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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on September 16, 2001, at 19:21:40
Help! I seem to be having that darn electric head after stopping EffexorXR (it took a few days to kick in so I had thought I was home free, but still, I consider it "minor" compared to other withdrawal symptoms, such as those I had from Paxil). I have some questions: 1) Does anyone here know what *causes* that annoying electric head feeling (like nanosecond bursts of a short circuit feeling in the head that sometimes radiate to the feet if you're walking)? 2) On average, how LONG does electric head generally last (days, weeks, months) if you are experiencing it after going off an SSRI? Thanks!
Posted by stjames on September 16, 2001, at 20:27:20
In reply to That darn ELECTRIC HEAD:what are causes, duration?, posted by Janelle on September 16, 2001, at 19:21:40
> Help! I seem to be having that darn electric head after stopping EffexorXR
James here....
I did not know what to call this till I found this list. Can't really answer the questions you asked, but for me a little bit of atavin stops it cold.
james
Posted by stjames on September 16, 2001, at 20:30:03
In reply to That darn ELECTRIC HEAD:what are causes, duration?, posted by Janelle on September 16, 2001, at 19:21:40
2) On average, how LONG does electric head generally last (days, weeks, months) if you are experiencing it after going off an SSRI? Thanks!
james here,
For me, a week after stopping Effexor. Generally i just take atavin for a few days. I have been out of atavin and had to wait it out, it stops in a week. If it takes james a week this tends to mean weeks for most other people.
james
Posted by Katey on September 16, 2001, at 21:02:06
In reply to Re: That darn ELECTRIC HEAD:what are causes, duration?, posted by stjames on September 16, 2001, at 20:30:03
i may be confused on what i came down off of a couple years ago...i was rather young, but i believe it was an SSRI (zoloft).....i didnt experience electric head....but all of a sudden i was this horrible, viscious and hostile person who was lashing out at anyone who crossed my path...out of curiosity did this happen to anyone else?
Posted by Emme on September 16, 2001, at 22:06:30
In reply to That darn ELECTRIC HEAD:what are causes, duration?, posted by Janelle on September 16, 2001, at 19:21:40
Oh yeah, the ole "electric head zaps". Annoying as hell, aren't they? I had them while coming off of Paxil; they were gone after a week. It took me a month or so to completely get off of Effexor. When the withdrawal effects (including head zaps and irritability) became too distressing, I took a tiny amount of the Effexor, and that helped. I basically backed off of Effexor inch by inch, as slowly as my body needed to. As for what causes the electric head zaps, one doctor said something to me about "coming down off of serotonin stimulation". Hang in there. They don't last forever.
Emme> Help! I seem to be having that darn electric head after stopping EffexorXR (it took a few days to kick in so I had thought I was home free, but still, I consider it "minor" compared to other withdrawal symptoms, such as those I had from Paxil). I have some questions: 1) Does anyone here know what *causes* that annoying electric head feeling (like nanosecond bursts of a short circuit feeling in the head that sometimes radiate to the feet if you're walking)? 2) On average, how LONG does electric head generally last (days, weeks, months) if you are experiencing it after going off an SSRI? Thanks!
Posted by Zo on September 16, 2001, at 22:53:07
In reply to That darn ELECTRIC HEAD:what are causes, duration?, posted by Janelle on September 16, 2001, at 19:21:40
Them's called Seizures, honey. Probably in the temporal lobes, since there is no loss of consiousness or motor function.
Zo
Posted by stjames on September 17, 2001, at 10:43:34
In reply to Re: That darn ELECTRIC HEAD:what are causes, durat, posted by Zo on September 16, 2001, at 22:53:07
> Them's called Seizures, honey. Probably in the temporal lobes, since there is no loss of consiousness or motor function.
>
> Zojames here....
There is no evidance of this being a seizure.
james
Posted by Janelle on September 17, 2001, at 22:54:01
In reply to no electric head but...., posted by Katey on September 16, 2001, at 21:02:06
This is interesting(?) but back when I tried Zoloft, I slowly BECAME this horrible, viscious and hostile person who was lashing out at anyone who crossed my path. So, yes, it did happen to me, but DUE to a med, not from coming off of one! We all vary, that's for sure!
-Janelle
Posted by Janelle on September 17, 2001, at 23:04:46
In reply to Re: That darn ELECTRIC HEAD:what are causes, duration? » Janelle, posted by Emme on September 16, 2001, at 22:06:30
I am resisting, but since my pdoc is out of town (figures she happens to go away the very time I go OFF the Effexor and this means off an SSRI for the first time in YEARS - I'd been on Paxil and Celexa before this). Anyway, if it gets unbearable I'll have to take a tiny amount again, but I don't want it to be a cycle of on/off Effexor as symptoms come and go. I want OUT from this med - it did not help me. I will try another SRI once pdoc returns!
My QUESTION for you - you said that you took a tiny amount of the Effexor, and that helped, and you backed off inch by inch - HOW did you do so? Did you open up the capsule and estimate what half of the lowest one was and then take that in food or something? I was taking the 37.5 mg/day for like 4 weeks, thinking that stopping it would not cause any backlash - WRONG! This darn electric head, feelings of panic and anxiety and hyperness have set in - it took a few days. I thought I was "home free" but I guess it took those few days for whatever Effexor was still in me to leave. Wahhhh ...
Thanks for your info in your response and if you could let me know how you backed off Effexor finally, I'd greatly appreciate it.
-Janelle
Posted by Janelle on September 17, 2001, at 23:27:22
In reply to Re: That darn ELECTRIC HEAD:what are causes, duration?, posted by stjames on September 16, 2001, at 20:30:03
James,
Ativan is not an option for me, and I sure do NOT want to have to go back to taking a bit of Effexor and go into an on/off cycle with that or I'll never get off it. I'm taking it day by day, trying to ride it out and hoping this will all pass.
I'm *encouraged* to hear that your electric head lasted *only* a week. HOWEVER, are you saying that when you are out of Ativan the electric head RETURNS and then you get rid of it by taking Ativan again? Meaning that the electric head *never* goes away for good?
Also, you said that "if it takes james a week this tends to mean weeks for most other people" -- so you are saying that you seem to have side effects/withdrawal symptoms last SHORTER than most others?
And would you be willing to email with me? If so, either you could put yours under here or I'll put mine. No problemo if you do not want to. Just lemme know! Thanks.
-Janelle
Posted by stjames on September 18, 2001, at 1:02:24
In reply to St.JAMES: Thanks and a bit more (question): » stjames, posted by Janelle on September 17, 2001, at 23:27:22
>
> I'm *encouraged* to hear that your electric head lasted *only* a week. HOWEVER, are you saying that when you are out of Ativan the electric head RETURNS and then you get rid of it by taking Ativan again? Meaning that the electric head *never* goes away for good?No, for me the shocks stop after a week. Also
the Atavin stops me from crying at a drop of a hat, for no reason. Very not funny !>
> Also, you said that "if it takes james a week this tends to mean weeks for most other people" -- so you are saying that you seem to have side effects/withdrawal symptoms last SHORTER than most others?Yep. Very much so. James needs large doses to function, doses that would bring most to their knees. I have had all the side effects most have, but not real strong and of short duration. I have found the proper short term meds help going on or off some meds. That way I can go to work and not feel like I want to die.
> And would you be willing to email with me? If so, either you could put yours under here or I'll put mine. No problemo if you do not want to. Just lemme know! Thanks.
> -JanelleYou are more likely to get quick response here, I get several megs of mail a day !
James
Posted by Janelle on September 18, 2001, at 14:18:57
In reply to Re: St.JAMES: Thanks and a bit more (question):, posted by stjames on September 18, 2001, at 1:02:24
Hi,
Okay, so you are saying that the shocks stop FOR GOOD after a week but you keep taking Atavin because it stops you from crying so easily? (believe me, I understand - "been there, done that" - SSRI's and believe it or not Klonopin have helped me with the crying stuff).
Just out of curiosity, what meds/cocktail are you on? Me, for now I'm on this titrating up on Lamictal and I take Zyprexa + Klonopin to help me get to sleep at night, and Klonopin as need during the day (somedays not needed at all!) for anxiety. It remains to be seen after I ride out the stopping of EffexorXR if I will need to add some other SSRI (I'm hoping not, but time will tell!)
I'm the opposite of you with doses - Janelle is sensitive to meds; needs small doses to function, doses that probably wouldn't do much of anything to most people.
The only reeeeeal bad stuff that has happened to me was from bad advice from a good doc having me go off Paxil (after being on it for YEARS then poop out) waaaaaay too fast. I was so sick with every withdrawal symptom in the book for weeks, including, of course, that darn electric head and that was the *least* of it I'd say.
As I'd said, no problemo regarding the email - I *hear* you about it being more likely to get a quick response from you on here because you get "several megs" of e-mail a day! I get a lot too, and being in the *condition* I'm in I get easily overwhelmed and anxious even about keeping up with that!
Thanks again for all your answers and I'll *see* you on here!
-Janelle
Posted by stjames on September 18, 2001, at 17:09:33
In reply to St.JAMES: Thanks again, couple more questions: » stjames, posted by Janelle on September 18, 2001, at 14:18:57
> Hi,
>
> Okay, so you are saying that the shocks stop FOR GOOD after a week but you keep taking Atavin because it stops you from crying so easily? (believe me, I understand - "been there, done that" - SSRI's and believe it or not Klonopin have helped me with the crying stuff).I just take atanin for a week, then the crying jags and shocks stop (for good). A month later the depression returns.
>
> Just out of curiosity, what meds/cocktail are you on?Effexor, 300 mgs, Remeron 15 mgs, Dexadrine, 30 mgs, atavin as needed.
james
Posted by Janelle on September 18, 2001, at 21:36:34
In reply to Re: St.JAMES: Thanks again, couple more questions:, posted by stjames on September 18, 2001, at 17:09:33
Hi,
Glad that the Ativan works for you in terms of stopping the crying jags and shocks. Bummer to hear that the depression keeps returning each month.
So, you are *still* on EffexorXR (and at 300 mgs - wow, I *admire* you - I could only tolerate 75 mgs, tapered to 37.5, stopped it a few days ago and am getting that darn electric head and rebound anxiety, but I'm riding them out cuz I do NOT want to go back on EffexorXR)
You mentioned that you are on REMERON (15 mgs), which is an a-d that is sedating (and also increases appetite) -- I am now searching for another a-d, and one that IS sedating! I've heard Serzone sucks (pardon the language!) and that Remeron is so-so (I really don't want another weight-gain med; I went through that with Zyprexa, thankfully it passed).
SO ... what do you think of Remeron? When do you take it (time of day or evening). If you take it at night, does it help you sleep? Does it have a bad hang-over effect in the am? Has it caused you to gain weight?
Thanks ever so much!
-Janelle
Posted by Emme on September 18, 2001, at 22:39:40
In reply to EMME: help! A quick question 4 U: » Emme, posted by Janelle on September 17, 2001, at 23:04:46
Hi Janelle. Well, it's been a while, but let me see if I can help. Going from 37.5 to zero was just too abrupt,so I worked down to 12.5 and eventually to something like 6 mg or so. At one point I think I alternated days. I had tablets, so I could just progressively chop them smaller and smaller. It was a difficult withdrawal, but I did notice that if I was having bad withdrawal effects, taking even a tiny speck helped quite a lot. If you have capsules, then I guess you might ask your pharmacist or the covering pdoc about whether you can open a capsule, mix it in water and drink however much corresponds to what you want to take. I don't know about how long it would be stable in water - you might have to break open a new one each time you want some. Again, the pharmacist or covering doc should be able to help you. This one's a toughie to get out of your system. I was really mean sometimes while getting off of it.
Emme
> I am resisting, but since my pdoc is out of town (figures she happens to go away the very time I go OFF the Effexor and this means off an SSRI for the first time in YEARS - I'd been on Paxil and Celexa before this). Anyway, if it gets unbearable I'll have to take a tiny amount again, but I don't want it to be a cycle of on/off Effexor as symptoms come and go. I want OUT from this med - it did not help me. I will try another SRI once pdoc returns!
>
> My QUESTION for you - you said that you took a tiny amount of the Effexor, and that helped, and you backed off inch by inch - HOW did you do so? Did you open up the capsule and estimate what half of the lowest one was and then take that in food or something? I was taking the 37.5 mg/day for like 4 weeks, thinking that stopping it would not cause any backlash - WRONG! This darn electric head, feelings of panic and anxiety and hyperness have set in - it took a few days. I thought I was "home free" but I guess it took those few days for whatever Effexor was still in me to leave. Wahhhh ...
>
> Thanks for your info in your response and if you could let me know how you backed off Effexor finally, I'd greatly appreciate it.
> -Janelle
Posted by Emme on September 18, 2001, at 23:23:51
In reply to St.JAMES: Thanks again, questions re REMERON: » stjames, posted by Janelle on September 18, 2001, at 21:36:34
Hi Janelle,
I was reading some of the other posts on this thread. It strikes me again how different each body is. For however much it helps, I'm gonna butt in here and give my personal experiences with Serzone and Remeron. I'm really sensitive to meds, but these too weren't too bad for me. YMMV of course.
I actually liked Serzone. It helped with anxiety and I slept better with it. No weight gain. I personally didn't find it too sedating up to 450 mg, except when I took it with Paxil. It wasn't enough for depression by itself, but it was very effective with Wellbutrin.
Remeron was also pretty good for anxiety and sleep (30 mg). I had a harder time getting up in the morning, but for most of the time I was on it, I didn't have excessive daytime sleepiness. Really, it wasn't too bad in that regard for me. I was lucky in the weight department. It did plump me up a little bit, and it definitely wasn't due to appetite increase. I reduced my calorie intake right away (bummer!). But I felt decent enough on it physically and emotionally to exercise enough to keep things in check, and I didn't gain heaps. The weight I did gain came off when I stopped the Remeron. So yeah, weight could definitely be a problem with this one, but then again it might be manageable.
Both of these drugs eventually lost efficacy for me. Eventually the Remeron went from being okay to being too sedating (weird). My doctor thinks I'm bipolar and need a mood stabilizer, which we've been trying. But Serzone or Remeron might help you if you're looking for something sedating.
Emme
> Hi,
>
> Glad that the Ativan works for you in terms of stopping the crying jags and shocks. Bummer to hear that the depression keeps returning each month.
>
> So, you are *still* on EffexorXR (and at 300 mgs - wow, I *admire* you - I could only tolerate 75 mgs, tapered to 37.5, stopped it a few days ago and am getting that darn electric head and rebound anxiety, but I'm riding them out cuz I do NOT want to go back on EffexorXR)
>
> You mentioned that you are on REMERON (15 mgs), which is an a-d that is sedating (and also increases appetite) -- I am now searching for another a-d, and one that IS sedating! I've heard Serzone sucks (pardon the language!) and that Remeron is so-so (I really don't want another weight-gain med; I went through that with Zyprexa, thankfully it passed).
>
> SO ... what do you think of Remeron? When do you take it (time of day or evening). If you take it at night, does it help you sleep? Does it have a bad hang-over effect in the am? Has it caused you to gain weight?
>
> Thanks ever so much!
> -Janelle
Posted by Janelle on September 19, 2001, at 11:39:41
In reply to Remeron and Serzone » Janelle, posted by Emme on September 18, 2001, at 23:23:51
Hi there,
First of all, you're not "butting in" here - I am very appreciative to get as much input as possible; everyone here is sooo nice that way!
Thanks ever so much for giving me your personal experiences with Serzone and Remeron, since I'm about to make a choice between the two and I'm kinda stuck!
I'm really sensitive to meds also, and am scared about how sedating Serzone is from what I've heard and about how Remeron increases appetite (been there, done that with Zyprexa and thankfully it went away).
Wow - you are like the first person I've heard from who actually liked Serzone! I'm glad to hear that it helped with anxiety and that you slept better with it (I hear it is good for sleeping, but I worry about morning hang-over effect or if one takes it in the day that it would make you like a zombie). WHEN (time of day or night) did you take Serzone? (I could not take Serzone with Wellbutrin, as I tried and had bad reaction to Wellbutrin).
You're also the first person who reports that they had a harder time getting up in the am while on Remeron (people who have taken both have all said that it was harder on Serzone!)
What you did to combat weight gain on Remeron sounds like what I did with Zyprexa until my increased appetite finally subsided.
Major bummer to hear that BOTH Both of these drugs eventually lost efficacy for you. HOW LONG were you on each of them?
My doctor ALSO thinks I'm bipolar, need a mood stabilizer, and put me on Lamictal which I started low and slow (to avoid "the rash). I'm up to 75mg/day, with another 25 to add in next week. So far, excellent results. Has evened me out, helped with depression.
Thanks again for your input.
-Janelle
Posted by stjames on September 19, 2001, at 12:52:09
In reply to St.JAMES: Thanks again, questions re REMERON: » stjames, posted by Janelle on September 18, 2001, at 21:36:34
> So, you are *still* on EffexorXR (and at 300 mgs - wow, I *admire* you - I could only tolerate 75 mgs, tapered to 37.5, stopped it a few days ago and am getting that darn electric head and rebound anxiety, but I'm riding them out cuz I do NOT want to go back on EffexorXR)
I have been on Effexor since 1995. The only reason I stop it is because my HMO sometimes forgets that they approved for me.
> SO ... what do you think of Remeron? When do you take it (time of day or evening). If you take it at night, does it help you sleep? Does it have a bad hang-over effect in the am? Has it caused you to gain weight?
I love Remeron. I take it at night, puts me right out, with no AM groggyness.(did knock me out at first) Great sleep. All AD's cuase me to gain weight, but Remeron seem not to do this very much.james
Posted by Janelle on September 19, 2001, at 13:06:10
In reply to Re: EMME: help! A quick question 4 U: » Janelle, posted by Emme on September 18, 2001, at 22:39:40
Hi Emme,
Sounds like you had "regular" Effexor (not XR) since you had tablets and I had capsules. Well, it's day 4 and the electric head and rebound anxiety are all but GONE! So, I don't think I'll have to find out how to break open and divide a capsule of the darn Effexor! It sure is a hard one to go off.
I'm hoping that over the next week or so (since I was *only* on 37.5 for quite some time), the stuff leaves my system totally and the withdrawal effects GO AWAY. I'm thinking I'll try to ride this out. I hate to go back on even an itty bit. I want my body to be free of this med, which helped me minimally to begin with and I couldn't tolerate more than 75mg/ day of it.
Thanks again for your input, Janelle
Posted by Janelle on September 19, 2001, at 13:12:21
In reply to Re: St.JAMES: Thanks again, questions re REMERON:, posted by stjames on September 19, 2001, at 12:52:09
Wow, So I'm not the only one I know of who's been on an SRI a-d since 1995! I was on Paxil since then and stopped it (poop out) this Spring. I've since tried Celexa (yuck), EffexorXR (yuck) and before I got to Paxil, I'd tried Zoloft (some luck, but then plateau'd and began feeling irritable).
Since I have bouts of depression, frequent anxiety and used to get hyper and slightly manic (doc thinks I'm Bipolar II), doc is thinking that the *right* dose of Lamictal I(plus Zyprexa and Klonopin) might do the trick.
However, there's also the chance I will need a serotonin a-d, and my main choices at this point seem to be Serzone, Remeron or maybe Luvox. I'm leaning toward Remeron or Luvox. The weight gain situation with Remeron scares me (it finally passed with the Zyprexa).
Glad to hear that you "love" Remeron. Great sleep with no am hangover! And lucky you to not have gained weight. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ON REMERON?
-Janelle
Posted by stjames on September 19, 2001, at 19:02:38
In reply to St.JAMES: Thanks again, 1 more question- REMERON:, posted by Janelle on September 19, 2001, at 13:12:21
> Wow, So I'm not the only one I know of who's been on an SRI a-d since 1995!
I've also been on AD's since 1985.
> Glad to hear that you "love" Remeron. Great sleep with no am hangover! And lucky you to not have gained weight. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ON REMERON?Since 1997, when it came out.
> -Janelle
Posted by Emme on September 19, 2001, at 21:59:35
In reply to EMME: thanks so much; few more questions:, posted by Janelle on September 19, 2001, at 11:39:41
Hi. It seems like different people have different opinions about what's the worst drug for sedation. I think you just have to try and see how your body tolerates it. I always take sedating drugs at night. Actually, Remeron does double duty as a sleeping pill. I think adding Serzone with another sedating drug would be too much. More than 450 mg of Serzone was too sedating for me, but I guess some people can go up to 600. I do think the weight gain thing with Remeron is a real quality of life issue. Even though I managed to keep the weight gain under wraps, I have to admit it was nice to have my metabolism go back to normal and be able to eat more once I got off of it. It was a really good antidepressant while it worked, though.
I got five or so good months on the Serzone/Wellbutrin combo, and I think about 7 months on Remeron before relapsing. I had 8 months of help from Paxil. Fun.
So you're on Lamictal. Glad to hear it's working out well. Are you looking for something to help counteract the Lamictal and let you sleep? While I was trying Lamictal, my doctor prescribed Seroquel to help me sleep. I liked it. I just needed to play with the dose so I wasn't hung over in the morning. So that might be another option. Good luck.
Emme
> Hi there,
>
> First of all, you're not "butting in" here - I am very appreciative to get as much input as possible; everyone here is sooo nice that way!
>
> Thanks ever so much for giving me your personal experiences with Serzone and Remeron, since I'm about to make a choice between the two and I'm kinda stuck!
>
> I'm really sensitive to meds also, and am scared about how sedating Serzone is from what I've heard and about how Remeron increases appetite (been there, done that with Zyprexa and thankfully it went away).
>
> Wow - you are like the first person I've heard from who actually liked Serzone! I'm glad to hear that it helped with anxiety and that you slept better with it (I hear it is good for sleeping, but I worry about morning hang-over effect or if one takes it in the day that it would make you like a zombie). WHEN (time of day or night) did you take Serzone? (I could not take Serzone with Wellbutrin, as I tried and had bad reaction to Wellbutrin).
>
> You're also the first person who reports that they had a harder time getting up in the am while on Remeron (people who have taken both have all said that it was harder on Serzone!)
>
> What you did to combat weight gain on Remeron sounds like what I did with Zyprexa until my increased appetite finally subsided.
>
> Major bummer to hear that BOTH Both of these drugs eventually lost efficacy for you. HOW LONG were you on each of them?
>
> My doctor ALSO thinks I'm bipolar, need a mood stabilizer, and put me on Lamictal which I started low and slow (to avoid "the rash). I'm up to 75mg/day, with another 25 to add in next week. So far, excellent results. Has evened me out, helped with depression.
> Thanks again for your input.
> -Janelle
This is the end of the thread.
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