deal with it better.....
I am 48 and have been post menopausal for 3 years... I am wondering is this menopausal stuff that the effexor kept me from experiencing?? or is it remaining symptoms of the effexor discontinuation??? At what point can a person determine that it is NO LONGER discontinuation symptoms and that you need an antidepressant to stabilize mood? 3 months, 6 months, 1 year??????
Any replies and or information will be greatly appreciated!!!!!