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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TopCat on February 5, 2002, at 13:17:15
Hi
I have been taking 75mg of Effexor XR/XL for 5 months now and want to give it up. I reduced my dose to one every other day a month ago and have now skipped the odd two days here and there.
I have always wimped out at the first sign of any withdrawal symptons - dizziness and the detachment feeling many of you mention here. If I had read this board first I would have had serious reservations about starting it to begin with.
I am now on day 3 without it and feel a little weird. I plan to take a couple of days of work to ride it out.
I like to think I am ready to come off it. On my days off I have felt more myself again, it may have helped with the lows but it definitely suppressed the highs and I have felt more exuberant and bubbly again.
Does anyone have any positive experiences on withdrawal. I am a bit scared to say the least!
Posted by neko on February 5, 2002, at 17:00:06
In reply to Effexor withdrawl, posted by TopCat on February 5, 2002, at 13:17:15
I felt some withdrawl symptoms. I had the achey, flu-type thing, as well as general fatigue and electric shock feelings. Nothing unbearable, just minor discomfort. I think you are tappering strangely. You should be going from 75 mg down to the 37.5 mg for a week or two before just stopping. I was on 150mg for a couple months and recently tappered over the course of a month, off of Effexor completely and onto Prozac. Good luck!
Posted by Reneeb on February 5, 2002, at 21:09:00
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawl, posted by neko on February 5, 2002, at 17:00:06
> Hi, I also have started to wean myself off of effexor. I was on 150mg and two days ago cut down to 75mg. I wanted to ask you if I understand what you are saying is that you cut down to 75mg for about 2 weeks and than down to 37.5 for 2 weeks? Did you just stop taking it after that? I keep on hearing about these "electric shocks" I guess I don't understand what is meant by that? Why did you decided to go on Prozac? I am also taking wellbutrin. Does it make the withdrawals easier if you are on another antidepressant at the same time?
Thanks for the info.
Renee
Posted by TopCat on February 6, 2002, at 3:01:04
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawl, posted by neko on February 5, 2002, at 17:00:06
I was taking a tablet every other day and have then tried to give up completely.
I feel a bit better today and have noticed my alcohol cravings have reduced (this may be linked to the side-efefcts but I hope not).
Thanks for the advice.
Posted by NikkiT2 on February 6, 2002, at 8:49:51
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawl » neko, posted by Reneeb on February 5, 2002, at 21:09:00
If you do get the side effect coming off of "electric shocks" you will know what is meant by them!! *l* When I get effexor withdrawal every time I move my eyes it feels like I'm receiving an electric shock.. its very strange... I'm now down to 150mg from 300mg. next week I'll go down to 75mg, and the week after start taking one every other day. Myt pdoc said to manage this myself (he knows I know a fair amount about it all) so I'm gonna go with the flow!!
Nikki
> > Hi, I also have started to wean myself off of effexor. I was on 150mg and two days ago cut down to 75mg. I wanted to ask you if I understand what you are saying is that you cut down to 75mg for about 2 weeks and than down to 37.5 for 2 weeks? Did you just stop taking it after that? I keep on hearing about these "electric shocks" I guess I don't understand what is meant by that? Why did you decided to go on Prozac? I am also taking wellbutrin. Does it make the withdrawals easier if you are on another antidepressant at the same time?
>
> Thanks for the info.
>
> Renee
Posted by Reneeb on February 6, 2002, at 13:28:33
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawl » Reneeb, posted by NikkiT2 on February 6, 2002, at 8:49:51
> Nikki, thanks for the info. I think I am going to stay on my 75mg til I see my doctor, which will be soon. This might sound strange, but I feel like I have more energy already. I guess I didn't realize how disconnected I really was. After reading some of these postings I am pretty worried about how I will react to the withdrawal.
I am just dissappointed because I was told by my doctor that I wouldnt gain weight on effexor or wellbutrin. I am on 300mg of wellbutrin I wonder if I have to start to worrying about that too.
Thanks,
Renee
Posted by neko on February 6, 2002, at 15:11:29
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawl » neko, posted by Reneeb on February 5, 2002, at 21:09:00
Renee, I think w/ Effexor especially, you have to slowly taper.
My doc had me reduce my dosage by a 1/2 every week. So I was on 150mg, then the next week I did 75mg, then the next 37.5mg. I still felt withdrawl feelings and I did this slowly AND was concurrently on Prozac. I think it would be pretty uncomfortable to quit cold turkey! I would highly advice you to ween off slowly and w/ your doc's supervision. As for the electric shocks, like another person said, you will know it when you feel it. It is nothing super crazy to be afraid of, just a strange sensation. For me, every so often when I would inhale I would have these electrical, seizure type feelings through out my chest and arms. It's not like you twitch or anything, you just feel it. I have heard other people on this site mention how being on another SSRI has eased the withdrawl effects, which is understandable. My doc and I decided we would try Prozac and see how it goes because the Effexor was making my heart race and I couldn't sleep sometimes. Also, I just didn't feel like the Effexor was managing my depression and energy levels effectively. Hope this helps!
Posted by NikkiT2 on February 6, 2002, at 15:59:40
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawl » NikkiT2, posted by Reneeb on February 6, 2002, at 13:28:33
I htink as long as you take care and don't quit cold turkey, its generally fine. I was on 300mg of Effexor and I have found it vrey sedating.. very dulling. I am desperate to give wellbrutin a try but its not licensed for use in depression in the UK.
Nikki
> > Nikki, thanks for the info. I think I am going to stay on my 75mg til I see my doctor, which will be soon. This might sound strange, but I feel like I have more energy already. I guess I didn't realize how disconnected I really was. After reading some of these postings I am pretty worried about how I will react to the withdrawal.
>
> I am just dissappointed because I was told by my doctor that I wouldnt gain weight on effexor or wellbutrin. I am on 300mg of wellbutrin I wonder if I have to start to worrying about that too.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Renee
Posted by TopCat on February 7, 2002, at 10:44:43
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawl » Reneeb, posted by NikkiT2 on February 6, 2002, at 15:59:40
This is my fifth day without it now and I have felt fine today. It is kind of weird my old personality coming back again: snapping at my husband first thing in the morning and feeling more tearful when I see something soppy. It's tough luck to my husband though because I feel great!
Posted by Reneeb on February 7, 2002, at 15:40:28
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawl, posted by TopCat on February 7, 2002, at 10:44:43
> Wow, that is wonderful!!! It give me hope. On Monday I started to wean myself off too. I have gone from 150mg to 75mg. Actually, I don't know if its just wishful thinking, but I think I have more energy.
Did you use anything to help with the withdrawal symptoms? Reading some of the postings I see that people have used Buspar and Benedryl. Are you going on something else?
Congrats!!!Renee
Posted by TopCat on February 8, 2002, at 3:47:59
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawl » TopCat, posted by Reneeb on February 7, 2002, at 15:40:28
Good for you Renee, I can only offer positive feedback so far.
It is now day 6 and I feel like my old self. I feel more alive and full of energy also. I have not taken anything else to assist with withdrawal but was keeping my options open if I needed some help.
I would recommend a couple of days to yourself to chill out when you finally give up. It really helped me.
Good Luck.
Posted by Reneeb on February 8, 2002, at 15:14:50
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawl, posted by TopCat on February 8, 2002, at 3:47:59
I can't tell you how glad I am that you had a positive experience . There haven't been many posting of a good experience. I have to tell you, before I found this site I had not heard a bad thing said about effexor. You an imagine how surprised I was when I started reading all the experiences everyone was having. LOL
Are you on any other stimulates?
Thanks,
Renee
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