effexor withdrawal

[labsnme]

I've been on effexor for about 7 years, due to my husbands lung cancer and eventual death 6 years ago.  Today my life seems fine, I;m not unhappy, I do have a gluten allergy and severe osteoarthritis and chronic anemia.  I have recently decided to go off the Effexor, unfortunately, I didn't think it was going to be that big a deal, but have learned that I should have consulted my doctor before doing so. However, I took my dose of 37.5mg one a day then would skip a day, did that for a bit, then decided to go to twice a week, then decided to go to opening the capsule and taking half, did that for one night then skipped three days, did that for a week, I have been off of it now for 8 days and am wondering how long will the anxiety withdrawal and some other symptoms last.  I feel tired, and don't know if it is from the withdrawal or my anemia.  I do have the shakes and some fear issues, and I seem to be notice things more, such as, the sun may seem brighter or i;m colder than I think I should be, and I have hot flashes.  In my mind I can reason that these are temporary, but it is hard to physically experience this and not have a clue how long it may take.  AND, am I doing the right thing, I really want to stick it out but sometimes second guess myself.  Do you have any recommendations?   Thanks   nan

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Two things happen when you go off a medication like this that you have been using a long time...good things and bad things...and they can be confused.  The medication mutes your normal awarenss of your body and your mind...when you off of it you become more aware and feel more...that is good, and that is not withdrawal, and some of what you said sounds like that.  The usual withdrawal pace is over 3 weeks, the first week getting the daily dose down to lowest possible, the second week, taking that dose every other day; the third week,every third day; then stop.....if you and your doctor decide you are having withdrawal symptoms, you can go back to some modified point  on that spectrum.

[Paxiled]

It will last as long as it lasts, you won't experience what someone else might.  You should do this under a psychiatrist's care, though, and one who admits withdrawal exists and how to treat it.  If it's too much, usually the treatment is to go back on the last dose at which you felt find and taper more slowly.  You're symptoms sound like classic withdrawal, and not too bad a one, at that.  So you'll be fine.  But do be careful with these things.