Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 3267

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effexor withdrawal

Posted by cbachman on February 26, 1999, at 21:25:40

I seem to be experiencing some strange symptoms whenever I miss a dose of effexor. I wake up with nightmares and hallucinations and severe pain in my head behind my eyes. As soon as I take the missed 75mg dose the symptoms subside after about 30min to an hour. I also tried decreasing the amt by 1/4 and had the same severe head/eye pain and sweating. This has happened too many times to be caused by something else ...I finally figured out that as soon I a replaced the missed dose I was okay.

What have you heard regarding the withdrawal of this medication?

I appreciate your response, in advance.

 

Re: effexor withdrawal

Posted by anonymous on February 26, 1999, at 22:09:52

In reply to effexor withdrawal, posted by cbachman on February 26, 1999, at 21:25:40

> I seem to be experiencing some strange symptoms whenever I miss a dose of effexor. I wake up with nightmares and hallucinations and severe pain in my head behind my eyes. As soon as I take the missed 75mg dose the symptoms subside after about 30min to an hour. I also tried decreasing the amt by 1/4 and had the same severe head/eye pain and sweating. This has happened too many times to be caused by something else ...I finally figured out that as soon I a replaced the missed dose I was okay.
>
> What have you heard regarding the withdrawal of this medication?
>
> I appreciate your response, in advance.
There have been many reports of withdrawal symptoms from SSRI's and other new antidepressants. Since effexor is a combo drug, this sounds plausible to me. Have you consulted your psychiatrist?

 

Re: effexor withdrawal

Posted by Louise on May 4, 1999, at 21:00:54

In reply to effexor withdrawal, posted by cbachman on February 26, 1999, at 21:25:40

I have also experienced withdrawal symptoms from missed doses of Efexor. I became hypermanic but this settled down when taking doses regularly again. Your withdrawal symptoms sound more extreme, but in my experience, withdrawal symptoms are very different from longer term side effects. i.e ironically enough, regularising my efexor doses got rid of the hypermania withdrawal symptoms, but the drug later had the side effect of inducing mania and I had to come off it.

 

Re: effexor withdrawal

Posted by pat on May 6, 1999, at 21:51:53

In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal, posted by Louise on May 4, 1999, at 21:00:54

Recently had SEVERE withdrawal symptoms from tapering Effexor XR too quickly (slowly adding Luvox at same time - but had to stop Luvox after several days.)

Had extreme pain all over body, severe nausea, dizziness that became so bad I was unable to walk except very short distance with use of a cane.

In addition, had constant NOISES with every slight movement - they sounded like maracas shaking, for want of a better description. It was very frightening, to say the least.

It proved to be the Effexor withdrawal for sure, as within hours of reintroducing Effexor all of the symptoms subsided or disappeared. !!!!

 

Re: effexor withdrawal--HOW SHOULD I REINTRODUCE?

Posted by Mary Beth on May 7, 1999, at 8:25:32

In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal, posted by pat on May 6, 1999, at 21:51:53

I am going through same sort of discontinuation symptoms as pat mentioned, with only a dosage reduction of 1/2 for a week (150 mg, then 75 mg for a week, then nothing). The dizziness, nausea, headache, sweats, flu feeling, has been going on over a week now and has gotten worse every day. I am finally getting in to see my GP dr. today...(maybe, if he can work me in)--

I am going back on the Effexor, unless Dr. has another magic cure for me. But I doubt that! How fast can I return to Effexor? Go back immediately to 150 mg, what I was taking before? Or taper up? This doctor (GP) is the one who said there shouldn't be any discontinuation symptoms. He is nice but clueless...but he's all I've got right now.

When I am stable later on I will return to the psychiatrist who prescribed this for me and see if we can't get me off it right....or stay on it forever, I don't care.

Any suggestions welcome, esp. in the next few hours before I go to the doctor's.

thanks much, Mary Beth

 

Re: effexor withdrawal--HOW SHOULD I REINTRODUCE?

Posted by BG on May 7, 1999, at 11:15:38

In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal--HOW SHOULD I REINTRODUCE?, posted by Mary Beth on May 7, 1999, at 8:25:32

Need to probably go back to at least 75mg then back up
to the maintenance dose you was on. You also need to call
the doc and let him know what a time you had. Very few
do understand the problems of quick withdraw or washout
as they call it.
And if on Effexor tabs not the XR cut it by half a pill
18.75mg a wk or twice a wk. and also you may want to take
prozac. I know this sounds weird but prozac does seem to
help alleviate the quick withdrawl and it does help.
Or just good old fashioned over the counter Benadryl. Just
take enough to keep the side effects from being bad.
Effexor seems to be a good medicine but it is one that
must be tapered off of very slowly. Hope this helps..

I am going through same sort of discontinuation symptoms as pat mentioned, with only a dosage reduction of 1/2 for a week (150 mg, then 75 mg for a week, then nothing). The dizziness, nausea, headache, sweats, flu feeling, has been going on over a week now and has gotten worse every day. I am finally getting in to see my GP dr. today...(maybe, if he can work me in)--
>
> I am going back on the Effexor, unless Dr. has another magic cure for me. But I doubt that! How fast can I return to Effexor? Go back immediately to 150 mg, what I was taking before? Or taper up? This doctor (GP) is the one who said there shouldn't be any discontinuation symptoms. He is nice but clueless...but he's all I've got right now.
>
> When I am stable later on I will return to the psychiatrist who prescribed this for me and see if we can't get me off it right....or stay on it forever, I don't care.
>
> Any suggestions welcome, esp. in the next few hours before I go to the doctor's.
>
> thanks much, Mary Beth

 

Re: effexor withdrawal--HOW SHOULD I REINTRODUCE?

Posted by Victoria on May 7, 1999, at 14:56:07

In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal--HOW SHOULD I REINTRODUCE?, posted by Mary Beth on May 7, 1999, at 8:25:32

You don't say why you're going off it, but if it was prescribed by a psychiatrist, he or she should take responsibility for advising you about tapering. withdrawal, re-starting, etc. I'd say, don't wait until you are "stable" to contact the doc who prescribed the meds. Call him or her now.

> I am going through same sort of discontinuation symptoms as pat mentioned, with only a dosage reduction of 1/2 for a week (150 mg, then 75 mg for a week, then nothing). The dizziness, nausea, headache, sweats, flu feeling, has been going on over a week now and has gotten worse every day. I am finally getting in to see my GP dr. today...(maybe, if he can work me in)--
>
> I am going back on the Effexor, unless Dr. has another magic cure for me. But I doubt that! How fast can I return to Effexor? Go back immediately to 150 mg, what I was taking before? Or taper up? This doctor (GP) is the one who said there shouldn't be any discontinuation symptoms. He is nice but clueless...but he's all I've got right now.
>
> When I am stable later on I will return to the psychiatrist who prescribed this for me and see if we can't get me off it right....or stay on it forever, I don't care.
>
> Any suggestions welcome, esp. in the next few hours before I go to the doctor's.
>
> thanks much, Mary Beth

 

what I am doing

Posted by Mary Beth on May 7, 1999, at 17:34:19

In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal--HOW SHOULD I REINTRODUCE?, posted by Victoria on May 7, 1999, at 14:56:07

Thanks for your thoughts, BG & Victoria. I appreciate it.

My GP put me back on Effexor XR, starting with a week of 37.5 mg, then a week of 75 mg., then back up to 150 mg where I was. He also wants me to see the psychiatrist who originally prescribed it....& that would have been MY first stop, if he were available. I have a call in for a consult next week.

The GP seems to think that there are both somatic problems (eye shocks, etc.) and also some chemical imbalance issues (crying, etc.) and that I will need to stay on the med long term because of the latter. From what I've read, the crying is a discontinuation symptom just like the physical ills....not a depression thing....but I didn't really care to argue it with him. I must say he was very nice and humble about it....assured me he is not a psych specialist and that he learned a lot from the psych journal article on this very topic I sent him.

The psychiatrist and I had agreed that it was about time for me to come off of it (or at least try it.) Obviously he thought I would do so with him, and I'm now kicking myself for doing it without him! But he is in another town and it's a hassle to get a consult with him.

TRUST ME. I have learned from this not to mess with my meds myself....you'd think I'd know this by now.....and I have the VERY VERY VERY highest respect for these meds and their power!

Appreciate the comments. It is great not to feel totally alone and like a world-class crazy woman though all this.

Mary Beth

> You don't say why you're going off it, but if it was prescribed by a psychiatrist, he or she should take responsibility for advising you about tapering. withdrawal, re-starting, etc. I'd say, don't wait until you are "stable" to contact the doc who prescribed the meds. Call him or her now.
>
>
>
> > I am going through same sort of discontinuation symptoms as pat mentioned, with only a dosage reduction of 1/2 for a week (150 mg, then 75 mg for a week, then nothing). The dizziness, nausea, headache, sweats, flu feeling, has been going on over a week now and has gotten worse every day. I am finally getting in to see my GP dr. today...(maybe, if he can work me in)--
> >
> > I am going back on the Effexor, unless Dr. has another magic cure for me. But I doubt that! How fast can I return to Effexor? Go back immediately to 150 mg, what I was taking before? Or taper up? This doctor (GP) is the one who said there shouldn't be any discontinuation symptoms. He is nice but clueless...but he's all I've got right now.
> >
> > When I am stable later on I will return to the psychiatrist who prescribed this for me and see if we can't get me off it right....or stay on it forever, I don't care.
> >
> > Any suggestions welcome, esp. in the next few hours before I go to the doctor's.
> >
> > thanks much, Mary Beth


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