Joint and Muscle Pain side effect of Effexor

[xtrodinare]

I am sorry my mind is just not working. If I had known about the side affects of the withdrawal to stop taking Effexor I would have never start taking it.

[amb]

I have just come off effexor , after being on it for 8 years. I am clean for one week and am going through the worst joint and muscle pain. I feel like everything weights three times its weight and my legs are so restless. Sleep is not sleep .

[Kristina]

Stephanie wrote:

Is there someone out there that has been through this and made it back to normalcy? If so, please give me hope.

Hi Stephanie,

I had an awful time coming off Effexor after being on it for a couple of years. I also had a lot of joint and muscle pain and ran a low-grade fever (about 100F) for an entire year while on it. I'm now on Pristiq, which is similar to Effexor, but the withdrawal effects are supposed to be easier to tolerate. I hardly had any side effects for the first six weeks, but now I'm having joint pain again and developed a low-grade fever on the weekend.*sigh* I can't tolerate pure SSRIs, and Effexor/Pristiq are the only meds that I've found that help me. If I have to choose between physical and psychic pain, I'm going to be p*****.

ANYWAY, the withdrawal effects of Effexor do eventually go away. It'll take a while, but they WILL go away. Hang in there!

For joint pain, go to a health food store or a naturopath and ask for an alkalyzing remedy. This is a liquid or powder that you can put in a glass of drinking water to make it more basic (as opposed to acidic)--it just raises the pH of your drink (high pH = basic; low pH = acidic). I have no idea why it works, but it does, and fast! I went from being in tears from pain to feeling almost normal half an hour later the first time I tried it. You can also get it in pill form now. It's not cheap, but it makes a huge difference. A friend of the family who has bad arthritis swears by the stuff--it works for that kind of joint pain too.

[Brigitta]

Off Efexor now since 1 1/2 month. The weaning was ok....the jointpain continues! No progress yet! Proud of my weaning though. Having a busy life actually helps, because there comes a point where u start to forget...suddenly u realise u havent taken any for 3, 4 day a week....GOOD LUCK!

[mary]

Began to take effexor 10 months ago, have had severe knee pain, to the point where I can not sleep. The Dr put me on steroids for this, which only temporarily relieves the pain. I have been trying to withdraw from it and now my fingers are arthritic, so I began to believe it is the effexor.
I am having a terrible time withdrawing from it, brain zaps, can't hardly walk, have gained about 20 pounds on it. I am trying to take one every other day as my Dr told me to try but it is making me very obnoxous plus nauseaed.

[Brigitta]

YES, fully understand. Was the same for me. You could bite anyone around u, if things become difficult, right? The brain zapps will GO! Promise. I weaned gradually, not by the book, but by feeling. Like u do, 1 every other day, then cut them in half, then in quaters...in the end i took one quater every 3 days, then only when i started being nasty to my famlily, then...i forgot about it and now i am off Efexor since 1 month and SO proud of it. The pain in my fingers, mostly thumbs, wrists and shoulders are just as bad as in the beginning and all the way through the Efexor challange, 4 years ago. How dare they put us through this without a straight warning or a not dangerous remedie!?!? I hope it will go one day? I would not want to live with those pains for the rest of my life.... Anadin joind pain helps....but to aim for the next addiction is not the way either!

[btdt]

amb wrote:

I have just come off effexor , after being on it for 8 years. I am clean for one week and am going through the worst joint and muscle pain. I feel like everything weights three times its weight and my legs are so restless. Sleep is not sleep .

I hope you tapered did you?
The pain is so normal for those of us that have been on effexor I have had this pain before when I quit other antidepressants too. This time around after cold turkey from effexor 9ct due to severe side effects ) I have the pain again severe pain it seems to originate in the spine and go from there to about any body part legs arms hands feet head hips ribs sternum. I have been using heat and cold rubs and started physio about 7 months ago still going. At physio I learned of a machine called tens which helps I bought my own for home. The therapist also uses lazer. I think the physio and time are working. I had such excrusiating pain I could not lay down sleep walk ect. now 23 months after I am much improved I suggest you try physio if you can.
Advil is my drug of choice and I take 200mg every day it helps with the brain fog too and I have learned the reason for it as advil blocks gabba could find that link if you need it.

[Brigitta]

Bless you for this hopeful reply! Hope u get even better soon. I'll try your advice... All the BEST! Let's hope the pain will dissapear for GOOD!

[Knox1563]

Dave B wrote:

Hello Anne, Barbara, Susan, and Dotty - Have any of you been to see a Rheumatologist about the joint pain? If you are off of Effexor, has it gotten any better? My pain started with the Effexor exactly, got worse the longer I stayed on it, but the pain is still there almost 2 months after stopping the stuff. I'm wondering what this stuff has done to us?

Hi Dave et al - I have been off Effexor for 5 months now after tapering and using natural supplements. The joint and muscle pains increased for the first 6 weeks after stopping and since then have gradually reduced. At this time they are still there but fairly low level, but do seem to be reducing over time. I still have other withdrawal effects but, as with the pain, they all seem to be improving slowly. The other observation I have is that all symptoms seem to increase when I am stressed, tired, or have a cold/virus etc but this exasperation of symptoms also seems to be reducing. I feel like I am getting back to my old self ( I was never depressed etc. but was a misdiagnosed diabetic and put on this med.- bummer) but it is just frustratingly slow.

[btdt]

Knox1563 wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi Dave et al - I have been off Effexor for 5 months now after tapering and using natural supplements. The joint and muscle pains increased for the first 6 weeks after stopping and since then have gradually reduced. At this time they are still there but fairly low level, but do seem to be reducing over time. I still have other withdrawal effects but, as with the pain, they all seem to be improving slowly. The other observation I have is that all symptoms seem to increase when I am stressed, tired, or have a cold/virus etc but this exasperation of symptoms also seems to be reducing. I feel like I am getting back to my old self ( I was never depressed etc. but was a misdiagnosed diabetic and put on this med.- bummer) but it is just frustratingly slow.

I have seen a Rheumatologist after taking prozac and having a severe adverse reaction took less than a month of prozac. Was told I had chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia. Was put on another antidepressant a tricylic amitriptyline for a couple of years went to a pain clinic for 6 wks. Take no meds now...

My take on it is that the drugs start some kind of pain syndrome not sure why I think so just my experience. I am finding same as you that other stressors like illness over exertion ect make the pain worse.

Going back on an antidepressant seems to be how doctors want to treat this or lyrica done it all not doing anymore pills I am just done with pills.

[bear]

I find that my pain comes and goes .Some is there all the time . When I first came off E I could barely put my feet on the floor first thing in the morning this went away for a while just this last week its back with a vengance.Also had bad hip pain this has gone I only remembered now as some one just mentioned hip pain.Also had trouble raising my arms above my head ,this has also gone.The more of these posts I read the more I see that I also had happen to me not putting it down to effexor untill now.

[Photi]

Hi Kristina: I too, find that eating well (greens, beans & grains) and a quick fix of a "green drink" powder helps the profound Effexor wean pain.
Today I was so sore I was nauseous and could barely stand to do my art teaching job and finally had to tell my students (kids!) why I needed to sit down!
I sipped some warm water and then ate half a pomegranate and felt better right away.
I am biting the bullet on this weaning thing and not taking another 'script but I have had to take some ibuprofen (with a single Budweiser to help it) and half a Tylox (Tylenol with codeine) with two fingers of wine to ease it off enough not to cry and be able to sleep so I can go to work in the early morning!
Yoga & especially an occasional "hot" yoga class is purging my muscles and I'm doing well with that, too!
Hang in there all, I read a post that said it took 2 years after stopping to feel better! I will do it if I must, but I will not be dependent on a mood drug if I don't absolutely have to be!
Best regards,
Photi

Kristina wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi Stephanie,
I had an awful time coming off Effexor after being on it for a couple of years. I also had a lot of joint and muscle pain and ran a low-grade fever (about 100F) for an entire year while on it. I'm now on Pristiq, which is similar to Effexor, but the withdrawal effects are supposed to be easier to tolerate. I hardly had any side effects for the first six weeks, but now I'm having joint pain again and developed a low-grade fever on the weekend.*sigh* I can't tolerate pure SSRIs, and Effexor/Pristiq are the only meds that I've found that help me. If I have to choose between physical and psychic pain, I'm going to be p*****.
ANYWAY, the withdrawal effects of Effexor do eventually go away. It'll take a while, but they WILL go away. Hang in there!
For joint pain, go to a health food store or a naturopath and ask for an alkalyzing remedy. This is a liquid or powder that you can put in a glass of drinking water to make it more basic (as opposed to acidic)--it just raises the pH of your drink (high pH = basic; low pH = acidic). I have no idea why it works, but it does, and fast! I went from being in tears from pain to feeling almost normal half an hour later the first time I tried it. You can also get it in pill form now. It's not cheap, but it makes a huge difference. A friend of the family who has bad arthritis swears by the stuff--it works for that kind of joint pain too.

[effexor girl]

I am going to try the alkalyzing remedy do you know how often I can take it or if there are any side effects? I dont care how it works if it does but I am scared of having side effects as I have weird things go on even when taking a vitamin. I would not dare take a drink now as I have learned the hard way it is no longer something I can do. It seems like my body has changed completely now coffee was off the list for long time now I find I can have one small one in the morning. There are still times it makes me dizzy but not often.

[Knox1563]

effexor girl wrote:

I am going to try the alkalyzing remedy do you know how often I can take it or if there are any side effects? I dont care how it works if it does but I am scared of having side effects as I have weird things go on even when taking a vitamin. I would not dare take a drink now as I have learned the hard way it is no longer something I can do. It seems like my body has changed completely now coffee was off the list for long time now I find I can have one small one in the morning. There are still times it makes me dizzy but not often.

Thats an interesting point you raise Effexor Girl - I have been experiencing the same problem - i.e. sensitivity to almost all supplements and medications. When I tapered off Effexor I used a program of supplements to reduce the withdrawal but since I finished the meds I cannot tolerate the same supplements - similar symptoms to you - dizziness, unreality etc. I have been off Effexor for 5 months now - how long have you been Effexor free?

[btdt]

knox1563 hi,
ok first let me say I have two names on here one is effexor girl the other is btdt memory problems due to withdrawal not to mention cognative issues have been so debilitating I did not know I had two posting names found out by accident lol life has be very strange these last few years. I have been off 2 years today I went cold turkey which I read is harder and longer I am not done yet and believe as do others that withdrawal comes in waves. When the wave ends I feel like I have climb another stair out of hell there will be a time of wellness then another wave will come when it is gone I climb another stair. After every stair I have reached a higher level of healing in the at first that would mean I could get out of bed for a bit longer...next step I could go outside....next I was not in constant pain it would ease then after about a year I could sleep laying down there were may other things head issues that went along with it not being able to stand sounds or light insomnia 4am sleep time.... music or words repeating over and over in my head paranoia rage apathy oh ya it has been quite a ride there was one point I am quite sure I would have been diagnosed psychotic if I had enough trust to go to hosp but I didnt....All this has eased or gone I occassionally during a wave get a bit of one or the other of the list above but no where near the intensity or extended time frame like before. When it comes now I see it for what it is brain chemistry that is out of whack I am so proud of myself for getting to this point. I have no idea why it goes this way but this is my experience so far.
Photi I went to the health food store I use today to speak with him about the alkalizing product you mentioned. He suggested I use a product called greens which I already have but gave up using awhile back. He has antoher product called ph pills this did not sound like the product you are speaking of. I was wondering if you could give more specific instruction like the name and where you buy it please. I should be done with wonder drugs and simple answers at this point as I see where that got me so far but I can't help wanting to be pain free as long as it is not dangerous I could try just a little thanks in anticipation.
I ended up buying a detox tea cant hurt might help. Thought I bought it in particular as I read a post I put the link on here in long term effects the post was about antidepressant use causing fluoride toxicity some of the same symptoms I think it could be part of the issue but not all s there are many other problem not addressed by this article. Anyway that is the reason I bought the tea as I explained it to the guy and he suggested this tea will let you know how that goes after a couple of wks. If I can tolerate it that long or at all.

[Kathy]

Anybody have problems with a really drippy nose? And a dry cough?

Mine just won't quit running and that is getting in the way of my job. I too a having problems with my hands swelling and itching and muscle crams especially in my legs and with my achilles tendon. Thia morning my toes curled and I couldn't get them uncurled. And I just started this stuff. I thought it was the methotrexate I was on but my rheumatologist thought it might be the venlafaxine.

[Knox1563]

Kathy wrote:

Anybody have problems with a really drippy nose? And a dry cough?
Mine just won't quit running and that is getting in the way of my job. I too a having problems with my hands swelling and itching and muscle crams especially in my legs and with my achilles tendon. Thia morning my toes curled and I couldn't get them uncurled. And I just started this stuff. I thought it was the methotrexate I was on but my rheumatologist thought it might be the venlafaxine.

Hi Kathy,

I certainly experienced muscle cramps and sore achilles tendons ( I had generally sore joints and muscle fatigue ). I have been effexor free for 5 months now and the soreness has reduced a lot. The sore tendons have gone and the muscle fatigue has reduced significantly and only worsens when I have a cold or infection of some type.

[KathyK]

I am so happy I found this web site. I thought I was surely losing my mind. I knew about the brain zaps, which I would get every day when the last day's dose started wearing off. My hip and knee hurt so bad the entire time I was on this horrible drug that I could hardly walk. I visited my doctor so many times but he would NEVER agree that any of this had to do with the Effexor. I gained 30 lbs., I was constantly nauseated, my fingers hurt so bad I went to the doc and he said I had arthritis. While on for just a short 8 months I had a severe kidney infection, thrush (twice), a sinus infection, just to mention a few. I'm convinced every single one of these were due to the Effexor. It is poison and should be taken off the market. I went cold turkey after trying to wean myself three times. It was two weeks of hell, missed several days of work, laid on the couch mostly the entire time. I've been off now for three weeks and feel great. My hip no longer hurts every time I stand off, my knee pain is gone, I have much more energy and just feel great. I think cold turkey is the way to go, but it's not fun. I just wish I could convince my doctor that all of these are side effects from the Effexor so he never prescribes it again. If there is ever a class action lawsuit, I'M IN!!!!!

[btdt]

KathyK wrote:

I am so happy I found this web site. I thought I was surely losing my mind. I knew about the brain zaps, which I would get every day when the last day's dose started wearing off. My hip and knee hurt so bad the entire time I was on this horrible drug that I could hardly walk. I visited my doctor so many times but he would NEVER agree that any of this had to do with the Effexor. I gained 30 lbs., I was constantly nauseated, my fingers hurt so bad I went to the doc and he said I had arthritis. While on for just a short 8 months I had a severe kidney infection, thrush (twice), a sinus infection, just to mention a few. I'm convinced every single one of these were due to the Effexor. It is poison and should be taken off the market. I went cold turkey after trying to wean myself three times. It was two weeks of hell, missed several days of work, laid on the couch mostly the entire time. I've been off now for three weeks and feel great. My hip no longer hurts every time I stand off, my knee pain is gone, I have much more energy and just feel great. I think cold turkey is the way to go, but it's not fun. I just wish I could convince my doctor that all of these are side effects from the Effexor so he never prescribes it again. If there is ever a class action lawsuit, I'M IN!!!!!

Just a not Cathy it can take a couple of months for withdrawal to hit I too thouht I was ok then between wk 6-8 it was back worse. If it does come back going back on effexor may help for some it doesn't and if it is going to help it will take a couple of months to kick in.
It makes sense if you think about it these drugs take time to start working and time to leave.
I have been thru withdrawal a few time or rather remedicated as I was told it was me being sick well I was sick but not the way the doc thought I was in withdrawal. To think I coud have been off these drugs years ago if only I had known that one little thing. I went cold turkey too but don't really recommend it as it us debilitating for me. 2years off effexor and I am still getting waves of withdrawal that put me to bed.

[Katherine]

This is somewhat of a relief. I started taking the generic Effexor in May. I have for months now been having aching and pain in my wrists, knees, shoulders, ankles and back. It comes and goes as others have mentioned. It sort of feels like I have the flu. I have also had a recurrent dry cough. I thought it was something in our air ducts of our house but now I am not so sure. I do not have the option of not taking an antidepressant ( not if I want to keep my family). I have obsessive compulsive disorder and related clinical depression. Problem is it is a genetic disorder. I can remember being depressed as young as five years old. It's not a matter of will the symptoms return. That's a given. It's just a question of how long will it be before they do. I used to take Cymbalta and I had no pain on it. Maybe I should not have switched. Guess I better talk to my doctor. Thank you for sharing your stories.