Currently experiencing withdrawal side effects of Effexor XR

[mack97]

I have been on 75-150 mg of Effexor XR for a little over a year now.  About 4 months ago my hair started falling out in clumps, so my doctor wanted me to stop taking the Effexor cold turkey (I am not taking any other meds).  I asked if I could be weaned because I heard of the nasty withdrawal side effects, but he said that it would make no difference.  This is my 4th night off the drug, and I am losing my mind.  I am constantly seeing things moving out of the corner of my eyes (although nothing is there), and hearing the most horrible noises, especially when I move my eyes or head, and I have never screamed so much in my life as I have the past 3 days, (literally - it stops the noises for a while). I am hot, then I'm cold; I can't stop crying; I am shivering like I have the flu; I can't seem to remember how to breathe. I called my doctor today to see what I can do to relieve myself of the symptoms until the withdrawal passes, and he said to go back on the Effexor.  I am terrified of going back on.  Please tell me there is something I can do.  My doctor is not helping me.  How long will this last?  I'm very scared. Once it is over, what can I go on that does not have withdrawal side effects?  I can't go through this again.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The best thing to do is to go back on and get rid of your acute symptoms, then gradually wean yourself of it over a 3-4 week period, at the end of which you will not have any withdrawal.

[mack97]

How would you suggest to gradually wean?  Last night I dumped out half of my 75mg capsule (and I feel much better).  Should I continue that way, or should I go every other day?

[live2love]

i am also going through the withdrawl symptoms of effexor.  over the past 6 weeks i have been tapering off from 150 mg.  2 days ago i went of completly after being on 37.5 for 3 weeks.  right now i'm experiencing what i have seen called 'brain zaps'.  while i realize that i probably just need to stick it out and these will go away eventually, what i want to know is if it safe to drive while experiencing these symptoms.  driving is a big part of my job, so it's kind of important for me to know if i can be driving while having these physical sypmptoms.  thanks for any help you can give.

[coffee girl]

I was on effexor for 4 years. It was the worst drug to get off of. I thought I was going to loose my mind. Hang in there to anyone getting off of this drug. It will pass. I am on wellbutrin xl right now. Has anyone had bad side effects when getting off this one?

[hugobliss]

I know the living hell that is Effexor withdrawl. After 4 weeks of brain zaps and flu-like symptoms I tried something I'd read in a nurses' web chat-room; I took two 20mg doses of Prozac, one at night and one in the morning. The brain zaps diappeared and the other symptoms eased up. I only wish I had tried it sooner! P-docs need to warn people about this!

[ljrpa2003]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Lori, I am 26, and a healthcare provider. I was placed on Effexor XL 225 (slow, gradual increases) and Wellbutrin 300 about 4 months ago for "agitated depression." (I was really having BAD anxiety attacks...felt the need/urge/compulsion to touch my neck 24/7...it was driving me insane) The Effexor was like a Godsend at first. Gradually reduced the anxiety, to where I wasn't touching my neck at all!! Here's the problem. I've been on the 225mg dose for about 1 1/2months. No problems with it at first...but for the last week...I have had ALL of the side effects. Nausea, constipation, tremor (very bad for my line of work...I have to have a steady hand), sweats, hot flashes, increased nervousness, and the worst of all...insomnia. The insomnia has gradually become worse over the last week. Started with 6 hours of sleep at night...then to 5...then 4...and so on...until last night I didn't sleep at all. This is very distressing to me...and has actually made the compulsion/anxiety come back! I also feel jittery...almost like a manic episode!! I have decided to taper off of this drug. But I am worried about the anxiety returning worse than before. I just cannot stand these side effects anymore!!! However...if the anxiety returns and I have that urge to grab at my neck 24/7...I will go crazy!

Does anyone have suggestions/advice? I am desperate and distraught.

Thanks,

~Lori~

[mommy helpers]

Hello all



Since it is 2:45 am and I am unable to sleep, I thought I would check the side effects of going off effexor and I am delighted to see that these are all normal side effects.   I have felt "pregnant" and like my head is going in slow motion when I move from side to side.   I was on 37.5mg for the last 6 months and I actually felt great but my life was calming down and I decided to see how I felt when I was off my drugs....and I did not realize until I read your stories that I probably should have gone off the drugs slowly not cold turkey.



To the person before me...my Dr. gave me sleeping pills for those difficult nights.   When I was on the effexor..I did not need them.   You might want to ask your Dr. about taking something while you are going through this difficult time.   I use ambien and like it very much.  We all need sleep to function.



I am very grateful to this site because I was sure I must have some horrible illness to feel this rotten after 2 weeks of coming off this drug.



I may actually try to take one tomorrow and every other day to see if it makes the withdrawal easier.



Good Luck to everyone.  Sleep well.

[JinxieCat]

I am on Day 4 of switching from Effexor XR to Wellbutrin due to severe weight gain from Prozac, then Effexor.  Mentally, I felt great on Effexor, but I was eating right and gaining weight, 70 lbs total. UGH.  My MD asked me if I wanted to wean off of Effexor and I opted to make the switch without weaning.  Biggest mistake of my life.  I was so anxious to get off Effexor and I assumed that the benefits of Wellbutrin would counteract any "withdrawal" symptoms.  Now I'm so dizzy I can't stand it, my husband thinks I've completely lost it and I've been crying alot.  I feel like I'm in Effexor Prison.  Does it ever end because it seems to be getting alot worse.



What causes this?  Everything I've read says it has to do w/ the short half life.  It seems to me that the withdrawal symptoms should go away quickly with a short half life.  But none of this is logical anyway.



It's the weekend and I have a call into my MD for help.  I'm a professional and I have to be on the top of my game tomorrow (Monday), but I don't see how that's going to happen.



I'm angry at someone for not telling me about these withdrawal symptoms, but I don't know who!  I had zero problems switching from Prozac to Effexor.  



Has anyone lost weight on Wellbutrin SR?  Hope this is worth it.

[tigerlilly2]

Thanks everyone for putting my mind at rest.  I had been on effexor xl since August last year, and my doctor changed me over to Zispin just 2 weeks ago. Effexor worked really well for a short-time (I was on prozac before that which were useless for me) but I just seemed to be taking a nose dive.  Since then I've had really strange side effects, more lucid dreams, strange sensations when moving my eyes, cold type symptoms and tearfulness (I even cried when watching a holiday programme!!!)

Anyway, I am going to stick with it, I am on holiday next week so I don't need to be at work and I can just cry to my hearts content and hopefully the side effects will wear off by then

Good luck to you all in getting better x

Rose

[java queen]

I have been trying the last of couple weeks to take my effexor 75 mg - just every other day. I want to get off because I have also been losing my hair like crazy!!!!  That is enough to make you depressed without everything else in your life.  I wanted to check in with everyone else and see if you had anymore advice.  Cold Turkey all the way or ween off?  I have really been able to tell a difference in myself, much more emotional, bad and strange dreams, headaches.  I also had thyroid surgery about a month ago to remove a non cancerous cold nodule.  So my emotions/horomones are going crazy.  Any helpful advice out there?

[tazzy]

I have been on anti depressants for 11 years on and off. I have been on prozac mostly as i felt safe on it, i didn't get awful side effects on it but after been on it so long i started feeling emotionless and empty and had no sex drive whatsoever (i am female) so i went to my G.P and he decided that effexor xl might work better. At first i thought it was better as i started to get emotions again and stopped cleaning my house all the time but after a few weeks i had no energy at all (as if i wasn't tired enough) and i was frustrated that i couldn't be bothered to clean my house. I began to have 'angry' dreams and i felt agressive, i started takin mild panic attacks e.g if i was out shopping i would start sweating and feeling faint. I got more and more anxious and impatient, i ended up staying in the house to avoid situations that woukd cause me to get anxious. I have since been back to my G.P and he has now put me on Zispin(mirtazapine) 15 mg at bedtime. I haven't started them yet, i start tonight. Has anyone been on these tablets or had good/bad side effects? I need somthing that works as i will lose my mind if i have to go on  like this much longer.

[tazzy]

I have been on anti depressants for 11 years on and off. I have been on prozac mostly as i felt safe