im in hell

ive been on effexor 75 for 11 yrs now and had to quit cold turkey 72 hrs ago....i feel like im having an out of mind experience...is my withdrawls going to be worse than others since ive been on this so long???

any advice would be great cuz i feel like im at deaths door..scared to the bone.

[spikerusty]

From what i've read there indeed seems to be some mixed message and disparities regarding effexor withdrawal and whether they are indeed worse than SSRI or other anti-depressant withdrawal. Owing to being on the meds for some length of time this will have to be taken into account with respect to you coming off them as can i say that stopping so abruptly is fraught with difficulties for you.

i'm no Doctor but from experience I'd see about getting some meds back into your system again as I'd recommend re-starting the meds.If you are wishing to come off your meds or change them only do this after through and honest discussion with your GP or those involved with your care. Serotonin discontinuation syndrome is'nt pleasant by any means with the Zaps and everything as been round the mill a few times, once in a foreign country and running out of meds which was'nt pleasant i assure you. I know you won't want to hear this but it does indeed eventually pass, although it takes months and much perserence to get there.  I'd suggest tappering down to suit you as everyone's different with respect to how the medication works upon them as i this worked with myself with having short courses of diazepam. At the end of the day i don't know why indeed your wishing to come off them so abruptly but i think that your asking for trouble. Be good to yourself.

[weaveme]

Did you have to quit for some reason or decided to quit?  Either way you should consult your GP because quitting cold turkey from any antidepressent drug will be horrible and from what I read even dangerous.  Please consult a professional so you can get some relief!

[dwt7let]

My Dr's took me off this horrible drug and put me into cold turkey by giving me another that works on a different part of the brain. I have been having withdrawals for 5 and a half months and counting, they did die down so it must be on it's way out but now I am
hormonal palpitations are back.Ths drug is fat soluable so stays in your system along time thats why withdrawals take so long depending how long you were on it, everyone is different. I was on 75 mg's for 2 years and 150 mg's 6 years.
Going cold turkey is really hard you feel like your dying palpitations, agitation, nausea, the runs every morning. You just can not function in the morning put then it gets abit better you do your not ill all day symptoms will die down. But it is not an easy ride you carn't function, I feel for you because I know the distress it causes. I  aain a support group caledd CITA they and my famly have been my life line.