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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by BR549 on April 8, 2004, at 0:31:41
In reply to Re: Withdrawl comparison, posted by Mina on April 4, 2004, at 11:15:44
I began taking anti-depressants in 1997. After being burned out on Prozac, according to my family MD and "this can happen" according to him, I was "upgraded" to Effexor XR about a year ago. Just like with the Prozac, I felt relatively good for few months with both meds and then settled into what I call an emotional drone mode.
My prescription for Effexor XR expired 4/2. I had previously e-mailed my family MD the day earlier for a refill with no reply.. What a strange trip its been the past 5 days.
Nausea was almost immediate 4/3 and lasted a couple more days. My equilibrium is still off and I must use total concentration when driving or operating power tools. Zip or zap noises inside my head mostly at night and it feels like my eyeballs are twitching when closed. I don't sleep well at all and mood swings are frightening. I'm a 48 year old male and have cried more the past few days than when my dad passed away last summer. Plus deeply buried feelings are being expressed verbally and causing great discomfort and concern for my wife and kids.
I've had enough of the pysch meds and despirately want to get through life now without them. With the exception of a few unprescribed drinks now and then to take the edge off when needed..
Gotta finish though with Thank God for this site. I wanted answers about why I was so freaking messed up and I wanted them now. Not a week or two later.. Thanks for the support out there.
Posted by DirtyLowDown4 on April 8, 2004, at 7:59:54
In reply to Medication and Effexor, posted by sira on April 7, 2004, at 17:12:50
Try this link:
http://www.accessmednet.com/prescription-drug-information/effexor-venlafaxine.html#interactions
> I was wondering if anyone has found any medications that interact with effexor. I get seasonal allergies in the spring and summer. My dr is checking on which meds are ok but said it could take a while. I was wondering if anyone here knows of a website or from personal experince if there are certain drugs to stay away from. I usually use claritin and advil.
> Sira
Posted by Zarry on April 8, 2004, at 8:22:20
In reply to Just started and want to get off Effexor, posted by 8008hopeful on April 7, 2004, at 22:26:02
If you're not happy with the results of just starting Effexor, talk to your doctor. I went cold-turkey and I think the withdrawals are worse than the weight gain and high blood pressure - physically. The side-effects you don't see, you don't feel, therefore out of mind. The withdrawals are horrendous. I've been off Effexor for about a week now and the "brain chills" or "rain stick" feeling in the head is as bad as the depression. I went cold turkey because of the extreme high blood pressure. The doctor was unaware that Effexor can cause high blood pressure.
Be Careful!!> I just started taking Effexor a month ago. I was at 37.5 for a week, 75 for about 2 weeks, and then was put up to 150 for 2 more weeks. I think the side effects are worse than my original problems and want to get off of it but am very nervous about the withdrawal after reading the threads. Any suggestions?
Posted by Davez on April 8, 2004, at 9:34:56
In reply to Re: Just started and want to get off Effexor, posted by Zarry on April 8, 2004, at 8:22:20
From what I have read and heard going cold turkey is not an option. You have to cut down gradually. Quitting cold turkey while on a higher doseage (above 37.5mg) is pure masochism.
Posted by ku4ns on April 8, 2004, at 10:27:46
In reply to Just started and want to get off Effexor, posted by 8008hopeful on April 7, 2004, at 22:26:02
I believe you may not have been on the drug long enough to reap any of the benefits. Each time I would increase the dose it would take a couple of weeks for things to settle down and then it was smooth sailing along as I took the same dose each day. In the beginning of my experience with effexor I too was sick and wanted to quit but was encouraged to press through. It has been over a year now with good results. john
Posted by Zarry on April 8, 2004, at 10:41:33
In reply to Re: Just started and want to get off Effexor, posted by Davez on April 8, 2004, at 9:34:56
Weaning off wasn't/isn't an option with the high blood pressure that I have. I need to get it down and taking a month to wean me off isn't something I want to do. Luckily I just got laid-off from my job so I can deal with the withdrawls at home.
Posted by Putford on April 8, 2004, at 16:00:06
In reply to Going Cold Turkey, posted by Zarry on April 8, 2004, at 10:41:33
Believe me,cold turkey is not an option. I tried it.Been reading up on it.It's a slow process.You got to be patient.What I saw was that you keep the lowest dose and slowly increase the time between doses.In some cases one might need other meds to help with the process.In any case to some,it will still not be easy.I sent ane-mail to Wyeth and they just refer you to your doctor.Problem is a lot of the doctors are not aware of the consequences .I don't think GP's should be dispensing these drugs.I wonder if we got in touch with the FDA. to present a case re.Effexor. ??
Posted by Zarry on April 8, 2004, at 19:29:08
In reply to Re: Going Cold Turkey, posted by Putford on April 8, 2004, at 16:00:06
I think your thought on GPs not dispensing these drugs is a good idea with the fact that most of them probably don't know the side effects.
I'm not going back on Effexor, no matter what the doseage is. My last few "grains" of Effexor was Tuesday and today is Thursday. I made 1 75mg capsule last 3 days. With the high blood pressure, I think the risks of high BP are worse then the nightmare of withdrawls from Effexor.
I'm really debating whether I want to go on anymore ADs - because of the experimenting whether they work sufficiently and then having to go through the withdrawls.
My husband would rather have me with "emotion" (without ADs) than what I'm going through right now.
Posted by Mina on April 8, 2004, at 23:18:27
In reply to Re: Going Cold Turkey, posted by Putford on April 8, 2004, at 16:00:06
Hi everyone
I'm on my way off of this drug which was my first AD ever (and my last). I tried to lengthen days between the 37.5 dose but that was to flippin hard so now I'm opening the capsule and taking out a few grains at a time every other day...Today was one of those days where I totally skipped and it's killing me. Has anyone else tried to do it a few grains less each time and if so...how long for this nightmare to end?
BTW, I'm so glad I found this site to at least read that these symptoms are not unique to myself only...it's good having some support.
Posted by Zarry on April 9, 2004, at 8:26:12
In reply to How long for these withdrawals to end??, posted by Mina on April 8, 2004, at 23:18:27
Hi Mina, I've done the few grains for a few days, but quit all together. I'm not on anything now for 3 days. I'm waiting for the "rain stick", "brain chills" or whatever people want to call it, to quit. That's what is the worst for me right now. I don't know how long they last because this is the first time getting off Effexor. I've been on other ADs, but this is the worst for me.
Usually when going on to another AD, you can start the next one in a week, so it's just a short time of the nightmare as you get to start another one and begin the life w/o withdrawl symptoms.
I, too, am happy to have found this message board. Hang in there.
Posted by headachegirl on April 9, 2004, at 10:32:47
In reply to Re: How long for these withdrawals to end??, posted by Zarry on April 9, 2004, at 8:26:12
I am on 75 mgs and started taking them every other day for 3 days. The brain zaps, headache, and nausea were bearable. They would start occuring the morning after my "skip" day and would recede over the course of the day after I took the 75 mg. I didn't experience any problems the day I actually skipped. I also take SamE, 5-HTTP, NADH, DHA, Co-Q10 supplements, multi-vitamin and extra vitamin E.
Because my job is so stressful, I am now opening the caps and taking approximately half the little dots (I eyeball it.) I plan to do this over the next 2 weeks and then go to doing a quarter of the little dots for 2 weeks, then done. I'm hoping this will totally eliminate the withdrawal effects. I have never experienced anything remotely like this with any other anti-depressant I've taken. It's awful.
Posted by scullycat on April 9, 2004, at 12:15:17
In reply to Re: How long for these withdrawals to end??, posted by headachegirl on April 9, 2004, at 10:32:47
i've only been on effexor for about 8 weeks now, and so far, i'm quite happy with the results. however, i've been reading about everyone's withdrawl experience and it sounds horrible.
i have a question for those of you opening the capsules. are you putting it in applesauce like the effexor website suggests (since it is a specialized time release capsule)? i really appreciate hearing about the different ways people are trying to get off the drug, and i guess i'm using your experiences to plan ahead.
Posted by Zarry on April 9, 2004, at 12:29:01
In reply to Re: How long for these withdrawals to end??, posted by scullycat on April 9, 2004, at 12:15:17
ScullyCat, you're only going to have withdrawls if Effexor doesn't work for you or your want to try life w/o Effexor. I had no complaint with it except for finding out that it causes, or can cause high blood pressure. My BP is sky high so that's the only reason I'm getting off it.
Yes, when you open the capsule, you do want to put it with some kind of food. I'm not taking anything right now. I've not heard yet of someone completely getting off Effexor and stating how long it took to end the effects.
If you are concerned about needing to get off of Effexor, I would suggest you start now - before it REALLY gets into your system.
I'm curious as to why nobody has been concerned about the high blood pressure issue.
Posted by scullycat on April 9, 2004, at 12:41:24
In reply to Re: How long for these withdrawals to end??, posted by Zarry on April 9, 2004, at 12:29:01
well, as for the concern about the BP, i guess the list of potential side effects are really VERY long and people are just affected differently - and thankfully, mine is great. in my case, i'm more concerned about the effects on my eyesight and a change i've experienced there (i've got a rather serious potential risk that could be greatened by the drug). if my opthamologist says get off effexor because of increased eye pressure, i certainly will do so...even tho my experience has been good thus far.
like i said, i appreciate reading about the withdrawl experience because i know i won't be on effexor forever (doc suggested 9mo to 1 year) - even though it isn't likely to happen tomorrow. so thanks to everyone. you're giving me something to think about.
Posted by Jedida on April 9, 2004, at 13:43:54
In reply to Re: How long for these withdrawals to end??, posted by Zarry on April 9, 2004, at 8:25:51
I was on 150 effexor for about 3 months. It did nothing for me except make me very lethargic and brain dead. I am now on Wellbutrin SR 100--just started a week ago and I love it. I guess I need
stimulation which this drug does. Anyway, I have been
tapering off effexor--am on 37.5 right now--the Wellbutrin definitely has helped the withdrawal--I had some dizziness at first and a few other weird things but no big deal compared to if I did it without the Wellbutrin. I will be completely off in about 3 more days. Thank God!!! Effexor really
was not the drug for me. In fact, I hated it!
Posted by BR549 on April 9, 2004, at 23:27:39
In reply to How long for these withdrawals to end??, posted by Mina on April 8, 2004, at 23:18:27
I'm on day 7 of 150 mg daily effexor xr cold turkey and now that I know that my withdrawal systems are not so unusual, my fears have subsided and my brain feels more like an untuned engine misfiring every now and then rather than an outta control locomotive.. I still eat too many carbs and junk food, especially at night and my wife looks at me like I'm crazy since I told her I wanted a divorce about 5 days ago. My gut tells me that once the withdrawal symptoms began, long buried resentments flew to the surface and spewed out. I lay low now in the basement when marital relations get ugly. Long buried sadness creeps up too and gets me misty eyed. Letting the tears flow without just cause for a man creates the appearance that something is wrong with this guy.. Hang tough Mina. Like they said in the movie 'the water boy' you can do it!
Posted by Spinxxie on April 10, 2004, at 3:03:09
In reply to Side effects when going to higher dose (nm), posted by Spinxxie on April 10, 2004, at 3:00:16
Oops... I was wondering if anyone had side effects when they went up into higher doses? I went from 150mg to 225. I have felt really tired, dizzy, hot flashes and losing my appetite( not a bad thing these days) Anyone have suggestions?
Posted by Zarry on April 10, 2004, at 8:20:34
In reply to Re: How long for these withdrawals to end??, posted by BR549 on April 9, 2004, at 23:27:39
BR - You're normal, there's nothing wrong with you. Hopefully your wife is supportive of you getting off of Effexor. Luckily my husband is supportive and I let him know when I'm down.
It is wise to walk away right now when you do have the mood swings and want to say some damaging words. Now isn't the time to be discussing the problems.
It's good that we all have this support group and realize that what we're going thru is normal.
Posted by Davez on April 11, 2004, at 12:48:01
In reply to Re: Side effects when going to higher dose » Spinxxie, posted by Spinxxie on April 10, 2004, at 3:03:09
I found this link on the net and it contains a good overview of Effexor's percentage for side effects at different doses. I think it is based on clinical trials.
Posted by effexed on April 11, 2004, at 16:39:59
In reply to Just started and want to get off Effexor, posted by 8008hopeful on April 7, 2004, at 22:26:02
At first you will get sick but it will pass your body has to get a new balance and then you will start to feel better alot better I got sick at first and I to was considdering not continuing with the meds but I am sure glad I stuck with it but everyone is diffrent some can be only hours late takeing there meds and go in to withdraw I have tottaly missed a doase and did not even notice so each persons journey is their own good luck with yours cindy/effexed
Posted by Spinxxie on April 11, 2004, at 19:22:34
In reply to Re: Side effects when going to higher dose, posted by Davez on April 11, 2004, at 12:48:01
Thanks Dave for your help.. my side effects make more sense now.. I just hope they don't last.. but from what I have heard they do. I have heard many more positive then negatives about this drug.
Thanks so much,
Spinxxie
Posted by tarian617 on April 12, 2004, at 10:35:27
In reply to Re: Side effects when going to higher dose, posted by Davez on April 11, 2004, at 12:48:01
This might be long, I have a lot to say!!
btw, i posted a couple times a long while before as "traumaqueen"--I was a trauma ICU RN--and now I am "tarian617".
Well...I have been on Effexor for probably five months now. A couple months ago, I told my doctor I was still having a lot of anxiety, some panic attacks and BAD PMS. So he doubled my dosage from 75mg to 150mg. At first I just took 2 75mg capsules. He gave me a lot of samples, so I did that for a couple of months. Then I was running out, so I got a script for 1 150mg capsule a day. I started this a couple weeks ago.
Well...you would think that going from 2 75mg E-XR to 1 150mg E-XR would make absolutely no difference, but it was like HELL. I went from fine to having the bad muscle aches and pains, the horrible insomnia where I felt exhausted but couldn't sleep, and this restless leg thing where my legs have to be moving or shaking constantly. I became irritable, and felt a great deal of rage about things in my past that I thought I was over. I was not too happy about having to take my Effexor, and would miss doses and then last week decided to just stop taking it. I felt like I was being "oppositional-defiant"--I knew what I was doing was stupid, but I didn't care. I actually became a little paranoid that the 75mg samples that I was taking before were possibly not full strength--I wouldn't put it past the pharmaceutical company to jyp (sp?) people in their samples. I know...sounds crazy.
Then, last night, I went to work. I'm an RN in a Cardiovascular Surgery Recovery ICU. I had a complicated and sick patient and I couldn't THINK. I would turn my head, and feel like my brain was trying to catch up with my head movement. It got worse and worse by the second. I started crying uncontrollably, ended up in the ER shaking uncontrollably...my heart rate up in the 110's (normally 50's) and my BP in the 200's, normally 110's. I felt like at any moment I could have a seizure. They gave me a couple of Xanax and I felt better...but now I have to figure out what to do with my meds. I am going to see the doc today. I might have to slowly work up to the 150mg capsule with the help of Xanax or Benadryl or something.
This whole thing is crazier than I am....any advice would be much appreciated...
:)
Tari
Posted by headachegirl on April 12, 2004, at 12:03:48
In reply to Re: Side effects when going to higher dose, posted by Davez on April 11, 2004, at 12:48:01
In trying to quit I find that taking half my 75 mg dose a day works better for me than taking one dose of 75 mg, skipping a day, then taking the next dose. I am avoiding the hideous brain zaps, nausea, and headaches I was getting. I do feel much more anger than I used to, which isn't pleasant. Next, I plan to start taking a quarter of the dose a day and taper off that way.
In addition, I take the following supplements: multivitamin, extra vitamin E, NADH, DHA, SamE, 5-HTTP with kava kava, l-carnitine, and Co-Q 10.
Posted by ku4ns on April 12, 2004, at 13:32:56
In reply to my effexor drama, posted by tarian617 on April 12, 2004, at 10:35:27
I had the same problems when I tried to stop the drug. My bp and heartrate were much higher than normal and as for the leg cramp, twitch, I would drink a little tonic water with quinine at night that helped. Now i'm a little over two weeks without effexor. I'm taking prozac(20mg) and I started it 1 week prior to my last dose of effexor and it helped tremendously with the transition. Good luck. John
Posted by msdepres on April 13, 2004, at 15:53:09
In reply to Re: How long for these withdrawals to end??, posted by BR549 on April 9, 2004, at 23:27:39
This is my first time on any chat board and can hardly believe. I have been taking effexor for about 2.5 years. I had tried several combinations with the assist of my psch dr. Found that wellbutrin and effexor actually was best in taking care of anxiety and depression. No problems while on it.
I began a withdrawal regime about 4 weeks ago, going from 150 to 75 to 37.5 and as of Sat. no more effexor.
I looked at this board before but just figured I wouldn't have these problems - HA HA!
It is awful. I have all the symptoms and it is only day 3. I'm not sure I got a straight answer on how long these symptoms would continue, but it sounds like 2 weeks. Has this been the case?
Thank you (I think its BPS) for your funny, but not funny description of your experience (I shared with my husband so he wouldn't be surprised - divorce sounds good right now). I've got every single symptom, including a crying jag last night. The most disturbing is the brain zaps/shocks, and head and/or body movement faster than my sight or brain. I reallly hate this.
Thank you all for being out these. I don't feel better, and am still anxious/nervous/???, but knowing I'm not alone helps.
Any new advise - or explanation from someone who is "past" this wonderful/yuk experience.
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