Effexor

[BonnieH]

   Allmost Three weeks ago, I had elective cosmetic surgery. About 4-5 weeks prior I had  to gradually go off my 75mg.of Effexor because the surgeon said it could cause bleeding. I started back on the Effexor Jan. 19, and I was on 37.5 for a couple of days, and then just went back to 75mg. until February 3rd. because my doctor said I was raising up too fast, because I am very anxious,adjitated, and depressed. I feel horrible. He also has me take .o5 xanax am and pm ( I also take ambien ) Is there anything that would help me better. A friend told me to check to see if Klonapin would help me  instead of the xanax. How long does it take before the effexor starts to help again ? The xanax is only tempoary until the effexor kicks in, but can't xanax cause more depression ? I feel very alone even around people, and I don't even want to go anywhere, but i also don't want to be alone because I feel so scared. Is the normally the way this medication works, I been on it for about 7 years, after breast cancer. Please let me know, I need words of encouragement. When will I feel good again ?   Thank you for your quick response. Bonnie

[lulubee]

I've been on Effexor for over a year, which I started after my mom died (I was 24). I weaned myself from 220mg to 75mg on my own and tried once to get completely off, however was too overwhelmed with the physical side effects that everyone talks about (the brain rattling, nausea, dizzy, weird visual perspective etc).
So now I'm back on the 75mg and trying to get off. I recently started wellbutrin to try and help. Does this help weaning off? I am extremeley nauseous from it. Is this normal? how long does it last? I really want to get off the effexor and hope to stay on the wellbutrin as long as the symptoms fade. How long should I wait before stopping the effexor again? My psych prescribed all this stuff, however it's impossible to get an appointment and I'm fine taking charge, would just like some support.
Thanks, this site really makes me feel a lot better. Good luck to you all!

[bella32]

Right now I am on 300mg of Effexor, having increased my dose everytime it started to become ineffective.  However, I don't want to go any higher, I'd rather be LOWER!  Since upping my dosage the last time, I have had way too many side effects.  They are the same ones I have felt at lower doses, but on a higher level.  Night sweats, odd/crazy/colorful dreams, the brain "swooshing" feeling (feels like when you turn your head, it takes a minute for your brain to catch up - hard to describe), difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly, vision issues.  But the WORST is if I miss a dose.  After a 24 hour period I have MAYBE a 2 hour window to take my dose, if I miss it, I am a MESS.  All the confusion, brain "shivers", "swooshing", nausea, severe headaches, among MANY others...if it has been too long I can barely function.  This happened at ALL levels of dosage I have taken.  I really wish I would have known this before taking it.  Effexor has helped with my depression & anxiety the best out of anything I have taken, but the side effects and the inability to stop taking it out weigh the good to me.  After a while the dose you are on becomes ineffective and your doctor will increase your dose, of course you can only go so high!  Now the dosage starts to not work as well & your BODY is ADDICTED to the medicine.  YES, I said ADDICTED.  Regardless of what the medical field might say, I think people who have or are on Effexor would agree with me.  This may be a very effective anti-depressant, but once on it, your body can NOT go without it!  To slowly get off Effexor takes a great deal of time (depending on dose) and no matter how slow, there are still withdrawal symptoms.

[FallJanelle]

I am 39 yrs old andhave been on Effexor for about 2 1/2 years now. i started off at 37.5 mg. and I am now on 150mg. I found that this really worked for me and I did not have those numb feelings like I felt with Zoloft as well as the lack of sex drive. That is why i switched. Last year i messed up on my Effexor, taking it every other day. I thought that i was going crazy. I was dizzy, I couldnt focus, my eyes would get blurry. I had such anxiety that i thought I was going to die. I would cry, had mild panic attacks. I went to the doctor and told him that i was having headaches and he scheduled me for a brain scan. ( thinking i had a tumor or something) That came back with no problems. He told me that Effexor is one of those drugs you cannot just stop or miss a dose.. it will mess you up. I got back on track and now I am finding that i need to up my dose.
I found this website and have been reading everyones comments. I am scared to death and dont know what to do. I cannot go off of this med for one. The side effects outweigh the good I do on it. I work a full time job in Customer Service, I am married and have 2 children a home to take care of. There is no way that i would be able to function if I did titrate off of this.
I would not be able to get out of bed or go out in public. It would be a nightmare. I do agree with some others comments about dreaming weird things. I always dream of my ex-husband with whom i never had children- he was a big pot-head , jerk and the dreams are always where i cant stand him, etc.. whatever. I just think its weird.
I dont know what to think. It really bothers me that this has such horrible side effects, but I really dont want to go through all of that. Is this a med that i can be on for the rest of my life? and have no long term side effects?  Just need some advice and I am glad to know that I am not going crazy! and that there are others out there that have gone or go through the same thing
This is hard to talk about with just anyone and people dont understand,  you just feel so alone sometimes.
Thanks for listening. Janelle

[Massey]

I've been on effexor for over three years.  150mg currently.  I really want to go off, but I have four children and run a home daycare.  After reading what everyone has to say I'm scare I won't be able to function.  When I miss a day, I end up in be with a headache, dizziness, and sick to my stomach.  How am I suppose to run a house like that and take care of my children.  How long do these side effects last.  Do we ever find ourselves again?  To be honest, I kind of liked myself, I'd like that person back.  Any thoughts.

[Myboyzmom]

I am very happy to report that FINALLY all my withdrawal symptoms are over!! woohoo!!  It has been a very very rough ride.  The worst of it all took me about 1 full week.  I drank lots and lots of water and took a super B complex vitamin as well as a complete fish oil tablet which included all the omega 3's and 3 types of fish oils and flax seed oil.  This really helped with the brain zaps and the B complex really helped with my lack of energy during the flu type symptoms.  I am not tired at all anymore and the only thing that still seems to be here is the brain zaps, they are not as frequent now so more tolerable, I still have bizzare dreams but that too is tolerable.  The first week is tough, drink lots of water and try the vitamins it really helps a ton. Good luck to all of you.

Kelli

[worriedfemale32]

I have been taking Effexor XR for a year now (dose 300mg - started at 75mg then 150mg and raised every 3 months to 300mg) for anxiety/panic attacks.  I also take Clonazepam 0.25mg when anxiety is a little stronger.  I have noticed a change since being at that dose and with clonazepam...I do not fear as much going out or doing stuff on my own but I have noticed a change in my mood...in being less anxious but more sad and depressed.  I thought that this medication was used to treat both generalized anxiety and depression.  I always thought that if I could conquer the panicks and constant anxiety, that I would be able to be back to my old self but I seem to not enjoy things like I used to and feeling depressed makes me feel worried.  A little background information... My only sister and father passed away 5 years ago in the same year and I seem to not have given myself time to fully grieve their passing.  I have always been a anxious person by nature, but realized that the panics arrived a little before and alot after their deaths.  In the past year, I have been trying to deal with my losses and during this time have been able to understand more about my anxiety attacks and how to control them... Could it be that the panics were only masking my sadness towards losing two very important people in my life?  Two years ago, I had my first child with my loving and supportive husband.  I feel much sadness because my father and sister are not with us and that my daughter will not know them.
About my question, what I would like to know is that with my dose of 300mg of effexor and a little clonazepam... should I not feel less depressed... Consciously, I believe that the medication cannot take away the sad and stressful events in my life during the last few years... Am I correct in thinking that way.  Some help and feedback would be appreciated...
Thanks

[mommalisa]

There is an online petition that helped me sort through some of these reactions to Effexor and its withdrawal. Read some of the thousands of entries and see if you recognize anything.
P.S. I missed my first period in 34 years (without pregnancy and breast feeding) and thought that I was starting menopause turns out I was starting effexor..
Also diagnosed with Type II diabetes, also could be a side effect. Two attempts at withdrawal for me included my only two involuntary commitments to mental wards.
I think I am turning out to be the sane one, especially now that I am finding out that so many others are having these weird symptoms. Dr. said it wasn't from the meds, but she also abruptly dropped me from treatment when I was released last week from the hospital where I refused all psych meds and suffered the first week of complete withdrawal.
You can also read some of the govt. medical resources and find that these drugs are all being reevaluated and warnings increased for side effects and difficult withdrawal.

http://www.petitiononline.com/effexor/petition.html

[sky74]

can you go to a lower dose first like 37.5?if you have a daycare how many others do you care for a day?I have a 14, 9, 6&4year old plus own and run a daycare & preschool so i know its realy hard .the children are there and you are so sick it has been a very hard time for me .many managing the mood swings.the little ones want to know why iv been so sick.
good luck!!!!

[Myboyzmom]

Oh thank god for the internet!!  I am so glad I found this site.  Today is my 3rd day off effexor.  I began about 6 months ago taking 75mg per day and after about 4 months I felt like it wasnt working anymore so the Dr increased me to 150mg per day.  I hated the way I was feeling (numb, no emotions) so I thought I would go off of it and try to deal with life on my own.  Yuck!!  I feel sooo wacked out in the head!  Yesterday, day 2, I was ok, just kinda icky in my belly but today I am feeling really shakey and my shoulders are tired even as I am typing right now.  I was extremely hungry earlier and ate like a cow but now I am sick and feel I could puke at any time!  Also, whenever I stand up or move fast I have this power surge in my head, teeth and fingertips that lasts for about 15-30 seconds but this is freakin me out pretty bad.  If this med makes you feel this crapy after only 3 missed doses then I am sooo glad I decided to go off of it, this is so strange.  I have never been one to be under the control of anything and even gave up smoking with no trouble but this is something else!  From what I have read I will probably get worse before I get better, can anyone please tell me what else to expect and how long does all this last?  I work from home (daycare) and have a 13yo and 2yo of my own!  Yep I am crazy which is probably what started me taking this junk to start with hu?!?  Please reply soon.

[sky74]

its been 2 weeks since my last pill ! i feel like i have woke up .i have lost 2 full years of my life. i started to feel so great and, bam a sinus infection ear infection and dehydrated.now after reading forums im wondering if this is going to be a new problem.i wish everyone good luck its hard!

[beanie12003]

TO DeBacker-  i just read your post about the "wah wah" sensations and that made me laugh b/c that is how i describe it too.  And, interestingly enough I have had sinus/cold trouble that will not go away, as well.  
As I sit here, I have a kleenex up my nose (though when i stand up, my nose will become clogged). I have to breathe out of my mouth at night b/c my nose is completely clogged- not with snot but its like the sides of it have grown together.
I'm basically a walking mess. my husband never liked the idea of me being on any meds, and now he is really worried since basically every day he comes home to a cluttered dark dungeon and me in bed. nice life, eh?
i did manage to make dinner last night, so thats something, right?

[beanie12003]

I am so glad i came across this site today.  I  have been on effexor XR for about a year- highest dose in was at 375 (yes, i know...) so i started Wellbutrin XL 3 months ago and am up to 400 mgs of that. So i started tapering off my Effexor ...down to 75....no troubles at all. went from 75 to 0..bad idea. Started 37.5 for a week, per Dr.  Stopped 37.5 down to none last Saturday and let me tell you....

I am miserable.  I can not describe the weird feelings and withdrawal symptoms to do them justice. I just read about 10 posts from this site about withdrawal from Effexor and it feels so good to know i am not going crazy.  YES! when i move my eyeballs I get a ZAP to the brain.  When i stand up, I get a ZAP.  i have cried 2x this week (last time about an hr ago) for no reason.  I started feeling nauseous today. I have been totally off for 6 days and the last 2-3 days have been worse than the others!  i can not get anything done- off balance, dizzy and all zappy in the head. i actually fell over when getting in the fridge for a pickle.

Spoke to the pharmacist and she said to take  1/2 of my granules in the 37.5mg.  I did not want to b/c i want  to be off this med!!  but i finally took them about 30 mins ago. some posts i read said they felt normal again in a few hours. I am praying this is so for me, as the in-laws are coming in town tomorrow and i am seriously retarded right now.

I am so glad everyone is sharing his/her experiences with this drug. BTW- even at that high of a dose, i was still about 75% of my normal self. The day after I took my first Wellbutrin 100mg, I felt about 85% and now at 400mgs, i hope to feel good again as soon as i get over this horrible Effexor withdrawal.

Thanks for listening-
E

[Shiri32]

Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum. I want to start off by saying how great it is to find people going through the same trauma (effexor withdrawal) though of course I wish NONE of us were in this boat!

It's been 4 days since I've been off the effexor and the brain zaps are driving me insane. Also nausea, diarrhea, dreams that I'm dying, weepiness. I am a graduate student and had to cut my class tonight because I felt too horrible.

Two questions: 1) How long can I expect these horrible feelings to last and 2) What can I do/take to feel better? Does Benadryl really work?

Bless you all - stay strong - and thanks for the support.

Shiri

[DeBacker]

36 years old/Male

I have been taking some meds for what I call situational depression---bankrupted business, new baby & no insurance, no job, marital problems...and to top it off my only brother was hit by a car and killed. I had to ID the body as my sis could not go in and my dad was killed in a plane crash while I was still young (so I guess I was the man).  Most of these things happened one after the other over a period of one year.  Sorry to rant.  About 6 months after the funeral I decide to go see a doctor about how I was feeling--depressed, weight loss, no motivation to do the things I loved etc.  So he gives me Welbutrin and it doesn't do much.  Then he says to quit taking it and prescribed Effexor XR and wanted me to work up to 300mg per day, which I did.  I felt better but ran into a problem--my company insurance changed in Jan. 06 and the cost of this medication with my new "insurance" was in orbit.  So, I say it was prescribed to help me through this difficult time and things are getting much better so I quit cold turkey.  BIG MISTAKE!!  I was O.K for a day or two and then the hammer came down--I started having these wah wah sensations in my ears, I was depressed and just wanted to sleep, nauseated, emotional--basically felt like I was dying or something.  I had no idea that this was going to happen so I just thought it was a really bad sinus infection.  I went back to the doctor and they said it was a chronic sinus infection and an ear infection.  That was like 6 or seven months ago.  Since that time I have been able to get some doses to taper down,then I run out of meds and the wah wah in my ears come back.  During this period of months of the on and off stuff--I have basically had one "Sinus/Ear Infection" after the other...basically a walking cold.  After seeing the things posted on this forum and the things I have experienced--It is definitely this darned medicine.  I finally tapered down to like 75mg./day and then ran out.  I am currently having these "brainzaps", the sensation that my brain is moving around in my skull, cold symptoms, irritability and I'm eating like a PIG.  Very bizarre.
Again, I apologize for ranting but I had to vent.  My advice to anyone thinking of this medication or any similar is--PLEASE analyze the PROS and CONS, and ask yourself "DO I REALLY NEED TO TAKE THIS ROUTE?"  I have found that the Effexor-Way is a damned tough road.  Thank You and good luck.

[sky74]

hey ,the david how are are you ????
    just cheaking!!!

[sky74]

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!THANK YOU!!!

[BelCanada]

Depression medications are a blessing and a curse.  They are a blessing (4 years ago I had post-partum depression) and a curse as right now as I am trying to wean myself off of them (with the help of a great psychologist).  The problem is that they are given out like candy without a lot of knowledge.  They do work and are extremely important, but then the real hard part begins when you are actually on them and that's, in my opinion, when the system breaks down.  Each person is so different and how they react to the drugs is so different that there really is no set path that is the same for everyone.  Unfortunately, it is trial and error.  I have gone through hell this past year thinking that I have had all sorts of weird diseases and in the end, I was simply overprescribed on Effexor.  The real kicker in this is that all of the doctors and specialists did not think it was the drugs and they sent me for a million tests to find the "real" culprit.  Finally, a neurologist told me--you aren't depressed--the drugs are giving you the fatigue.  Finally, someone who understood the drugs.  The only answer is education--these forums should be printed, laminated and hung in every medical practionners office.

[Massimo Genoa]

I tried Effexor for a month ... it really had no effect, at least I didn;t see any. I just stopped taking it. Insomnia is a huge problem with or without the Effexor for me. I take Ambien every night and honestly rearely actually get a GOOD night sleep even with the Ambien. I think I've built a substantial toleration for it. Any of you have that problkem??? I've fought a number of anxiety attacks over the last year or so and find myself somewhant generally uneasy pretty often. I have some Xanax but rarely take it. I'm afraid to take the Xanax and then take Ambien at night. Do any of you have any experience with this or like this?

[sky74]

i think that is so true . a couple of month ago iwas up to 9 different meds and 3 vitamins.now im only on -1mg klonipin,
                                             -2mg estrace,hormon
                                             -200mg topamax
                       and from 112.5mg effexor to 37.5mg this
                       friday i take my last pill. going off of this posin has been the worst thing ever, i have been so sick ,headaces,vomiting,brain shivers-zaps, sounds like bottle rockets shooting off in my head,i go from cold to hot just like that,and my family thinks im turning into a monster because of my mood swings.i cant understand how doctors are allowed to give this stuff out knowing what you will go threw when you go off of it .the name makes it sound like its going to fix something kinda funny.wait tell you go off.the adds dont say one thing about the awful withdrawal.david i will be reading the book you wrote about.

[Lionness]

I did read the Efexor withdrawal forum and I don't know whether to agree with you or not.  

At the time I needed medication and at the time you are desperate for something to help you.  Now I am having a go without them and I think there does come a time that you decide for yourself that it is ok to go it alone and that is probably because your state of mind is right for you to do it.  However the withdrawals were not what I expected as I had missed a day here or there in the past without any side effects.

I was not on the long list of tablets that you were on (thank goodness) and I would have been alarmed if I was.  I know taking the recommended vitamin supplements for AADHD seems a bit over the top and I don't always stick to that BUT fish oil is essential I reckon for good brain activity.


What would desperate people do if these tablets were not available - what alternative is there for us/them?  I will try and get to read that book you recommend and thank you for suggesting it.  Cheers The Lionness

[The David]

Please visit the Effexor withdrawal forum to find out what a nightmare drug Effexor really is.  What the doctors don't like to tell you is that if you change your lifestyle and your diet and get off the medications, then you will be a healthy critter and not need them anymore.  That's the truth.  They had me on Effexor, Paxil, Welbutrin, Buspar, Xanax for 3 years and I am getting off and every day I thank God.  Because there is nothing wrong with us.   That is, until they start us on their "regimens", you take the heart drug and it affects your libido, so they give you Viagra.  But Viagra upsets your stomach and they give you Nexium.  But Nexium makes you gain weight and your blood pressure climbs and they start in on the Cartia, but all of this stuff causes depression and lethargy, so they start you in the psychotropic meds.  WHO DO THESE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE, GIVING US A DOZEN MEDICATIONS???  They certainly aren't healing anybody.  Read Kevin Trudeau's new book, The truth THEY don't want you to know about.  It will blow your mind.  I read it 2 weeks ago, and it just blew me away.  My mother and father were professionals in medicine and engineering.  I myself have a good education and have had several rewarding careers.  And you know what?  I have decided to take back my life from these folks in the white coats who live on the hill.  IN Fresno, all the doctors live on the bluff in huge houses, a place referred to as "pill hill"  They are making so much money writing these meds, can the honestly say they are being objective in treating ;you.  NOT!!!!


Good luck to all of you who think the meds are still the answer.  Right now, I may seem like a crazed idiot, but remember you heard it from me first as over the next few years you get sicker and sicker on their meds.  AND watch out for the obesity that is the price tag for all of this.  Which of course funds more and more doctors houses as they rush you to surgery because they made you too fat to survive without it.

[Lionness]

You are having a difficult time with those nightmares which aren't very pleasant.  When I was diagnosed with moderate depression and AADHD and a bit of a mess, I know initially I had a difficult time with dreams, ruminating, being a zombie etc until I got the tablets right.  Maybe Efexor is not for you.  It does seem to take awhile for the brain chemistry to get into balance again and you may need something else to help you until that is  right.  

It is amazing how things can change and how all of a sudden you feel like you can cope again - still early days though.

Good luck and be guided by your doctor and wean off any of these medications gradually as the withdrawals aren't very pleasant.

Cheers, Lionness

[Lionness]

Hi there.  It was great to read your comments.  I am better now in my brain.  On top of this I have been battling a dose of the flu the last couple of days so I really haven't been able to do very much at all especially with the hot weather.  I am not sure whether Efexor did help me with the hot flushes or not as I was still getting them on it and still do now I am not taking them. I know now when I get worried or something is bothering me my whole body gets hot and I get very sweaty - is this part of my now "uncontrolled" depression or the menopause??

I need now to see how I am feeling over the next week or so to really fully appreciate the me without my tablets and see if I can cope alright.  My like is very stressful right now with money woes so it will be a good test for me as security is a big issue for me and has made me "crumble" in the past.  I do know that I am very outspoken and not as tolerant right now which I am not sure is a good or bad thing yet.  Time will tell.

I will keep you posted on my progress and thank you for your comments.  Cheers, Lionness

[oswego]

I was able to withdraw off Effexor in January after taking 75 mg for over a year.  The withdrawal was difficult, with lots of extreme dizziness, irritability and general YUCK feeling.  It took over 3 weeks before I really felt better.  I did take dramamine to combat the dizziness, although I still felt like my brain was rattling around in my head for several weeks.

Never again will I take this poison.  

Now, I am totally detoxed and feeling better than ever!