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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by RWF on August 4, 2003, at 20:44:26
As promised...I said I would keep you posted on my Effexor Xr withdrawal experiences.
DAY ONE - On Saturday August 2nd, I stopped taking my Effexor XR 37.5 milligram pill. Since I usually take it in the afternoon, the withrawal effects did't hit me until around six or seven in the evening.
At first I became anxious, and paranoid. And it became hard to think clearly. I was up until four in the morning with these racing thoughts that were so bizarre to put into words.
I was light-headed, and when I laid still, it felt that my body was shaking violently on the inside.
But all in all...I took 0.5 milligrams of Ativan and it sort of chilled the effect.
DAY TWO - Sunday August 3rd, 2003 I awoke at around ten in the morning to a foggy head, and them damn brain zaps everytime I looked in a different direction.
I took my pill at around Eleven Thirty in the morning, and the effects stopped almost completely around two o'clock.
DAY THREE - It is now August 4th, 2003 at Nine Fourty Four in the evening and I haven't taken a pill all day. I feel a little edgy and foggy but without the anxiety...it's seems to be okay.
I will keep you all posted tomorrow night.
Just to remind everyone that my doc has me weaning off the Effexor XR by decreasing my daily dosage weekly:
First Week - 1 pill every other day
Second Week - 1 pill every two days
Third Week - 1 pill every three days
Fourth Week - 1 pill every four daysIt's going to be a really hard ride, but I am confident that there is a light at the end of this tunnel.
I will post here daily, and try and use myself as a guinea pig for those who are planning on weaning off of this emotionally crippling drug.
Good Luck to all of you.
E-mail me with any questions at Fulp96@yahoo.com
Thanks again,
Rob
Posted by galkeepinon on August 5, 2003, at 1:25:51
In reply to Day One and Two of Withdrawal..., posted by RWF on August 4, 2003, at 20:44:26
Good luck Rob-I wish you the best--I did the same thing with Effexor.............
potent medication, did wonders for me for a while, but stopped. Getting off it was not a fun ride at all. I'd rather clean toilets with a toothbrush!!!!!!!! Take care of yourself:)Best,
gal> As promised...I said I would keep you posted on my Effexor Xr withdrawal experiences.
>
> DAY ONE - On Saturday August 2nd, I stopped taking my Effexor XR 37.5 milligram pill. Since I usually take it in the afternoon, the withrawal effects did't hit me until around six or seven in the evening.
>
> At first I became anxious, and paranoid. And it became hard to think clearly. I was up until four in the morning with these racing thoughts that were so bizarre to put into words.
>
> I was light-headed, and when I laid still, it felt that my body was shaking violently on the inside.
>
> But all in all...I took 0.5 milligrams of Ativan and it sort of chilled the effect.
>
> DAY TWO - Sunday August 3rd, 2003 I awoke at around ten in the morning to a foggy head, and them damn brain zaps everytime I looked in a different direction.
>
> I took my pill at around Eleven Thirty in the morning, and the effects stopped almost completely around two o'clock.
>
> DAY THREE - It is now August 4th, 2003 at Nine Fourty Four in the evening and I haven't taken a pill all day. I feel a little edgy and foggy but without the anxiety...it's seems to be okay.
>
> I will keep you all posted tomorrow night.
>
> Just to remind everyone that my doc has me weaning off the Effexor XR by decreasing my daily dosage weekly:
>
> First Week - 1 pill every other day
> Second Week - 1 pill every two days
> Third Week - 1 pill every three days
> Fourth Week - 1 pill every four days
>
> It's going to be a really hard ride, but I am confident that there is a light at the end of this tunnel.
>
> I will post here daily, and try and use myself as a guinea pig for those who are planning on weaning off of this emotionally crippling drug.
>
> Good Luck to all of you.
>
> E-mail me with any questions at Fulp96@yahoo.com
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Rob
Posted by SLS on August 5, 2003, at 8:26:55
In reply to Re: Day One and Two of Withdrawal... » RWF, posted by galkeepinon on August 5, 2003, at 1:25:51
I have been on and off Effexor several times. I have been able to keep the withdrawal effects to a minimum by allowing myself to take small doses whenever I feel the withdrawal symptoms coming on. I would either bite off smaller and smaller pieces of the immediate-release version tablet or open a capsule of the XR version and take smaller and smaller amounts of the granules. This ends up being a more precise weaning schedule. I have also used this method to withdraw from benzodiazepines. Allowing the withdrawal symptoms to begin to appear before dosing allows for weaning as quickly as possible. It usually takes 15 minutes or so after dosing to relieve the symptoms.
What do you think?
- Scott
Posted by galkeepinon on August 5, 2003, at 14:24:11
In reply to Re: Day One and Two of Withdrawal..., posted by SLS on August 5, 2003, at 8:26:55
This ? is for Rob right?
:)
> I have been on and off Effexor several times. I have been able to keep the withdrawal effects to a minimum by allowing myself to take small doses whenever I feel the withdrawal symptoms coming on. I would either bite off smaller and smaller pieces of the immediate-release version tablet or open a capsule of the XR version and take smaller and smaller amounts of the granules. This ends up being a more precise weaning schedule. I have also used this method to withdraw from benzodiazepines. Allowing the withdrawal symptoms to begin to appear before dosing allows for weaning as quickly as possible. It usually takes 15 minutes or so after dosing to relieve the symptoms.
>
> What do you think?
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by SLS on August 5, 2003, at 14:30:48
In reply to Re: Day One and Two of Withdrawal... » SLS, posted by galkeepinon on August 5, 2003, at 14:24:11
> This ? is for Rob right?
> :)
It's for anyone who wants to get off these drugs as painlessly as possible.
- Scott
Posted by galkeepinon on August 5, 2003, at 15:43:22
In reply to Re: Day One and Two of Withdrawal..., posted by SLS on August 5, 2003, at 8:26:55
Posted by stjames on August 5, 2003, at 18:22:25
In reply to Day One and Two of Withdrawal..., posted by RWF on August 4, 2003, at 20:44:26
I think the idea of skipping a day inbetween doses
is a bad idea, considering the length of action of Effexor (just hours). This leaves you with a full day with no Effexor in your system. This is contary to generally excepted methods of slow and steady reduction of body levels of whatever one is seaking to taper. It also shocks the body,
as Effexor is a powerful med.
Posted by RWF on August 6, 2003, at 18:03:09
In reply to Re: Day One and Two of Withdrawal... » RWF, posted by galkeepinon on August 5, 2003, at 1:25:51
Dear Gal,
Thank you for your support! I am so happy to hear that you were able to conquer this drug.
Do you still have any of the effects from the withdrawal today? Did it ever seem hopeless?
How long did it take for the withdrawal to totally be gone, and did you get your memory back??
Just questions I am asking, because I have never met anyone who was able to beat this drug.
Thanks,
Rob
Posted by galkeepinon on August 7, 2003, at 3:37:27
In reply to Re: Day One and Two of Withdrawal..., posted by RWF on August 6, 2003, at 18:03:09
Dear Rob, I am glad I was able to conquer this med too:) Today I don't have any effects from the withdrawal becasue I started Lexapro a few days ago. And yes, it did seem hopeless, but all I can say is that I am a strong woman and I try so hard to fight whatever happens with these meds. I've had good results with some and not so good with others. It took about a month or 2 to get rid of the *withdrawals* and my memory is improving once again. You really have never met anyone who has been able to beat this med???
WOW!! That is sad. Medications are tough sometimes and I know Effexor has its ups and downs-literally......Best,
Gal> Dear Gal,
>
> Thank you for your support! I am so happy to hear that you were able to conquer this drug.
>
> Do you still have any of the effects from the withdrawal today? Did it ever seem hopeless?
>
> How long did it take for the withdrawal to totally be gone, and did you get your memory back??
>
> Just questions I am asking, because I have never met anyone who was able to beat this drug.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rob
>
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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