EFFEXOR WITHDRAWAL NIGHTMARE

[beachgirl248]

I suffer from Boderline Personality Disorder, chronic depression and am also partially deaf.  I have been taken Effexor 150 mg for about 4 years now and it has really never helped me. I have pretty much been lethargic and just barely get by. I was laid off my job this past January and have been unemployed since the. I am divoroced and have no children. I have been completely off the Exffoxor for about 4 days now. I went off as the dr. had prescibed. I have had a very sick headache for 4 days stratight, extreme sweating, nauseua, and the shakes. I am suicidal and am totally isolated due to being without work or a husband. The last man I was seeing broke it off 1 week ago and said he never wants to see me again and I know he was just using me for sex. I had done nothing to him and basically lived for his phone calls which only came about 1/week.  Is there any hope for me. I feel that I need to have the memories of this man erased or I will not be able to go on. Would Electric Shock Therapy be an option for me. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated as I feel I am running out of time to hang on here.

[Jaquta]

I agree with other comments about addressing the medication issues.

It sounded like an extremely bad time to try and withdraw from this medication especially with the recent relationship issues.

It can be difficult dealing with the emotions that are triggered when one feels like they have been taken advantage of.
I have been dealing with similar issues recently but regarding surgery.  Feeling like I have been taken advantage of has evoked anger (and vulnerability) at my sense of loss.

I too have been diagnosed with bpd and severe depression.

It can be difficult losing that contact no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it is.  That one contact per week can be life-saving -I get that.

Yes, there is hope.  Don't give up.  Never give up!

I would strongly advise AGAINST having ect.  (I was threatened with it, but didn't have it, but believe me you don't want it, or need it).

I believe what you need is to talk to a really good therapist.
What I think you really need at the moment is to feel contained.  This may be achieved via, and these are just suggestions: restarting the medication, having contact with a T, hospital (if you feel really, really out of control).  Maybe even another appointment to see your doctor.

Feel free to ask other questions if you still have concerns.

J

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You have received excellent advice from every one of the responders...the two things to keep in mind, go back to low dose and come off slowly....some of the moods you are describing and the headaches can easily cause you to be overwhelmed, but when you back on the medication and slowly wean, you will recover your perspective.  the next thing is to find a psychotherapy clinic so you can get some help putting your life on a good solid track...that is essential...and much better than electroschock.

[barbie71]

Sorry to hear about all of your troubles.  I was on Effexor 150mg last year and I actually stopped taking it and ended up in the hospital -- not for suicidal thoughts or any emotional issues -- stopping the medication put my body into shock.  Take everyone's advice above -- come off that medication very slowly -- I noticed you mentioned that you were unemployed -- If you cannot afford the medication -- call your doctor and ask for a month of sample -- then slowly taper off.  If not, please do not do what I did -- Effexor is a very potent antidepressant and when it works it works well but unfornately the withdrawal is horrible. Hang in there and call your doctor immediately.

[mjbrown]

You should come off of Effexor (and any other antidepressants) very slowly. Call your doctor and let him/her know what you've been experiencing. It sounds like you are going through a lot right now. What is the reason why you're discontinuing the Effexor? Is your dr. planning to switch you to another antidepressant? How would you feel about seeing a therapist to help you work through some of the other things that are going on in your life?

[JackofSpades1136]

Did your doctor REALLY tell you to completely stop taking the medicine? He either has no doctor's degree or he is an idiot, or both. NEVER STOP SUDDENLY TAKING ANTI DEPRESSANTS.


I am on effexor 150mg right now, and one thing I was told about them is that, like any anti-depressant, you NEVER suddenly stop taking them. You need to go back on effexor as soon as possible and get to a real doctor. The correct way to go off the medication is to gradually take lower doses over a period of a month to two months.


Not taking the medication for me (after 24hrs) leads to extreme dizzyness, extreme irritability, rage, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, sweating, stomach aches, migraines, you name it. After that.... I have no idea.


I am sorry for how life has been treating you lately. I can't relate in a way that is similar to yours- but I do have my own troubles in this life that have caused me GAD and Depression.


Get back on Effexor and inform your doctor immediately of suicidal thoughts, they could be from you not taking the medicine. Please reply back.

[Paxiled]

If the withdrawal is more than you can handle, go back to your psychiatrist, and ask him to put on the last dose that didn't give you withdrawal, and taper more slowly.  Effexor is one of the most difficult to come off of, so do what you need to protect yourself.  Most psychiatrists deny these withdrawals, so you have to advocate for yourself.