Side Effects of Getting off Effexor XR

[Berly]

I have been on Effexor XR 75 mg for 12 months.  Two weeks ago I went to my doctor and discussed the possibilty of becoming pregnant in the near future, and if I should get off the medicine first.  He said I need to get off the medicine first, and now for two weeks I've been on 37.5 mg which the Dr. said to do for a month, and after a month go back to decide whether then to get completely off it, or if I should take one every other day.  For the last week, however, I've been having awful muscle cramps and spasms in my legs that are painful, and preventing me from sleeping through the nite. My legs jump at nite and its hard to relax them.  I am using a heating pad and I now take a Tylenol PM at night to help with pain and to help me sleep.  Is this a withdrawal symptom from Effexor?  Thank you.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The discontinuation syndrome usually consists of nausea and somnolence, but leg cramps and almost any other new sensation can occur in the withdrawal phase, and these are temporary as long as you continue to withdraw slowly over a month. You might experiment by doing 75 mg. every other day, alternating with 37.5 mg, and do this for a week to see if leg cramps go away; or you might continue what you are doing for a few more days to see if they will go away on their own as your body accomdates to the lower dose.