Posted by GradPsychStudent on May 14, 2004, at 9:35:56
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by tmott on May 14, 2004, at 9:07:30
> I had no problems going on Effexor, but serious issues going off! It was a very bad thing for me.
I've been forced to come off because i failed a drug screening, and my Dr. will not represcribe until I attend outpatient rehab which I believe is once a week, hopefully not more. Obviously I could find a new Dr. to hook me up, but after many years of abuse and failed attempts at going clean, I will attend because Im now 25, and have school and life to attend to. With that said I was at 225mg to help me from going cold turkey on marijuana, cocaine, percocets, and a number of other stuff. I know many people who take well more than 225mg a day. I was told to take one a day till I run out , which is 75mg instead of 225mg. Initially I was irritated alot because of either withdrawal from effexor xr, and/or the drugs, or my generalized anxiety disorder/depression I have dealth with all my life. I dont think it is a symptom of withdrawal from the med. (I hadnt used for 3 weeks prior to coming off , so it wasnt hard drug withdrawal, because I was clean for 5 months and learned what that withdrawal was like.) I was irritable and hard to get motivated for a few days, I began working out everyday and I feel like a champ. I didn't get the "brain zaps" or extreme fatigue I thought I would get. Coming off hasnt been that bad, and its been similar to coming off of SSRIs like prozac, celexa, lexapro, zoloft (I will not include Paxil because the non controlled release form causes significant problems coming off, which has turned into a class action lawsuit against them). I am going to continue working out, and holdoff going on effexor again, hoping the gym is the cure. Although, I am sure I will still need my trazadone for sleep. Take your time coming off of it, even if u need a couple of months. Also, your chances of staying off are significantly higher if u have been or are willing to see a psychologist. Its amazing what can be learned, even I learn, a Psych student working towards my PhD. Good luck
poster:GradPsychStudent
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040510/msgs/346751.html