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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by liz taylor on July 3, 2001, at 13:18:29
Has anyone experienced dizziness while coming off
Effexor? If so, for how long did the dizziness last?
So far it has been over 4 days of dizziness so bad can't lift head off pillow.
Any words of help would be appreciated. Liz
Posted by Elizabeth on July 3, 2001, at 16:33:35
In reply to Dizziness coming off Effexor, posted by liz taylor on July 3, 2001, at 13:18:29
> Has anyone experienced dizziness while coming off
> Effexor? If so, for how long did the dizziness last?
> So far it has been over 4 days of dizziness so bad can't lift head off pillow.
> Any words of help would be appreciated. LizI've heard of that, yes. Have you tried Benadryl or Dramamine? They help some people who have trouble discontinuing Effexor.
-elizabeth
Posted by 16# on July 3, 2001, at 17:53:12
In reply to Dizziness coming off Effexor, posted by liz taylor on July 3, 2001, at 13:18:29
I had to take a week off of work to come off of effexor. It was awful. I was dizzy, lightheaded, had visual disturbances, slightly nauseated, very fatigued. Terrible, terrible ordeal. After a week, I was fine. Hang in there. It will end. But it does take some time.
Posted by Sunnely on July 3, 2001, at 18:33:42
In reply to Dizziness coming off Effexor, posted by liz taylor on July 3, 2001, at 13:18:29
The addition of low-dose Prozac (e.g., 5-10 mg/day) to Effexor may make it easier to withdraw from Effexor.
If the problem of dizziness persists, you may want to try ginger root, one or two 550-mg capsules three times a day. Partial or complete amelioration of dizziness (and nausea) may be within 24 to 48 hours. Treatment with ginger root shoiuld be continued for approximately 2 weeks after complete discontinuation of Effexor.
Ginger root has been widely used as an alternative agent in disequilibrium associated with motion. The sites of action are presumed to be autonomic centers of the central nervous system. A local effect on the gastrointestinal tract blocking nausea feedback has also been proposed.
> Has anyone experienced dizziness while coming off
> Effexor? If so, for how long did the dizziness last?
> So far it has been over 4 days of dizziness so bad can't lift head off pillow.
> Any words of help would be appreciated. Liz
Posted by Sharon Renee on July 3, 2001, at 20:01:07
In reply to Re: Dizziness coming off Effexor » liz taylor, posted by Sunnely on July 3, 2001, at 18:33:42
>I am experiecing dizziness coming off of Prozac. Does anyone have any experience with this?
The addition of low-dose Prozac (e.g., 5-10 mg/day) to Effexor may make it easier to withdraw from Effexor.
>
> If the problem of dizziness persists, you may want to try ginger root, one or two 550-mg capsules three times a day. Partial or complete amelioration of dizziness (and nausea) may be within 24 to 48 hours. Treatment with ginger root shoiuld be continued for approximately 2 weeks after complete discontinuation of Effexor.
>
> Ginger root has been widely used as an alternative agent in disequilibrium associated with motion. The sites of action are presumed to be autonomic centers of the central nervous system. A local effect on the gastrointestinal tract blocking nausea feedback has also been proposed.
>
> > Has anyone experienced dizziness while coming off
> > Effexor? If so, for how long did the dizziness last?
> > So far it has been over 4 days of dizziness so bad can't lift head off pillow.
> > Any words of help would be appreciated. Liz
Posted by Sunnely on July 3, 2001, at 20:31:02
In reply to Re: Dizziness coming off Effexor, posted by Sharon Renee on July 3, 2001, at 20:01:07
SRI-withdrawal symptoms, in particular dizziness, vertigo, and nausea, have been treated successfully with the use of ginger root, says a letter to the editor (see reference below). SRIs are serotonin-reuptake inhibitors including Prozac.
Please discuss this issue with your doctor before taking ginger root.
Reference: Schechter JO: Treatment of disequilibrium and nausea in the SRI discontinuation syndrome (letter to editor). Journal of Clinical Pscyhiatry 1998(August);59(8):431-32.
> >I am experiecing dizziness coming off of Prozac. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Posted by oceanbreeze on July 3, 2001, at 21:26:42
In reply to Dizziness coming off Effexor, posted by liz taylor on July 3, 2001, at 13:18:29
If I was even an hour late taking Effexor I had brain shivers (extreme dizziness). I thought I'd never be able to get off this drug. I recently switched (cold turkey) from Effexor to Wellbutrin. I was dizzy for a week, but it has subsided. No more withdrawl sympoms....
Posted by Roxk on July 3, 2001, at 21:47:57
In reply to Re: Dizziness coming off Effexor, posted by oceanbreeze on July 3, 2001, at 21:26:42
> If I was even an hour late taking Effexor I had brain shivers (extreme dizziness). I thought I'd never be able to get off this drug. I recently switched (cold turkey) from Effexor to Wellbutrin. I was dizzy for a week, but it has subsided. No more withdrawl sympoms....
Liz,
I also switched cold turkey from effexor to wellbutrin. I "washed" the effexor out for three days then started wellbutrin but i was soo sick! DId you start wellbutrin right away and did you have a gradual increase with the wellbutrin?
Posted by oceanbreeze on July 4, 2001, at 8:28:22
In reply to liz:help, posted by Roxk on July 3, 2001, at 21:47:57
Roxk
Effexor starting to make me very ill and I wanted to get off it. I went from Effexor one day to taking Wellbutrin the next. I was no longer nauseas, but very dizzy, esp. when turning my head. It lasted a week and I'm fine know. I don't have any side effects from WB. Hope it works out for you. Just give it some time. Also, I've heard you can take both Effexor and WB at the same time and gradually reduce the Effexor.> Liz,
> I also switched cold turkey from effexor to wellbutrin. I "washed" the effexor out for three days then started wellbutrin but i was soo sick! DId you start wellbutrin right away and did you have a gradual increase with the wellbutrin?
Posted by Jocor on July 5, 2001, at 14:35:28
In reply to Dizziness coming off Effexor, posted by liz taylor on July 3, 2001, at 13:18:29
> Has anyone experienced dizziness while coming off
> Effexor? If so, for how long did the dizziness last?
> So far it has been over 4 days of dizziness so bad can't lift head off pillow.
> Any words of help would be appreciated. LizWhen I came off Effexor the first time I was having dizziness, nausea, and head "explosions" every time I decreased the dose. When I finally stopped altogether, I went through a week of hell with nausea, dizziness and head "explosion".
You are not alone.
Jocor
Posted by SallyR on July 6, 2001, at 9:29:20
In reply to Re: Dizziness coming off Effexor, posted by oceanbreeze on July 3, 2001, at 21:26:42
I have gone off effexor 3 times. The first two were done gradually but it was still Hell, lots of "Brain Lightning", dizzy, fuzzy brain. I just recently went off Effexor because my Pdoc and I thought it might be causing my blood pressure to rise. This time, she gave me Prozac to counter balance the withdrawal, It worked really, really well, except for one or two days of depression symptoms after I had been off of the Effexor for 4-5 days but the Prozac had not kicked in. For anyone who needs to get off Effexor, I highly recommend asking for at least a short term supply of Prozac.
Posted by anniebananie on July 7, 2001, at 15:34:42
In reply to Dizziness coming off Effexor, posted by liz taylor on July 3, 2001, at 13:18:29
I've been on effexor three times. The first time I went off it, it took many months because of the dizziness (and also diarrhea) which did not go away after three or four days. I ended up carrying around a capsule & whenever I felt dizzy I swallowed a few granules. Sometimes I wouldn't need any for days, but then the dizziness would return so I'd take a few more granules. But then when I took effexor again, getting off it was not such a prolonged process. Good luck. Annie
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