Effexor : withdrawl § depression - how do you know what is what?

[vaappe]

I have been on taking Effexor since late December 2004, after a work related "burnout" which led to zero energy, anxiety and eventually depression.  I reacted very well to the meds, despite being very sensitive to them.  I had to start on only about 10mg, and I only ever went up as high as 75mg - after a month of slow increases.  Psychologically, I rebounded almost immediately, and have been supporting my recovery with job changes, CBT, yoga, quitting smoking and a lot of rest and relaxation.

In May 2004 I began to reduce my dosage, with my therapist & doctor’s blessing.  I did it very slowly, with medical supervision. After 8 weeks, I was off of Effexor completely, having suffered very few/mild withdrawal symptoms.  Unfortunately, after about 2 weeks of being off them, I suddenly experienced extreme anxiety, irritability, depression and even self-harm fantasies, which I have never experience before in my life.  I had been tracking my mood using a CBT quiz, and therefore was able to monitor this change.  Both my doctor and therapist suggested I go back on. I starting taking a very low dose (alternating between 1/4 & 1/2 of a 37.5 tablet), and felt better almost immediately. Since then, I take either 10 or 18.75mg every day or other day.  

So now, I feel great - happy with my job, my life, my relationships, my future, and naturally, I want to GET OFF Effexor!  But each time I try to reduce the dose, or even go a day or so without taking it, not only do I experience headaches, nausea, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, but I also get the anxiety, irritability and end up very very sad.  Intuitively, I think these must be withdrawal symptoms rather than actual underlying conditions.  But, the trouble is, the moment I start to experience them, I am too low to rationalise suffering through it. Instead, in my anxious/depressed state, I panic, and think: “I am not really well after all, it is all an illusion  based on the medication, and I will be stuck on them for the rest of my life." And I think: "If I don't go back on the meds I am going to get worse/more depressed and go crazy and die,” so I start taking the Effexor again.  Once back on the medication, I feel fine again - and start to fret about getting off.

Meanwhile, I regularly hear on the news (especially here in the UK) about the risks of ADs - increased risk of suicide, damages to the immune systems, metabolism, and of course difficult withdrawal. All this makes me more determined to resolve this situation.

Do you have any sound advice (besides speaking to my therapist or doctor, which I do regularly)?  How can I get off the medication for once and for all? How can I know if I am suffering withdrawal or still suffering depression?  Are these common experiences?  If I do persist through the withdrawal depression – how long could I expect it to last? Any insight would be so very helpful!  I think if I can understand this phenomenon I am more likely to get over that final hump.  Thanks!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I have some insights that might help, but not knowing you, all you get here is an educated guess, so here it is.  It sounds to me like you begin to have a withdrawal effect that would probably be tolerable as long as done slowly as before, but you panic and read too much into these symtpoms, and project them into the future as everlasting, and ever intensifying.  In that way, you catastrophize, and your symptoms become intolerable because of this added, and incorrect, interpretation.   Next time you try, keep this in mind, expect your panic and catastrophizing, but be aware of it and ride that part through. You can also discuss this phenomenon with your therapist.

[Godsgrace]

I was on Effexor 150 for 16 months and today was my first day of not taking any.  I weaned myself off with my dr's permission, 1week of 75 and then 1 week of 37.5.  Today I felt very dizzy, nauseated, and had hot flashes all day.  I am praying that they are temporary withdrawal symptoms and that they will not last long.  I had nausea throughout the 16 months, however, I could live with it versus living the hell that I was experiencing before th Effexor.  I lived 3 months of pure hell prior to the Effexor,  anxiety, depression, insomnia, agrophobia, it was horrible.  I believe mine was brought on by the loss of my mother and a pregnancy that made my hormones to crazy.  I lost the baby which added to the depression.  I like you, felt better with the Effexor, however, it took me a month to start feeling better.  I pray that my dizziness is temporary, I do not want to go back on the Effexor.  I pray that God will bless you and have mercy and favor towards you and all those suffering with anxiety and depression.  Physicians and medications are helpful but I believe ultimately God sees us through, although it is difficult to understand why we have to go through this...  I also started taking something natural called "Peace of Mind" to calm my moods, it is by BeautiControl.  I will let you know how this works for me.  Blessings to you...

[goldiealg]

I think many doctors and patients get confused when diagnosing and medicating SITUATIONAL Depression and Anxiety.  I just withdrew from Zoloft and Klonipin (over the course of 2.5 months) and feel SO MUCH better.  When I was originally prescribed this **** 4 years ago, I was in a bad work situation.  My doctor was confused by the side effects (thinking I was chemically depressed) I was having and prescribed even more medicine even after I found a new job....I wasnt depressed anymore, but she kept treating me like I was...It is well worth the discomfort of withdrawl and I now feel even more able to handle the lows that are basically a normal part of life... Get out side of yourself, take it easy and know it is better to feel feelings than to be on drugs! (even if they are negative feelings).  All your symptoms will go away.  Give yourself time and dont be so hard on yourself.  Exercise, eat, and treat yourself to a new outfit (or whatever, shopping helps most women in the attitude department...lol)

[mandi1976]

I just started Eff. 37.5 and slowly upping the dose in time.  I have been on Lexapo for 2 years prior. Any one have any issues while switching? I'm scared Sh*tless of withdrawls! LOL

[MicahE]

My name is Micah and I've been on Effexor XR 150mg for about a year.  I'm having some side effects from it and want to get off of it.  I was put on it after my divorce, but no longer believe I need it as I've now found someone who makes me very happy and my life is much better.  My last does was on Thursday morning and today is Monday.  I have been sick since yesterday afternoon.  My head is "soggy" as someone else described, I didn't sleep last night because of hallucinations and nightmares, and today I've begun feeling nauseated.  I ready where someone opened up the capsule and removed some of the medication.  I'm going to take some of the medicinate out of a capsule and take one so maybe I'll feel a little better by late this evening.  Does anyone know, though...is nausea as withdrawal symptom?  I'm also having some sinus issues and am trying to separate the symptoms for each......  And...any other suggestions on getting off the drug other than switching to another drug?  Thank you for all your good comments on this site!!!

[pmmk2s]

Please Help!! I am desperately trying to get off Effexor, and feel as if I  am going to end up in an insane asylum.  Does anyone know how long it takes to get out of your system.  I was on Paxil for about 5 years ( I was diagnosed with MS and automatically got put on anti depressants), then I attempted to get off the Paxil and almost killed my husband as well as anyone who had come on my radar, so I was switched to Effexor(75mg), but I want out., I have attempted to wean myself off, but opening the capsules and emptying about half of the medication out.  Initially I was OK, now I am nasty, argumentative, and cry for no reason at all.

[sandy mae]

Hi there all. I have been reading the posts but have only now been able to write something. It is very late here and I am sleepy and must go to bed because I have work early tomorrow morning, but I wanted everyone to know that I have had one nasty time with Effexor XR. I will tell you that you will get better, you will "get back to your normal self". It took me almost 2 months and I am still a little out of it, but 95% back to being me. I thought that I was going to loose my mind and my body. My doctor would not even believe me that I was having all these crazy medical problems. He even told me to get back on the drug and take more of it. He told me that if I insisted on staying off that it was for sure going to get worse before it got better. And then, of all things----he told me that if I had no plans of getting on some kind of drug for depression then I should leave my husband. Great bedside manner don't you think. And I don't even have depression--------I have anxity problems. Like I said, I am not 100% yet, but I am well on my way. I feel that I have been through so much stuff-----I just can not believe it. Its really crazy that "they" would put something like this on the market. Anyway, my reason for writing tonight is in the hopes of letting anyone know that "you will be OK". You can get through this. It took alot of self control, alot of love of self and alot of God -------mostly God, to get me through this.   I hope to get to talk to some of you later.
God bless all of you. Be kind to yourself------all this junk that you are going through is not your fault and it is real and you will get through it.
God bless----sandy

[ricespice]

Gosh..I can't believe that my doctor put me on 75mg straight away. No wonder I ended up throwing up for a day. The physical discomfort really motivated me to seek alternative treatment before I take more pills.