Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 115662

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Discontinuing Effexor

Posted by HMK on August 8, 2002, at 10:06:13

I've been on Effexor at different strengths for teh past 3 years. I'm currently taking 75 mg. a day and, on the advice of doctor, am going to taper off it. I have 2 week's worth of 37.5 mg. tablets. Any advice on how I should go about discontinuing the Effexor? What side effects should I anticipate? Will it be bad considering I'm on a fairly low dose??

Thanks for your imput
Heather

 

Re: Discontinuing Effexor

Posted by Medusa on August 8, 2002, at 12:11:28

In reply to Discontinuing Effexor, posted by HMK on August 8, 2002, at 10:06:13

Heather, you're in the right place.

Are you on regular or extended-release Effexor? If regular, how many times/day do you take it?

Are you willing to get another Rx filled and give this some time? The more gradually you can taper off, the less you'll suffer.

I'm not a doctor - I can't make specific recommendations for amounts by which to taper off. Personal experience is all I have, and the last time I tapered off of Effexor, I combined it with fluoxetine, which for me strengthens the effects of venlafaxine.

>What side effects should I anticipate?

This is pretty individual. Maybe someone else has a list of widespread withdrawal symptoms.


>Will it be bad considering I'm on a fairly low dose??

This is also individual. I hope that someone else will post some of their ideas ... I've just had such terrible experiences with venlafaxine that I ...

I took 25 mg today, trying to go on it again, even though it's pure evil. So maybe I'm not in a good state to answer your question! When I'm on a stable combination of fluoxetine and venlafaxine, I feel the closest to whatever completely normal is that I've ever felt ... for a while. I need to get there again, so I can get through a job search and get insurance again.

Keep posting.

 

Re: Discontinuing Effexor » Medusa

Posted by HMK on August 8, 2002, at 13:01:37

In reply to Re: Discontinuing Effexor, posted by Medusa on August 8, 2002, at 12:11:28

I currently take 75 mg of Effexor XR daily. I have some 37.5 mg pills to take to taper down.

 

Re: Discontinuing Effexor

Posted by John2222 on August 8, 2002, at 14:20:41

In reply to Discontinuing Effexor, posted by HMK on August 8, 2002, at 10:06:13

> Any advice on how I should go about discontinuing the Effexor? What side effects should I anticipate? Will it be bad considering I'm on a fairly low dose??
>

Heather, I'm also taking 75 mg XR per day and have been reading about discontinuance effects. Several have suggested (as you did) tapering first to 37.5 for a week to 10 days.

Then, Take the 37.5 mg capsule with the grey portion upright and gently twist the grey portion off. Pour half of the white beads out. Then twist the top back on and take the now 18 mg XR once a day for a week or so.

NEVER take the white beads without the capsule. I read they are very bitter and besides you don't them disolving in your mouth.

(I am not a dr. and not giving specific advise, but passing on what I've read. Although, it sounds reasonable.)

I had a very difficult time adjusting to each larger dose of Effexor XR and it took longer to adjust to each level than my dr. thought it should. From that I interpret that at some point in the future, I should also GRADUALLY decrease the dosage.

It would also be nice if Effexor XR came in a 20 or 25 mg capsule.

Good luck and let us know how/what you do.
*john*

 

Re: Discontinuing Effexor

Posted by shar on August 8, 2002, at 22:53:22

In reply to Discontinuing Effexor, posted by HMK on August 8, 2002, at 10:06:13

I have stopped taking Effexor in the last few weeks. I went down in dosage, like you are doing and stayed on 37.5 for 10 days. I think now I might do it for longer if I could go back in time.

I'd never had a lot of trouble stopping AD's, and did not expect much from Effexor. Was I ever surprised! I had physical symptoms (flu-like, nausea, cold sweats, achey, dizziness) and a heavy duty emotional roller coaster ride, including pretty intense rage reactions. They scared me, because I'm not used to them. I was also crying all the time, but I'm pretty used to that. My head felt like it was stuffed with chopped brown paper and very fuzzy, not alert.

My pdoc suggested add 100 mg to my Wellbutrin for a couple of weeks or so, and, for the rage reactions, I took .5 mg of Klonopin.

Part of the surprise was the intensity of it all, and feeling so sick, and that it went on for a good couple of weeks before trailing off. I think now I'm sort of back to normal, no big rage reactions, still a little physically unstable (not quite 100%).

Some people add Prozac for a while (starting before being completely off Effexor and continuing for a while after being off Effexor).

I would also get Phenergan for the nausea, because I hate nausea so much.

I would have a plan, just in case. And, I know the archives have lots of Effexor withdrawal posts, so it might be worthwhile to read some of those.

Good luck!
Shar

 

Re: Discontinuing Effexor » shar

Posted by Dinah on August 9, 2002, at 6:24:28

In reply to Re: Discontinuing Effexor, posted by shar on August 8, 2002, at 22:53:22

Shar,

How long does that fuzzy head, a bit dizzy feeling last?

I wasn't on Effexor that long and tapered down, taking about half a capsule whenever I felt really dizzy. It's been over a week (I think. I've lost my sense of time) since I took my last half capsule and I still am thick headed and dizzy sometimes. I hate to still blame it on the Effexor, but I'm back to my regular Depakote and Klonopin dose and I can't imagine what it might be.

Thanks,
Dinah

 

Re: Discontinuing Effexor » Dinah

Posted by shar on August 10, 2002, at 19:04:04

In reply to Re: Discontinuing Effexor » shar, posted by Dinah on August 9, 2002, at 6:24:28

At least a week for it to start to clear up without taking *any* Effexor. And it didn't totally clear up for at least a couple of weeks. I imagine the time varies with individuals, and I would not hesitate to blame the Effexor for another 2-3 weeks or so...I believe it is one of the worst to get off of.

Good luck!
Shar


> Shar,
>
> How long does that fuzzy head, a bit dizzy feeling last?
>
> I wasn't on Effexor that long and tapered down, taking about half a capsule whenever I felt really dizzy. It's been over a week (I think. I've lost my sense of time) since I took my last half capsule and I still am thick headed and dizzy sometimes. I hate to still blame it on the Effexor, but I'm back to my regular Depakote and Klonopin dose and I can't imagine what it might be.
>
> Thanks,
> Dinah

 

Re: Thanks!! » shar

Posted by Dinah on August 10, 2002, at 20:35:33

In reply to Re: Discontinuing Effexor » Dinah, posted by shar on August 10, 2002, at 19:04:04

Would you believe I forgot I had even made this post? And was about to post a plaintive post of the same question on a new thread?

Ah well, I'll blame the Effexor then. :)


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