weaning off Effexor XR

[cupcake12]

I'm weaning off Effexor XR I'm now on 75 with my Dr's help but my arms, hands, legs & feet have started aching and paining,  the last time I got off this I did it very slowly but I had severe aches & pains in the limbs and the Dr said my brain was not producing norpinefrine so I needed to go back on it,  I did and the pain went away.

[cupcake12]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences & knowledge with me,  it is very very comforting to hear about other peoples experiences and their knowledge when you're the only one you know on them and things are looking and feeling very scarey to you.

[Hensley258]

I hear a lot of people saying that their P-docs never mentioned the withdrawl issues to them before prescribing Effexor. I must be one of the lucky few because several years ago when I started Effexor my Psychiatrist told me about this in good detail.

I haven't been on Effexor in a few years (Tri-cyclic now) but stopping was a rough time for me too. I would say of all the AD meds that I discontinued taking, Effexor was about the worst in the withdrawl department. Zoloft also gave me a lot of nausia when I stopped it. I think most of these drugs give you at least some withdrawl when stopping.

When I was tapering off Effexor I also got some of what I can only describe as bone pain.
It was an ache that felt more in my bones than in my muscles.

[cupcake12]

Thank You very much for your support!

[Katijanae]

I went off Effexor a few years ago, and did experience some nerve pain in my hands and feet, and some surface numbness in my face.  Those symtoms lasted for about 8 weeks, but they did eventually go away.  I have heard of others who had similar symptoms.  There are a number of people who need some kind of antidepressant in order to keep their body chemistry from contributing to depression.  I think the reason you don't know of anyone else who takes them is that all too often people don't want others to know that they are struggling with depression.  This is a good place to meet supportive people.  
Hang in there.  It's going to get better,
Katijanae

[cupcake12]

Wouldn't you think the Flippin Dr would tell us this kind of stufff I never had any problems of any kind getting off of Prozac after about 10 ys of being on it.  This is a new and very scarey thing,  I don't know of  anyone else that even takes Ad's except me.  Thank goodness for you people.

[cupcake12]

Thank You so much for supporting me.  I would love to be off ADs but don't know if it will work out or not but I feel like if I don't try staying off them then I won't know.  Is the legs,arms,hands & feet ache & pain a normal thing when trying to get off this med?

[Hensley258]

I am guessing that your trying to get off Effexor because it is no longer working well enough to control your depression and anxiety?

If so you can expect to get moderate to severe withdrawl symptoms that can last from 1 to 3 months even after the taper off is complete. Obviously this withdrawl can be much less severe and much shorter if your are simultainiously starting another AD medication.

Are you done with AD meds or are you switching to another?