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.

[calgary67]

My goodness aren't there a lot of us coming off antidepressants.  I started last Thursday to decrease my dose. So far the only effect has been more energy and a new lease on life.  I was a zombie and when I found myself in a fog driving I decided that something was wrong. Thank goodness I found a doctor who listened to me. I am going to be off the Effexor by Xmas.  The buzzing in the head is really worriesome and 'generalized anxious disorder' which I was diagnosed with last year may be a factor but I have decided that exercise might be the answer.  I have always stayed away from exercise which hasn't been to my benefit but I think exercise is better than drugs.  I used to work for the Physed Dept. in Calgary and it sure didn't get through to me.  There were posters in the office TRY SPORTS NOT DRUGS!!!!!!! The other secretary and I sat there typing and smoking.  I can't believe I am telling you this.  I sure don't smoke anymore.  I eat and that isn't the answer!!!!
Mary Ann

[reno1]

Hello,
I am weaning my wife off of effexor, you can't stop at 150mg! You need to go to 75mg for 2 weeks, then 37.5 for 2weeks, then start weaning down from there for at least a month..It's been a Nightmare, but I got the formula down, splitting capsules etc..She has totally lost her sex drive too,I'm hoping it comes back soon!  Taking 10 mg of Prozac is also a way to stop the side effects, you can stop taking it at the same time in the end...She is now on 15mg of effexor and  going down to 10mg tomorrow...Let me know if I can help...99% of all the doctors don't know ****.
Reno
***@****

[Baileygirl]

I AGREE RENO! You have to be CRAZY to go 'cold turkey' off 150 mg of Effexor!! I am doing it in increments & am suffering like mad! (Mind you, i'm not doing it as gradually as your wife, which i should have done.) I am very concerned for 'no drive'. This is serious business. Effexor is an evil, evil drug in my opinion! Hope she gets back to us to let us know what state she is in.
How is your wife coping??

Bailey

[carol lee]

My daughter has been on effexor for 4 yrs.The doctor has been weaning her off.She had terrible withdrawals the last time they tried at 37.5mg. and did again this a.m. going down to 17mg. She immediately acquired a migraine, constant vomiting, also felt like she was having a sugar attack, extreme shaking all over her body and could not function. Her doctor will not see her until next wednesday. she went to the ER and they gave her ativan, for anxiety, told her to go back to 35.5 mg. again., gave her pain pills, nausea pills. She just started a new job. What can she safely take while attempting to go off this terrible drug?? She has fibromyalgia too. Does anyone know what she could do to obtain help.

[MindOMatter]

I was on effexor for a little over a month. I was using it to treat anxiety and depression, my family doctor gave me some samples and said try this, so I did. The first couple days on it I was extremly tired constantly yawning.  Then I moved up to 75mg and basically had the same effects, but really had no motivation and basically slept, which is kind of ironic since when Im depressed I kind of sleep through out the day and feel sorry for myself anyway. I consulted with my physician who told me to wean myself off of the drug and then consider taking wellbutrin. So i finished out the week with 75mg then the next week i jumped down to 35.7 and then I started taking them every other day and then finally stopped after a week of doing that. I thought I would have been fine, but was I wrong. I felt extreme dizziness and nausea nad have been feeling this way for about a week. I decided that It would eventually pass, I consulted with my doctor and he said it may last for 10 days, thanks doc for telling me that! Ive decided, I rather not medicate myself, I rather feel depressed 4 days out of 5 then feel dizzy all the time and not be able to function.  

[mr.lucky66]

I FEEL FOR YOU FOLKS THAT ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING OFF THIS DRUG. I THINK MANY LAZY PAPER PUSHING HMO DOCS JUST KEEP US ON THESE DRUGS TO MAKE THEIR LIVES EASIER. I HAVE NOW BEEN OFF EFFEXOR FOR 2 WEEKS AND NOW FEEL MUCH BETTER AFTER SOME ROUGH TIMES WITH THE "BRAIN BOUNCE" AND OTHER NASTY SIDE EFFECTS. IT HASN'T BEEN FUN BUT NOW IT'S WORTH IT TO FEEL SOME NORMAL EMOTIONS AGAIN . MAYBE SOME PTS. SHOULDN'T FEEL SOME EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS THEY HAVE BUT IT WAS REALL Y HOLDING ME BACK. INEVER EVEN CREID OR GRIEVED FOR MY MOTHER'S DEATH 3 YEARS AGO AND THAT WASN'T  NORMAL. I CRIED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE SHE DIED YESTERDAY AND MAYBE NOW I CAN GO ON WITH MY LIFE AS SHE WAS THE PERSON I LOVED THE MOST IN THE WORLD. IT'S NOT ALWAYS FUN BUT AT LEAST IT'S REAL AND BETTER FOR ME. ALL THE BEST