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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 51 to 75 of 1313. Go back in thread:
Posted by Charlie on June 30, 2001, at 21:49:59
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by liz taylor on June 28, 2001, at 13:44:02
Hi all,
Wow, I am so glad to find this site! This really helps me understand what I have been going through and have been contributing to other factors. I was taking Effexor xr for about 7 months. I felt good and liked the changes that occured. At some point, I wanted to try going without the medication to see what what was really me and what was connected to the drugs. About a month ago I forgot to take my morning 75mg. I felt good all day, and that night was able to meditate (something I haven't been able to do since taking effexor xr) The next day I didn't take it and by noon I felt awful...headache, dizziness and feeling sick. I went home, took a pill and spent the rest of the day in bed. Didn't really connect this to the effexor, but must have had enough suspicion to take a pill. Last week,with doctors guidance, I ended a weeks taper down using 37.5 mg tabs. also went on holidays camping and hiking. As the days wore on, I felt more dizzy and sick. I attributed this to heat exhaustion. and was wondering why I wasn't getting better. I'm drinking lots of water and eating some salty stuff. Hadn't connected it to effexor xr until I reached this site. but that's what it is. I was most interested in hearing about the "electricity feeling". I have that with visual occurances sometimes,(light) as well as persisting dizziness. and dreams... wow, had a nap this afternoon in which I was a teacher. I was actually two people in the dream at the same time, like different aspscts of the same self, and we were talking about the holocaust to children. They said, oh nothing will come of this, and I said, to my Jewish students, No, that's not what's going to happen", and I started crying in the dream, because I had knowledge of the future. Then outside the window, destruction. and that's only one of the dreams.
It's not nice to know that others are suffering, but, Thank-you for contributing to this board. It's helped me understand what I'm going through. Hang in there, everybody!
Charlie > > I too am withdrawing from effexor xr. I was on just 150 mg for about a year after being on prozac for about 3 years. I wanted to get off since I was soooo tired and could not get through a day. My joints and muscles ached every day and I could not hardly exercise, which has been very important to me over the years. I think effexor has truely changed my life and not for the better. I totally lost my personality, i had no motivation and my job performance greatly declined. I dont want to blame everything on meds, but I really believe it was a big factor. Now I have been totally off for 14 days after just tapering for 2 weeks(it should have been longer as I am now reading).
> > This has been a nightmare with all the effects (or effexors as I call them) that others have posted about. I thought it was better after a week and then I saw it get even worse. The last 2 days have been unbearable with constant shock like sensations and dizziness. I was sick, fatigued, weak, muscles ache. I can totally not function. I went to half days at work and even this was too much. I work with people with mental illness and it is totally hard to recommend meds to them now. I feel for all of you going through this.
> > I am just so afraid that this will not pass soon enough. My boss at work just does not understand and I am taking most of my days off. I feel I will need more and dont know how we are going to pay bills. My wife has been great, but it is very hard for her. How can one medication cause so much turmoil? I will pray for all of you and I need your prayers also. With God only,
> >
> > John H.
>
> Dear John: I have had all the side effects you and others have mentioned and I have not gotten off the Effexor XR as yet. I go fo about 4-5 months and feel pretty good though the side effects seem to be getting worse, i.e. joint aches, sweatieness, jittery, tired ALL the time, blurred vision. It scares me to think of getting worse than this when I go off this drug.
>
> I have an appointment with my doc tomorrow and I am hoping to be able to get off, but my depression is worse, rather than better - I'm on 150mg every AM. The doc told me last time when the depression came back and we upped the does to 150 from75 that I may have to up it again. Since the side effects are getting worse at 150 and the depression is worse, I really see no reason to up the does.
>
> Since the beginning of the Effexor I have had a hard time getting to sleep at night and then a VERY hard time waking in the morning. I'd say it was time to find something else. If I could not take anything I would but my family (veery supportive) knows I need something - I've been on the Effexor for 10 months. Before that I was VERY depressed and it really helped for a while, but what with the side effects and now depression getting worse even at 150 mg. I think I need a change.
>
> Thanks for your words as they made me ralizethat I need a change. I will pray that all goes well with you.
>
> Sincerely, Liz Taylor
Posted by EvaG on July 6, 2001, at 21:38:17
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by louisi on June 17, 2001, at 7:58:40
I would like to say thank you to all who have posted here. I approx 4 weeks ago starting to wean of the effexor & have been having a hard time but am now effexor free for 1 1/2 weeks. During my hardest time I found this website & your posts helped me to realize I am not alone & this to shall pass.
Still having alot of hard withdrawl symptoms but with the grace of God it will hopefully pass very soon...
Good luck to all of you & thank you so much.
EvaG
Posted by dash05 on July 7, 2001, at 8:27:51
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger, posted by AD on June 25, 2001, at 6:52:02
Hi all, just wanted to say thank you for sharing all your horror stories, they scared me enough to stop taking Effexor XR after only one dose! Unbeleivably, I started with the headache and nausea about one hour after my next dose was due. Also have that buzzing in my ears. The headache is the worst part. Yes, I am very drug sensitive. Thank God and all of you thaat I didnt take this BAD (for me) drug longer.
Posted by DPR on July 26, 2001, at 19:47:40
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger, posted by Samantha on July 26, 2001, at 17:36:15
I have just completed a very graduated withdrawal from Effexor and thought I was losing my mind. Thanks to this board I now understand that the anger and the major tearfulness are part and parcel of getting off this drug.
I am a "lifer" in terms of anti-depressants (past 30+ years)and I am just sick of taking meds and how they screw up my system. I am coming off Effexor because I gained 60 lbs in 2 years and while the drug worked well for me, the weight gain has provided me with all those wonderful things that just feed depression - low self esteem, self loathing etc..I have plummeted into the chemical slide even tho I am keeping my Wellbutrin & Tradzone up - waiting for relief I guess and am hopeful it will pass.
Posted by louisi on July 26, 2001, at 20:51:23
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger, posted by Samantha on July 26, 2001, at 17:36:15
I, too, have been filled with unexplained anger. I just feel hateful all the time. It takes an extraordinary amount of effort to just remain calm and silent. Yesterday, an incident at work that was truly unfair but not worth becoming emotional about caused me to break into tears and I had a very angry outburst with my boss. Now, everyone is walking on pins and needles around me and my boss thinks I am over the edge. These are not the kind of people I can be honest with either. It would forever color their opinion of me and my work.
I am not on any medications now. In fact, while I sometimes think I should call a doctor and try to get started on something, I am increasingly wishing my high cholesterol would do me a favor and just clog everything up.
Posted by Samantha on July 27, 2001, at 0:15:29
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger, posted by louisi on July 26, 2001, at 20:51:23
Sorry, that post was just a repeat of the one before it or something, and contained NONE of the novel I wrote and tried to submit. How frustrating! I will write it all out again now...
Posted by AD on July 27, 2001, at 15:11:33
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger, posted by louisi on July 26, 2001, at 20:51:23
Samantha - Please hang in there. I have been completely off the Effexor and on Wellbutrin for about a month now. Life is so much better!! I have TONS of stress going on in my life right now, yet I am able to cope and not fall apart. Please hang in there - you WILL get through this. The crisis always ends.
> I, too, have been filled with unexplained anger. I just feel hateful all the time. It takes an extraordinary amount of effort to just remain calm and silent. Yesterday, an incident at work that was truly unfair but not worth becoming emotional about caused me to break into tears and I had a very angry outburst with my boss. Now, everyone is walking on pins and needles around me and my boss thinks I am over the edge. These are not the kind of people I can be honest with either. It would forever color their opinion of me and my work.
>
> I am not on any medications now. In fact, while I sometimes think I should call a doctor and try to get started on something, I am increasingly wishing my high cholesterol would do me a favor and just clog everything up.
Posted by Milda on July 30, 2001, at 4:54:07
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger, posted by DPR on July 26, 2001, at 19:47:40
I'm in the process of coming off Effexor XR because I switched from well-treated bipolar depression to mania with rapid cycling. My pdoc has me decreasing by 37.5 mg. every 5 days. I've also had the irritability, the tearfulness, the emotional lability and the sad & lonelies, although I think some of it, for me, is rapid cycling into a mixed state from my mania, and some of it is Effexor withdrawal. Anyway, the Effexor withdrawal symptoms are better than being almost psychotic, any day, even though they really suck and are causing problems in my relationships. Also, I once stupidly let myself run out of Effexor when I was on 300 mg. at bedtime. Big mistake. I was absolutely delirious by morning. I was totally non-functional until I got a refill in and caught up on my dose. That experience definitely taught me the importance of keeping my brain waves running smoothly by not taking my meds lightly.
Posted by LoJo on August 5, 2001, at 16:00:17
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger, posted by AnimalRescue on June 24, 2001, at 20:12:00
I have been on 150mg of Effexor for about 2 years and asked my doctor to come off of it because of the dreams and the brain shivers it gave me. She lowered the dose by 75mg for 2 weeks at a time, I have now been off totaly for 5 days and still am crying and nausated very bad. I have 5 kids and I feel like I can't even to things to help them, I know I can't, today is the first day i can actually sit up for periods at a time. I am still very emotional and nausated. I just want to be normal again. I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one that has been going throuhg this. But does anyone know how much longer to expect me feeling like this. I am also on Welbutrin to help with side effects, but don't think it has helped and if it has, then i would of never made it full force.
Posted by anna on August 5, 2001, at 23:43:14
In reply to I just want to be me again, posted by LoJo on August 5, 2001, at 16:00:17
> I have been on 150mg of Effexor for about 2 years and asked my doctor to come off of it because of the dreams and the brain shivers it gave me. She lowered the dose by 75mg for 2 weeks at a time, I have now been off totaly for 5 days and still am crying and nausated very bad. I have 5 kids and I feel like I can't even to things to help them, I know I can't, today is the first day i can actually sit up for periods at a time. I am still very emotional and nausated. I just want to be normal again. I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one that has been going throuhg this. But does anyone know how much longer to expect me feeling like this. I am also on Welbutrin to help with side effects, but don't think it has helped and if it has, then i would of never made it full force.
You poor thing. I have gone through this (the past 2 months to be exact) and am just now feeling ok from it. It sounds like you were not being weaned off slow enough. I got down from 225, to 150 for a week, to 75 a week, to a 75 + a 37.5 for a week, then 37.5 for a week. Then I actually had to sprinkle a few dots from a 37.5 on my baked potato last week (I ate one everyday,LOL) I had the tremors so bad) At times I would have to add back a dose if I started feeling bad (like nausea, dizziness, trmors,etc) I also have 3 small children and had a very hard time taking care of them. I could barely take care of me. Thank God for my MIL. Also my pdoc gave me neurontin 600 mg a day (at night) to ease the side effects. Good luck to you, talk to your doctor!!! Don't keep suffering, get a new doc if you have to!!
Anna
Posted by LoJo on August 6, 2001, at 18:05:14
In reply to I just want to be me again, posted by LoJo on August 5, 2001, at 16:00:17
Hi all, well today was a very bad day, called my doc and she added klonipin 3 times a day, don't yet know how it is going to help but i sure did sleep good this afternoon for the first time in a long time. I am still hanging in there and just waiting for it to all be over.
LoJo
Posted by Eugene75 on August 7, 2001, at 8:17:24
In reply to Re: I just want to be me again, posted by LoJo on August 6, 2001, at 18:05:14
Hello there!
I read your post and totally understand what you must be going through...or at least, I hope I can empathize if not completely understand, b/c I went through similar withdrawals but thank goodness I didn't have little ones to take care of at the same time.
What I would like to say is that it does help to realize you're not alone, and once you can recognize the symptoms I think it's an easier battle to isolate them and try and see them in a more clinical way.
In my case, I had none of that until about 3-4 weeks off the effexor, with only a 3-4 day weaning period from 150 (or was it 225?) down to nothing. I am happy to say that time apparently is a good healer for this, as is knowing what is happening to you. Med-wise, the Wellbutrin for me seemed to help me "snap" out of the cloud of effexor negativeness, but I couldn't take it for more than 2 weeks b/c it gave me intense anxiety and social avoidance.
I wish you the best...it's been about 5-6 months for me since I've gotten off and it's fading into a bad memory for me.
All the best,
gene
Posted by Milda on August 10, 2001, at 9:38:54
In reply to Re: I just want to be me again, posted by LoJo on August 6, 2001, at 18:05:14
> Hi all, well today was a very bad day, called my doc and she added klonipin 3 times a day, don't yet know how it is going to help but i sure did sleep good this afternoon for the first time in a long time. I am still hanging in there and just waiting for it to all be over.
>
> LoJoI saw my pdoc on 8/6, he gave me an Rx for the regular (non-XL) Effexor 25 mg. and a schedule to cut them into quarters and decrease by 6.25 mg. every 5 days until gone. Since the regular Effexor is so short-acting, I'm basically consuming Effexor crumbs at various points throughout the day. It is working out pretty good so far. I still have terrible diarrhea every time I eat, and my sleep is not great (but some of that is due to my rapid-cycling), but I can take better care of my 10 year old and otherwise have some kind of life, at least about half-way. Good luck.
Milda
Posted by RAMFAN13 on August 11, 2001, at 16:15:54
In reply to Re: I just want to be me again » LoJo, posted by Eugene75 on August 7, 2001, at 8:17:24
Hi. I understand also. I am now at 3 weeks off effexor. There have been some good days, but it is still tough. I took 3 weeks off work and was back last week. I was ok for a couple of days and then a lot of the effexor withdrawal problems were coming back. I think the stress of work(i work with severely mentally ill folks) and lack of sleep contribute to this. I was still dizzy, and very tired.
Now I am getting a lot of aches and pains in muscles and joints. I also have a general malaise, feeling lousy. This happened periodically while I was on effexor and now still while I am off. Has anyone had these problems. My doctor thinks it is all depression, but I dont feel depressed. I seem to just have the physical symptoms, but mood is fine. The crying spells and emotional ups and downs are much better. I am not taking any meds now. My dr. wanted me to take wellbutrin. I took it for a while when I first came off effexor, but it made me feel worse. I want to try without meds for a while due to disaster of effexor.
Sorry this is so long, but any advice would be appreciated. I just feel there is something wrong with my body. I feel like I have Chronic fatigue symptoms. Anybody else? Is this effexor or something else. Thanks everybody. If not for God and family and boards, this would be impossible.
Jr
Posted by sickandtired on September 2, 2001, at 10:29:36
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger, posted by slazart on June 25, 2001, at 21:46:12
Sometimes, I get these symptoms (including the ever-so-fun "electric" sensations) without even missing a dose. If I do miss and take one once the withdrawls start, It takes 6 hours for the withdrawl to go away.
I've lost my job, my girlfriend is probably going to leave me, i've gained weight, my friends think I don't like them anymore, and I can't even make long term plans.
I'm so sick of this! Can't we get together and sue? Effexor has ruined my life!
Posted by Mitch on September 2, 2001, at 15:23:13
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger, posted by sickandtired on September 2, 2001, at 10:29:36
> Sometimes, I get these symptoms (including the ever-so-fun "electric" sensations) without even missing a dose. If I do miss and take one once the withdrawls start, It takes 6 hours for the withdrawl to go away.
> I've lost my job, my girlfriend is probably going to leave me, i've gained weight, my friends think I don't like them anymore, and I can't even make long term plans.
> I'm so sick of this! Can't we get together and sue? Effexor has ruined my life!My experience with Effexor involved some very intense hostility reactions which turned me into a big grouch at work (I liked the lucid dreaming on it though). I am bipolar so that may have been most of it. But, the hostility wasn't a result of Effexor *withdrawal* it was the result of *taking* Effexor! I read on another board a few days ago where someone got their dose cranked up real high and they had their first manic episode with psychotic delusions. Effex. is pretty powerful stuff. I wonder if it might best be used *with* some other AD (with a longer half-life) just to initiate treatment (for a couple of weeks), to get someone *jumpstarted* so to speak. And then rely on the other AD after a brief initial period.
Posted by cath on September 2, 2001, at 19:47:04
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger » sickandtired, posted by Mitch on September 2, 2001, at 15:23:13
has anyone experienced respiratory problems with the other symptoms of withdrawal or am I just experiencing a bonus illness?
Posted by Kristi on September 3, 2001, at 0:47:52
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger, posted by sickandtired on September 2, 2001, at 10:29:36
I'm confused.... are you still on it? If you are.. TALK TO YOU PDOC IMMEDIATELY and have him find something else for you.
I won't post what this drug has done to me. I believe sometimes if you hear things, or look for things... you'll get them
I believe their is a suit in progress. Or is that paxil. Anyway, if you are off the drug... the withdrawal definately goes away. I won't lie tho... it'll take some grisly time. Good luck.
> Sometimes, I get these symptoms (including the ever-so-fun "electric" sensations) without even missing a dose. If I do miss and take one once the withdrawls start, It takes 6 hours for the withdrawl to go away.
> I've lost my job, my girlfriend is probably going to leave me, i've gained weight, my friends think I don't like them anymore, and I can't even make long term plans.
> I'm so sick of this! Can't we get together and sue? Effexor has ruined my life!
Posted by MCMontreal on September 4, 2001, at 22:56:27
In reply to Re: I just want to be me again » LoJo, posted by Eugene75 on August 7, 2001, at 8:17:24
Hi,
It's 11:30 pm and I've been awake for four days. I thought it was about time to make the most of the wee hours and connect with people who are going through similar experiences.
A bit about me: Diagnosed with Severe depression at 9 years old,
At 19 years old, Bipolar Disorder Without Mania, and Schizo-Affective Disorder
-originally put on Zoloft in '94 to treat depression...went off a few years later(wow, no horror story)...
-relapsed---wanted that "Zoloft" feeling again
-Dr. prescribed Paxil and Ativan..6 months later I was extreme OCD and had painted everything in my home white (my toothbrush too!), began experiencing psychotic episodes, time lapses, mania
-Barely survived getting off of it
-Went back on Zoloft for a year, Clonazepam, and Epival (a mood stabilizer) but when I reached the max dose of 200mg of Zoloft a day my Dr. said it was probably best if I tired something new...
EFFEXOR...
Oh man.
My pyschiatrist prescribed it to me and then left for another hospital. All of my files are being transferred ...I get to start from scratch...
After taking Effexor for a month, I couldn't do it anymore. I was suicidal again and was re-considering some very bad habits of mine...
I've been off it for a week now.
I'm shaking, sweating, having horrific dreams that I think are so real that I've accused people of doing things they haven't done, oh- and here's my personal favorite-
Bursting into tears every five minutes.
I can't do this anymore folks. I feel like a testing site for pharmaceutical companies...
Has anyone had a good or even decent experience with an antidepressant or alternative?
It's the depression I'm most concerned about...the mania, OCD and all that junk wasn't a part of my life until the Paxil...
I know everyone has different reactions, but this is eating my life up...I just want something to help the depression...I'm 20 years old and don't want to spend the next 20 years searching for a coping strategy.
Any advice, personal story is extremely welcomed...feeling a bit alone and anxious here.
Sorry to type so much!
MC
Posted by sickandtired on September 5, 2001, at 5:13:46
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger-sick and tired, posted by Kristi on September 3, 2001, at 0:47:52
I'm not off it. I am in the process of looking for a straight doctor that will help me do that (It's hard, with pharmacutical reps offering money, trips, and other "perks" to keep you on such a horrible medicine that will probably make news such as redux and propulsid did a few years ago.) I'm not all up on my drugs...Effexor is the only thing I have taken for the last two years. But it's horrible....I was better off before this. And I wasn't so good then. I just want my old, horrible life back, beacause it was better than this....My girlfriend tells me i'll probably have to go to rehab to get off this, and I don't have the money.... Considering my Effexor is $80 a month, while being miserable is free....
People, if your doctor prescribes Effexor to you, tell him/her NO!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by pellmell on September 5, 2001, at 10:25:32
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger-sick and tired/Kristi, posted by sickandtired on September 5, 2001, at 5:13:46
> People, if your doctor prescribes Effexor to >you, tell him/her NO!!!!!!!!!!!
Please, it's not helpful to generalize from yourself to the entire psychopharmaceutical-taking population. What you're doing is nearly as silly as railing against peanut butter on a cooking website after you've had a severe allergic reaction to it.
I've been taking Effexor for about three months now, and it's helped me quite a bit. While there are others like you, there are also many like me. What I've learned from posters like you is that when (if?) I do stop taking it, I will taper off very slowly. It's not terribly considerate to scare people witless about a drug that could help them feel well.
-pm
Posted by MCMontreal on September 5, 2001, at 11:52:32
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger-sick and tired/Kristi » sickandtired, posted by pellmell on September 5, 2001, at 10:25:32
Pm, you make a very good point...
I think we all have had good & bad experiences while taking our medications.
But-
Getting off of them is a different story all together.
I, for one, rushed myself to emergency when I first stopped taking Paxil...I thought I was dying...had it not been for message boards like this where I could compare my withdrawal symptoms, I would be back in the emergency room right now.
I think when a person is looking to start a new med, they will not come directly to a withdrawal message board, but first will do their research in a variety of different ways and choose wisely after having considered the pros and the cons.
I am glad to hear you are responding well to Effexor, there are just as many message boards in praise of it as there are for those who have suffered from it.
MC
Posted by pellmell on September 5, 2001, at 12:41:43
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Anger-sick and tired/Kristi » pellmell, posted by MCMontreal on September 5, 2001, at 11:52:32
I agree...a place to share your experiences with these unpredictable medications is invaluable.
And I'm *not* implying that people should sugar-coat or censor their real experiences on this board, no matter how awful they are. There's a difference, though, between sharing and scaremongering. sickandtired, at least in that last post, seemed to me to be doing the latter.
Thanks for your response. It's true that I've never experienced anything near as bad as what those on this thread have described. I'll taper very slowly and be very careful when I decide to stop taking Effexor; I even felt minor withdrawal effects coming off of Prozac (staccato hearing&vision for a few moments every once in a while during the day), so I know I'm sensitive to that sort of thing.
-pm
Posted by bradkc on September 5, 2001, at 17:06:32
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl , posted by slazart on June 14, 2001, at 9:56:15
> Thank you Sean and Rosalind for your quick and thoughtful postings. I needed it.
> >
> I am trying to get in to see my doctor today. I called late in the afternoon to see what I should do and the on-call doctor told me I better take a very small dose just to stabilize until I could see my regular GP who knows me. I will bring these posts with me and mention Prozac to ease the withdrawal. He gave me Doxepin in 10 mg doses to begin right away upon my last effexor but I didn't know which effects came from which and I wasn't sure if I could take them at the same time so I did not take one last night after I restarted my effexor. St John's wort never helped me with anxiety/depression so I doubt it would here either. Kava Kava would help me cope in the evenings at times or I would nibble on a Klonopin (a whole made me too drowsy) and managed to make 15 tablets last well over a year. I am not sure I understand the term 'half-life'. I was on Celexa before and in every way it was wonderful except one. It took away my sex drive and having a very healthy relationship with my husband and a good sex life was something I wasn't willing to give up. As Sean said, the effects are innumerable, and I did try to rush the tapering a bit and now am finding that to be a huge mistake. I was supposed to "Ride the Rockies" next week (cycling)and had to drop out but I will still accompany my hubby as he tackles it. I feel like I am going to need to go on vacation to do this or keep taking it unitl I find a time best to handle it.
> Sad to say, I did take another mini dose last night and felt better within an hour and normal (what's that?) within 2. Now I am frustrated because I erased the 3 days off it that I already had under my belt. I play softball, ride my bike everyday and hate the poor coordination both on it and the severity of it in withdrawals. I am very afraid to start this all over again. I am going to need to schedule this with my family (or at least my hubby) because I am going to need back-up. The lack of concentration and as Sean put it confusion, in additon to speach calamity and inability to focus on a customer's needs and take care of tasks will make it very important for me to choose a timely departure from this nightmare!! and all the other nightmares that will come for awhile. I just don't want to be self destructive or harm my loved ones because of bitter and anxious feelings. This isn't their fault and I want to minimize the effect on them.
> I too had the other withdrawals such as urgent bowel mvts (not quite diarrhea)but they were welcome since while on it I had bad constipation. More w/d's exteme electricity-like feeling, nerves completely on-edge, major heart palpatations, again the nightmares, and feelings of obsessively wanting to run (mostly away), stretching or completely tensing up my body to where the nerves go shooting around in my head and cause an adrenaline rush (I was hoping this would expedite my bodies expulsion of this drug or lack of)and when I try to talk.. with every word comes a rush and I have all I can do to hear and concentrate. I also felt violent like I wanted to beat on something (thankfully inanimate objects)or just slap myself to wake up from the strangeness. Just a constant fight. With the w/d's so severe it is too tempting to stay on it! however, I want OFF! because while on it I had insomnia so bad that I worked straight around the clock on a few occasions and never went to bed or even tried... Also included dehydration, pain in joints in a.m. especially hands/feet, very unusual sense of smell & taste changes, change in eyesight (blur), coordination problems (clumsy), bruising, muscle spasms/cramps, some anxiety and since that was something I was wanting rid of...
>
> The best thing??? That I am not alone. Thank you so much for your postings because I know I am not going nuts and the many things going on will be easier to deal with knowing more about it. It also makes sense to taper off as slowly as possible. I was joking around about crushing a half of the 37.5 and counting granules but I am finding that this is no joke.
> Thanks to all of you who posted responses and my sympathy to those of you going through the w/d's.
> sincerely;
> Sharon
> I am so happy to read these postings. I have been on 300 mg per day of effexor for over a year, and missed my dosage today, I found this site by searching the horrible physical symptoms I was having today, bad electrical like tingling and numbness in my extremeties, and heart palpatations and chills. I had no idea it was from missing this med today. Now I realize what this is from and I feel much better just knowing that, and I have taken my meds even though I thought 4 pm was late, I usually take it all in the am. thanks so much for sharing this, I felt so weird i was ready to go to the er.
Thanks and good luck to all
>
Posted by kid47 on September 6, 2001, at 10:17:55
In reply to Any Tips For NEW meds?, posted by MCMontreal on September 4, 2001, at 22:56:27
Hi. Sorry you're feeling bad. There are all sorts of different meds available to treat the type of illness you have. The bad news (as you know) is it can take quite awhile to find the right one(s). SSRI's did not work well for me. Especially if I was not taking a mood stabilizer. ( I am Bipolar ) Find a pdoc who will work aggressively with you to find the right med cocktail & who knows when a drug is not working. Besides meds I forced myself to make some lifestyle changes. I gave up recreational drugs, alcohol, nicotine, caffiene & began to exercise & eat right. I didn't do this all at once but gradually over a couple of years.
How much Effexor were you taking? FXR is notorious for discontinuation side fx. You should taper slowly off it. There is tons of FXR info here in the archives. After two years of trials & failures I finally, with the help of my pdoc & lots of research on my own found a couple of med cocktails that work pretty well for me. Right now I am on a med-free holiday (with the knowledge & approval of my pdoc) but am fully prepared to resume my meds when I feel the need. Try not to be discouraged. There are plenty of options you have not tried. It may take some time but with effort & resolve I am confident you will find the right combo of meds & lifestyle to allow you to have some fun & live a great life. Take care (sorry for the ramble) Good Luckkid
> Hi,
> It's 11:30 pm and I've been awake for four days. I thought it was about time to make the most of the wee hours and connect with people who are going through similar experiences.
> A bit about me: Diagnosed with Severe depression at 9 years old,
> At 19 years old, Bipolar Disorder Without Mania, and Schizo-Affective Disorder
> -originally put on Zoloft in '94 to treat depression...went off a few years later(wow, no horror story)...
> -relapsed---wanted that "Zoloft" feeling again
> -Dr. prescribed Paxil and Ativan..6 months later I was extreme OCD and had painted everything in my home white (my toothbrush too!), began experiencing psychotic episodes, time lapses, mania
> -Barely survived getting off of it
> -Went back on Zoloft for a year, Clonazepam, and Epival (a mood stabilizer) but when I reached the max dose of 200mg of Zoloft a day my Dr. said it was probably best if I tired something new...
> EFFEXOR...
> Oh man.
> My pyschiatrist prescribed it to me and then left for another hospital. All of my files are being transferred ...I get to start from scratch...
> After taking Effexor for a month, I couldn't do it anymore. I was suicidal again and was re-considering some very bad habits of mine...
> I've been off it for a week now.
> I'm shaking, sweating, having horrific dreams that I think are so real that I've accused people of doing things they haven't done, oh- and here's my personal favorite-
> Bursting into tears every five minutes.
> I can't do this anymore folks. I feel like a testing site for pharmaceutical companies...
> Has anyone had a good or even decent experience with an antidepressant or alternative?
> It's the depression I'm most concerned about...the mania, OCD and all that junk wasn't a part of my life until the Paxil...
> I know everyone has different reactions, but this is eating my life up...I just want something to help the depression...I'm 20 years old and don't want to spend the next 20 years searching for a coping strategy.
> Any advice, personal story is extremely welcomed...feeling a bit alone and anxious here.
> Sorry to type so much!
> MC
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