Stopping Effexor XR

[rcombs70]

I have been taking Effexor XR since March, 2005. I started with 75mg and by mid April was up to 225mg. I have recently become unemployed and cannot afford the medication anymore. It's going to cost me $200 a month just to buy the medication. I've told my doctor that I cannot afford it anymore and he just tells me to 'stay on it' but he's not paying for it. I'm going to have to quit cold turkey. I only have three days left of the medication. I'm also on Clonazepam. I take three 0.5mg tablets daily. I also want to get off of the Clonazepam but decided to wait until after I get over the Effexor XR. I don't think it would be a good idea to quit both of them at once. College starts back on August 29, and I don't want to be withdrawing while I'm trying to study. The horror stories that I've read scares me, but I have no other choice. Can you please tell me what withdrawal symptoms I will experience and how long they will last?

[Twocuteboys]

I have been taking Effexor XR 75mg for 4 years now. I had no prior history of depression, panic attacks however due to some marital problems everything started. My life is much better now and things are completely worked out. My Dr wants me to try to come off the effexor for several reason, 1. she thinks I no longer need it 2. I have been sweating horribly 3. I have gained about 15pds. 4. tired a lot. She suggested 37.5 mg of Effexor XR for 2wks along with I believe 10mg of Prozac at the same time. She said that this will help withdraw and that Prozac stays in your body longer then Effexor so I should be fine....anyone wean off it this way??????????????? I am so scared to try and I really need some encouragement or help..................................

[laac]

I have taken effexor for four years and 2 weeks ago I went to the doctor to try to start weening myself off.  I started taking the drug when I was 16.  No one ever told me how hard it was to stop taking the drug.  I have taken 75mg the whole time. My dr. only gave me 7 /37.5mg pills to ween me off.  This has been horrible.  I have experienced awful withdrawl, as well as everyone else has. Over the past four years I have gained about 60 lbs. I have to say that when I was taking it I never had any problems, aside from weight gain. It has been four days since I have taken anything.  I am having nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, not feeling like myself(disassociation), tingling in my face and lips.  I was just wondering how long this will last.  I dont know how long I can take this.

Somethings I have heard that helps are,
dramamine, For dizziness and nausea
fish oil supplements
oils such as jasmine and lemongrass
omega 3
Some of these things I found just researching depression and natural treatments

It does help to know that I am not the only one who has expierenced this. I tell my family and they just dont understand what I am feeling.

My main mistake was letting my dr. give me just 7 pills. On the effexor website each time you step down you need to stay at that dose for at least 2 weeks before going down more.

[RNL]

This is my first time posting anything on a site like this.  But I was in awe at the number of people who are experiencing the same things as myself.  I am a 24 y.o. female that was plced on Paxil and then Effexor du to aniexty, depression and panic attacks.  I have asked my doctor to take me off of this medicaton, but he says due to the pressures of college he wants me to stay on for a while.  I was okay with this until a drug rep came into work one day a made a rather crude comment about to someone else about the medication I was currently taking.  My co-worker asked this particular drug rep their opinion on Effexor.  SHe replied with a sly grin, "Yeah, we all have a saying about Effexor.  We say to give her Effexor and let's see how THAT effects her."  I was in shock.  THis gave me the impression that this drug was being given to shut people up about the symptoms.  I decided to begin to take myself off of the medicaine at that point.  I slowly decreased my dosage, but in no particular pattern.  I supplemented the increased anxiety with Clonzapam 0.5 mg.  I finally ran out of meds. and quit almost cold turkey.  My mother had been almost forcing me to come off, nt really understanding what is involved in coming off these meds.  By the way my mother and father are who pay for my doctors appts and meds until I graduate.  It has been real tough, and I probably should not have quit the med this way.  But, I increased my activities, I exercised more to keep the levels of stuff flowing in my brain.  I made myself keep a positive outlook on everything.  I felt as though I could not let myself see the negative in anything.  I am still working thorugh withdrawls, but overall I seem happier than I was when I was on the med.  My only fear is what may and can happen coming off so apruptly.  Any suggestions or asdivce would be greatly appreciated.  If it is ultimately dangerous for my health to stop so apruptly I want to know.  But it has been about 2 weeks since my last dose, any advice would be appreciated.

[campingman]

WELL IM RELEAVED IM IN THE SAME BOAT.THIS IS MY THIRD DAY OFF OF THIS Fn DRUG . I AM GOING TO PUT A SIGN ON THE BACK OF MY CAR . AND PARK AT THE DOCS OFFICE.MAYBE BECOME A ACTIVIST FOR A EFFEXOR FREE AMERICA. I THINK I CAN DEAL WITH A FEW PANIC Attacks i already feel better can tell you that this is pure hell. I'm not a small man. but I'm not stronger than this effexor right now. i had to stop because i lost my insurance . and it gave me high blood pressure. and my kidneys were in pain. now my blood pressure is better my kidneys feel better. and now hell has set in for while. can anyone tell me if this has happened to them.

[yellowzebra]

The last thing I expected going on the web and searching

[NZgirl]

Well I am happy to report that the out of control emotions and constant crying have stopped - It is now 10 days since I stopped Effexor. The uncontrollable sobbing lasted about 4 days. I am still getting a few headaches but they are a walk in the park compared to the ones I had while withdrawing.

My advice to anyone trying to withdraw - if your doctor tells you to decrease over a matter of days, or to just stop taking Effexor altogether "Do not listen to them! They dont know what they are talking about!!" Listen to the people who have had to go through this before you. I have found doctors to be of no use at all through this experience.

Here is my advice for what it is worth:
1. Reduce very very slowly - I was only on the drug 3 weeks, yet it took me nearly 4 weeks to get off it! Go figure! If you are on a high dose and have been taking the drug for more than a few months, you will need to reduce over a period of a few months or even more.
2. Reduce your daily dose by about 10 - 15% if you can handle it, and stay there for 2 weeks before reducing again.
3. Dont listen to doctors who tell you to take the med every second or third day - when you do this you will just send your body into withdrawal. Because of the low half life of Effexor you will most probably start to feel sick if you miss a day.It is much better to take it every day and lower the dosage over time.
4. I have heard that the lower reductions just before you stop altogethr can be more horrible than the bigger ones - you may need to decrease more slowly as you get closer to coming off the drug completely. This means you will need to cut up pills, or break open the capsules.

The last week or so of my reduction went like this.

I opened the 75 mg XR release capsule and counted the granules - there were about 250, which meant roughly 3.3 granules was equal to 1 gram of the drug. On Friday I took 40 granules, Saturday 35 granules, Sunday 30 granules etc until the last day I took 10 granules.

The doctors will tell you not to do this but it is the only way I could get the doses small enough. Make sure you dont break or crush the granules - carefully pop them on your tongue and swallow or put them in a teaspoon of yoghurt or something.

Make sure you always eat and drink a big glass of water.

5. Other things that helped:
- Ginger for nausea - it doesnt take it away completely but does take the edge off
- Benedryl(diphenhydramine hydrocholoride). Depending on the country you are in it is sold as an antihistamine, or an OTC sleeping aid. These did seem to help me with the headaches and sleeping at night.
- I've seen other postings where people recommend taking fish oil supplements, which I did, but I dont know if it helped any. I'm sure its good for  me anyways.

To all of you trying to deal with this horrible drug, be gentle with yourself - you may need to take time off work - personally I have had to take 8 days off work because of Effexor - I'm lucky I have an understanding boss.

Good luck everyone - you will get through this. Take care