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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on August 19, 2001, at 22:06:33
This is too weird - when I was first titrating UP on EffexorXR, it got the the point where I felt jittery and caffeinated, shaky, etc. Now, I'm finally at the point of going off it - going from 75 mg/day which was all I could tolerate to 37.5 mg and - and I'm again feeling jumpy, jittery, caffeinated and a teeny bit irritable! ACKKKKKK. Is this "normal" for tapering off EffexorXR? Has this happened to anyone else? I guess I'll have to do this s-l-o-w-l-y. I'll remain on 37.5 for awhile, then take it every other day for awihle before going off completely. (I also felt a tiny bit of that darn "electric head" this morning.)
Posted by stjames on August 19, 2001, at 23:54:12
In reply to HELP! Jumpy, jittery while DECREASING EffexorXR?!!, posted by Janelle on August 19, 2001, at 22:06:33
then take it every other day for awihle before going off completely. (I also felt a tiny bit of that darn "electric head" this morning.)
james here....
As effexor is short acting you can't go to every other day or every other day will be hell !
For me, I only suffer a day or so of problems if I stop suddenly (@#$%X HMO). Atavin is wonderful for this. Stop the shocks, takes the wire out of the system (as in feeling "wired") controls my funny tendancy to cry for no reason at the drop of a hat.
James
Posted by Janelle on August 20, 2001, at 14:32:12
In reply to Re: HELP! Jumpy, jittery while DECREASING EffexorXR?!!, posted by stjames on August 19, 2001, at 23:54:12
You mentioned that when tapering off EffexorXR (my plan is 37.5mg/day for a week, then 37.5mg/every other day for a week, then stopping it), that because of the short life of EffexorXR it will mess me up to take it every other day? Ackkkkkk! By the time I'm at the point of taking it every other day do you still think I'd feel badly on the days I did not take it? What a pain in the neck this med is. HOW do I get off it???
Posted by stjames on August 20, 2001, at 14:39:31
In reply to STJAMES: EffexorXR not good every other day? HELP! » stjames, posted by Janelle on August 20, 2001, at 14:32:12
> You mentioned that when tapering off EffexorXR (my plan is 37.5mg/day for a week, then 37.5mg/every other day for a week, then stopping it), that because of the short life of EffexorXR it will mess me up to take it every other day? Ackkkkkk! By the time I'm at the point of taking it every other day do you still think I'd feel badly on the days I did not take it? What a pain in the neck this med is. HOW do I get off it???
james here...I think I answered these questions already. Just continue to cut down your dose, while taking it every day. Alternating days is not, per se, a good way to taper.
Posted by Janelle on August 20, 2001, at 16:08:41
In reply to Re: STJAMES: EffexorXR not good every other day? HELP!, posted by stjames on August 20, 2001, at 14:39:31
Thanks for your further response. I guess I didn't understand fully that you were saying to just take a reduced dose DAILY. However, EffexorXR comes in CAPSULES, and 37.5 is the lowest one that I know of. I'll take that for about a week to 10 days, and will NOT alternate days, but then what? Capsules can't be cut!?!! Should I just STOP after being on 37.5 for awhile? I "only" got up to 75mg/day to begin with, so I'm hoping that any withdrawal might not be as severe than if I'd been on a higher dose? Hmmmm ... guess I'll just have to stop it altogether after 7-10 days on 37.5 mg???
Posted by pellmell on August 20, 2001, at 16:32:15
In reply to STJAMES: Sorry to bother U, how to cut CAPSULE? » stjames, posted by Janelle on August 20, 2001, at 16:08:41
Janelle,
You should be able to wiggle open Effexor XR capsules, revealing the little granules inside. Each grain has been manufactured in an extended release formula, so as long as you don't crush any of them you won't change the way they're absorbed. You'll have to estimate as you taper below 37.5, though, unless you have some good lab equipment. :)
Good luck,
-pm
Posted by stjames on August 20, 2001, at 18:12:28
In reply to cutting capsules » Janelle, posted by pellmell on August 20, 2001, at 16:32:15
> Janelle,
>
> You should be able to wiggle open Effexor XR capsules, revealing the little granules inside. Each grain has been manufactured in an extended release formula, so as long as you don't crush any of them you won't change the way they're absorbed. You'll have to estimate as you taper below 37.5, though, unless you have some good lab equipment. :)
>
> Good luck,
>
> -pmJames here....
Correct. Mix with a measured amount of fluid, like 5 oz. Then each oz will be 1/5 37.5 mgs (7.5 mgs)Don't know what Effexor tastes like, though !
Perhaps Cam will have some pointers.
Posted by Janelle on August 20, 2001, at 20:15:05
In reply to HELP! Jumpy, jittery while DECREASING EffexorXR?!!, posted by Janelle on August 19, 2001, at 22:06:33
nfm
Posted by Cam W. on August 20, 2001, at 23:57:56
In reply to Re: cutting capsules CAM, posted by stjames on August 20, 2001, at 18:12:28
I'm not sure that mixing time-released capsules with a liquid is a good idea, since they shouldn't dissolve. Perhaps stirring the capsule into something more solid, like pudding would be better.
If you like, you can dump a capsule out, split it approximately in half, then put half in pudding, may make it easier to swallow. Then you wouldn't need to worry about how much of the pudding you would have to take, and the pudding wouldn't break down any of the time-release balls, in the next day's dose. You are not going to get a precise dose no matter what you do, but it should be close enough.
Another way to come off Effexor, once you've reach the 37.5mg dose, is to take 10mg of Prozac for a week, with the 37.5mg of Effexor XR. After the first week, stop the Effexor and keep taking the Prozac for another week, then stop. The long half-life of Prozac usually prevents the serotonin withdrawl symptoms from occurring. Ask your doctor about this.
- Cam
Posted by stjames on August 21, 2001, at 1:31:45
In reply to Re: cutting capsules CAM, posted by Cam W. on August 20, 2001, at 23:57:56
> Another way to come off Effexor, once you've reach the 37.5mg dose, is to take 10mg of Prozac for a week, with the 37.5mg of Effexor XR. After the first week, stop the Effexor and keep taking the Prozac for another week, then stop. The long half-life of Prozac usually prevents the serotonin withdrawl symptoms from occurring. Ask your doctor about this.
>
> - CamJames here....
I know you would have a better idea. Do check with your doc about this option, it would be my first choice also.
j
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