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Re: So scared of Effexor withdrawal :-(

Posted by moose100 on December 9, 2003, at 12:37:23

In reply to So scared of Effexor withdrawal :-(, posted by jeenobeano on December 9, 2003, at 11:01:37

> I've been taking 75mg of Effexor XR once daily for almost 2 years. It's truly been a wonder-drug for me. Aside from an almost negligible decrease in libido, I've suffered from zero side effects these past 2 years -- and it's been the only thing to really get my lifelong problem with GAD under control.
>
> However, I'm now married and my husband and I want to start a family. I've been advised by both my general practitioner and my psychiatrist that there's no reason to discontinue my Effexor, that there's no *proof* that anything untoward would happen to my baby were I to conceive while on Effexor.
>
> HOWEVER -- they have also both said there's a decent chance the baby would suffer from minor withdrawal for a few days after birth, and that Effexor is probably transmitted through a mother's milk. That's all I needed to hear to know I need to get off this medication.
>
> But now -- I"M SO SCARED. Last week, I tried "tapering" myself off by taking out a measly 10 little beads from my 75mg capsule and the effects were horrendous: like a cross between being hung-over, having the flu, and on a hallucinogenic drug. Reason got the better of me and I contacted my psychiatrist who is going to help me start weaning properly on Friday.
>
> Someone please tell me it's going to be ok. My hsuband thinks everything I went thru during my "withdrawal-lite" was entirely in my head. I don't want to hurt our baby-2-B but at the same time I'm an attorney and the sole breadwinner in our family (hubby's a PhD student) -- I can't just take 2 months of sick leave right now.
>
> Sorry to vent. But any advice and/or words of reassurance would be much appreciated.
>
> -- jeenobeano


Hi there: I'm an attorney also-going into my ninth week of Effexor therapy(150mg). The drug has been a life saver for me. My internist advised that he would keep me on 150mg. for one year and then slowly decrease the dosage. I discussed with him the rather upsetting withdrawal stories I had read on these boards. He advised that tapering off must be done very slowly. In this way, withdrawal symptoms are minimal. Another poster advised about the use of Benedryl. This seems to be an excellent idea- I have read many posts recommending Benedryl. Anyway, good luck to you and please keep us posted as you taper off.


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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031208/msgs/288020.html