Effexor withdrawal symptoms, please help

[Jan]

Hi,

I've been taking Effexor 75mg for the past 3 weeks,(I transferred from Citalapram). Stupidly I forgot to take it for the past 2 days, but I took a tablet a few hours ago. I was fine until I took it, but within an hour I felt terrible. Lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous and ended up vomiting,(and I'm never sick usually). I recognised these symptoms from when I stopped taking Citalapram, so assume they are withdrawal symptoms.

What I don't understand is why I felt fine having missed 2 doses, and was only ill when I took a tablet. I'm not sure what to do now, if I was to take another tablet - would it make me feel better or worse?

[Simon]

Jan wrote:

Hi,
I've been taking Effexor 75mg for the past 3 weeks,(I transferred from Citalapram). Stupidly I forgot to take it for the past 2 days, but I took a tablet a few hours ago. I was fine until I took it, but within an hour I felt terrible. Lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous and ended up vomiting,(and I'm never sick usually). I recognised these symptoms from when I stopped taking Citalapram, so assume they are withdrawal symptoms.
What I don't understand is why I felt fine having missed 2 doses, and was only ill when I took a tablet. I'm not sure what to do now, if I was to take another tablet - would it make me feel better or worse?

Jan, I am too currently coming off Effexor 75mg tablets.

I have been and still am suffering from withdrawal symptoms after taking these tablets for about 2-3 months. I too am suffering from the dizziness, being light headed and nausea (thankfully I havn't vommitted... yet).

I have taken 1 week off work to try and over come these isses.

How long did these symptoms last for after you came off the other drug? Are the two drugs similar?

I just want some help to try and get myself out of this hell, it is so dibilitating and I can no longer live a normal life.

Please contact me via my email (as I usually have no energy to get out of bed)

[e-mail]

Cheers, Simon

[Pamela in Canada]

Simon wrote:

<quoted text>
Jan, I am too currently coming off Effexor 75mg tablets.
I have been and still am suffering from withdrawal symptoms after taking these tablets for about 2-3 months. I too am suffering from the dizziness, being light headed and nausea (thankfully I havn't vommitted... yet).
I have taken 1 week off work to try and over come these isses.
How long did these symptoms last for after you came off the other drug? Are the two drugs similar?
I just want some help to try and get myself out of this hell, it is so dibilitating and I can no longer live a normal life.
Please contact me via my email (as I usually have no energy to get out of bed)
[e-mail]
Cheers, Simon

Hi Simon,

I have a gmail account as well. Can I put you in my contact list? I have gone off Effexer in July of this year and I have recently had chest pain that felt like an elephant was sitting on me. One episode was after a short walk delivering flyers and the other was walking down a hall and up a few flights of stairs. I am 46 and relatively good health, taking vitamins, not smoking or drinking. However, I haven't been very active after getting off Effexor - no energy or motivation for exercise. Let me know how you are doing and maybe we can keep in touch.

[chick]

I had a stomache virus so I couldn't take my effexer for 2 days slowly I noticed I was getting dizzy now I feel like I am drunk. I have realized this may be related to missing my meds so I took one (75mg, that I have been on for a month now) now I am waiting for the cloud to lift does anyone know how long this will take?

[Anne Marie]

I am slowly coming of efexor was taking 225mg now im down to 75mg. I have been experiencing dizzy spells, being confused, and very light headed. My GP was going to reduce the 75mg this week but I explained my symptoms and has decided not to, just yet. I feel really unwell, anyone reading these notes, should follow their GP's advice and not stop suddenly.

[Beth]

I was only taking effexor for 2 weeks and stopped taking it because my vision was rapidly deteriorating. I couldn't see even with my glasses on. I started searching today to see if this drug had physical W/D symptoms because I have felt HORRIBLE since then. My vision is improving but not completely back to normal. But I am having extreme hot flashes, headaches and nausea. I have tried ibuprofen, tylenol, and sinus tablets for hte headache but it absolutely will not go away. I have also had a very difficult time sleeping at night. At first, I thought maybe it was a flu but I haven't had a fever or other flu symptoms. I was also extremely nauseated while taking the drug. I lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks. I was prescribed this med to try and help with a chronic IBS condition and feel worse now then I ever did before. The nausea is worse then morning sickness.

[Deborah]

I have been taking the minimum dosage of Effexor for at least two years (37.5 mg). I read it doesn't matter how high the dosage, the withdrawal is still the same. I can say that's true. I am prone to having migraines, so needless to say the first symptom was a migraine. Then it was nausea, feeling extremly tired, little electric jolts throughout my body, and brain quivers. After talking to my doctor, I decided to try something on my own. I told her every morning I would take two extra strength Tylenol to help with the headache, and Tylenol P.M. at night to help me sleep (take it early enough so you don't feel so tired the next day). Believe it or not it is really helping. I also workout 4 days a week, I don't know if that's a help, but I tell you I am actually starting to feel better. For one week I took an Effexor every other day. I am now on week two and I am taking one Effexor, skip 2 days and taking one on the third day. I'm starting to feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.:>) If I ever hear anyone considering taking Effexor -- I will tell them DON'T DO IT!

[Laura]

I am on day 6 of no effexor and the worst is over. The 4th day was the worst, but yesterday and today I still have hot flashes/frreezing spells, mild dizziness & head zaps, but not as bad. I don't know how long until it stops completely but I am frustrated. Otherwise I feel pretty good.

I stopped suddenly from 37.5 after tapering down for about 2 or 3 days. It's not recommended to stop suddenly from larger doses but to wean down at least to 37.5 first, but I only know about 37.5 onward.

I just decided to get it over with so I went for it after 2 or 3 days tapering from 37.5. But I don't have to leave the house or work. I put some tips for people quiting on the post Effexor withdrawal symptoms here on TOpix. Sorry I posted it twice by accident.

[Dave]

I have been on Effexer for 10+ years and want to get off this drug due to side effects such as sweating,tiredness and other symptoms.Every time I try to stop (Effexer 75 XR)the withdrawal symptoms dizziness, depression and light headedness would become a major set back for my daily routine.Well, I have made up my mind to quit the drug again and was wondering if anyone has had sucess and could give me some helpful sugestions.As far as I am concerned the drug has run its course for me and I should have stopped years ago.HELP

[shelia]

Help I need help I was taking 150 morning and evening
I missed most evening doses
I never got out the chair so I told the Dr. I needed somthing else after 6months
He put me on Pristiq 3 days of that and I 'am sick as a dog. Thought it was the Pristiq Looked up effexer and now I know why Im sick
We have a hurricane coming here
I have been seeing a GP had appointment with phys. in 2 weeks they called today and said they will call with another appointment later GREAT I take xanax at night I have been on meds for 20 years So Docs not sure what to try So effexer
Now 5 days no effexer I'am vomiting and feel nuts I think I'm dying don't know what to do IF A DR. READS THIS PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO

[shelia]

Dave wrote:

I have been on Effexer for 10+ years and want to get off this drug due to side effects such as sweating,tiredness and other symptoms.Every time I try to stop (Effexer 75 XR)the withdrawal symptoms dizziness, depression and light headedness would become a major set back for my daily routine.Well, I have made up my mind to quit the drug again and was wondering if anyone has had sucess and could give me some helpful sugestions.As far as I am concerned the drug has run its course for me and I should have stopped years ago.HELP

Get a DR.s help

[Dave]

I just thought I would give everyone an update on my progress of Effexor withdrawal.
It has been 14 days now without a dose and I am definitely over the worst of the symptoms.Day 3-7 was pure hell,the depression was almost unbearable.What I did notice was "cold turkey"worked better than slowly weaning off dosages.The later only extended the withdrawals.I tried that process many times at my doctors advice and failed mant times.Cold Turkey may not be work for everyone,but it certainly is working for me.As I mentioned prior I was on this poison for over ten years.I no longer have night sweats or nausea,although I still have bouts with anxiety and light headedness,though not halve as bad or frequent as before.I seem to have more energy.I can honestly say I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and its smiling at me.I can not stress this point enough...If a doctor wants to prescribe Effexor in any dosage,just say NO.
If you decide to stop taking Effexor, or already stopped,just be reassured that you will return to
a state of normalcy.
Again I want to point out that it has been only 14 days and this is based on my personal experience ,but what a change.Hang in there.

[Shawn]

I decreased my dose from 75 to 37.5 about a week or two ago. The worst thing I am now noticing is the extreme anxiety. Can anyone tell me if this goes away? I am worried that I will need to increase my dose back up to at least 75mg. My goal was to get off of Effexor for good but this anxiety is unbearable.

[gina kay]

Jan wrote:

Hi,
I've been taking Effexor 75mg for the past 3 weeks,(I transferred from Citalapram). Stupidly I forgot to take it for the past 2 days, but I took a tablet a few hours ago. I was fine until I took it, but within an hour I felt terrible. Lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous and ended up vomiting,(and I'm never sick usually). I recognised these symptoms from when I stopped taking Citalapram, so assume they are withdrawal symptoms.
What I don't understand is why I felt fine having missed 2 doses, and was only ill when I took a tablet. I'm not sure what to do now, if I was to take another tablet - would it make me feel better or worse?

If you have been only taking it for three weeks please contact your Dr. do not take any more This is a awfull drug that should not be on the market. I was on it for 11 years and still was not sure why the Dr, put me on this, when I tried to get off of it, I thought i was going to die. I was having brain zaps sick to my stomach and hated everthing around me. That is a scary thing, I have done some searching on the internet and i am not the only one that has had these symptoms, I am proud to say, I quit cold turkey and have been off effexor for 5 weeks now and made it through the bad effects this medication can cause me, I do not understand how a Dr. can give you a medication with such side effects that could be fatal to your life, At first i thought I was having a drain seizer, Thank God i was not and i am ok. please call your Dr do not take effexor

[gina kay]

I was typing so fast please disrecard the typing errors, this is very upsetting to me to see that this drug is still on the market and that Dr's are still giving percriptions for effexor after all they know about it.

[Cindy]

I just wanted to give a few words of encouragement to anyone trying to get off of Effexor. I have been taking it for six years, and because of high blood pressure (225/120) I started to taper off about 6 weeks ago from 75 mg. I was given the drug for anxiety/pms and often thought of discontinuing it, but I had read a lot of horror stories on withdrawal and didn't want to deal with it until I had the high blood pressure issues. I am not overweight, exercise daily and take no other drugs. Had blood tests done and everything is normal so it looks like Effexor is the source of the very high blood pressure that started to escalate a couple years ago (has always been very low before.) After reading the experiences of others on forums like this, it looked like the most successful way to taper off this drug is take a little out of the capsule every day, very slowly. This has taken six weeks for 75 mg but I have experienced no withdrawal symptoms. The key is to be patient and not give in to the urge to get it done faster and go cold turkey. Everyone is different, but this worked for me. When tapering off, it is best to dump out the beads and add them back into the capsule and add a little less each day instead of just taking out beads. There is not an equal number of beads in each capsule. The XR capsule has three sizes of beads. The smaller ones release and dissolve first, I think. The tapering works best if you take the same amount of each size bead every day. This ensures even distribution throughout the day. My blood pressure is now 114/74 and the constant fatigue I felt went taking Effexor has disappeared. I have never written on a forum such as this but wanted to share my experience for encouragement to others that you can get off the drug, and sometimes it does happen with no side effects. I appreciate others before me sharing their stories that helped me develop a successful withdrawal plan for me.

[Leeanna Manderson]

5 was prescribed this withouth much information so i did all my own research. I was horrified that more of a percentage of ppl have had negative experiences than positive. I took my first and NEVER AGAIN!! I had dry mouth, hallucinations, no appetite at all and huge pupils an to top it all of no sleep. I will never take this POISON again and am disgusted a drug that can also have long term withdrawal effects is even on the market. They may as well call it a pill like Labotomy.

[Mark]

I took 2 x 75mg / day for about 4 months... kind of turned me into a zombie, which may have helped me get through a rough patch... but I don't want to be a zombie anymore, and having to spend an hour masturbating to orgasm is a joke... if I was married or had a girlfriend I would be single (unfortunately it's not a matter of having a rock hard hardon, if that was the case I'm sure the girlfriend / wife wouldn't mind at all... lol).

So, four days in, cold turkey, I'm glad I made the descision to take time off work... the dizzy feeling when moving the head or eyes to the side is really really annoying. Luckily I'm not throwing up or severly ill, I'm sorry some of you are going through really bad withdrawals. This drug is a joke, a really really bad joke.

Best wishes and don't give up. Here's to a drug free life. I'm going the exercise and eating well approach from now on... taking vitamins and researching how to increase dopamine through food sources seems like a sensible thing.

Oh, and I was having problems drinking before I was prescribed effexor... wow, just wow, the primal urge to drink on effexor is crazy... I am gob smacked that I was prescribed this drug given the number of reports I'm finding of people who have experienced this urge to consume alcohol.

All the best.

[Francis]

Hi, I am as well trying to get off Effexor 75mg. So started 2 x 37.5mg with the intention of going down to 37.5mg in the near future. However, I feel some effects (around hour 16) already whilst on the paper it 2x37.5mg should equal the 75mg I was taking previously. Does anyone know if the smaller caps have the same release tempo and dissolve in equal time as the 75mg ?

I am amazed how many people seem to have withdrawal issues so I wish good luck to everyone. Remember that anxiety often comes in crisis which after some time fade away... so hang in there !

[Todd]

I was on paxil for 7 months and then switched to effexor 75 mg for the last 7 months, I have stopped cold turkey and am now on day 4, I have noticed that the brain zaps have slowed, in day 3 they were constant but today it seems like after I eat they subside a little, My energy level is also alot better (I didnt get out of bed yesterday) it seems to me that the W/D symptoms are going away, just very slowly, I figure it will take around 1 to 2 weeks to completly get over it, I just wanted to say what I was feeling and I hope this info helps someone.
P.S DO NOT START THIS MEDICATION!!!!