WEANING OFF EFFEXOR XR 150MG DID ANYONE ELSE GET EXTREMELY TIRED DURING?

[farmingmother]

I ALMOST FELT SEDATED IT IS DAY 5 OR 6 GOING OFF THE EFFEXOR XR I DID IT COLD TURKEY THOUGH.  I CALLED MY DOC TODAY, I AM STARTED A GRADUAL TAPPERING OFF THOUGH MY HEAD KEEPS DOING THAT ZAPPING THING THOUGH.

[Beaner8]

Hi Ganz, finally... You're the first post I've seen for chemo-induced menopause, I'm guessing?, and being prescribed Effexor for the hot flashes?
I have been on Effexor for 8 months and have been trying to wean off for a couple months now. I did not realize night sweats were withdrawal symptoms and thought I was weaning off too fast. The doc insists that I do the  37.5 every other day, but when I miss one day, I feel like I have chronic car sickness and dizziness for 48 hrs. What a roller coaster for my body, and that just isn't working for me. I am trying to take out a couple granules from the capsules every day, and I'm doing alright so far. What a crazy medicine. I just hate it. And now I know what the chronic insomnia and lack of libido is from. Ug. So ready to be done!!
By the way, Ganz, prayers and positive energy for healing from the breast cancer.
J

[Ganz36]

I was taking 225 mgs of Effexor XR for Hot Flashes due to Breast Cancer. I wish I had never taken it. If I missed one dose of it, I was extremely sick. It has cause me to gain weight, also. I started weaning off of it. I reduced by 75 mgs every two week and lowest dose being 37.5. I had headaches, dizzy& brain zaps, which I could handle. But when it came to stopping after 37.5 Mgs, it was like get the flu within 12 hrs from stopping the last dose. I was so sick, I had to take another dose of 37.5 mgs. I read on E-How to have your doctor give you a prescription for Effexor Immeditate release because there is a varity of MGS. My doctor thought that was a great Idea. I took 25 mgs and was fine. I felt great. So I am now reducing the 25 mgs. I would highly recommend this method. I am having NO withdrawal symptoms. I hope this help everyone and Good Luck. I will never take this horrible medication again.

[NaNaBx2]

I to have had my dosage adjusted from 150mg to 75mg. Yesterday was my first day, and I felt uneasy. I was weepy, having brain zaps and very tired, I feel like I haven't been to sleep yet!
Your story sounds very inspiring, I just hope it goes as smoothly for me as well, all these feeling of uncertainty, is very upsetting.

[pharmapsychosis]

Crikey!
Five years and this forum is still going! Shows what a wonderful drug we're on, or trying to get off. Here in Australia it seems venlafaxine is the latest fad with trick-cyclists, and while it may have a few successes, as we see here, the drug is just too dirty for human consumption. I have not had caffeine jitters for years, but coming off Effexor (TM) is so much like those speedy times of my youth, before I became a seasoned espresso drinker, when too many Nescafes would set my heart a-racing. Anyhow, over time coming off this horrid drug has simply got worse, and I hate to think what's in store for what is said to be the worst stage, the last 75mg.

What can a bloke say...Crikey!

[nightmares02]

After being on Effexor for 10 years after my father died. I so wish I tried ANY other drug. I recently went on Zyban to quit smoking and I experienced extreme troubles breathing which I found out was an allergy reaction to Zyban so I went off the Zyban after 4 days. My pharmacy was closed for a long weekend so I went off the Zyban and Effexor cold turkey. Pharmacist highly recomended I immediately see my doctor to wean off. My doc gave me the perscriptions to wean off very slowly. I was so exhausted and agitated from the weaning that I recently went cold turkey again. I was so excited. I have loads of energy, emotional balance instead of being so unemotinal and can feel my libido returning. EXCEPT its day 4 and I have nightmares every night. Theres no way I can go back to work on the 3 or 4 hours of sleep I do get. Its like Im half asleep and I can hear people in my house or I think Im talking to my son and hes in his room asleep.I dream that other members of my extended family are living right outside my door and they argue and walk around like its the middle of the day and its 230 am now and Im typing this because Im desperatre. The buzzing in my head and dizziness that comes and goes I can handle, this I cannot. Last night I had nightmares about my house being full to the capacity with so much stuff I could not get out of my room and tried to scream but nothing came out. It was so realistic I kept reflecting on it all during my busy day today praying it never happens again. But here I am. Any suggestions? I also have fibromyalgia and restless leg syndrome, just moved to a new little town and really anxious to move forward.

[Letgo420]

Today is day 3. I was on 300mg (2 150mg tabs daily) Last Wed I called for a refill, no luck with it before the weekend. Last 150mg pill was last Sat morn.

Cold turkey since.

Sat wasnt bad, eve ok had a hard time sleeping.

Sun night was bad with the brain whizzes, feeling out of sorta & little stomach upset.

Mon day was ok, some anger for no reason, late afternoon munchies for Mexican & that night was horrible.. brain whizzes, nausea & vomiting, sweats chills bad bad night. Up all night, able to eat a light meal before bed in the am..not much nausau & no vomiting.

Tues slept till the afternoon, wokeup alright. Able to eat very little vomiting. Night, feel out of sorts, some nausea, headache & brain whizzes.

Hope day 4 is better as it seems the worst may be over???? Marijuana has helped alot, smoking & using a mj cream to the temples..Not saying its a miracle, it helps more at times & seems less at others.. Day 7