Effexor Chat 3

Alisha

I pray that you all have the strength, energy, and support to defeat this drug!  Effexor is an evil scary drug that will change your brain and body in ways no doctor will ever tell you! Sadly, there is no easy way to get through the withdraw symptoms, but I have found some natural supplements that have helped (like vit B and C). I strongly recommend finding a chiropractor who uses supplements, whole foods, and natural healing techniques. While my withdraw symptoms are still hanging on at day 7, I know that I am one step closer to ridding my body of this toxin!
Good luck to you all and hang in there!!

Victoria
I HATE dandelion root tea because it’s GROSS, but it helped a lot in the first few days when I had the headache. You might try that too.

British guy
I was taken off of Effexor this week,
first day was not so bad, second day in the morning I felt like I had not slept
I continue to feel like my head has been inflated.
My cognition and coordination has gone, and all I want to do is sleep.
It’s seriously interfering with my day to day life.
One thing I’ll never do again is take this medication, and would advise against it.
Do not give up, never give up, no matter what, suicide is not an option for anyone!.
Let’s keep a positive mind. Good luck…

Victoria
You can do it!

Sandy
I would NEVER have taken this poison if I had been informed of the withdrawal side effects!

My original prescription was written by a rheumatologist to help with the pain of two cracked vertebra in my neck after an auto accident 10 yrs ago. With the help of a wonderful chiropractor, the pain in my neck stopped. I then asked my primary doctor to help me stop taking the Effexor and she told me that I should keep taking it to help me through menopause, as it is helpful in preventing hot flashes. She never told me that eventually it would make me feel emotionally numb! She gradually increased my dose to 300 mg and prescribed it at that level for over 5 years – even via telephone after I had moved to another state. My doctor here has shown very little interest in helping me and I can’t afford another $300 initial office call to find a new doctor. The new doctor prescribed Citalopram and I took it for 4 days. It made me so sleepy that I spent most of those 4 days in bed. That is not the kind of help I need with the horrible withdrawal symptoms! I also don’t want to be dependent on another drug ever again in my lifetime. I quit Effexor 3 months ago and I’m still experiencing withdrawal symptoms. However, I never had the “brain zaps” that I hear so much about. My symptoms include, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, crying at the drop of a pin, not being able to sleep, tiredness, aching all over my body – in short – it’s been like having flu for 3 months. I’m very discouraged and thought that I would be doing better by now. I’ve always been very healthy and had a great immune system, so the very fact that I’m this ill is depressing in itself. I’m willing to try anything NON-Pharmaceutical to get past this and get on with my life.

Please don’t start taking Effexor until all other avenues have been explored!

Victoria
You may need to help your body ‘detox’ and recover. If you can get in with a naturopath, I’d do that first. All naturopaths have experience with SNRI and SSRI withdrawal patients–it’s a very common thing to be seen for! Things like 5-HTP, milk thistle, dandelion root, ginger, glycine, and oregano oil can kick butt and finish getting your body ‘in order’ so you can get back to being normal. Remember that this doesn’t have a lot to do with your immune system, but your neurological and metabolic systems. If you can’t afford a naturopath, research and begin a mental health / detox regimen that will put you back together and follow it for about two months before quitting. Milk thistle, dandelion root, ginger and glycine are good for detox. 5-HTP raises serotonin levels (so don’t take it within 30 days of taking any other SNRI or SSRI) and alleviates depression and insomnia. GABA and niacinamide help with neurological pain and also anxiety. Get tested for pyroluria/histadelia and begin treatment if you have it. Dosages are up to your body, but starting with whatever is on the box/bottle is good and go up from there.

Stacey

I have been on Effexor for 2 1/2 years. I am on my way to being Effexor free (3rd day without ANY) but the dizzy spells are just terrible.I have not went cold turkey (tried that once before I knew you could npt quit cold turkey,Wow what a mistake that was). Anyhow I have slowly decreased my dosage and now I am down to no pills a day. My question is this: Am I going to be able to make it if I go to the gym ? I work out hard, weight lifting and a lot of cardio, and I am really kinda nervous that the vertigo/dizziness that I get, that it will not be a good combo for me and the gym. Anyone had any probably with this kind of situation ? I cant cut out my workouts but I cant go back on that pill EVER again. Thanks in advance and thanks everyone for making me not feel so alone in this process. This page has been a huge help.

Victoria
You should probably not go to the gym for about two weeks after quitting, if you wanted a frank opinion. You can do any other kind of exercise that won’t harm you if you fall–but even a treadmill wouldn’t be a good thing at this time. Try walking on land. Weight lifting would probably be ok too, but realize that your body is going through a traumatic experience right now, so walking outside is about as much as you should be doing right now. Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t exercise, because you should, but use good judgment when deciding what to do.

Becs
Hi everyone! I had been on paxil for 3 months & decided I didnt want to be on drugs so I went off. I randomly had a doctors appt a week after going off cold turkey and he reccomended me going back on. I didn’t feel much of a difference from using Paxil so he reccomended Effexor. Although I didn’t think I needed to be on anything anymore, he convinced me that I would probably relapse from stress and that it was in my best interest to stay on some sort of antidepressant. Okay so I took the Effexor for just a little less than a month. Really didn’t feel much of a difference so what was the point, right? Again went off cold turkey since i couldn’t wean myself daily from time released capsules. Man was that a mistake. I have never felt so awful except when I was sick from being pregnant. I have been off Effexor for just about a week now and am experiencing awful nausea, headaches, dizziness, gagging, hot flashes & head zaps. All signs of pregnancy but I’m not and at this point wish I were so there was a good reason I was feeling this terrible. I just realized after talking to a friend tonight that the reason I was feeling like this was probably from going off the drug. Please please please do your research before taking any anti-depressant but especially Effexor. My doctor was so quick to throw me on this but didn’t explain what going off would eventually be like. This is nothing to mess with. I have a 1 1/2 year old and I can hardly take care of him right now because of my symptoms. I am so blessed to have found this website tonight. I’ve never in my life written anything on any site but this I just couldn’t pass up! Way too important to not inform others on!! Good luck if you plan on going off! I believe a drug free life is awesome if you can do so so hang in there! I know Im going to!!!

Trish
I am on my fourth day of withdrawal from 150 mg. daily of effexor. I get it through the mail and I guess because of the holidays have not received it. Do not feel well today. For those with no insurance, contact SCBN. They are a prescription advocacy group and you can get your Rx for $30 per month. However, you can also get it free from Wyeth. Just need simple form of income. I am on unemployment and gave them a copy of my bank statement showing Unemployment deposits.

Best of Luck to all.

Victoria

Yes, that’s how I get mine too. They were very nice to send out 37.5mg capsules when I explained about wanting to wean too.

Jen

hi all i am on day 4 coming off Effexor 150mg i have only been on it for 6 months but being on it made me so miserable i felt like a different person and my anxiety was a million times worse so i chose to just stop this disgusting drug myself, i am pretty fed up today, days of nausea, dizziness, i feel irritable and cant sleep, i just feel horrid and cant take much more the only thing getting me through is knowing i might be myself again and that this awful and evil drug will be out of my system soon, ginger tablets help mildly with the nausea! I feel all your pain, at least I am not alone

Victoria

I began taking Effexor XR after Citalopram gave me panic attacks. Well, I ended up taking a high dose of Effexor XR–225mg/day. I got a lot of side effects–including an actualy WORSENING of depression… even worse than before I started Citalopram! Then I was diagnosed with Pyroluria and began treatment for it. Depression and anxiety were completely gone so I began weaning, 37.5mg at a time. I was down to 75mg and decided to just finish. Every taper was painful—-awful headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anxiety. The worst was when I moved down from 150mg–the symptoms lasted for over 30 days! I imagine this last weaning will be the longest as far as withdrawals go. After about 30 days of being off of Effexor XR I plan to correct the neurotransmitter imbalance that might remain with 5-HTP, but I don’t think I’ll need to take it for very long.

Withdrawal can feel like it’ll never end, but it does. You will be normal again, and you will be happy again and you will be pain-free. It can take a while, but it’s worth the wait!

Heather

Hi Victoria! Thanks for the encouraging words. I am coming off of 37.5mg of effexor xr and have slowly weaned off. it took me a month but have had the head zaps and non-stop dizziness for about a month now. It is day 4 of being pill free (WOOHOO!) and my head zaps have lessened a little and the dizziness is always there. I want it to go away and keep trying to trudge on. I am so close to being done with this drug and feel blessed to not have experienced any of the other side effects. so for those who are still weaning off, I’M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU! we can do this. I was afraid before but not now. If I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT. I’m with you victoria that it will go away one day and I hope and pray that it will go away sooner than later. I wish you all the best and will pray for all of you suffering from withdrawals like me. WE CAN DO THIS! DO NOT GIVE UP!

Karen

I was on Zoloft for years, then a few years ago, when I got close to peri-menopause, it was not working as well so my doctor switched me to Effexor, 150 mg. After a while that wasn’t working as well either so she took me up to 225 mg. Now I’m unemployed and can’t afford any insurance other than catastrophic (i.e. no pharmacy benefits) so I’ve decided to go off the Effexor. Also, I want to live drug free and have been researching how to treat depression with diet, exercise and natural supplements. I went from 225 to 150 with no problem but two days ago I went down to 75 and I am having some minor withdrawal symptoms. Eating too much but feeling nausea, having trouble doing anything other than sleep, headaches.

My advice is do it as slowly as possible, one time my prescription did not arrive in time and it was so HORRIBLE. I never want to go through that again. If you are feeling like that, I know you are in a terrible state. Do not go cold turkey, no matter what! Reduce the dosage but wait at least 3 weeks before reducing it again, I think it takes that long for your body to acclimate to the new dosage.

I’m a little worried about going from 75 to zero, I may try that half a capsule thing.

I’m glad I found this website, otherwise I was feeling very discouraged. Now I know it’s the drug and I can fight it and wait it out. Thank you for sharing your stories!

Catherine

I have been off Effexor for a few days now and am still having dizzy spells. I was wondering how long these dizzy spells would last and if there’s anything I can do to help with the dizzy spells.

Chelsey

Ugh is all I can say at this point… I have been on Effexor for about 2 years now and was on it previously for over 3 years. I successfully quit taking it with the help of my Dr previously but, after almost 2 years of not being on it, I needed something to help me. With the success I had with it before, my Dr decided it was the best option for me.

I went home this weekend for the holidays and forgot my meds at my parents home. This has been the longest day of my life. I feel dizzy, am extremely emotional (crying as I type this) and feel like I am going to throw up. I can only imagine what tomorrow is going to be like as I won’t get them in the mail until 10 or after.

I know I need something to level me out but don’t want something so harsh. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Catherine

This dizziness comes and goes but it’s back and I dread these times. Especially when I have my kids. I feel almost not function able and very weak. Is this normal?

Cat

Yes it is. Don’t rush the process. I have been reducing by alternating days taking 150mg and 112,5 mg for 2 weeks, then 112,5 mg for tow weeks, then alternating 112,5 and 75, etc… I am now taking half a 37,5 every 36 hours and soon lowering to every 48 hours. If I was weaning too fast I had brain zaps and could get off the couch all day.

Jeffrey

I have been on Effexor XR 75mg for about a year and recently bumped up to 2 pills totaling 100mg effexor XR. I’ve been keeping up with these comments getting prepared for the day when I am ready to stop. The comments about the brain zaps are the ones that confuse me the most. I’ve had days where I miss a dose and I will sleep through most of the day and then feel like my I’m zooming in and out. The feeling is like my brain is literally pulsing or something. It is hard to explain but is that the “zaps” or has anyone felt a similar thing to what i’m describing? I’ve also noticed the mood swings when I miss a dose. I’m always worried that if I miss a dose, telling myself all the withdrawal symptoms that will happen makes them worse than they really are. Can anyone give a definitive example of what just one or two days without it feels like for them? I’ve experienced it several times; I just want something to keep in mind next time it happens so that I don’t freak out and make the symptoms worse than they should be. I really like having people to talk about this with.

Stephanie

Hi,

I’m a 22 year college student in the process of getting off of Effexor XR. I’ve been on 150mg for two years, I’ve been doing really well in my life and with the help of pych I’ve been getting off of this drug from hell. I was prescribed Effexor two years ago because I had horrible panick attacks at school. I had to be admitted into a hospital and was there given Effexor. Effexor has been great to me, but gaining 30 lbs and always being tired hasnt been. So with my psych advice I began taking Effexor and prozac together for a week, and then Prozac everyday for a week and Effexor very other day. After that I was supposed to take Prozac for another week and then the following week take Prozac every other day and then be completely off of everything.

I’m on day four of no Effexor and just the Prozac. Let’s just say that day two was the worst, but has been getting a little better now. I have a “weird” headache, I just feel weird and loopy. Just out of it. I’m also super naseous, and dizzy. I’m having terrible gas and loose stool. This is terrible. I lay in bed all day and it completely sucks. I just want to know if anyone else getting off of Effexor feel like they have food poisoning? Or a stomach flu?

I’ve also had a low fever the past two days. Is that part of the withdrawal? I’ decided to get off Effexor during winter break from school. But I start back up on the 17th, will i be able to get back to normal by then?

I wish there was a set date when I would be back to normal.
Thanks

Denise

I’ve been on Effexor XR 75mg for several years. Have tried a couple of times to stop taking it but did not realize what I was up against. I started taking one 75 mg every other day for several months with a goal of stopping totally Dec. 31st. Well it’s day 6 and all I can say is prepare yourself, make sure you have the time to deal with the withdrawals. For me it’s the brain zaps and the feeling that my brain is in slow motion that I’ve had a hard time with. To answer one question, what does a brain zap feel like? Imagine a car that wont start when you turn the key, the spark plugs keep sparking sending electrical sparks, but the car does not start. That’s your brain. Another way to describe the constant feeling is put a 9 volt battery on your tonge. So far.. the feelings are subsiding a little, a lot of sleep, water, vitamines, exercise and having a brother with a medical marijuanna license helps with the brain zaps tremendously. I’m hanging in there and refuse to take any thing else that tries to re-wire my brain. Will post again in a couple days… Right now I’m probably 50% better

Al Kamieniecki

Well I was on Effexor and before that, on Paxil, for 12 years. I asked my primary care doctor what she thought about gradually discontinuing the Effexor 150 mg. She gave me a script for 75 mg and told me to see her friend who is a psychiastrist.

I went to see him and after talking through my history and how I am feeling now, he hit me with a bombshell…she said to take the lower dosage for a week and then just stop! After reading all the postings about people going crazy trying to get off these meds I could not believe it, but he was very encouraging.

So I did what he suggested. The first 2 or 3 days were a little funky, but I stuck it out. I followed the suggestion posted in various forums and started taking B complex and fish oil. I don’t know if it helped (but it can’t hurt, right?) By the 3rd day I was swearing I would never go back on these meds unless there was no other recourse.

I am not diminishing the difficulties others are having but in my case at least I feel way better off the meds than I did on them. The bottom line is, I think everyone is different. First of all, how do you know if you are feeling better because of the Effexor or because you are not depressed anymore? Luckily I found a doc who took the time to talk to me about what I really wanted to do. As he said, you only read about the bad experiences on line, in his opinion they are a definite minority.

In closing I would say that while these drugs are very valuable and have helped countless people, they are after all altering brain chemistry in ways that are not completely understood. I really feel they should be monitored closely…oh and hang in there!

Becky G

I have been complaining to my doctor for 6 months now that I have strange feelings…exactly as described above…dizziness, electric shock, and vomiting. I was told it was due to dehydration. I have had to take a lot of time off work in the recent past because of it. I spoke to a different doctor today who said it may be from missing my pills. I started taking the meds in June and since have almost monthly been having these symptoms. Now that I look back it completely coincides with me missing one or two doses. Wow, all that from missing one pill!
OK, so now I know it is the meds, SO relieved to have hope that something is not seriously wrong. I wish I had been warned about this. Yes, I spoke to the doctor and pharmacist, but don’t remember anyone saying that missing a pill would affect my life so much. I think it is time to find something else. Bummer, this medication really works for me.

Cat

Why would you stop if it helps you??? Just dont miss doses! Ive been on it for 9 years before being ready to stop,and the withdrawal is not worse because you were on it longer, its just the same, once your system is adjusted to it, it doesn’t get worse with time. Take your time,allow yourself to heal and get your life in order!

bill

Hi, I just started down off of effexor xr 1500 mg per day and now I’m at 75mgs and just about dead. I feel like I want to kill myself and the only thing that is keeping my going is my 4.5 yr old son. I have read how hard this is, but I don’t think that words truly capture the hell. I get sad and want to kill myself all of the time, but if it were not for my son I wouldn’t even bother writing. I’m just trying to pass the time. You know it’s bad when you don’t tell anyone how you feel, so at least I’m telling you.

hang in there kids, this sucks!

Cat

Don’t endure that! Stay on it or wean slower! If you need it just stay on it! Why inflict that on yourself?!

Maria

I really appreciate reading these comments as I try to get through the withdrawal symptoms of Effexor. I have been on the XR in various dosages, for 6 years and yes it works but the side effects I cannot handle. I think I just put up with them for all those years. Better than being in a fetal position crying uncontrolably right? The brain “activity” of dizzyness, brain-hum, quesiness, etc…are horrible. My days are spent feeling like crap all day and longing for my couch and the T.V. after work. I have had some really bad nightmares since going off Effexor. Anyone else?
I also know that a few days, weeks, months of feeling like crap is just what I need to do to go off and if I’m on the couch every day, unable to be active, oh well. this too shall pass.

Laura L.

I was put on effexor for a recent issue I was having with pulling my hair. I always had issues with depression and anxiety and I thought that this would be helpful. I guess it did help but for the past 2 months I have been trying to quit. First I tried cold turkey and couldn’t last past 3 days. I have been weaning myself from 75mg down to half of a pill and then to a quarter of a pill every other day. I have been free of effexor withdrawal for 8 days now. I know that I need to hang in there but I feel like I’m dying. My blood pressure has increased from 100/60 to 140/90. I feel so tired and moody and my brain feels like it is swimming in mud. I can’t think clearly and I get these waves that go from my head to chest. I hate this. How long do you think this will last. Did adding the Prozac help with withdrawal?

Pamela

I am finally down to 37.5 mgs every 3 days……but the constant ringing in my ears is so annoying, my appetite is uncontrollable. Anyone else experiencing the same?