Posted by White Stone on March 15, 2003, at 20:26:36
In reply to ANYONE who has taken Effexor and since stopped..., posted by Andy Drinkard on March 14, 2003, at 19:56:25
> 1) How long did you take Effexor XR?
> 2) What was the highest dose taken?
> 2) Why did you stop the medication?
> 3) Did you "taper off" or stop "cold turkey"?
> 4) Did you experience withdrawal symptoms (Y/N)?
> 5) If so, was "brain shivers" one of these symptoms (Y/N)?
> 6) If applicable, what was the single most unpleasant withdrawal symptom?
> 7) How long did the withdrawal symptoms last from the time of stopping?
> 8) If applicable, did you consult a medical professional about the withdrawal symptoms? What was his or her advise?
> 9) Are the withdrawal symptoms enough to make you wish you had never started Effexor (Y/N)?1) 6 months
2) 150 mgs of Effexor XR
3) Depression got somewhat better, but not significant; my thinking was fuzzy & disconnected.
4) Moved to Zoloft and later added Zyprexa (dr. changed my diagnosis to bipolar).
5) Yes, I went hypomanic and had a few "zaps."
6) Yes
7) Hypomanic behavior
8) About 4 days
9) Yes, he increased the dosage of Zoloft to a more comparable level of what I had been taking of Effexor
10) No.P.S. I think Effexor XR did a good job at moving me from severely depressed to less so. I just didn't like feeling out of it, less mentally capable, highly distractible, and wanting to take a nap every afternoon (side effects NOT related to withdrawal.)
poster:White Stone
thread:209176
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030314/msgs/209499.html