How long are withdrawals...

[Paulina7770]

from Effexor?  I began tapering off it 52 days ago with 22 being totally off of it.  I did really well until the last taper.  37.5 to zilch!  The first week I had severe "brain zaps" and now severe panic.  I found "The Road Back" which is a company devoted solely to helping you get off these meds.  I'm just having so much trouble right now.  My original symptom (20 yrs ago) was exactly what I am feeling now.... PANIC, suicidal, dysphoria.  The Road Back just keeps telling me its withdrawals and be patient that it will stop.  I'm really having a super difficult time.  Because I really want to take a Clonopin to get rid of these symptoms, but then it will start the cycle over...HELP!!  Anyone, go through this?  Is it just withdrawals?
Thanks, Paulina

[lynn57]

I tapered off effexor xr a few years ago.  If you have great patience there is a way to come off w/o withdrawals.  There are a certain amount of grains in each capsule.  The first week you take out ten grains each day.  Put the capsule back together and take as usual.  The second week, 20 grains each day. You count out more each week until you are taking an empty capsule.  You can taper as slowly as you want. if you are feeling no withdrawals you can up the amount of grains you take out each day.  It is tedious and takes time but it WORKS.

[Paxiled]

Tell me how that Road Back works.  It looks a bit bogus to me, and a bit worthwhile, kind of both.  I tried some of it when I went off Paxil, but it didn't work.  But I didn't get the brain zaps, though I did get disoriented and weird, because I was already taking a lot of fish oil.

[Paulina7770]

Thank you so much for your help.  Since I was up with anxiety all night I did further research.  I am actually using "the road back" program supplements to help me but since I went from 37.5 to nothing...the hell began.   I'm suffering severly (including suicidal ideations).  I found Joseph Glenmullen web page and book..."the antidepressant solution" and ordered it.  I also went back to the 37.5 with the hopes that the pharmacy can give me more realistic tapering doses.  This really is HELL.  Thank you and I did call my psych.  
Paulina

[Paxiled]

Fish oil might help with the brain zaps.  As for how long withdrawal lasts, it depends on the person.  So does the taper.  If you feel you need to, you can go back on the drug at the last dose at which you didn't have withdrawal and taper more slowly.  Effexor is known for tough withdrawals, so what you're feeling isn't at all unusual.  

I'm not sure what the problem would be taking the klonopin.  It's a drug of a different class, so it shouldn't have anything to do with the Effexor withdrawal.  It might in fact help ease it.  You should discuss this with your psychiatrist, as well as the possibility of tapering more slowly.