Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 15708

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Going off Effexor

Posted by Nash McCutchen on November 23, 1999, at 20:58:00

In 1991, I was diagnosed with depression.
I was put on Prozac and stayed on it until 1997
when I switched to Effexor. I now feel that I no
longer need an anti-depressant. I am not in treatment
but simply see a doctor every 6 mos. or so for
follow-up.

How can I go off Effexor without any side effects?
I have tried to go cold-turkey, but could not stand
the dizziness and feelings of eletrical shocks in my
brain. Is the only answer to taper off dosages? I am
currently on 150mg/day.

Thanks for any help.
Nash

 

Re: Going off Effexor

Posted by Noa on November 23, 1999, at 22:07:18

In reply to Going off Effexor, posted by Nash McCutchen on November 23, 1999, at 20:58:00

I don't know the answer to this, but I have heard it can be rough. I am starting lithium tomorrow. If I hadn't I might have started parnate, which would mean washing out on effexor, and I was thinking I might need to go into the hospital for that, both for the withdrawal, but also for the depression during the washout period, which is not the issue for you. But the withdrawal is something I was afraid of.

 

Talk to your MD...

Posted by Racer on November 23, 1999, at 23:20:06

In reply to Going off Effexor, posted by Nash McCutchen on November 23, 1999, at 20:58:00

Since the withdrawal can be a tough period, talk to your doctor about tapering off.

You'll get lots of help on this board, but remember: that's what a doctor is for. Call up and make an appointment to discuss how and when and so on.

BTW, you're going OFF an AD before the holidays??? Brave, Buster, brave...

 

Re: Going off Effexor

Posted by jamie on November 24, 1999, at 3:35:16

In reply to Going off Effexor, posted by Nash McCutchen on November 23, 1999, at 20:58:00

Slow taper is the only way to go. I've heard a good rule of thumb is to decrease dose by 10% a week. Any faster the brain has trouble keeping up with the changes and thus the side effects. Not to mention the risk of rebound mania or depression. You might think you're fine now, but be careful. All too often we get lulled into a sense of complacency when we feel fine for some time. Only to find out rudely a few months later that we aren't fine without the drug.

 

Re: Going off Effexor

Posted by Ali on November 25, 1999, at 0:05:27

In reply to Going off Effexor, posted by Nash McCutchen on November 23, 1999, at 20:58:00

> In 1991, I was diagnosed with depression.
> I was put on Prozac and stayed on it until 1997
> when I switched to Effexor. I now feel that I no
> longer need an anti-depressant. I am not in treatment
> but simply see a doctor every 6 mos. or so for
> follow-up.
>
> How can I go off Effexor without any side effects?
> I have tried to go cold-turkey, but could not stand
> the dizziness and feelings of eletrical shocks in my
> brain. Is the only answer to taper off dosages? I am
> currently on 150mg/day.
>
> Thanks for any help.
> Nash

I would definitely not attempt to "cold-turkey" of Effexor.In terms of witdrawal effects, it's one of the worse ones (alongwith Paxil).If you're on the XR form, you could go down by 37.5 mg every 3-4 days or even slower (maybe every week).Of course you'de need a supply of the 75 mg and the 37.5 mg to "mix and match".If you are on the regular release tablets, you could go down in even smaller increments, again every 3-4 days or every week or so.The key is to make the dose reductions small enough to allow your body to adjust and watch for relapsing depression.
Good luck.

 

Re: Going off Effexor

Posted by jamie on November 26, 1999, at 12:34:06

In reply to Going off Effexor, posted by Nash McCutchen on November 23, 1999, at 20:58:00

I took Effexor XR for five weeks, and felt no effect. I stopped taking it cold turkey three weeks ago. I have been hypomanic ever since. I am starting to think I don't have depression, but am manic irritable. Any rules of thumb here? If you just have depression, can you get manic when you w/draw from an AD (which didn't even work!)

 

Re: Going off Effexor

Posted by Spencer on December 2, 1999, at 3:11:54

In reply to Re: Going off Effexor, posted by jamie on November 26, 1999, at 12:34:06

> I took Effexor XR for five weeks, and felt no effect. I stopped taking it cold turkey three weeks ago. I have been hypomanic ever since. I am starting to think I don't have depression, but am manic irritable. Any rules of thumb here? If you just have depression, can you get manic when you w/draw from an AD (which didn't even work!)

I have just stopped taking effexor after 2 months at 150mg. I dropped 33.5mg's a week for 4 weeks and still it was rough. you just have to taper off as slow as possible. It's not easy but you can do it. What ever you do, don't try to rush it.

 

Re: Going off Effexor

Posted by S. Suggs on December 2, 1999, at 6:38:46

In reply to Going off Effexor, posted by Nash McCutchen on November 23, 1999, at 20:58:00

Nash,

One way to successfully work yourself off effexor is to start a week or two of prozac 20mg. Due to its long half life, it stays around a long time and helps cushion the blow. I used it when I was taking effexor 200mg daily and decided to quit the effexor as well. Af far as I can say, it was as if I had never taken the effexor. I was at 200 mg of effexor for 6 months + and the prozac worked well. Ask your doc for a couple weeks worth and see how it goes. Let him / her decide how to taper / stop. If you search, you will find several posts in regards to your question that were posted several months ago. Good luck,

Blessings,

S. Suggs

 

Re: Going off Effexor (cf. esp. Jamie)

Posted by Kev on December 12, 1999, at 12:11:17

In reply to Re: Going off Effexor, posted by jamie on November 26, 1999, at 12:34:06

I have just discontinued Effexor. My P-Doc told me to taper off at 75 mg. intervals over 3 days. Today is the first day with no dosage, and I actually don't feel all that bad, except for the sensation of electrical shock or being on the verge of blacking out.
Also, although it has been a few weeks since your message was posted, Jamie, withdrawal symptoms from Effexor often present as manic or hypomanic symptoms. I strongly advise, having found out the hard way (due to being temporarily unable to refill my prescription a few months back), that no-one attempt to go cold-turkey off Effexor. It is mighty uncomfortable. In particular, the aforementioned "headrushes" are MUCH milder when you taper off correctly.

Salutis beneficium,

-Kev

 

Re: Going off Effexor (cf. esp. Jamie)

Posted by S. Suggs on December 12, 1999, at 19:47:36

In reply to Re: Going off Effexor (cf. esp. Jamie), posted by Kev on December 12, 1999, at 12:11:17

Kev: See my post on 12/2/99, it deals with a technique I've used as well as others. Best wishes and Blessings,

S. Suggs

 

Re: Going off Effexor; mechanism of w.d effects?

Posted by Kev on December 13, 1999, at 9:19:42

In reply to Re: Going off Effexor (cf. esp. Jamie), posted by S. Suggs on December 12, 1999, at 19:47:36

> Kev: See my post on 12/2/99, it deals with a technique I've used as well as others. Best wishes and Blessings,
>
> S. Suggs

**That's probably a good idea. I was pretty confident my approach was going to work- at the time I posted that message. By about 5:00 PM that evening, I started to get to get hit by really brutal head surges, which are even worse this morning (on my walk to the university, it was like I was repeatedly being slammed in the head by a huge biker or something; the surges literally blot out the sound of traffic at the intersection when they happen).
Just out of curiosity, does anyone out there know exactly what is the mechanism which mediates these withdrawal symptoms? Does it have something to do with blood pressure?


-Kev

 

Re: Going off Effexor; mechanism of w.d effects?

Posted by nash mccutchen on December 13, 1999, at 9:40:25

In reply to Re: Going off Effexor; mechanism of w.d effects?, posted by Kev on December 13, 1999, at 9:19:42

**That's probably a good idea. I was pretty confident my approach was going to work- at the time I posted that message. By about 5:00 PM that evening, I started to get to get hit by really brutal head surges, which are even worse this morning (on my walk to the university, it was like I was repeatedly being slammed in the head by a huge biker or something; the surges literally blot out the sound of traffic at the intersection when they happen).


you know, those head surges are AWFUL! it really makes me wonder what these drugs are doing to
our heads to have that kind of a reaction when
we go off! i'm starting to think i'd rather be
depressed and drug free then have those chemicals
doing weird junk to my brain!!!!!!!
anti-depressants are relatively new, how do we
know they are not doing more damage to our brains
than it is worth?

happy holidays to all,
nash
> Just out of curiosity, does anyone out there know exactly what is the mechanism which mediates these withdrawal symptoms? Does it have something to do with blood pressure?
>
>
> -Kev

 

Re: Going off Effexor; mechanism of w.d effects?

Posted by Mary on December 13, 1999, at 13:22:28

In reply to Re: Going off Effexor; mechanism of w.d effects?, posted by nash mccutchen on December 13, 1999, at 9:40:25

I would like to know exactly why the Effexor creates
the withdrawal symptoms. Didn't make much sense to me for my
doctor to tell me that I couldn't get addicted to it...
but that my body would become used to it.

Have taken Prozac on several different occasions... for 2 to 3
year stretches. It takes the edge off the depression, but never
really gets rid of it.

I really liked the effect Effexor had on my mind, but when I tried
it before I had a strange sensation in my head... and the doctor thought
I was having mini withdrawals between doses. Of the different medications
I have tried, though, I felt it was the most effective. My doc now wants
me to try it again.... this time the XR, and build up really slowly,
and see how it does.

Mary


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