Effexor XR

[karebearlady]

I have noticed many have been having or in my case are having problems with the withdrawals of Effexor XR. Well I ran across a website, well I can't really say I ran across it I crashed into it, any body on the anti-depressant Effexor XR PLEASE go to www.fda.gov Put in Effexor XR in the search engine there. Information is there about Effexor XR.  I found a pdf on a warning letter. This may not mean anything to you but it tells me that Wyeth tryed to pass this med off as a good medication and now those of us that are on it are having a hell of a time getting off of it.
I had a hysterectomy in 2006 and was put on Paxil and sever depression set in and I went and found a dr. that then changed my meds to Effexor Xr. I have been on it since early 2007. Now I have run out of my medication and I am dealing with the withdrawals of Effexor XR. I am done with this medication.

[jixmixfix]

HEY GUYS ANYONE WHO IS SUFFERING FROM WITHDRAWAL FROM EFFEXOR, FIRST WEAN DOWN TO 37.5. I'VE BEEN FINALLY OFF EFFEXOR COMPLETELY AFTER TAKING IT FOR 6 MONTHS. AFTER I GOT DOWN TO 37.5 MY DOCTOR TOLD ME TO TAKE NOTHING, AND I WAS HAVING UNBEARABLE WITHDRAWL SUCH AS SENSATIONS IN MY HEAD AND FACE, AND "BRAIN ZAPS". SO I DECIDED TO GO BACK AND HE ACTUALLY GAVE ME 10MG OF PROZAC TO OFFSET THE WITHRAWL FROM THE EFFEXOR AND IT WORKED!. HE TOLD ME TO TAKE ONE DAY OF 37.5 EFFEXOR, AND 10MG OF PROZAC. THEN FOR 3-5 DAYS TAKE JUST THE 10MG OF PROZAC. I FELT A LITTLE SICK STILL GETTING OFF THE EFFEXOR WITH THE PROZAC BUT IT WAS NOT NEARLY AS BAD. THE REASON HE GAVE THE PROZAC TO OFFSET THE EFFEXOR SIDE EFFECTS IS BECAUSE PROZAC HAS A MUCH LONGER HALF LIFE THAN EFFEXOR. THE SEROTONIN IN YOUR BRAIN STAYS MORE STABLE WITH THE PROZAC IN YOUR SYSTEM, AS THE DRUGS GRADUALLY COMES OFF YOU ARE ABLE TO SLOWLY WEAN OFF. I HOPE THIS HELPED, PLEASE SPEAD THE WORD TO OTHER PEOPLE TAKING EFFEXOR TO TAKE THE 10MG OF PROZAC IT ACTUALLY HELPED.

[karebearlady]

Thank you. It is 2:44 am Thursday morning and have only had a few brain zaps so to speak, other than that I am feeling pretty good. I just hope and pray I can continue feeling this way, and hope everyone else is doing good. My councelor said it usually takes about two week for the meds go completly get out of your system. I am so hopeing that it is at the end. Once again Thank you.

[MMahon]

I'm glad  your are feeling better..but am sorry you have to go thru this in this manner.
I hope you can find some source of help in the future if you need it.

[karebearlady]

Well that was sort of decided for me. I have no money to pick my meds up with. So I am on a forces withdrawal. However this morning or should I say this afternoon I am feeling much better I am not haveing the brain zaps and the dizziness right now. I am hopeing that it is over. Pray to God it is over.

[MMahon]

Work on getting off your medication with your doctor, and only with his advice.
Most medicatons have side effects and frequently we have to decide between the lesser of two evils... are the side effects worse then the illness.
Medications like these need to be reduced gradually, minimizing the effects of withdrawal from them..   AND we don't really know for sure whether we still need them until we are off them.  
Contact your doctor for his guidance in this matter.
Good luck.