Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 65056

Shown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by dankdiglet on June 1, 2001, at 14:13:12

After reading through most of the threads I have found that if you are on Effexor it is the best thing in the world. I thought so too.

I was on 150mg Effexor xr a day for about 7m months after working my way up. I started having dizziness, vertigo, naseua, not to mention other side effects that I thought were just me.

I realize that everything that has been wrong with me in the past 7 months has been a side effect to effexor.

My doc did not understand well actually denied that I was having vertigo. It is horrible. My pills got closer and closer together. Doc tried to tell me that these effects should not happen when on the same dose for such a long period of time.

But as we all know the effexor tells us when we need it, not the other way around. I can't believe it when I read these topics on effexor... not habit-forming, do not produce a "high".. yea right. It may not be mentally habit forming but it sure as hell is physically addicting.

I have seen though reading these threads that a lot of you have the same thing. These side effects start happening in the middle of the meds so I pop another pill and I feel better.

So I was running out of pills earlier then expected. I went to refill but was denied by my doc. What the hell.. Says I need to make an appointment. But does not want to give me one for another month.

I decided well Im felling better anyways I must be cured. Ha Ha. I was going to try to wean myself off of these horrible (so they say non-addicting) drugs.

It is very hard because your body still wants that 150mg every 18 hours or closer. I went throught the same withdrals:

Vomiting, naseua, vertigo, tunnel vision, very fogheaded, I don't feel like myself, alone, i'm going crazy, no one understands.. (i'm told i'm over reacting), head zaps, electrical surges through my body, ears ringing (happened while I was on the meds but I didn't know that the effexor was causing), I could not get my eyes to focus and not to mention the sinus problems I'm having.. I feel like I have had a cold since going off 1 1/2 months ago. I am just now starting to fell more like myself. The mood swings are horrible to one minute im fine next Im extremly happy then the next minute(literally) I will be so down that I just want to give up and cry of course. They were more however I just can't remember right now.

I think the whole time I was on effexor I did not cry once. Everything was just like ok whatever, I said things blurting them out that I wouldn't normally say, double or triple on saying things. Very forgetfull with important poseesions.. Keys, purse etc.

Working was also a problem. When I first switched to effexor Xr from Wellbutrin (which makes me feel stoned all the time) I slept about 12-16 hours a day, when did I have time to work, no motivation. Then about 3-4 months into the med I started not sleeping as much and then I begged for sleep. I could not sleep. I was up till dawn every morning or later sometimes I just skipped sleep for that night and would go a couple days on no sleep.

Does this sound like any of you on effexor?

Im thinking that all these people that say they love effexor xr, will reach a point where they think they don't need it anymore, try to go off and boy will you hate it then. Effexor works great if you never want to have any true fellings, oh my grandma died, oh well want some ice cream, i lost my job oh well i'll get another, your leaving me oh well i find someone else. This is how I felt..

I think this drug is worse than any kind of heroin withdrawl.

I was vomiting for 2 weeks straight. Could not poop it was yellow stomach acid also. I drank pedialyte for two weeks, and toast, it helped. It seemed to stay down, the unfalvored kind is better i think.

The thing was I did not know I was going through withdrawls I though I was going to die and did not know what was going on till I read these posts. I know I'm not alone.

I am feeling better, hopefully I will only feel better as time goes on. I have to say I would rather be off of this drug than to ever be on it again. I do not want to ever go through this again..

I feel for the rest of you and understand how you feel if only I could make my doc, parents, lover understand..

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 14:35:15

In reply to Effexor, what it did to me, posted by dankdiglet on June 1, 2001, at 14:13:12

> After reading through most of the threads I have found that if you are on Effexor it is the best thing in the world. I thought so too.
>
> I was on 150mg Effexor xr a day for about 7m months after working my way up. I started having dizziness, vertigo, naseua, not to mention other side effects that I thought were just me.
>
> I realize that everything that has been wrong with me in the past 7 months has been a side effect to effexor.
>
> My doc did not understand well actually denied that I was having vertigo. It is horrible. My pills got closer and closer together. Doc tried to tell me that these effects should not happen when on the same dose for such a long period of time.
>
> But as we all know the effexor tells us when we need it, not the other way around. I can't believe it when I read these topics on effexor... not habit-forming, do not produce a "high".. yea right. It may not be mentally habit forming but it sure as hell is physically addicting.
>
> I have seen though reading these threads that a lot of you have the same thing. These side effects start happening in the middle of the meds so I pop another pill and I feel better.
>
> So I was running out of pills earlier then expected. I went to refill but was denied by my doc. What the hell.. Says I need to make an appointment. But does not want to give me one for another month.
>
> I decided well Im felling better anyways I must be cured. Ha Ha. I was going to try to wean myself off of these horrible (so they say non-addicting) drugs.
>
> It is very hard because your body still wants that 150mg every 18 hours or closer. I went throught the same withdrals:
>
> Vomiting, naseua, vertigo, tunnel vision, very fogheaded, I don't feel like myself, alone, i'm going crazy, no one understands.. (i'm told i'm over reacting), head zaps, electrical surges through my body, ears ringing (happened while I was on the meds but I didn't know that the effexor was causing), I could not get my eyes to focus and not to mention the sinus problems I'm having.. I feel like I have had a cold since going off 1 1/2 months ago. I am just now starting to fell more like myself. The mood swings are horrible to one minute im fine next Im extremly happy then the next minute(literally) I will be so down that I just want to give up and cry of course. They were more however I just can't remember right now.
>
> I think the whole time I was on effexor I did not cry once. Everything was just like ok whatever, I said things blurting them out that I wouldn't normally say, double or triple on saying things. Very forgetfull with important poseesions.. Keys, purse etc.
>
> Working was also a problem. When I first switched to effexor Xr from Wellbutrin (which makes me feel stoned all the time) I slept about 12-16 hours a day, when did I have time to work, no motivation. Then about 3-4 months into the med I started not sleeping as much and then I begged for sleep. I could not sleep. I was up till dawn every morning or later sometimes I just skipped sleep for that night and would go a couple days on no sleep.
>
> Does this sound like any of you on effexor?
>
> Im thinking that all these people that say they love effexor xr, will reach a point where they think they don't need it anymore, try to go off and boy will you hate it then. Effexor works great if you never want to have any true fellings, oh my grandma died, oh well want some ice cream, i lost my job oh well i'll get another, your leaving me oh well i find someone else. This is how I felt..
>
> I think this drug is worse than any kind of heroin withdrawl.
>
> I was vomiting for 2 weeks straight. Could not poop it was yellow stomach acid also. I drank pedialyte for two weeks, and toast, it helped. It seemed to stay down, the unfalvored kind is better i think.
>
> The thing was I did not know I was going through withdrawls I though I was going to die and did not know what was going on till I read these posts. I know I'm not alone.
>
> I am feeling better, hopefully I will only feel better as time goes on. I have to say I would rather be off of this drug than to ever be on it again. I do not want to ever go through this again..
>
> I feel for the rest of you and understand how you feel if only I could make my doc, parents, lover understand..


I have been on Effexor XR for about 6 months. I take 150mg in the morning and 75 mg in the afternoon. I had some side effects when I first started it, but they went away. Effexor has help me tremendously. I have never been on any ad before. I have generalized anxiety disorder with depression.

First of all, I am sorry you have had such a bad experience with this medicine. Your doctor should not have let you stop taking it cold turkey. My doctor informed me that when I decided I wanted to come off of it, it would be a gradual process. It takes awhile for it to work, go figure, it takes awhile to come off of it. I too was on 150mg and that dose was not for me. I was extemely tired. Especially taking 75mg in the am and 75 mg in the pm. But when my pdoc told me to increase my dose to 225mg, within 4 weeks I saw a big improvement.

Everybodys body chemistry is different. I do have "true feelings". I haven't experienced any "sicknesses". I get sinus infections sometimes, but I got them before taking the Effexor. If anything I do not get sick as much, because I am not worrying excessively about every little thing and am not extremely stressed, which in fact DOES have an impact on your immune system.

Basically, what I am saying is that what you experienced with Effexor XR does not mean EVERY other person will experience the same thing. You should never ever just stop an anti-depressant suddenly. I know this and when I do decide to stop taking this, I will make it a GRADUAL process.

Good Luck to you!
Debbie

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by dankdiglet on June 1, 2001, at 14:45:22

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me, posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 14:35:15

You should never ever just stop an anti-depressant suddenly.

I did not stop all at once. I gradually weaned myself over a three month period. Sorry If i left this part out. I did find though that it is the hardest to wean at the lower doses. When I went from taking 8 granules to nothing was horrible. So I took 4 ah felt better. Then 4 to none same thing. But decided to live with it. The real bad effects lasted about 2 weeks the vomiting, naseua, dizziness, and vertigo.

I'm not saying that everyone is going to have this experience.

WHEN I WAS ON EFFEXOR I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST THING AND WAS ALWAYS RECOMMENDING IT.

I guess what I would like to know is how many of you want to stay on the effexor xr forever?

As soon as you go off or try too you will know what I and everyone else on this board are trying to get across.

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 15:59:06

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me, posted by dankdiglet on June 1, 2001, at 14:45:22

> You should never ever just stop an anti-depressant suddenly.
>
> I did not stop all at once. I gradually weaned myself over a three month period. Sorry If i left this part out. I did find though that it is the hardest to wean at the lower doses. When I went from taking 8 granules to nothing was horrible. So I took 4 ah felt better. Then 4 to none same thing. But decided to live with it. The real bad effects lasted about 2 weeks the vomiting, naseua, dizziness, and vertigo.
>
> I'm not saying that everyone is going to have this experience.
>
> WHEN I WAS ON EFFEXOR I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST THING AND WAS ALWAYS RECOMMENDING IT.
>
> I guess what I would like to know is how many of you want to stay on the effexor xr forever?
>
> As soon as you go off or try too you will know what I and everyone else on this board are trying to get across.


I am sorry, but everyone will not experience the same thing you did. That is all I was saying. I do not plan on being on it forever either, but ANY MEDICINE CAN PRODUCE UNWANTED SIDE EFFECTS. If you were on ANY anti-depressant--Paxil, Wellbutrin, etc, etc...you will have some sort of unpleasant side effect or withdrawal.

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 16:20:34

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me, posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 15:59:06

> > You should never ever just stop an anti-depressant suddenly.
> >
> > I did not stop all at once. I gradually weaned myself over a three month period. Sorry If i left this part out. I did find though that it is the hardest to wean at the lower doses. When I went from taking 8 granules to nothing was horrible. So I took 4 ah felt better. Then 4 to none same thing. But decided to live with it. The real bad effects lasted about 2 weeks the vomiting, naseua, dizziness, and vertigo.
> >
> > I'm not saying that everyone is going to have this experience.
> >
> > WHEN I WAS ON EFFEXOR I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST THING AND WAS ALWAYS RECOMMENDING IT.
> >
> > I guess what I would like to know is how many of you want to stay on the effexor xr forever?
> >
> > As soon as you go off or try too you will know what I and everyone else on this board are trying to get across.
>
>
> I am sorry, but everyone will not experience the same thing you did. That is all I was saying. I do not plan on being on it forever either, but ANY MEDICINE CAN PRODUCE UNWANTED SIDE EFFECTS. If you were on ANY anti-depressant--Paxil, Wellbutrin, etc, etc...you will have some sort of unpleasant side effect or withdrawal.

Were you on regular Effexor or Effexor XR??

Debbie

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by dankdiglet on June 1, 2001, at 16:29:32

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me, posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 16:20:34


>
> Were you on regular Effexor or Effexor XR??
>
> Debbie

I was on Effexor XR. Have you had any of the dizziness, vertigo since being on Effexor. I didnt at first till many months down the road, which puzzles me, forcing me to take more.

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 17:13:23

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me, posted by dankdiglet on June 1, 2001, at 16:29:32

>
> >
> > Were you on regular Effexor or Effexor XR??
> >
> > Debbie
>
> I was on Effexor XR. Have you had any of the dizziness, vertigo since being on Effexor. I didnt at first till many months down the road, which puzzles me, forcing me to take more.

I have never had vertigo, but I did experience dizziness when I first started taking it, but that has gone away. However, for the past few days, I have been a little more tired, but I also have a sore throat and really don't feel "up to par". The pollen in our area is awful right now, and I have terrible seasonal allergies. One downfall of taking this med is that I can't take Claritin D as usual because of the decongestant in it. I rely on that through allergy season. My doctor prescribed me Nasonex instead. Anyway, do not get the wrong impression about me, I was not being smart with you. I was just expressing my experience with Effexor. Who knows, down the road may be a different story.

Are you taking anything now?

Thanks
Debbie

 

Re: please be supportive » dankdiglet

Posted by Dr. Bob on June 1, 2001, at 23:31:37

In reply to Effexor, what it did to me, posted by dankdiglet on June 1, 2001, at 14:13:12

> Im thinking that all these people that say they love effexor xr, will reach a point where they think they don't need it anymore, try to go off and boy will you hate it then.

> As soon as you go off or try too you will know what I and everyone else on this board are trying to get across.

You may feel angry about what happened to you and want to warn others, but please don't overgeneralize regarding the future of others or what they're trying to get across. Thanks,

Bob

PS: Follow-ups regarding civility should be redirected Psycho-Babble Administration; otherwise, they may be deleted.

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by stjames on June 2, 2001, at 10:51:46

In reply to Effexor, what it did to me, posted by dankdiglet on June 1, 2001, at 14:13:12

> Im thinking that all these people that say they love effexor xr, will reach a point where they think they don't need it anymore, try to go off and boy will you hate it then. Effexor works great if you never want to have any true fellings, oh my grandma died, oh well want some ice cream, i lost my job oh well i'll get another, your leaving me oh well i find someone else. This is how I felt..

James here

This may be the case for you, but I have been on Effexor for 6 years, have gone off it several times with minor problems that lasted a few days, and still have a full range of emotions while on Effexor.

James

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by Cam W. on June 2, 2001, at 11:36:55

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me, posted by stjames on June 2, 2001, at 10:51:46

> > Im thinking that all these people that say they love effexor xr, will reach a point where they think they don't need it anymore, try to go off and boy will you hate it then. Effexor works great if you never want to have any true fellings, oh my grandma died, oh well want some ice cream, i lost my job oh well i'll get another, your leaving me oh well i find someone else. This is how I felt..
>
> James here
>
> This may be the case for you, but I have been on Effexor for 6 years, have gone off it several times with minor problems that lasted a few days, and still have a full range of emotions while on Effexor.
>
> James

I'm with James on this issue. I finally do have a range of emotions again. I cried during the Biography special on Sesame Street (which I had taped and watched last night) when they showed the way they handled the death of Mr.Hooper (a very well done episode). If I had watch the show when it had originally aired, it wouldn't have phased me.

Also, I have extensively read the research on Effexor withdrawl and feel fairly confident that when (if) I ever come off of Effexor I will be able to manage any withdrawl symptoms that will occur. I have successful helped treat several people who tried to come off Effexor cold turkey. We put them back on the drug and got them to withdraw slowly, treating the symptoms as they arose.

- Cam

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by Pennpicker on September 29, 2001, at 23:32:02

In reply to Effexor, what it did to me, posted by dankdiglet on June 1, 2001, at 14:13:12

> After reading through most of the threads I have found that if you are on Effexor it is the best thing in the world. I thought so too.
>
> I was on 150mg Effexor xr a day for about 7m months after working my way up. I started having dizziness, vertigo, naseua, not to mention other side effects that I thought were just me.
>
> I realize that everything that has been wrong with me in the past 7 months has been a side effect to effexor.
>
> My doc did not understand well actually denied that I was having vertigo. It is horrible. My pills got closer and closer together. Doc tried to tell me that these effects should not happen when on the same dose for such a long period of time.
>
> But as we all know the effexor tells us when we need it, not the other way around. I can't believe it when I read these topics on effexor... not habit-forming, do not produce a "high".. yea right. It may not be mentally habit forming but it sure as hell is physically addicting.
>
> I have seen though reading these threads that a lot of you have the same thing. These side effects start happening in the middle of the meds so I pop another pill and I feel better.
>
> So I was running out of pills earlier then expected. I went to refill but was denied by my doc. What the hell.. Says I need to make an appointment. But does not want to give me one for another month.
>
> I decided well Im felling better anyways I must be cured. Ha Ha. I was going to try to wean myself off of these horrible (so they say non-addicting) drugs.
>
> It is very hard because your body still wants that 150mg every 18 hours or closer. I went throught the same withdrals:
>
> Vomiting, naseua, vertigo, tunnel vision, very fogheaded, I don't feel like myself, alone, i'm going crazy, no one understands.. (i'm told i'm over reacting), head zaps, electrical surges through my body, ears ringing (happened while I was on the meds but I didn't know that the effexor was causing), I could not get my eyes to focus and not to mention the sinus problems I'm having.. I feel like I have had a cold since going off 1 1/2 months ago. I am just now starting to fell more like myself. The mood swings are horrible to one minute im fine next Im extremly happy then the next minute(literally) I will be so down that I just want to give up and cry of course. They were more however I just can't remember right now.
>
> I think the whole time I was on effexor I did not cry once. Everything was just like ok whatever, I said things blurting them out that I wouldn't normally say, double or triple on saying things. Very forgetfull with important poseesions.. Keys, purse etc.
>
> Working was also a problem. When I first switched to effexor Xr from Wellbutrin (which makes me feel stoned all the time) I slept about 12-16 hours a day, when did I have time to work, no motivation. Then about 3-4 months into the med I started not sleeping as much and then I begged for sleep. I could not sleep. I was up till dawn every morning or later sometimes I just skipped sleep for that night and would go a couple days on no sleep.
>
> Does this sound like any of you on effexor?
>
> Im thinking that all these people that say they love effexor xr, will reach a point where they think they don't need it anymore, try to go off and boy will you hate it then. Effexor works great if you never want to have any true fellings, oh my grandma died, oh well want some ice cream, i lost my job oh well i'll get another, your leaving me oh well i find someone else. This is how I felt..
>
> I think this drug is worse than any kind of heroin withdrawl.
>
> I was vomiting for 2 weeks straight. Could not poop it was yellow stomach acid also. I drank pedialyte for two weeks, and toast, it helped. It seemed to stay down, the unfalvored kind is better i think.
>
> The thing was I did not know I was going through withdrawls I though I was going to die and did not know what was going on till I read these posts. I know I'm not alone.
>
> I am feeling better, hopefully I will only feel better as time goes on. I have to say I would rather be off of this drug than to ever be on it again. I do not want to ever go through this again..
>
> I feel for the rest of you and understand how you feel if only I could make my doc, parents, lover understand..

I could not have said it better myself. Trying to figure out what is happening. On 150 effexor dosage for over a year now. The only difference is I don't know what brings the "electric head" on. For me it is the sensation of a door that slams shut...in the center of my head. I know it is physical as my ears get the brunt of it. An earlier poster was concerned that it was a seizure or worse. So have I. The door slams shut and I don't see it coming. The vision is also noticably worse. I had no idea this could be related. Told the Dr. (I like him and he seems to care. He also is a bit more able than any I've seen.) about the shocks and it must not have clicked as he had no comment. I am GRATEFUL to find this site and everyone's comments. Difficult to attribute the jitters to the medicine as I am also on Adderall. 60mg a day in two doses. 40mg in the AM. We argued at first about going on this. Adderall was prescribed starting 2 months after Effexor. He said depression and stress. I said stress yes but I am depressed about some things but I have always been optimistic. Now I could not give a s---. Job...don't care. Relationship(s)...don't care. Retirement? 401k? let me have it as I don't see making it to the end of the year. Rent 30 days and counting but the motivation to do ..what..who cares.. I am going to see him ASAP and get off this. The head snaps have been here while taking it. Your posts don't get me excited about the encore. Thank You, Larry 33 male
PS Core of problem seems to be CFS (my opinion, need mycoplasma tests). Adderall is only thing that has kept me going. I tried to go off Effexor this past January. The side effects I thought were caused by not taking the medicine. NOT because of it. Disguted. He told me I'd probably be on it for the rest of my life, NOT.

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by Momsie on October 3, 2001, at 8:05:36

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me, posted by Pennpicker on September 29, 2001, at 23:32:02

> > After reading through most of the threads I have found that if you are on Effexor it is the best thing in the world. I thought so too.
> >
> > I was on 150mg Effexor xr a day for about 7m months after working my way up. I started having dizziness, vertigo, naseua, not to mention other side effects that I thought were just me.
> >
> > I realize that everything that has been wrong with me in the past 7 months has been a side effect to effexor.
> >
> > My doc did not understand well actually denied that I was having vertigo. It is horrible. My pills got closer and closer together. Doc tried to tell me that these effects should not happen when on the same dose for such a long period of time.
> >
> > But as we all know the effexor tells us when we need it, not the other way around. I can't believe it when I read these topics on effexor... not habit-forming, do not produce a "high".. yea right. It may not be mentally habit forming but it sure as hell is physically addicting.
> >
> > I have seen though reading these threads that a lot of you have the same thing. These side effects start happening in the middle of the meds so I pop another pill and I feel better.
> >
> > So I was running out of pills earlier then expected. I went to refill but was denied by my doc. What the hell.. Says I need to make an appointment. But does not want to give me one for another month.
> >
> > I decided well Im felling better anyways I must be cured. Ha Ha. I was going to try to wean myself off of these horrible (so they say non-addicting) drugs.
> >
> > It is very hard because your body still wants that 150mg every 18 hours or closer. I went throught the same withdrals:
> >
> > Vomiting, naseua, vertigo, tunnel vision, very fogheaded, I don't feel like myself, alone, i'm going crazy, no one understands.. (i'm told i'm over reacting), head zaps, electrical surges through my body, ears ringing (happened while I was on the meds but I didn't know that the effexor was causing), I could not get my eyes to focus and not to mention the sinus problems I'm having.. I feel like I have had a cold since going off 1 1/2 months ago. I am just now starting to fell more like myself. The mood swings are horrible to one minute im fine next Im extremly happy then the next minute(literally) I will be so down that I just want to give up and cry of course. They were more however I just can't remember right now.
> >
> > I think the whole time I was on effexor I did not cry once. Everything was just like ok whatever, I said things blurting them out that I wouldn't normally say, double or triple on saying things. Very forgetfull with important poseesions.. Keys, purse etc.
> >
> > Working was also a problem. When I first switched to effexor Xr from Wellbutrin (which makes me feel stoned all the time) I slept about 12-16 hours a day, when did I have time to work, no motivation. Then about 3-4 months into the med I started not sleeping as much and then I begged for sleep. I could not sleep. I was up till dawn every morning or later sometimes I just skipped sleep for that night and would go a couple days on no sleep.
> >
> > Does this sound like any of you on effexor?
> >
> > Im thinking that all these people that say they love effexor xr, will reach a point where they think they don't need it anymore, try to go off and boy will you hate it then. Effexor works great if you never want to have any true fellings, oh my grandma died, oh well want some ice cream, i lost my job oh well i'll get another, your leaving me oh well i find someone else. This is how I felt..
> >
> > I think this drug is worse than any kind of heroin withdrawl.
> >
> > I was vomiting for 2 weeks straight. Could not poop it was yellow stomach acid also. I drank pedialyte for two weeks, and toast, it helped. It seemed to stay down, the unfalvored kind is better i think.
> >
> > The thing was I did not know I was going through withdrawls I though I was going to die and did not know what was going on till I read these posts. I know I'm not alone.
> >
> > I am feeling better, hopefully I will only feel better as time goes on. I have to say I would rather be off of this drug than to ever be on it again. I do not want to ever go through this again..
> >
> > I feel for the rest of you and understand how you feel if only I could make my doc, parents, lover understand..
>
> I could not have said it better myself. Trying to figure out what is happening. On 150 effexor dosage for over a year now. The only difference is I don't know what brings the "electric head" on. For me it is the sensation of a door that slams shut...in the center of my head. I know it is physical as my ears get the brunt of it. An earlier poster was concerned that it was a seizure or worse. So have I. The door slams shut and I don't see it coming. The vision is also noticably worse. I had no idea this could be related. Told the Dr. (I like him and he seems to care. He also is a bit more able than any I've seen.) about the shocks and it must not have clicked as he had no comment. I am GRATEFUL to find this site and everyone's comments. Difficult to attribute the jitters to the medicine as I am also on Adderall. 60mg a day in two doses. 40mg in the AM. We argued at first about going on this. Adderall was prescribed starting 2 months after Effexor. He said depression and stress. I said stress yes but I am depressed about some things but I have always been optimistic. Now I could not give a s---. Job...don't care. Relationship(s)...don't care. Retirement? 401k? let me have it as I don't see making it to the end of the year. Rent 30 days and counting but the motivation to do ..what..who cares.. I am going to see him ASAP and get off this. The head snaps have been here while taking it. Your posts don't get me excited about the encore. Thank You, Larry 33 male
> PS Core of problem seems to be CFS (my opinion, need mycoplasma tests). Adderall is only thing that has kept me going. I tried to go off Effexor this past January. The side effects I thought were caused by not taking the medicine. NOT because of it. Disguted. He told me I'd probably be on it for the rest of my life, NOT.

My son has been on this Effexor 75 (time released) one a day for approx 2 years. His emotions are much more real than when he was on Paxil or
Prozac. When he has slight set backs the Dr. puts him up by 37.5 mg a day until the depression subsides. That is, however, when the electrical and jitter thing happens.
From this thread, it sounds like higher doses produce more symptoms. Diet is another factor, now the pills come with a "take with food" sticker on them, as long as my son takes them with food,
he doesn't complain about the jitters or electrical flashes.

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me » Momsie

Posted by pennpicker on October 3, 2001, at 20:47:15

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me, posted by Momsie on October 3, 2001, at 8:05:36

Hi Momsie,
Sounds GOOD! Since I last posted I opened the capsules and went to a half dose. Going to see Dr.R next week. Just scared the beans out of me when it happened and I had no idea why. This posting is almost 8mos after it started and I could not get a response from my doctor. I feel much better at this point, four days later, but I am not sure that I should even be taking these. I wonder why I was up to 150mg. What determines the dosage? I did come across somewhere the maximum dosage is 275mg a day. From looking on this board it seems some people are taking even higher doses. Also someone posted that the use of Effexor should only go on for about 6 months. Don't hold me to that but if I find it I will post again for you. It may be doing something but I just cannot tell. PS Saw white spots in my stool many days. Did not click that they were the Effexor. Hard to digest it seems. Wish I had known about the shocks beforehand. Enough to make a person depressed! 6'1 205lbs Those pills have quite a kick. THANK YOU DR BOB YOU ARE AN ANGEL for setting up your pages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by Momsie on October 5, 2001, at 8:39:16

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me » Momsie, posted by pennpicker on October 3, 2001, at 20:47:15

> Hi Momsie,
> Sounds GOOD! Since I last posted I opened the capsules and went to a half dose. Going to see Dr.R next week. Just scared the beans out of me when it happened and I had no idea why. This posting is almost 8mos after it started and I could not get a response from my doctor. I feel much better at this point, four days later, but I am not sure that I should even be taking these. I wonder why I was up to 150mg. What determines the dosage? I did come across somewhere the maximum dosage is 275mg a day. From looking on this board it seems some people are taking even higher doses. Also someone posted that the use of Effexor should only go on for about 6 months. Don't hold me to that but if I find it I will post again for you. It may be doing something but I just cannot tell. PS Saw white spots in my stool many days. Did not click that they were the Effexor. Hard to digest it seems. Wish I had known about the shocks beforehand. Enough to make a person depressed! 6'1 205lbs Those pills have quite a kick. THANK YOU DR BOB YOU ARE AN ANGEL for setting up your pages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


It would appear the dosage is based on manufacturers recommendations (see Effexor 75 on any search engine, there it lists the % of each symptom in charts with relation to usage and withdrawal.
Your questions are valid and should be addressed with your pdoc or physician. The main thing is not to play around with the dosage without involving the doctor. The drug takes at least 3 weeks to become effective, and each time that the
dosage is altered it can cause side effects as if you had just started it.
The side effects certainly outway not taking it for my son. He no longer has ongoing "getting days and nights turned around", the only time this happens is in a cyclical 6-8 week period and that is when the pdoc ups the dosage for approx a week from 75mg to 112.5mg. The last time my son told the doctor about the jitters and the shock sensations, and he was told to cut the 37.5mg in half.
That helped and by vurtue of the fact that my son took them, the symtoms were not present this time.
The one thing that he has learned is to ask questions and to make sure the pdoc answers them.
It's kinda like the old comparison "if you were a diabetic you would take your medication, why when it has to do with chemical imbalance do patients either not take the meds prescribed, or play with the dosage?"
Not every med works for everyone and sometimes it takes at least 5 events, before the proper ones are found. That process has to do with communication between the pdoc and the patient.
Unfortunately, as with all processes it takes time, effort and a combination of councilling, feedback and drugs to get back on track.
I mean no offense by these statements, I have two children (now young adults) who have chemical imbalances as well as a sister and sister-in-law that have been fighting the battle for over twenty years.
Does anyone else have a cycling depression that causes meds to be increased during that cycle?

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me - Momsie

Posted by galtin on October 6, 2001, at 15:01:49

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me, posted by Momsie on October 5, 2001, at 8:39:16

I did come across somewhere the maximum dosage is 275mg a day. From looking on this board it seems some people are taking even higher doses. Also someone posted that the use of Effexor should only go on for about 6 months. Don't hold me to that but if I find it I will post again for you.


Hi-

In clinical trials Effexor was not shown to have AD benefits over 275mg a day. This does not mean that individual well not respond better to a higher dose. I am at 350mg. Also, I have taken Effexor for six year.


galtin

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me - Momsie

Posted by Steven G on January 7, 2003, at 1:42:13

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me - Momsie, posted by galtin on October 6, 2001, at 15:01:49

I still have dizziness after 4 months without effexor.Has anyone had a similar experience.Did it go away.

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me - Momsie

Posted by lucky on January 12, 2003, at 1:20:36

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me - Momsie, posted by Steven G on January 7, 2003, at 1:42:13

Sorry to hear that. No, I've never been dizzy. You need to discuss with your Doc. Good Luck.

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me

Posted by sowhysosad on April 2, 2009, at 18:07:39

In reply to Effexor, what it did to me, posted by dankdiglet on June 1, 2001, at 14:13:12

> After reading through most of the threads I have found that if you are on Effexor it is the best thing in the world. I thought so too.
>
> I was on 150mg Effexor xr a day for about 7m months after working my way up. I started having dizziness, vertigo, naseua, not to mention other side effects that I thought were just me.
>
> I realize that everything that has been wrong with me in the past 7 months has been a side effect to effexor.
>
> My doc did not understand well actually denied that I was having vertigo. It is horrible. My pills got closer and closer together. Doc tried to tell me that these effects should not happen when on the same dose for such a long period of time.
>
> But as we all know the effexor tells us when we need it, not the other way around. I can't believe it when I read these topics on effexor... not habit-forming, do not produce a "high".. yea right. It may not be mentally habit forming but it sure as hell is physically addicting.
>
> I have seen though reading these threads that a lot of you have the same thing. These side effects start happening in the middle of the meds so I pop another pill and I feel better.
>
> So I was running out of pills earlier then expected. I went to refill but was denied by my doc. What the hell.. Says I need to make an appointment. But does not want to give me one for another month.
>
> I decided well Im felling better anyways I must be cured. Ha Ha. I was going to try to wean myself off of these horrible (so they say non-addicting) drugs.
>
> It is very hard because your body still wants that 150mg every 18 hours or closer. I went throught the same withdrals:
>
> Vomiting, naseua, vertigo, tunnel vision, very fogheaded, I don't feel like myself, alone, i'm going crazy, no one understands.. (i'm told i'm over reacting), head zaps, electrical surges through my body, ears ringing (happened while I was on the meds but I didn't know that the effexor was causing), I could not get my eyes to focus and not to mention the sinus problems I'm having.. I feel like I have had a cold since going off 1 1/2 months ago. I am just now starting to fell more like myself. The mood swings are horrible to one minute im fine next Im extremly happy then the next minute(literally) I will be so down that I just want to give up and cry of course. They were more however I just can't remember right now.
>
> I think the whole time I was on effexor I did not cry once. Everything was just like ok whatever, I said things blurting them out that I wouldn't normally say, double or triple on saying things. Very forgetfull with important poseesions.. Keys, purse etc.
>
> Working was also a problem. When I first switched to effexor Xr from Wellbutrin (which makes me feel stoned all the time) I slept about 12-16 hours a day, when did I have time to work, no motivation. Then about 3-4 months into the med I started not sleeping as much and then I begged for sleep. I could not sleep. I was up till dawn every morning or later sometimes I just skipped sleep for that night and would go a couple days on no sleep.
>
> Does this sound like any of you on effexor?
>
> Im thinking that all these people that say they love effexor xr, will reach a point where they think they don't need it anymore, try to go off and boy will you hate it then. Effexor works great if you never want to have any true fellings, oh my grandma died, oh well want some ice cream, i lost my job oh well i'll get another, your leaving me oh well i find someone else. This is how I felt..
>
> I think this drug is worse than any kind of heroin withdrawl.
>
> I was vomiting for 2 weeks straight. Could not poop it was yellow stomach acid also. I drank pedialyte for two weeks, and toast, it helped. It seemed to stay down, the unfalvored kind is better i think.
>
> The thing was I did not know I was going through withdrawls I though I was going to die and did not know what was going on till I read these posts. I know I'm not alone.
>
> I am feeling better, hopefully I will only feel better as time goes on. I have to say I would rather be off of this drug than to ever be on it again. I do not want to ever go through this again..
>
> I feel for the rest of you and understand how you feel if only I could make my doc, parents, lover understand..
>

Venlafaxine seems to be getting a worse reputation than paroxetine for nasty withdrawals and persistant discontinuation effects.

Ironically my UK GP is forbidden from prescribing paroxetine but will happily write a scrip for venlafaxine!

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me brit me manic

Posted by manic666 on April 4, 2009, at 4:19:42

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me, posted by sowhysosad on April 2, 2009, at 18:07:39

ok sohigh, effexor. or velafaxine,not good to me but great to friends , a few widrawl methods as in england like me.supplimants.by the way i was on 225 mg an me hair started to fall out ,a one off may be , but it grew back.none flush niacin, valerian tabs,an the smack head secret???????? nightnurse if you carnt sleep this cold remerdy knocks you out but give a semi hangover feel next day ,a small price to pay for a nights good sleep

 

Re: Effexor, what it did to me: Follow Up

Posted by dankdiglet on July 22, 2010, at 16:30:17

In reply to Re: Effexor, what it did to me brit me manic, posted by manic666 on April 4, 2009, at 4:19:42

So here is my follow up 9 years later...
I continue to have periods of severe anxiety and can vaguely remember the time when I was on the drug, it seems that all that time was lost. Whether it be the fact that I didn't actually do much during that time or a result of the medicine, either way I am better without it. I have since gotten a good job, a great relationship, maintain stable weight, enrolled in my second degree for college and on my path to start a family in the next few years. I am now almost 30 and perhaps the only lasting side effect is the anxiety and memory loss of that time period I was on the medication of about 2 or 3 years. Being that Venlafaxine/Effexor was only introduced in '93 and I was put on it around '96 or so, the long term side effects could not have been anticipated. Well here I am, living proof that it has caused issues that were not present before taking the medicine. Some of my anxiety/panic attacks would last weeks, and over time I do not have as many for near as long. Now there is an abundance of information available, just type in 'brain zaps' on Wikipedia and you can read for yourself that the term is actually a legit word now used to describe the adverse effects. What I do remember most clearly on withdrawal, besides the nausea and 40 pound weight loss (in 3 months) was the feeling that inside my head my brain felt like it was very tiny and was packed in styrofoam and over time that styrofoam disintegrated and it was like I was learning things all over again. For example foods, colors, people, things I used to like prior completely changed and I had to become myself again, but a new self. It was very difficult, because there was no sense of self or stability based on experiences. Those experiences seemed like they were made by someone else. Now, I am generally happy, with mild depression but I think that is related to the stressors at work. I am not saying that this medication does not help some people as the other option without them may be even worse. I can say however, that I do not believe that I should have ever been put on them. Either I never had a problem and was wrongly diagnosed or I have just adjusted to live with my condition and feel I have no problem. Either way I think that many people have been misinformed about the mechanism of the drug and the serious side effects they may cause, especially if it is ever anticipated to go off the drug. Best of luck to those out there on this medication that might be trying to discontinue, I can say that it will get better over time.


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