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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by ed_uk on July 2, 2005, at 7:11:31
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last?, posted by ariel on July 1, 2005, at 16:15:42
Hi,
I'm male, 21. When I took Effexor, I had really bad hot flashes all the time!
~Ed
Posted by SLS on July 2, 2005, at 9:13:04
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last? » ariel, posted by ed_uk on July 2, 2005, at 7:11:31
> Hi,
>
> I'm male, 21. When I took Effexor, I had really bad hot flashes all the time!
>
> ~Ed
This is a very common side effect of Effexor - profuse sweating, especially at night.
- Scott
Posted by ariel on July 2, 2005, at 13:04:14
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last?, posted by SLS on July 2, 2005, at 9:13:04
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm male, 21. When I took Effexor, I had really bad hot flashes all the time!
> >
> > ~Ed
>
>
> This is a very common side effect of Effexor - profuse sweating, especially at night.
>
>
> - ScottYou poor guys! Well, you certainly can empathize with middle aged women, LOL.
Very interesting that my night sweats were exacerbated by the Effexor. Now that I'm over the worst, I still can get sweaty from dreaming. i tiwll be interesting to see if the sweats stop once the dosage is reduced further.
It's day 4 or 5 of my reduced dosage. Still, no remarkable withdrawal side effects. I should stay so lucky! Next week, I'll cut down again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Posted by SLS on July 2, 2005, at 14:39:37
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last?, posted by ariel on July 2, 2005, at 13:04:14
You might want to try the flexible-dosing strategy that I've been yapping about for the last few months. It becomes especially useful once you reach dosages of 75mg and lower.
- Scott
Posted by 4WD on July 2, 2005, at 21:44:01
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last? » ariel, posted by ed_uk on July 2, 2005, at 7:11:31
> Hi,
>
> I'm male, 21. When I took Effexor, I had really bad hot flashes all the time!
>
> ~EdCymbalta made me much more prone to sweat. And I noticed that I overheated more easily on both it and Effexor. But when I quit Effexor I got hot flashes. Weird.
Marsha
Posted by ariel on July 3, 2005, at 14:29:16
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last? » ariel, posted by SLS on July 2, 2005, at 14:39:37
> You might want to try the flexible-dosing strategy that I've been yapping about for the last few months. It becomes especially useful once you reach dosages of 75mg and lower.
>
>
> - ScottThanks, Scott, for reminding me. I just printed out your instructions. Makes sense to dose every few hours to accurately measure how long I can go without.
I have to laugh about what was posted re trying to prepare oneself and surroundings for the dosage withdrawal. I thought that having my college aged child at home would help me by keeping me busy this summer. He certainly has "helped" me keep my mind off feeling at loose ends -- last nite he drank far too much, decided to cook bacon, then spilled scalding hot grease all over his hand. His friends hightailed it out of here, leaving me with an injured foul mouthed drunk. Even the EMTs wouldn't stick around. You'd think he had more than a first degree burn, the way he carried on for almost 3 hours. My usual reaction to this boy's crises is to sink immediately into despair. Last nite, though, I held it together. Maybe I'm working harder, knowing I don't have the chemical "assistance".
Posted by apenname on July 3, 2005, at 21:39:44
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last?, posted by ariel on July 3, 2005, at 14:29:16
way to go being dealing with the situation!
I'd made things 'simpler' and reduced work load and everything for the de-medication period. Now as I'm getting back into work, I'm not done with withdrawal and not certain I can fight the depression off. I'm finding getting things done actually helps. Even though I'm annoyed at the people who were doing parts of my job for screwing up. Not nearly so traumatizing as what you're up to.Sometimes responsibility is a pain, sometimes realizing that you're the one taking care of things is an ego boost, even though dealing with the problems can be painful during.
Posted by ariel on July 5, 2005, at 14:33:47
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last? » ariel, posted by apenname on July 3, 2005, at 21:39:44
Kudos to you for sticking with it! And esp. since you have to be out in the world working. I never would've even considered going off Effexor if I was still working. All of you who do while holding down jobs are brave!
Ok, so it's been a week and today I cut down for the 2nd time. Still, whatever symptoms I have are either so low key I'm not noticing them or maybe not there at all. I'm still on a lot of medicine, like 150+ mgs. I expect when I'm getting down to the lower doses, I'm going to be feeling it.
Posted by robin1 on July 5, 2005, at 16:10:45
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last? » apenname, posted by SLS on June 14, 2005, at 15:49:16
help! my pharmacist told me i cannot take wellbutrin while i'm getting off effexor, yet i saw you mention that in one of the other messages.
i'm on my 3rd day of no effexor, and my 3rd day of wellbutrin. of course, i have the horrible side effects. can i take some effexor with the wellbutrin to help keep those to a minimum???
why don't they tell us about this in the beginning?!?!? i went thru this with paxil and it was hell. will i have the same problem with wellbutrin??!
i'm looking into otc anxietol-7...supposedly NO side effects.
anyway...what do you think about wellbutrin AND effexor?
r.
Posted by SLS on July 5, 2005, at 20:38:58
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last?, posted by robin1 on July 5, 2005, at 16:10:45
> help! my pharmacist told me i cannot take wellbutrin while i'm getting off effexor, yet i saw you mention that in one of the other messages.
>
> i'm on my 3rd day of no effexor, and my 3rd day of wellbutrin. of course, i have the horrible side effects. can i take some effexor with the wellbutrin to help keep those to a minimum???
>
> why don't they tell us about this in the beginning?!?!? i went thru this with paxil and it was hell. will i have the same problem with wellbutrin??!
>
> i'm looking into otc anxietol-7...supposedly NO side effects.
>
> anyway...what do you think about wellbutrin AND effexor?
All I can say is that I have seen a number of people respond well to the combination who did not respond to either alone. I think it is worth a try.
- Scott
Posted by apenname on July 5, 2005, at 20:50:23
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last?, posted by robin1 on July 5, 2005, at 16:10:45
Hm. pharmacist say no wellbutrin+effexor? Are you on anything else that the pharmacist might know about that would cause them to say "don't do it"? There's another couple of threads about wellbutrin+effexor with a lot of good education on the actions of wellbutrin+effexor.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050611/msgs/523534.html
My new psychiatrist was surprised that my previous psychiatrist hadn't tried me on wellbutrin+effexor.People have different reactions from medications, and there are a lot of factors which can vary that, which makes it very difficult for anyone to predict what will happen. What I found informative and comforting: keeping statistics in mind, read the prescribing pamphlet, and pay attention to the reports of people's side effects on the medicine (how many people in the study, how many people got the side effect on the medicine, and how many people got the side effect on the placebo!)
Posted by apenname on July 5, 2005, at 21:01:24
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last?, posted by ariel on July 5, 2005, at 14:33:47
Thanks for the support.
Day 5 of no Effexor since the last paltry 5 mg dose. I'm feeling the edge of dizziness, but exhausted from a crazy work day, and I think this is the familiar "stop working, you need to rest!" feeling, so I have great hope that it might be over.
Actually, I find working to be helping. I get involved in what I'm doing and don't sit around noticing *how* I feel all the time. Now I just have to balance being productive with exercise, relaxation time, and taking care of myself and all will be fine.
Posted by robin1 on July 6, 2005, at 11:16:34
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last? » robin1, posted by apenname on July 5, 2005, at 20:50:23
thanks for the responses! last nite i opened a capsule and took about 1/2...WITH the wellbutrin. so far so good...no tremors, no brain shocks. just a little dizzy cloudy feeling.
thanks so much...this site has really helped me!!!
Posted by ariel on July 7, 2005, at 9:03:13
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last? » ariel, posted by apenname on July 5, 2005, at 21:01:24
> Actually, I find working to be helping. I get involved in what I'm doing and don't sit around noticing *how* I feel all the time. Now I just have to balance being productive with exercise, relaxation time, and taking care of myself and all will be fine.Since I hated working fulltime (over a 25 year period, too!), I forget that there's this whole world out there who do well at their jobs and find the work fulfilling and a good way to get away from other problems. I'm a homebody at heart and find that I do so much better with the distraction thing within my four walls.
Honestly, I can't wait to be done with this regimen, to be Effexor-free. I'm finding that I'm feeling emotionally better on this reduced dosage than I was on my 225 mgs a day. In thinking about it, I now realize that the meds haven't helped me in 5 years.
Yesterday I noticed that at about 1-2 pm, I get a little headachy, sort of tired, sort of irritable. That's when I take a small part of the third 75 mg pill. Also, the Mega Foods vitamin. Whoa-- I love these vitamins! At the very least, they're helping my nail growth.
Posted by apenname on July 8, 2005, at 15:26:09
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last? » ariel, posted by apenname on July 5, 2005, at 21:01:24
Update: 8 days since my last 5mg dose. I've been giving in to over-work and getting stressed (as have the people I work with) and little sleep. I'm feeling cranky, irritable, prone to crying, and my head, throat, and ears hurt. I've also been forgetting to take my vitamins until the evening. But at least my indigestion/runs seems to be finally stopping after a month!
It's so hard to figure out if this is withdrawal or just over-work! The symptoms are so far pretty much normal for over-work and under-sleep with me (both before being medicated and during). In the meantime, a friend of mine is getting a cold, and my cat's been sneezing, so maybe there's something 'going around'.
I'm going to try and take a full day off work to relax, journal, catch up on sleep, and have fun and see if that fixes the symptoms. If not, I guess it's back to a tiny dose.
Posted by ariel on July 8, 2005, at 16:08:54
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last?, posted by apenname on July 8, 2005, at 15:26:09
> It's so hard to figure out if this is withdrawal or just over-work! The symptoms are so far pretty much normal for over-work and under-sleep with me (both before being medicated and during).
Not that anyone with a fulltime job can do this (unless you have lots of sick days, lots of coverage, a vacation coming up, and a very sympathetic staff and boss), but it sounds like you need like a week off work to assess if the symptoms are withdrawal or stress. If youo felt crummy even when on your full dosage when you were stressed out, then the Effexor wasn't helping you then, right? You're down to such a small dose. Maybe you want to keep taking 5 mgs a day until you get a chunk of time to test your symptoms.
Posted by angelbean on July 16, 2005, at 2:19:17
In reply to Re: How long do Effexor XR withdrawals last?, posted by apenname on July 8, 2005, at 15:26:09
> But at least my indigestion/runs seems to be finally stopping after a month!
OMG! Is that was has been causing this? I hadn't heard of that before, but I'm glad to find out it's not something else causing it.
Posted by apenname on July 17, 2005, at 21:23:50
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawals » apenname, posted by angelbean on July 16, 2005, at 2:19:17
Yes, it's possible. Diarrhea is listed on the prescribing information pamphlet as a discontinuation symptom (U.S. version from the Effexor website). Even the dizziness and brain zaps are listed.
I'm still not sure if my diarrhea was from discontinuation, stress, or something else, since it's come back from time to time now that I'm 18 days off and under lots of external stress. And I had it off and on before discontinuation. The human body is complex, with lots of things that affect it, so if you suspect something else, by all means investigate!
Posted by margie75 on July 22, 2005, at 1:11:54
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawals » angelbean, posted by apenname on July 17, 2005, at 21:23:50
This is margie24 (had to change name, forgot password).
I've been working on no effexor for 3 months now. I'm down to 11 of the little beads and you'd think I'd feel CLOSE! I'm so anxious to just STOP, but if I get a wild hair and try to stop (even on 11 beads) I get sick. I'm now 12 weeks pregnant! (time flies) I thought I'd be off this by now. I tried really hard to stop when I found out, but it impossible.I read all your posts and I feel for you. I know how it is. I actually locked myself in our guest bedroom for 3 days when I first started withdrawling. Then I realized I was trying to be a hero or something and everyone was suffering for it.
Scott, I tried flexible dosing for a month and 1/2. I, personally, couldn't make any progress with it because the amount and times I needed to take it stayed the same. For example, I'd take maybe 20 beads just as I felt the dizziness, and then need another 20 maybe 6 hours later. Problem was I'd do the same thing day after day. If I reduced anything I'd feel the same as if I was just reducing the dose gradually. (?) Did I miss something.
Anyway, once I got down to 25 mg (I guess) I did the bead counting thing, and went down one by one.
(I had taken effexor for 2 years at 150 mg.) Tapering down to 75mg was not bad for me, it's when the numbers get small that was hard for me.I would DEFINETLY NOT try to stop effexor any other way than tapering slowly. I tried cold turkey several times (I thought if I just wasn't a wimp, I could tough it out.) I was incapacitated. And even scarier, suicidal.
And quite frankly, what doctors recommend for their "reduction plans", are about as painful as cold turkey. Mine told me to take 150 every other day for 2 weeks, then 75 " ". then stop. They really have no idea. And that's what infuriates me. They have no idea.
Well, I promised myself I would come back here and spread the good news once I got off effexor, be another light at the end of the tunnel. I thought i would have sent that post by now, but this thing is bigger than me and I have to play by it;s rules and count one DAMN bead at a time (and even then, sometimes I have to repeat a number for a day or 2). I WILL be back to tell you I made it, and you all will too.
Oh, about bead counting strategies. I sat down one afternoon and broke apart 75mg capsules (which had 200 beads (I think)) into piles of 50 beads. Then I folded the 50 in foil. I put my little foil packets (or acid, like I called them), in a bowl. That worked for me.
Very very best to everyone.
Margie
Posted by margie75 on July 22, 2005, at 1:14:49
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawals » angelbean, posted by apenname on July 17, 2005, at 21:23:50
I forgot to mention.
Insomnia has been a thing with me and I take children's liquid benadryl (that's the heaviest I can go). I works really well for me.
Anyone else get the shivers? It's like your cold and need to shake, but your not really that cold, it just feels good to shake?
Margie
Posted by angelbean on July 22, 2005, at 1:40:32
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawals, posted by margie75 on July 22, 2005, at 1:11:54
Hi Margie. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm sorry, I've lost track of the days, but it's been appox. 3 weeks for me and I feel great. I started taking Claritan and it cleared up the head problems for me. My pharm. says this is not possible. However, I forgot it last night and felt a little funny in the head. So I am going around his advice, and relying on my own experience.
You can do it. I can't believe I've made it this far cold turkey. Just take each day as it comes and don't let the feelings lie on your mind too long. Release them by reminding yourself it will pass.
My best wishes go to you. Give yourself a hug!
Posted by apenname on July 22, 2005, at 14:27:18
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawals » margie75, posted by angelbean on July 22, 2005, at 1:40:32
margie: a suggestion, try vitamins. Perhaps if you're already taking some add in more vitamins and minerals a multi-vitamin isn't giving you enough of? rabble_rouser found they got rid of withdrawal symptoms completely, although I'd recommend checking with the pharmacist/doctor on some of the more brain-centered ones. I may have had less withdrawal as well taking them, but I don't know for certain.
Thanks a bunch for sharing and good luck! Pregnancy in and of itself isn't easy. I've had friends go through a whole range of symptoms mostly from that (and being more susceptible to a cold - having it last a month!) in the first 3 months. Just in case any of your symptoms could be that, you may want to explore that possibility. Although you probably "know" what the withdrawal feels like. I know I did.
I've had 23 days (I may be off by a day or two) since my last 5mg dose, and now it's just dealing with whatever life throws me without the medicine's help. I get dizzy/headachy from time to time, but it's usually because I haven't had enough water, caffiene (I'm addicted), food, or sleep (I know this feeling from life before the Effexor).
Posted by margie75 on July 23, 2005, at 2:54:51
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawals, posted by apenname on July 22, 2005, at 14:27:18
apenname, thanks for the encouragement. i know some of my emtionalism and fatigue is tied to the pregnancy, but the withdrawal symptoms are pretty distinctive.
i took my 10 beads today and it really didn't do a thing for me. is this when i should just quit all together?
i drank a full cup of coffee this afternoon, somehow thinking it might help...and it did.
i've heard people say they gained weight when they discontinued Effexor. Those of you who have stopped, did you gain any weight?
one more thing, did/does anyone else have achy joints as a side effect? i can't explain it.
Margie
Posted by ariel on July 23, 2005, at 9:52:21
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawals, posted by margie75 on July 23, 2005, at 2:54:51
margie75: the first 3 months of pregnancy are the worst if you have any kind of morning sickness (which, for me, extended long past the morning). when you throw being on a drug like effexor into the mix, no wonder you feel physically and emotionally pretty messy.
Posted by ariel on July 23, 2005, at 10:07:25
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawals » margie75, posted by angelbean on July 22, 2005, at 1:40:32
i haven't posted for a while as i was sick for the past few days. i thought it was from my w/d, then realized, wait a minute, i stopped taking the pills several days before with no dramatic side effects. so i put down the nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and this weird over sensitivity to certain odors to a summer virus of the type i used to get years ago (margie--it all felt eerily like morning sickness, which was quite the thing considering i'm menopausal).
yesterday, friday, i felt fine. who knows--maybe it <was> a w/d effect, but it's over. i haven't had my usual 2 cups of AM coffee in several days as i'm a still just a bit queasy when i get up. i substituted zero cal. flat coke to get some caffeine into my system. i want to have my coffee again, but i seem to be doing ok w/o it. this is a first!
i don't think any dr. or pharm. can do more than provide a guideline for w/d. what works is what works for you. unlike scott, i didn't seem to have to do all that cutting down. it was more like dropping a a big dose, 75 mg, every time. and i'm convinced that, like apenname, that the excellent vitamins she recommended have been very helpful. esp. the b complex vits. i also drink a glass of green tea every day. try to keep the crappy food i love down to a minimum.
the nurse at my dr's office thought that taking granules of the pill out of the capsule isn't a good idea (see, everyone has their own ideas). it's not the amount. more like keeping them in a capsule helps with absorption. i don't know why the cap would help over mixing the grains w/applesauce.
when i was sick earlier this week, i took 37.5 mg one day and 75 mg the next, to no good effect whatsoever. that's what got me thinking that i simply was garden variety sick. anyways, i am <so> relieved to be on the road to complete freedom from this drug. again, thanks to everyone on this board for all the help and support!
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