The side effects/RX song
04.28.05 (11:44 pm) [edit]
In case you haven't seen it already, here's a funny song and animation about all those wacky side effects and other prescription drug woes. It's called "The Drugs I Need," and the song was written and recorded by the Austin Lounge Lizards as part of a consumer education campaign on prescription drugs:
The site it comes from, which is part of the Consumer's Union (the nonprofit arm of the company that publishes Consumer Reports magazine), also has sections where you can "take action" and email Congress to make prescription drugs safer; learn more about the campaign to improve the RX drug system; share your own story, and more.
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back here and post. I was looking at the stats, and noticed that quite a few people have been visiting, compared to when I first started this blog back in February 2004--an average of about 167 a day during the past month. Most of those are new visitors who get here by searching with keywords like "Effexor withdrawal."
Hang in there, everyone! Take care of yourselves, don't be too hard on yourself, don't go cold turkey if you can help it, and remember that what you're going through is only temporary.
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 05.19.05 (10:32 pm)
Suffering brainzaps, dizziness, nausea, crankiness, tearfulness - 2nd day off dose completely after a month of tapering. The first several days after tapering down had similar symptoms, but now they seem worse since off effexor completely.
Don't feel very well, but don't feel like putting my head in the oven just yet.
posted by: MFTZappee (reply)
post date: 05.22.05 (8:06 pm)
Going on one week without FXR--I tapered down from 150mgs to 75 to 35 and then off over about two months. I wondered why I was having the symptoms even after tapering, but this blog has helped me see the situation a little more realistically, and given me words to explain it all to my wife (who is wondering where the man she married went to). AND I'M TIRED OF CRYING OVER TV COMMERCIALS!!!!!
posted by: newbie123 (reply)
post date: 05.25.05 (5:39 pm)
found some solace here, finally made decision to taper off, was put on it for menopause symptoms and helped, but would like to find better sources for symptoms.
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 05.26.05 (4:38 pm)
I was only on 75mg, so I tapered for a about two weeks. Even with such a small dosage, intense withdrawal going on. Dizziness, the zapping, heartburn/nausea every time I eat, wanting to cry for no reason... I think I'm around three weeks now. Withdrawal symptoms are all still there, but improving. It may be a crappy time, Effexor may have made me feel better for a while, but eventually it got to the point where I spent all my time angry or indifferent. No regrets here. I'm really, really glad you created this site. :]
posted by: nicolelily (reply)
post date: 06.13.05 (7:41 pm)
I tried quitting Effexor about a year ago and only made it through a week. But I am more determined this time! Thanks for such a great site with good information! Great job.
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 06.19.05 (1:23 pm)
i have been brought down from 325 to 37.5 in 4mths and it doing my head in so glad my symptoms normal! well as much as can be described as normal - how long the shit feelings likely to last? anyoneno?????
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 10.03.05 (8:02 pm)
Quit cold turkey. Oops! Not so bad yet-4 days in. Brain zapps kinda fun. Like bein' stoned. Was on 150mg. Prescribed for depression about weight and bad temper. Funny, I gained 20lbs on this crap. And was a b----. Well, if I make it through the frequent bm's and ADD symptoms and this doesn't get any worse I'll write back. (Right now I'm SUPER B----!)
posted by: FXR is the devil (reply)
post date: 01.26.06 (8:11 pm)
Reply to: newbie
posted by: (reply)
post date: 01.26.06 (8:19 pm)
i quit cold turkey and am also 4 days in. i was on 225mg for a yr. the physical w/d sucks right now--brain shiver thingies, ligthheaded feeling but all thru the body, nausea, lack of appetite, dizziness, frequent bm's, shivering due to being cold as well as random shivering, cold sweats, nite sweats, the list goes on. and, as far as emotionally, i cry alot-sometimes for no reason other times bc random things trigger it. basically, its hell but it will be worth it once im clean cuz i just want this poison out of my body. whoever approved this drug needs to be forced to take it, go thru the w/d, then die a horrible death.
posted by: c (reply)
post date: 02.10.06 (8:11 pm)
I have gotten rid of the dumb head by taking it at dinner time. When I tried to go off it every other day I felt like my head was going to explode,
posted by: Cindy (reply)
post date: 04.12.06 (4:30 am)
I am trying a really slow w/d approach and it semms to be working, the only side effect is anger. I have 37.5 XR capsules and I started by opening one up and throwing out 3 grains (3 grains equal about 1 mg) there are about 110 grains so this is a 5 week wean. I am at throwing out 63 grains now and only have anger issues which fade about 1 hour after I take the capsule. I had previously tried a fast wean and missed a day of work so this is working well for me. I read the complete label and it does now list the withdrawal side effects but doesn't state that everyone will have them (seems everyone gets all of them). My Dr was aware that some people were having withdrawal issues and I asked him to file an adverse event with the FDA. It was a great drug for depression but I had long term slight dizziness that was interferring with my activities so I am going back to Wellbutrin
posted by: Laela (reply)
post date: 04.18.06 (5:13 pm)
I'm sorry to have ask this silly question, but could anyone kindly tell me what exactly do you mean when you say COLD TURKEY?
posted by: Janine (reply)
post date: 04.18.06 (5:34 pm)
Before taking effexor, have you guys done a psychotherapy instead?
posted by: Koren (reply)
post date: 05.13.06 (11:02 am)
Typing this between sobbing! I have been on effexor for almost 5 years. I was taking 225mg a day and got sick and tired of the side effects. My doctor has been weaning me off the meds for about a month now. This is my first 3 days without any effexor. I have read a lot about people weaning off over a longer period of time. I was wondering if I should have gone longer than a month in the process!?! But after reading on MANY different sites, I have come to the conclusion that once you take that last pill, it doesn't matter if you have been weaning yourself off for 1 month or 6 months! You are still going to have all these horrible side effects! I thought that the side effects that the effexor caused while I was on it were bad (sleeplessness, feeling tired ALL the time, racing heart, shortness of breath, headache, weight gain and NO sex drive), but now after not taking it for 3 days, those effects were a walk in the park! Like I said in the beginning, I am literally typing while sobbing! That is a new symptom, along with horrible nightmares and thrashing in my "sleep" that began last night! I also am constantly vomiting and have the runs, good times! The heart racing and shortness of breath are horrible and also wake me at night, not that I am sleeping much! But I guess I have to agree that the brain zaps and the eye and head whoosing are the worst! You don't just feel depressed and have anxiety like you did when you decided to start the effexor! For me I feel like I am literally going CRAZY!! How long will these symptoms last? I have heard anywhere from 2 weeks to MONTHS!! Is this true? Is my already improperly functioning brain going to now be worse!! HELP!!
posted by: brainzaps (checking in after long hiatus) (reply)
post date: 05.16.06 (6:57 am)
to Laela: cold turkey=stopping abruptly, instead of quitting gradually.
to Janine: as for me personally, I was in psychotherapy for 2 years prior to as well as during Effexor.
to Koren: I'm sorry you're having such a horrible time! You will get better, just trust that you will. It might take awhile, but you will eventually feel better.
posted by: jennifer (reply)
post date: 05.24.06 (9:27 am)
I am so sick of this crap. On it for 3 yrs now. Tried numerous times to quit. Brain feels like someone stabbing it with an electric cattle prod as soon as 8 hours after taking my normal full dose. I have kidney cancer and Effexor gives me more grief than it does. Tired of crying about it. I don't want to live the rest of my life this way. My newly replaced family doctor actually told me he'd prescribe it to me for the rest of my life if I wanted! He'd rather do that than try to get me off it. It's assholes like him and the ones who made this crap that are my biggest aggravation. So has anyone started lawsuits yet? All I've been told, so far, is that I can only sue after I've killed myself or put myself in the hospital trying to do so. That is not exceptable... and I refuse to allow it to get that far. Something has to be done!