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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by kgirl on June 3, 2004, at 13:40:41
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy - alternatives » Spinxxie, posted by Tony P on May 25, 2004, at 6:07:46
Hello to everyone. I'm on the final "weaning off" stage of Effexor. I am down to 37.5 every other day. Effexor was very helpful to me but now I want to try and live without it. One thing I am now finding in weaning off is that all of a sudden I am really quite angry for no apparent reason. I also have a pretty constant headache. Did anyone experience this or anything like it when they were weaning off? When you were completely off, did these symptoms go away? Any help is appreciated as I have found this site to be wonderful in my Effexor experience. Thanks.
Posted by leeeddie2 on June 4, 2004, at 0:17:49
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy - alternatives, posted by kgirl on June 3, 2004, at 13:40:41
I am on effexor,my wife is a nurse and has told me that stopping it or suddinly stopping it can cause anger or even make you have violent outburst.as with all meds that effect brain chemistry you have to expect sideeffects even ones not noted by research everyone responds differently to differnt meds.i do feel calmer takeing it none of the others have work well as effexor but i do have feelings of sometimes my heart isnot doing right.one thing to be considered with such meds is can you cope with the sideeffects better than the way you are feeling before takeing the meds.
Posted by Joey Catch on June 8, 2004, at 20:35:03
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by Zarry on May 21, 2004, at 10:18:36
I've been on Effexor for about five months now, and am considering getting off of it. I'm planning to study abroad in Russia in the fall, and have no idea about Effexor's availability there, and don't want to get stuck in a foreign country with no supply of medication, and be forced to go through the miserable withdrawal experience while I'm there. My current dosage is 75 mg, which is what I've been at since starting out the first two weeks at 37.5 mg. I've read here that Prozac is helpful with eliminating the withdrawal symptoms of Effexor, as are antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, etc.) and drugs that reduce motion sickness (Dramamine, Bonine, etc.). A few questions:
1. When switching from Effexor to Prozac, should one still taper one's dosage of Effexor, or simply quit it altogether and begin taking Prozac in its place?
2. At 75 mg of Effexor, what dosage of Prozac should I be on for it to offset the withdrawal symptoms?
3. Do these drugs (Prozac, antihistamines and motion sickness pills) effectively help avoid the "brain zaps" that comes with going off of Effexor? To be honest, this is the only side effect I really care about avoiding. Knowing how bad this SE is after missing even a single day's dose, I don't want to go through the hell of two weeks (or longer!) of brain zaps. I've gone out of town and forgotten my medicine for only a weekend, and by the end of it I was so miserable from the brain zaps, and I had light sensitivity so bad that I could hardly stand to be outdoors or even in a well-lit room. Please tell me that Prozac, Benadryl or Dramamine will do something about this.
Thanks for any assistance that you may be able to provide; I've learned a lot from reading this board and want to get off of this stuff while I can still control it, rather than wait and see what surprises the Russian medical system has in store for me regarding prescription drug availability.
- Joe
Posted by Zarry on June 9, 2004, at 9:51:12
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by Joey Catch on June 8, 2004, at 20:35:03
Joe, all your points are valid, but as everyone has said, work with your doctor - he/she should have the answers. The biggest question you need to ask yourself, why are you on Effexor to begin with?
If you have a NEED to be on an AD, then you need to consider what to be on afterwards. Some people have been on ADs just to get them over a rough point in their life. Others HAVE to be on it to survive. I agree with you that being in a foreign country while trying to get off Effexor wouldn't be a wise thing to do.
I can't answer your questions about doseage of Prozac, whether other meds also help the SEs, etc. as I went cold turkey off Effexor and 3 wks later was on Wellbutrin, 3 wks later got hives from it and now I'm on nothing. I'm in counseling and everyone involved believes I really am not depressed. Personally I've been doing pretty good w/o any ADs. Now ask my family and they would probably disagree - you see, I actually have emotions now. They aren't used to it.
To sum things up, work with your doctor about what is best for you. Use the information you have gathered here and work with your doc. Most are open-minded and work with their patients.
Good luck and keep in touch on what you find out.
Posted by Bill LL on June 10, 2004, at 9:06:30
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by Joey Catch on June 8, 2004, at 20:35:03
Are you using Prozac just to wean off Effexor? Or do you plan to keep taking it?
If it's just to wean off Effexor, you might try 20 mg Prozac per day for 2 weeks, then 10 mg until the second week after completely stopping Effexor.
Are you doing well on Effexor? If so, why not take enough with you to Russia to last the whole trip?
Posted by FaithT on June 12, 2004, at 8:37:16
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by Joey Catch on June 8, 2004, at 20:35:03
Dear Joey~
I just posted above in regard to my issues stopping Effexor XR.
After I read your post, I took a Dramamine to see if this will hopefully help these "brain zaps", that I've been having for 2 days now.
I'll let you know if it really works...Thank you for your post.
Faith
Posted by Lori Ann on June 12, 2004, at 11:19:28
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy » Joey Catch, posted by FaithT on June 12, 2004, at 8:37:16
I missed a dose of effexor (75 mgs.) this past winter and thought that I had the flu. I didn't put two and two together. Well after going to Weight Watchers last Saturday, I realized that I actually gained 30 plus pounds. I was devistated!! There was no rhyme or reason, because I really haven't been eating more than usual. Then it hit me....could this new wonder drug actually be making me fat!! I then decided to call my doctor and ask him to switch my antideppresant. Well he did...he put me on Wellbutrin and told me just to stop taking the effexor. BIG MISTAKE! I had the absolute worst withdraw symtoms known to man!! I had vertigo and brain flashes that only someone who has gone through this terrible ordeal would comprehend. So, I called my doctor crying, and he put me on prozac - 20 mg. It has been a LIFESAVER. I can now drive a car and function like a human being. Please - please if you are going through terrible withdraw symptoms, please ask your doctor for prozac. It truly works! By the way, I only lost .8 lbs this week and I followed Weight Watcher to a "t". That effexor should be banned in the United States!!
Posted by tripperjoe on June 12, 2004, at 22:33:45
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by Lori Ann on June 12, 2004, at 11:19:28
I love effexor withdrawal. Its just like being drunk for weeks on end without having to gulp down a quart of vodka a day. I take my usual dose for a week, then two weeks off, then back to my dosing. The visuals are great, and remind me of my first year of college and LSD.. yumm. It is ironic that you cant buy a joint, but they will let you pop these bad boys.. Gotta love the capitalists eh..
Posted by oceanwolf on June 14, 2004, at 4:52:50
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I've been taking 150mg Effexor XR for over 3 months now, haven't been back to the doctor to get a higher dose because I've been able to exist now and I've been busy getting back into summer work. Missing one day would never effect me, however when I ran out of my prescription (on a Thursday), the second day I started feeling extremely dizzy, and overall like crap! Then came the nauceousness and "unusual" BAD dreams. I unfortunately had to wait over the weekend and finally got a new scrip on a Monday and started feeling better soon after, especially the next day. No other SSRI's have worked on me, and Welbutrin only made me irritable (so the people who were closest to me said). It's nice to finally have something that is dealing with the extreme side of my depression.
Please tell me more about drinking on Effexor...I've been drinking on and off and don't seem to notice a difference. (Except that I can't drink as much as I used to without getting a headache)...
Posted by partlycloudy on June 14, 2004, at 8:47:26
In reply to Success so far; don't ever run out; and drinking., posted by oceanwolf on June 14, 2004, at 4:52:50
It gives me a day-long hangover to drink while on effexor xr, and after 2 drinks I black out, too. It is a bad combo!!
Posted by PoohBear on June 14, 2004, at 13:40:59
In reply to Success so far; don't ever run out; and drinking., posted by oceanwolf on June 14, 2004, at 4:52:50
> Please tell me more about drinking on Effexor...I've been drinking on and off and don't seem to notice a difference. (Except that I can't drink as much as I used to without getting a headache)...Ocean:
Glad that Effexor XR is working for you... I have been on it since 10/2003 with great success. As for drinking, I generally don't drink that much anyway, certainly not to excess, ever.
I have tried to limit my alcohol to one or two glasses of beer or wine in the course of an evening. This seems to be okay, at least for me. It's my view that *generally*, it's not a good idea to drink when on any of these meds. Look at it this way, you're on an ANTIdepressant, why take an DEPRESSANT?
Just my two cents...
Good luck,
Tony
Posted by Sinnielou on June 14, 2004, at 17:05:55
In reply to Re: Success so far; don't ever run out; and drinking., posted by PoohBear on June 14, 2004, at 13:40:59
I have to agree with Tony I have been on effexor for almost a year and I gave up drinking completely, I don't even have a social drink. Having suffered from depression all my life and drinking to cope made me look at things in a more realistic way. Why drink?? I'm on the meds they make me feel better why resort to alcohol I might as well throw in the towel to living a normal life.
Shannon
Posted by husschick on June 15, 2004, at 11:37:09
In reply to Re: Success so far; don't ever run out; and drinking., posted by Sinnielou on June 14, 2004, at 17:05:55
I would have to agree, drinking is not a good combination with effexor xr. I have drank 2 times since starting the med and have blacked out both times.
Posted by Dauphine on June 15, 2004, at 12:50:56
In reply to Re: Success so far; don't ever run out; and drinking., posted by husschick on June 15, 2004, at 11:37:09
I drink regularly on Effexor XR at 75 mg/day and have no problems whatsoever. In fact I think it has increased my alcohol tolerance. It seems like for most people it does the opposite though. Everyone is different, but getting out and being social means that I will probably be meeting people out for dinner and drinks, and that social interaction has been great for my depression. You should experiment at home and see how tolerant you are to alcohol when on Effexor before you go out and have a long night. Effexor has made me a bit hypoglausimic, so it is important that if I do choose to drink, that I have a full or moderately full stomach.
Dauphine
Posted by Frannie on June 16, 2004, at 20:45:15
In reply to Everyone's different, but..., posted by Racer on October 24, 1999, at 22:14:55
Hi,
I have been taking Effexor XR for 5-6 weeks now. I have definitely noticed that it has helped my anxiety and impulsivity. It has not, however worked for my depression. I mean I am not sad, but I am not happy either. Kinda blah. Someone mentioned Effexor in combination with Prozac at a low dose. has anyone else tried that combination? I was on prozac for several years and it just stopped working on my depression. Never really helped that much with ADD. Maybe alittle with anxiety. I would like to keep on the Effexor for the other benefits and I am thinking maybe combined with Low dose of Prozac would help the depression. It may be what works for me also.
Frannie
Posted by mekka_choo on June 18, 2004, at 1:54:49
In reply to Re: Success so far; don't ever run out; and drinking., posted by PoohBear on June 14, 2004, at 13:40:59
I currenty take 150 mg and I just came down from 225mg. Did any of you gain weight when you started taking effexor?
I find that I get tipsy alot quicker than I did before taking Effexor.
Posted by helenag on June 18, 2004, at 21:31:08
In reply to Re: Success so far; don't ever run out; and drinking., posted by mekka_choo on June 18, 2004, at 1:54:49
Have been on Effexor for four long years...At 300mg. Now at half that dose. I am currently taking Antabuse because I am an alcoholic and do not desire to drink. Antabuse makes the body unable to break down alcohol. If I drink, I get deadly sick.
Before that, however, I drank on the Effexor all the time. I did have black outs. Never noticed if it increased or decreased tolerance...
I do notice that I feel a heck of a lot better without any alcohol in my system.
But I was not a social drinker, so this may not be a fair comparison. helen
Posted by dusty534 on June 19, 2004, at 14:40:07
In reply to Re: Everyone's different, but..., posted by Frannie on June 16, 2004, at 20:45:15
I was on Effexor for over a year...taking 225mg a day. It zonked me out. I couldn't even move. It didn't do anything for my sadness either. I got off of it slowly...taking 150mg for a week..then 75 for another week. Then it took me about 2 months to get the brain zaps to go away. I would NEVER get on Effexor again. I'm so afraid of taking any other prescription, that I'm taking 5-HTP on my healthfood store owner's advice. Even it makes me feel so tired. Does anything really help? I sleep pretty good...don't have thots of suicide...can manage to carry on a full day's activities. Only I'm so sad. I can cry at the drop of a hat over any little thing.
Posted by amateur MD on June 19, 2004, at 17:50:12
In reply to Re: Everyone's different, but..., posted by Frannie on June 16, 2004, at 20:45:15
Frannie, I think what you're saying is right. I found that Effexor made me motivated to get things done, but I needed a little Zoloft to lift my mood. And Trazodone to get to sleep at night!
Posted by LynnM. on June 19, 2004, at 19:08:12
In reply to Re: Everyone's different, but..., posted by dusty534 on June 19, 2004, at 14:40:07
Being on Effexor made me VERY sleepy, and I was only on 75 mg. I wanted to sleep all the time! I love naps, but on Effexor my naps sometimes lasted 3 hours. Had no energy, either.
I'm withdrawing slowly from it, and I'm feeling brain zaps now (I'm on 37.5 mg. every other day). Also hot flashes. BUT, my appetite has suppressed somewhat. While on full dosage Effexor, I couldn't wait until the next meal. Food never tasted so good.
For me, Effexor turned into the med. from He**. Lord knows, I can't see myself continuing to take Effexor and some other ADs to curb the withdrawal symptoms!
Posted by 7dwarves on June 21, 2004, at 3:48:27
In reply to Re: Everyone's different, but... » dusty534, posted by LynnM. on June 19, 2004, at 19:08:12
I haven't had time to read everybody;s posts, but let me say something, when I miss my dose, I KNOW IT, cuz man do I ever get sick. Nausea, trembling, dizziness, the works... Although, that can happen when I take the stuff too, so I'm kinda between a rock and a hard place. I was put on effexor right off the bat when I was diagnosed,but then again, it was that or the padded room at the psych ward. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it, but then again, being alive with side effects is better than dead.
But I'm curious if anybody out there has experience with major sleep disorders along with their depression. My docs think I'm narcoleptic (I've got the full range of symptoms. If it's nap time, it's NAPTIME, no if's and's or but's. when you can take a nap outside on a bench in the middle of an edmonton winter, you know something's up...), but from what I've read, Effexor can cause sleepiness, although it's listed as an anti-cataplectic drug. Anybody with advice or stories, please share. I'm totally lost and the medical bureaucracy hasn't been much help so far (combine that with university bureacracy and you can imagine how much fun I'm having right now).
Posted by 7dwarves on June 21, 2004, at 3:55:31
In reply to Re: Tell me about starting Effexor XR -PoohBear, posted by NatureGirl on May 28, 2004, at 0:11:27
whoa, "brain zaps"?!? you mean like the sensation like something in your neck has just snapped and is now oozing a very hot liquid under the skin? sorry, a tad irelevant I know, but it caught my attention
Posted by PoohBear on June 21, 2004, at 10:57:55
In reply to Re: Tell me about starting Effexor XR -PoohBear, posted by 7dwarves on June 21, 2004, at 3:55:31
> whoa, "brain zaps"?!? you mean like the sensation like something in your neck has just snapped and is now oozing a very hot liquid under the skin? sorry, a tad irelevant I know, but it caught my attention<
No.....
"Brain Zaps" are when you get a very brief swimming sensation with a slight "buzz", like some mad scientist just passed a small electrical current through your head.
I personally don't find them that unpleasant; jut odd, and I don't have them now unless I increase or decrease dosage.
Tony
Posted by LynnM. on June 21, 2004, at 10:59:39
In reply to Re: Everyone's different, but..., posted by 7dwarves on June 21, 2004, at 3:48:27
YES, YES, YES! I had never been so sleepy in my life. I would lay down in the afternoons, and as you said, it was a "have to" thing. Then, setting an alarm clock did no good...I slept for HOURS, then still felt exhausted at bedtime. This past year, I overslept at least 4 times, and that had never happened to me before. I nodded at my workplace, at church (that is, if I could wake up enough to make it on time), in the car...I slept anywhere and everywhere, as you said. And, although I've cut down my dosage to 37.5 mg. every other day (I'm slowly weaning myself off of it), I still get sleepy.
I can relate, I thought I was becoming narcoleptic, too. There is comfort in knowing you're not the only one. As I said in an earlier post here, I thought I was going nuts with all the side effects, thinking it was just me. Now....if only the brain zaps will subside (they're coming very frequently), I think I might actually live!
Posted by PoohBear on June 21, 2004, at 11:07:25
In reply to Re: Everyone's different, but..., posted by 7dwarves on June 21, 2004, at 3:48:27
> I haven't had time to read everybody;s posts, but let me say something, when I miss my dose, I KNOW IT, cuz man do I ever get sick. Nausea, trembling, dizziness, the works... Although, that can happen when I take the stuff too, so I'm kinda between a rock and a hard place. I was put on effexor right off the bat when I was diagnosed,but then again, it was that or the padded room at the psych ward. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it, but then again, being alive with side effects is better than dead.
>
> But I'm curious if anybody out there has experience with major sleep disorders along with their depression. My docs think I'm narcoleptic (I've got the full range of symptoms. If it's nap time, it's NAPTIME, no if's and's or but's. when you can take a nap outside on a bench in the middle of an edmonton winter, you know something's up...), but from what I've read, Effexor can cause sleepiness, although it's listed as an anti-cataplectic drug. Anybody with advice or stories, please share. I'm totally lost and the medical bureaucracy hasn't been much help so far (combine that with university bureacracy and you can imagine how much fun I'm having right now).
Your experience with the CA healthcare system is the reason why many of us would like to keep what we have here ;)Regarding sleep on Effexor...
I noticed that when I started I'd get these yawns that just would not go away, like I was unbelieveably tired, yet I found it hard to sleep at night. That put my pDoc and I on a 4 month course of trying to find something that would help my sleep, compliment the Effexor and not add too many side effects. After trying Ativan, Trazadone, Remeron and Seroquel, we finally settled on 100mg of Seroquel each night. It's WONDERFUL. It evens my moods and helps me to generally sleep through the night, which is something I've NEVER been able to do.
Take care,
Tony
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