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Effexor withdrawal

Posted by beatrix on July 4, 2003, at 11:29:54

I know a lot has already been posted here on this subject, but I just want to add my own experience. I have been taking only 37.5 mg. of Effexor for about a year now. Though that's a tiny dose, I have huge withdrawal symptoms from missing even one day--brain zaps, mood swings, dizziness, dopiness. Because of the withdrawal issues and sexual deadening, I have been trying to get off Effexor for several weeks now, with my doctor's support. I'm weaning off by opening the capsule and removing a few grains at a time, gradually removing more every few days. I am down now to about 40 percent of a capsule as a daily dose, or only 15 mgs./day, but when I tried skipping a dose yesterday to see what happened, back came the full withdrawal syndrome--vivid dreams, brain zaps, moodiness, rapid pulse, everything. I took a 40-percent dose today and the symptoms are already ebbing away. I am wondering if I will be able to get off it entirely in the end!!

For this drug to have this kind of addictive power at such a tiny dose is terrifying. I never, never would have started on it if I had known this would happen. My non-medical opinion is that NOBODY should take this drug unless you are sure that nothing else will work for you. My husband is an ER nurse and every couple of weeks he sees a patient who is in the throes of terrible withdrawal symptoms after missing a couple of Effexor doses. Please be careful with this treacherous drug!


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poster:beatrix thread:239227
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030701/msgs/239227.html