Effexor Withdrawal- any suggestions?

[Angela]

Just thought I might mention...I have picked up a cleansing kit that is all natural and is done in pure standardized form (very high quality) if you are in Canada, you can pick it up at a local Herbal Magic location, or you can go directly to their website for Canadians or Americans and order it online at: www.herbalmagic.com

The kit is called Purify and is an 8 day cleanse. It detoxifies your entire system (gently and not aggressively like some) and helps push all toxins through your system. I opened the box up, and it is all straight forward and simple. The instructions are inside, and it also includes a full bottle of a multi-vitamin too that you take during this cleanse. Really wasn't that expensive...around $50 I believe...but will be worth every cent knowing that I will be able to push this Effexor through my system a lot faster!!! I hope this helps anyone else out there that is going through this too...and I will keep you posted as to how I am making out...I have already taken my first round this morning...so wish me luck!!!!

[Olivia]

I stopped taking effexor a little over a two weeks ago and now I can't see why anyone would take this in the first place because the last two weeks seem to have undid all the great things that the pill did while I was on it. I was taking 150 mg and slowly decreased off of it and every day I wake up with a new symptom. The first two days it was extreme nausea and vomiting, the third day it was nausea and diziness, the fourth it was extreme moodiness and sensitivity. The fifth sixth and seventh day have greeted me with severe stomach cramps. On top of everything I have been irritable and not myself mood wise.

[spiral]

http://www.healthrecovery.com/HRC_2006/Depres ...

Hi Everyone

I really wanted my update post to be I'VE LOST THE WEIGHT AND I FEEL GREAT. But I am sick of waiting so I wanted to see if this helped anyone. This particular thread has been invaluable to me so thanks to everyone who posts here.

The link above leads to a website, this and the book have helped me enormously. How much I have yet to find out. If the link doesn't work try www.healthrecovery.com and go to the section which deals with mental health not alcohol addiction.

Basically, was on Effexor for 12 months or so came off it in November 2007, gained weight whilst on it, still fat and still anxious and depressed at times but when I saw the topic It's Not All In Your Head and also When You Just Want to Hide in Your Closet I felt relieved.

Went to see an Orthomolecular physician (as recommended on the website). He took one look at me and said I was pyroluric. That's why I went there, it all made so much sense to me when I read the details. Family history etc. etc.

Pyroluria is usually genetic (as are Histamine levels) and leads to a long list of issues which you may also recognise in members of your family aswell as yourself.

Had the urine and blood tests done and got the results back last week. Yes for Pyroluria (quite a high level) and way too high Histamine levels and extremely low Iron levels.(My regular GP told me to just have a multivitamin with iron in it) This doctor said I am surprised you haven't passed out.

I have started on a vitamin program (6 days ago) and have noticed slight benefits already. Not quite as anxious as usual.

It's early days and I pray it works.

As for the weight, after not shifting at all, I started Weight Watchers AGAIN and lost a kilo last week, so it's moving at last! I agree with Accordion Lady there are no posts anywhere about people who have lost the weight, I am sick of looking for them.

Thanks again everyone.

[Angela]

spiral wrote:

http://www.healthrecovery.com/ HRC_2006/Depres...
Hi Everyone
I really wanted my update post to be I'VE LOST THE WEIGHT AND I FEEL GREAT. But I am sick of waiting so I wanted to see if this helped anyone. This particular thread has been invaluable to me so thanks to everyone who posts here.
The link above leads to a website, this and the book have helped me enormously. How much I have yet to find out. If the link doesn't work try www.healthrecovery.com and go to the section which deals with mental health not alcohol addiction.
Basically, was on Effexor for 12 months or so came off it in November 2007, gained weight whilst on it, still fat and still anxious and depressed at times but when I saw the topic It's Not All In Your Head and also When You Just Want to Hide in Your Closet I felt relieved.
Went to see an Orthomolecular physician (as recommended on the website). He took one look at me and said I was pyroluric. That's why I went there, it all made so much sense to me when I read the details. Family history etc. etc.
Pyroluria is usually genetic (as are Histamine levels) and leads to a long list of issues which you may also recognise in members of your family aswell as yourself.
Had the urine and blood tests done and got the results back last week. Yes for Pyroluria (quite a high level) and way too high Histamine levels and extremely low Iron levels.(My regular GP told me to just have a multivitamin with iron in it) This doctor said I am surprised you haven't passed out.
I have started on a vitamin program (6 days ago) and have noticed slight benefits already. Not quite as anxious as usual.
It's early days and I pray it works.
As for the weight, after not shifting at all, I started Weight Watchers AGAIN and lost a kilo last week, so it's moving at last! I agree with Accordion Lady there are no posts anywhere about people who have lost the weight, I am sick of looking for them.
Thanks again everyone.

Wow...thanks for the link...I have only just begun to look at the site, and I am already intrigued!!! Keep us posted as to how you make out...I am really interested!!

[Trisha]

I have been on Effexor for 2 years and have tried to get off it numerous times with terrible results (dizziness, nausea, vision problems, etc. This time I went to a more natural leaning doctor and she had me go off it slowly (37.5 mg a day for one month, then every other day for a month)and she had me add 400 mg of DHA from fish oil three times a day and 2500 mg of B12 (it has to be dissolved under your tongue to absorb). This has helped a lot. She also has me doing multi vitamin IVs whenever I get severe withdrawal symptoms.

[Carol]

Trisha wrote:

I have been on Effexor for 2 years and have tried to get off it numerous times with terrible results (dizziness, nausea, vision problems, etc. This time I went to a more natural leaning doctor and she had me go off it slowly (37.5 mg a day for one month, then every other day for a month)and she had me add 400 mg of DHA from fish oil three times a day and 2500 mg of B12 (it has to be dissolved under your tongue to absorb). This has helped a lot. She also has me doing multi vitamin IVs whenever I get severe withdrawal symptoms.

I have been taking Effexor since 2000. The highest dosage I was on was 150mg for the past 4 years. I started to slowly get off it, going down to 75mg. then 37.5mg...and it has been horrible. Last week I decided to quit cold turkey and I am suffering soooo much. The brain zaps are the worse for me. Today I feel nauseated and tired. I am at work and thank God I am by myself otherwise I would not be able to handle this horrible feeling. My daughter is bringing me a 37.5 dosage as I can't stand the brain shivers. Other than stating the obvious about this horrible drug, we should all start doing something about it. It is not ethical that Dr.'s not tell you the withdrawal symptoms of this drug and let you take it for so long. I will write a letter to the school of Physicians and also to many medical journals. This has to stop. It feels like you are a substance abuser and have no control over your own body.
I will start taking Omega 3 to see how it goes.
I'd rather be drunk and puking than going through this.

[Alison]

I am symptom free after 2 days! I went from 75mg for a year to 37mg for only 2 weeks and experienced very little side effects (only dizzines and restless legs at night). DO NOT TAKE A PILL EVERY OTHER DAY as my doctor first suggested (roller coaster effect!). I am now effexor free for one week and am feeling fine! I was so worried after reading this website. I suggest taking it slow and will now research any meds my doctor decides to put me on.

[C George Douglas]

Wow... thank you all for the info. I now know why I feel so crappy. I have been tapering for 6 weeks and last Sat. I took my last 37.5 By Mon. morning I felt sea sick, disoriented, my legs ached and I feel little fire stroms in my head also found myself getting irritated easily.
At least I know what is going on. I was afraid of west nile virus or something. I hope it subsides as I am leaving the country in 3 weeks and don't want to pact drugs with me.

[hannah j]

I have been taking effexor 75 for about 4 years and have decided with my doctor to stop. It was originally prescribed for menopausal symptoms and that is no longer the case. I am in my third day off and feel awful. Dizzy, brain zaps, can't concentrate, nauseous. I'm determined to stay off and hope I will feel better soon. My husband is very supportive and knows what he may be up against for the next few weeks. I don't want to try any other 'drug' to help the withdrawal. I will try fish oil, vitamins, and TIME...I have been helped by reading that I am not alone in feeling this way...thank you!

[joey11]

I was on effexor 150mg for approximately 2 years and various other antidepressants over a 10 year period. I was on a path of destruction which I could write a book about whilst taking effexor in particular. After reading the posts here and identifying with most of the horrid side effects I managed to wean myself off it in 1 month by removing the beads. It's now been 3 weeks effexor free. Week one was hell, I contemplated having another capsule many a time. I suffered most of the adverse withdrawal reactions mentioned, fortunately I had support and was able to spend my days at home which helped. At 3 weeks I am still tired, foggy and nauseous at times (and gained an appetite hence weight) however it is no where near as bad as it was. I cannot wait to 'feel' again and hope I become who I was before I commenced antidepressants. Like most have mentioned it takes one day at a time, determination and patience.

[spiral]

Angela wrote:

<quoted text>
Wow...thanks for the link...I have only just begun to look at the site, and I am already intrigued!!! Keep us posted as to how you make out...I am really interested!!

Hi Angela

Thanks and after 12 days (just worked it out properly!) on the vitamins I feel so much better. Kids have said how happy I seem. Things just aren't phasing me like they used to.

Just 13 days ago I would get so stressed by even just talking to my kids (and refereeing!)I would escape to the bedroom to try and calm down.

I am back to the docs again tomorrow for a check on progress and further vitamins (I think) for the elevated Histamine levels.

Who knew it could be so simple?

Will keep you posted.

:-)

[tara]

Its now been 4 months since I stopped effexor. No its not been easy - but I wanted to let all you know on this site that it can be done. The side effects - brain zaps, sickness, dizziness all have gone. Although I was still having massive panic attacks - after taking loads of Vit B they have just about all gone.

Take heart everyone, it may seem tough going at first, but its worth the pain.

[Mike]

I have been slowly weening myself off of Effexor for months now. I was at 150mg. I have been counting grains for the last 3 months. Removing 20 grains per week. I have felt almost no withdrawal and I can count really high and see little tiny white things really well.

Now, I am down to 40 grains. About 20 mg. I know this is less then the lowest pill dose of 37.5 mg.

I am very very irritable and emotional. I also feel like I have restless leg syndrome.

My question is this: Can the low dosage of 20mg be making me feel like this or would it be the decrease from 40mg last week. Should I just go cold turkey now? How low should I go?

Thanks

[GPL]

The cause of my depression was misdiagnosed. It ended up being simple sleep deprivation which has now been corrected by the use of a CPAP machine. However, I was prescribed Effexor by my doctor and at that point I was prepared to do anything to get away from the depression. I started taking Effexor the day before a month-long holiday to Europe. My first negative symptom was my inability to ejaculate and did not realise that this was the first in a number symptoms that would be part of my taking the drug, which, in the end did not help my condition. I started getting extraordinary and vivid dreams and sometimes, I was unable to distinguish between those dreams and reality - a very awkward place to be to say the least. I saw my doctor about this and he increased my dose as I was now beginning to not only have these dreams but thoughts of suicide began to be part of my daily thinking. I have been taking Effexor for ~2.5 years now and am now getting off of it. Easier said than done as many of you already know. I started reducing with my Doctor's guidance and he indicated to me that there was no "graceful" way of getting off Effexor and it was an individual thing - each person has to figure it out for themselves. Which on the surface seems heartless, but the more I read and see about the drug, I cannot dispute his statement. I have now reduced to the point where I have been off of Effexor for 7 full days. 7 FULL DAYS OF PHYSICAL HELL! It is now starting to subside, however, it has still caused me to miss work and more importantly, I have lost 7 days of my life that I will not get back. I have experienced joint pain so significant that I was prescribed Percoset. Severe nausea, diarrhoea, and inability to eat. All of this coupled with brain shivers. Each day of the 7 has highlighted a different symptom: the first few days were non-stop brain shivers, the next few were severe joint pain, and the last few nausea and diarrhoea... With each passing day, the symptoms are lessening and seem to reduce in their ability to control my day... however, starting last night and into to-day, I am experiencing crying jags for no reason. I have not cried since 1983 - not proud of this but it frames what is happening to me... hopefully, day 8 will see me back to work. My heart goes out to all of you trying to get off of this horrible drug...

[Effect-zzzzzzap orr]

This name is appropriate. What the hell are those damn zaps in my brain. I feel like I'm getting electrocuted. Hell, I suppose I there isn't much difference. To worsen matters, it all occurred on The 4th of July. I didn't have to waste my gas going out, I had all the explosions going off right in my head. Of course, that's all I kept hearing from my in-laws too. "It's all in your head!"...and all for nothing; I felt no positive results from this drug except for the battery post that's forming in my neurotransmitters.

[Sweating]

I have gained weight on effexor while not eating much more and even tried to diet and cant lose to save my life...lol....had all the other symptoms and sick sick sick plus I sweat terribly...migraines the entire time(about 2 yrs) and only recently, three mths ago discovered the real truth about the headaches. Miss a day...kiss normal life goodbye...Spent time off work and life sleeping off the headaches. Now I want off the meds...I will try tapering....God bless us all...

[Sweating]

tara wrote:

Its now been 4 months since I stopped effexor. No its not been easy - but I wanted to let all you know on this site that it can be done. The side effects - brain zaps, sickness, dizziness all have gone. Although I was still having massive panic attacks - after taking loads of Vit B they have just about all gone.
Take heart everyone, it may seem tough going at first, but its worth the pain.

Thanks Tara...you give me and a lot of folks like me...hope...

[RoxanneAkimbo]

Alison wrote:

I am symptom free after 2 days! I went from 75mg for a year to 37mg for only 2 weeks and experienced very little side effects (only dizzines and restless legs at night). DO NOT TAKE A PILL EVERY OTHER DAY as my doctor first suggested (roller coaster effect!). I am now effexor free for one week and am feeling fine! I was so worried after reading this website. I suggest taking it slow and will now research any meds my doctor decides to put me on.

I've now been off the stuff since January-ish after having been on it for almost five years.

Your last sentence reminds me consistently: we are the owners of our bodies. No one can MAKE us take any medication unless we agree to it. I have started looking harder at myself and my body and trusting my own instincts and NOT doing every little thing the doctor recommends. It's MY BODY!

[Mike]

Help!!
I have weened off Effexor very slowly over the last 3 months. The last dose was Saturday of 20mg.
I am very irritable, pissed off, ready to fight, ready to cry and not great to be around. It gets worse as the day goes on.
Did anyone else feel like this? I am scared this is the real me and I should start the Effexor again.

[Mel]

Effexor is awful stuff. I've been on only 37.5mg for about 2 months - and am still having a horrible time withdrawing (though nothing compared with other people's stories). I have had to cut open the capsules and reduce down gradually, which is pretty ridiculous considering it's such a small dose. I should never have been prescribed this drug (the first thing prescribed to manage fairly minor anxiety and depression which was obviously linked to a bad work situation I've since gotten out of).

I've found that taking garlic tablets help with the nausea, as does eating whatever I crave (mostly potatoes). The single worst thing I've done while withdrawing is get drunk - I had the worst hangover ever.

I will never go back on this drug, ever!