HELP w/ Stopping Effexor

[FNB3857]

Hello everyone, I am new on this type of forums. I started taking 37.5mg of Effexor on November 2010 for Anxiety. 3 weeks ago I was up to 75mg but I didnt like the way it made me feel. On 4/29/11 I went back to 37.5mg but I want to stop the medication as I dont think I need it any more. There are other anxiety medications out there that are not benzos and work well (Buspar). Anyway, I didnt take the Effexor yesterday and I felt great, however today I started to feel the w/symptoms and STUPID me took the Effexor again. I've read success stories here and to be honest I did stop Effexor once but it was bad with the w/symptoms. Does anyone has a proven way to lower the med and to lower the w/symptoms?? I am currently taking FISH OIL, B VITAMINS, D3,CALCIUM/MAGNESIUM plus I've been exercising and it does help.

Any advice

Thank you

FNB3857

[jmama]

I've been taking Effexor for about 6-7 years for anxiety and recently decided I wanted to switch to another anxiety medication as I want to start taking a prescription diet pill which is not compatible with the Effexor.  I have been on 75mg for a very long time and my doctor prescribed me 37.5mg to help tapper off.  When I stopped taking the 75mg and went to the 37.5mg I had side effects that consisted of anxious and jittery feeling with headaches and it tore up my stomach, horrible stomach aches and diarrhea.  It did subside after about 3-4 days.  I took the 37.5mg once a day for 2 weeks and then last week switched to one 37.5mg every other day.  Friday was my "off" day when I didn't take one and I ended up taking one because I couldn't stand how I was feeling.  I've gone 3 days now, Saturday until today with out taking any and while I don't particularly care for how I'm feeling which includes stomach aches, diarrhea, general uneasy feeling, jittery, inability to focus and slight headache I've vowed to stick it out.  I don't think there's any other way of doing it, tappering off doesn't seem to be the answer, because your body still has it so when you do stop regardless of how much you tapper off you're still going to have to deal with some side effects.  I've read horror stories of people trying to come off this stuff who have experienced even worst side effects than I have/am and have just gone back to taking it because they couldn't deal with the withdraw effects.  This stuff is like trying to get off a bad drug or something.  Had I known that it would be so difficult to kick this stuff I would have never agreed to start taking it many years ago and would have opted for something else.  

[dwt7let]

Hi Accupuncture is very good also for withdrawal. We do medication at our group it's great also if you wake with anxiety or of a night try meditation then or talking books.
Good Luck
Lorraine xx

[FNB3857]

Hi guys and thank you for your replies. It really helps to know that I am not the only one suffering with this crap. I am now 3 days Effexor free and I am having withdrawal symptoms, not as bad as I thought but I am. I've been going to the gym running 2 miles everyday and that seems to help with the anxiety. I've also done some research on Meditation and I will give it a try. On my research I've found that Meditation improves your wellbeing and this has been scientifically proven to help with anxiety and panic attacks. Check it out at Lifeflow.net!! Good luck to you guys and thank you for the support

[dwt7let]

Hi
I'm sorry to tell you this but after only 2 months we are in deed addicted to these drugs effexor is highly addictive and you will suffer abit coming off everybody does. The best way to come off it is slowly slowly, Cita my support group tells us that the brain does not like sudden changes, what they tell you to do is start by reducing one day of the week but take the normal dose on the other days so it's tricking your brain if you like. Reduce by 25 mgs, then the following week reduce 25 mg's on two nights spread out eg a Monday and a
Saturday, then the following week three days, etc till up to seven days. Then start again at 50 mg's. Be warned you will have withdrawal symptoms if it gets too painful just stay at what your up to for a while then when your ready start again. You will get withdrawal symptoms and you may get anxiety/depression symptoms but remember they are symptoms and in time will go away. The first twelve months after coming off these drugs is convalescence !!
Take Care and Be Strong You Can and Will Get Through This !!!!
Love
Lorraine xx

[lilymoon]

I think the only way is slowly tapper off. Sounds like youre doing everything else right. Lily