How long with the withdrawal symptoms last?

[MEppler]

Hi, I'm a 26 year old female that's been taking Effexor XR 150mg for 8 years.  While taking the medication I wasn't excited about life, but I wasn't depressed about life either.  I felt like I was just coasting through life.  I decided that I wanted to get off the medication.  I tried cold turkey and that was absolutely terrible.  I would not recommend that to anyone.  I talked to my Dr. and he had me try 75mg for 2 weeks then 35 mg the last two weeks and then stop.  I'm on my 2nd day without the 35mg and I am definitely experiencing the withdrawal symptoms.  It's not as severe as when I missed the 150mg dose.  However the "Brain zaps", nausea, irritable feelings for no reason, blurred vision are not pleasant to go through.  I called in sick to work when I tried cold turkey from going off the 150mg and my boss told me that I won't have a job if I call in sick for that reason again because it was my choice to go on the medication in the first place.  My best friend (who has never been on an anti depressant) thinks it's like taking a sugar pill and if I just "pretend" to take it I shouldn't be having withdrawals.  She thinks it's all in my head and that I'm making it up that I feel like crap.  So I have to go to work or I'll lose my job and my best friend thinks I'm crazy.

No one knows what it's like to go off this medication unless you've actually been through it.  I just want to know how long this takes.  I am starting to take Omega- 3 fish oil, vitamin D and a multivitamin. Also, Ginger tea is supposed to help with the nausea, but I haven't tried that yet.  I try to drink 100 oz of water a day.  Positive thoughts are getting me through this also.  I am strong enough to get off this awful medication! :)

Thanks for listening
M~

[patnel]

Omega 3 fish oil - pharmaceutical grade, really does help.  I found this on a forum posted somewhere & this, a multi-vitamin, & breathing exercises have saved me!

I am on my 3rd week w/o Effexor after being on 225mg for over 5 years.  I still have a dizzy spell here & there or another withdrawal feeling on occasion, but it is really getting so much better!  

If anyone is suicidal, PLEASE contact someone.  Everyone reacts differently.  I did have the vomiting, diarrheal, severe dizziness,  vivid dreams, crying spells, & the part I hated the most, I was very quick to anger.  

Drinking lots of water, taking the vitamins & fish oil, & sleeping & being patient with myself got me through it.  Going to work was hard, but again, everything is getting so much better!

I am beating this & feel like a different person.  It hasn't been easy and it isn't over yet but I am doing it!   My energy & personality is coming back.  I am excited about each day again!

I just wanted to let folks know that it can be done & there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Cattattitude]

I guess then according to what I'm reading I'll be with this weirdo stuff for another few weeks. Starting on my 2nd week.

Sweats-not night sweats but sweating profusely during the day (off and on sweats) smelled like a goat or so I thought.
Dizziness/fuzzy headed-this has slowed some
concentration is hard still
leg cramps are awful they started 6/2/11 and got A lot worse last night
heart palpitations but not a lot of these

I'll post more as they come and go. 6/4/11

[RefractoryMan]

The number 1 question ever asked on any depression forum.

Can't speak for everyone, but at one time I took 300Mgs a day for 4 years.
When I tapered off slow it took me about 8 weeks before the discontinuation syndrome (withdrawl symptoms stopped)

Some people report 4 to 6 weeks.

[boogieman]

Hello. I know what you're going through. The duration of your symptoms is difficult to estimate, as different variables need to be considered. Some people are better in weeks, others may take months. I know that the lack of emotion common to many antidepressants is not pleasant, but taking a maintenance dose may be the lesser of two evils. There is no doubt that effexor withdrawal is a real and even incapacitating condition, and you should be able to get documentation from your doctor to attest to that. Hope things improve and take care, GM