Ack! What's going on with the comments?

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posted by: SB Divemaster (reply)
post date: 05.21.04 (1:42 pm)

I just haven't had much to say lately.... I've been off Effexor for 45 days now, and I no longer feel any withdrawal symptoms, but I definitely feel some of my old symptoms coming back.

I origianally started because of a major depressive episode associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The Effexor worked well for the depression, but I never really felt the relief I wanted from the anxiety. My doctor prescribed Risperdal in addition to the Effexor for the anxiety. The Risperdal really helped, but one of the lame Canadian pharmacies screwed up my refill twice so I ran out and went cold turkey. The withdrawal lasted about a week, and I decided not to go back on it after realizing how much weight I had gained.

Lately, I have been noticing lots of anxiety and irritability. I feel angry and tense alot, constantly feel like I have forgoten to do something, sometimes feel like I'm going to get in trouble (like when you are a little kid), and other symptoms of anxiety.

I guess the Effexor helped with some of that, but not enough. I'll have to discuss with my doctor, but I would like to avoid pharmaceuticals if possible. I will also ask about taking supplements to increase my serotonin levels.

We'll see how it goes...

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posted by: Toad (reply)
post date: 05.21.04 (3:02 pm)

MY EXFFEXOR IS IN A TABLE FORM SO IF I TRIED TO QUIT I COULDN'T COUNT BEADS. I HAVE SURGERY IN LESS THAN A MONTH SO I WILL TAKE MY DOSE AROUND MIDNIGHT SINCE I CAN'T TAKE IT IN THE MORNING NO WATER, NO FOOD I DO NOT WANT WITHDRAWS AGAIN!

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posted by: blondeonbroadway (reply)
post date: 05.24.04 (4:07 pm)

This has got to be the worst possible experience of my life...I'm actually starting to think that my depressed, pre-medicated life was better than this withdrawal stuff. It is NOBODY'S idea of fun...the brain surges make me feel like I'm in an altered state, very surreal, and I definitely dropped 3 glasses of iced tea at work today...soaked my shoes/apron...glass went everywhere...and when I try to fall asleep at night; I'm scared to...because I have these, I don't know if they're nightmares or what, but I feel like I'm paralyzed and can't breathe, but I can see everything around me, like my room and stuff. The brain surges are the worst, though, and I'm even afraid to drive. I ended up getting sent home from work today, and my manager told me not to come in tomorrow if I'm still feeling ill. I can't live like this, I have to work! I can't miss shifts because of a stupid medicine that I'm NOT taking anymore! And how do you explain it to people around you? The fact that there has to be a blogspot for the withdrawal effects of a medicine is SICK. Not about you who made it...the fact that there has to be one. It's disgusting that a medicine can make you feel like this... AFTER you're off of it! But I don't want to be on it...it wasn't helping, and a new study has linked Effexor (and other drugs) to increased suicidal tendencies. Fabulous, right? Grrrr this is absolutely dreadful, and I want it to STOP!!!

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posted by: pissed off (reply)
post date: 05.24.04 (4:22 pm)

I was on Effexor XR for 5 weeks. I started for a week on 37. 5 then did 75 for 2 weeks but felt weird, so went back down to 37.5. By the second week back on 37.5 I was feeling even weirder, and then went off it completely two days ago. I felt fine yesterday but today I feel horrible! Nauseated, moody, headache. I just did a search for Effexor withdrawal and now I am freaking out. I have been having nightmares too. I didn't realize it was so bad. I do not want this stuff in my body. I wonder if I will suffer for weeks with this withdrawal crap. If I knew it was like this I would never have started it. I am so mad.
I wonder how long I'm going to have to suffer.

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posted by: yang (reply)
post date: 07.15.04 (9:19 pm)

i've been talking effexor xr for about 8 months now. I've been starting at 37.5 and increased to 225. I've been tryign to get off effexor now and it was no problem to reduce it to 75. But i get thse crazy withdrawal effects if i skip the pill for more than a day. I get this craving for effexor when i stop cold turkey. I am experiencing moderate mood swing(meaning i could still control my mood), insomia, nausea, violent and disturbing thoughts about hurting my loved ones.

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posted by: Michelle/Chicago (reply)
post date: 07.21.04 (12:20 pm)

I have been on effexor for approximately 3 months now. I have woken up every morning drenched in sweat. I am slowly tapering off of the DRUG now and I am feeling depressed again. I was taking 150mg a day and now I am down to 75mg and will soon be on 37.5 mg. This stuff should be banned. I am only 25 yrs old and i feel like I am going crazy. I have also had neck pain from hell ever since I started the effexor. Maybe it's just a coincidence, who knows anymore? I sure don't.

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posted by: zapped for sure! (reply)
post date: 07.24.04 (9:06 am)

thanx so much for all the info on this site...i started taking effexor 6 months ago and was very happy with the results. out of a breach of confidetiality my husband learned from the pharmacist that i was taking it. he forced me to quit cold turkey because of his negative views about anti depressants being a crutch used by weak people..yada yada ....
so now i'm 8 days into this nightmare w/o so much as one effexor, and i'm glad to know that i'm not alone with these symptoms, however sorry that anyone else ever has to feel this way. i just need to know that there is an end in sight and that things WILL get better... these brainzaps have been really messing with me and i refuse to let on to the people around me that i am having withdrawals...i don't want them to have the satisfaction of saying i should have never taken it to begin with. so i am struggling along, wondering for the past few days if maybe i have a brain tumor or some health issue causing my brain to feel so confused. and causing my eyes to be so screwed up (its seems that i can hear the movement of sudden eye motions ) sounds crazy i know.
i am anticipating the day when i don't have these symtoms but dread the thought that i may revert back to the symtoms that caused me to take effexor to begin with.
anyway thank you for the hope and reassurance you have given me that this too shall pass...

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