Effexor XR withdraws

[statelinerd]

I have recently stopped Effexor XR (150mg) and started Emsam (6mg).  I have been off the effexor for 5 days and I am having "brain zaps."  My question is, how long will these "brain Zaps last?"  I go to school, and need to be able to function.  Please email me at ***@**** for any insight.     thanks  Josh

[Lonya]

Hi I too have exp. these brian zaps. Mine came when I was on 225mg effexor and ran out cold turkey. I thought I was going to die. I still cant remember some of what happend while I was "out of it" After 2 weeks of no effexor I gave up and went to the doctor. I had this stupid idea that if I could make it thought the withdrawls I would be fine. WRONG ANSWER!!!! My doc put me back on 75 mgs and I slowly got better. By slowly Im mean it took about one month to get over and for about 6 months I still had some brian zaps. I hate to say this but My memory has never been the same and it has been about a year now. I could tell you more but it is not pretty. If I were you I would go to doc asap! and slowly come of the meds. I have had to do this sence the first cold turkey try. I went down 35mgs a week till nothing. I was off of effexor for one month . Then BEGGED to go back on it. I had nother great idea that my meds were not working. Best way to know if they are is to stop them. Anyways I hope to have helped you some. Take care and diffently GO TO YOUR DOCTOR!!!!!!!

[RubyWitch]

How long were you on the Effexor XR and did you taper off or just cold turkey? Effexor needs to be slowly tapered to avoid the unpleasant feelings you are now experiencing.
Brain zaps can last a few days, a few weeks or much longer. I suggest speaking to your doctor about them, perhaps it's not the Effexor causing the zaps but the Emsam. Just a thought.
Effexor is a very common antidepressant, but selegiline, (Emsam) is one I've never even heard of. In my Nursing Drug Reference book, it says that selegiline is an antiparkinson agent in the chemical class of MAOIs. Under uses it says, "Adjunct management of Parkinson's disease in patients being treated with levodopa/caridopa who had poor response to thereapy." Listed under Unlabeled uses it states: Alzheimer's disease, depression."
I am most certainly not qualified to second guess your doctor, but personally I'd be asking one hell of alot of questions as to why he/she choose Emsam! Perhaps there is more to your story than "simple" depression?
I'd go to WebMed and Google this medication to educate myself about it. Better yet I'd call my local pharmacist and ask them a lot of questions. From what I've just read about this drug, I don't like the sounds of it.
But I state again that I am NOT a qualified professional, I'm a lay person just like you, and I believe that is one reason we need to research these drugs on our own and be proactive in our own health care.
I wish you the very best.
Peace
Greenlydia