Just curious to know if anyone that quit taking effexor xr feel dizzy, light headed, brain shivers, feel like a zombie, and feel like there brain is about to shut down on them any second and they feel like there going to go crazy any moment and will need to go to the mental hospital or something, i'm quitting effexor right now and i've been doing it slowly but yesturday was the last day that i took 37.5 mg's of it, and last time i tried quitting i felt like i was gonna go nuts, anyone how the same withdrawals symptoms as me? thx
welcome babyjoe
a few do have severe problems quitting these antidepressant meds, a slow taper helps
confusion can be caused by the return of the original anxiety problems for which the med was taken
you may need to experiment with a small dose of the effexor to see if it stops the problems and stay on this a long time
after quitting an antidepressant the med is all out of the system soon and its not known why the problems persist for some people
paxil is the most notorious AD for problems after quitting, see paxil discontinuation syndrome on the net
strong vivid dreams that wake you are common on quitting an AD
recovered former longtime anxiety and panic attack sufferer and helper of other sufferers but no training or qualifications in medicine or psychology, any remarks that may be taken as advice must be confirmed with doctor or other health professional
Thanks Harry and Welcome Babyjoe to HW.....Keep coming here for your support system we all need it once in a while ...me more oft than not lol.........Good Luck and take care
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babyjoe - welcome to HW. I am on Effexor and never want to come off it! Presumably you are withdrawing from the drug with the advice of your prescriber? There is a lot on the internet about withdrawing from Effexor. I am wondering whether it would be worth you cutting the 37.5 mg in half for a while and then take that every other day, but you would need to discuss this with your doctor. The withdrawal symptoms you are experiencing are absolutely typical.....they will stop, I promise. I tried to increase my Effexor a couple of weeks ago and have now decided it was not a good idea so I'm back to my original 75 mg dose and I am dizzy with brain zaps too - it's not fun, is it? Take care.
Did you get off of it EXTREMELY and I emphasis EXTREMELY slow. You need to give yourself about 2 months to come down from that drug without any problem. I got off of it once... giving myself just one week, what a mistake.. it was HORRIBLE.
Babyjoe-
I quit effexor, but had started taking wellbutrin/topomax at the same time. Is your dr. considering putting you on another anti-depressant? If so, ask if you can take something like wellbutrin that effects a different part of the brain. (at least that's what my dr. said it did.) I think we tapered off for about 2 months. I was on 75mg. He gave me a starter pack and I finally worked to the lowest dose every other day and stayed on that for about 2 wks. Ask if you can go everyother day for a while. It may help alot.
Take care,
rbc
I quit effexor, but had started taking wellbutrin/topomax at the same time. Is your dr. considering putting you on another anti-depressant? If so, ask if you can take something like wellbutrin that effects a different part of the brain. (at least that's what my dr. said it did.) I think we tapered off for about 2 months. I was on 75mg. He gave me a starter pack and I finally worked to the lowest dose every other day and stayed on that for about 2 wks. Ask if you can go everyother day for a while. It may help alot.
Take care,
rbc
I am now off of effexor xr. I have been off of it for almost two weeks and am still having problems.
I stopped taking effexor xr because I really couldn't notice much difference in how I used to feel
anymore (when I started taking effexor). This and the headaches were now outweighing the benefits.
I was taking 150 mg for a couple of years. I then went to 75 mg for one week, then 37.5 mg for
a week, then one 37.5 mg pill every other day for a week. After two days of no medication I
was on my way to work and stopped my vehicle in the middle of a highway and got out and
cussed (which I NEVER do) a man up one side and down the other because he pulled out in front
of me. He mouthed something so I felt the need to do a u-turn and try to find him. Fortunately for
both of us I was unable to. The anger was amazing (in a bad way)! I went back to the doctor and
told him I had to be on something. He put me on welbutrin? and after 8 days of headaches and
non stop gas (very strange, but it was definitely the medication) I got off of that as well.
Since stopping the medication I have experienced extreme anger, loss of temper, still having
headaches (I didn't have the headaches until I started taking effexor, always in the back of my
head, feels like something about 3/4" thick has pierced the back of my head where the spine goes
into the skull) and zapping every time I look to the left or right. I call it zapping because it feels
as if I am receiving a mild electrocution EVERY SINGLE TIME I look left or right. Even if my eyes
are closed and I look left or right, zap. I can look up and down and don't have this problem. My
doctor said he had never heard of that, and I said well document it if you would like.
Effexor is one from a list of six different anti-depressant to depressant I have taken. After trying six
of them and still having problems and not to mention the side effects I have witnessed not only
while taking the medication but also while getting off of the medication, I am praying to God that
He will make any adjustments necessary with my brain so that I can function as normally as
possible.
PLease please ALWAYS make sure you are doing this with your doc as it can be harmful and cause severe w/d as posted
Good luck and let us know how you are
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Let That Strong Spirit Be Your Guide
Never Give up on Yourself ,Your True friends nor your Dignity
Dont Comprimise Yourself....You Are All You've Got
Welcome enoeht ..Glad you found us here a great support system and fantastic peeps ....Hope to see you post often and I am glad you gave your input alwyas helpful and needed at times ......take care and Be well
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Hey enoeht have your tried Zoloft any withdrawl with that?
enoeht said...
I am now off of effexor xr. I have been off of it for almost two weeks and am still having problems.
I am now off of effexor xr. I have been off of it for almost two weeks and am still having problems.
I stopped taking effexor xr because I really couldn't notice much difference in how I used to feel
anymore (when I started taking effexor). This and the headaches were now outweighing the benefits.
I was taking 150 mg for a couple of years. I then went to 75 mg for one week, then 37.5 mg for
a week, then one 37.5 mg pill every other day for a week. After two days of no medication I
was on my way to work and stopped my vehicle in the middle of a highway and got out and
cussed (which I NEVER do) a man up one side and down the other because he pulled out in front
of me. He mouthed something so I felt the need to do a u-turn and try to find him. Fortunately for
both of us I was unable to. The anger was amazing (in a bad way)! I went back to the doctor and
told him I had to be on something. He put me on welbutrin? and after 8 days of headaches and
non stop gas (very strange, but it was definitely the medication) I got off of that as well.
Since stopping the medication I have experienced extreme anger, loss of temper, still having
headaches (I didn't have the headaches until I started taking effexor, always in the back of my
head, feels like something about 3/4" thick has pierced the back of my head where the spine goes
into the skull) and zapping every time I look to the left or right. I call it zapping because it feels
as if I am receiving a mild electrocution EVERY SINGLE TIME I look left or right. Even if my eyes
are closed and I look left or right, zap. I can look up and down and don't have this problem. My
doctor said he had never heard of that, and I said well document it if you would like.
Effexor is one from a list of six different anti-depressant to depressant I have taken. After trying six
of them and still having problems and not to mention the side effects I have witnessed not only
while taking the medication but also while getting off of the medication, I am praying to God that
He will make any adjustments necessary with my brain so that I can function as normally as
possible.
There are others ones as well Paxil .....Celexa to name a couple good luck with the doc .........
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Dont Comprimise Yourself....You Are All You've Got
Hi Jaymay! I did try Zoloft. The second day on it my heart literally felt like it was burning. The second day of that I called my doctor and was told to stop taking it immediately and to not take anything for two days. After the first day of not taking it the burning went away and I haven't felt it since. I know I have tried zoloft, effexor, wellbutrin.....and can't remember the other three. I stayed on effexor the longest, almost two years. I know I had said almost two weeks since I got off of effexor, but it has been a little over three. I had a pretty strong bought of the zaps yesterday and mainly last night. I lose my temper quickly in most situations. If I can manage to stay calm by taking deep breaths and such, I feel that I will be able to stay off of the medications. I don't want my family to suffer from me not taking medication though.
I see Lyn wrote that there are other medications as well. I do realize that but am really tired of feeling like a lab rat. I do know that all of these medications have been tested to some degree, but am tired of being medicated. When I first started taking effexor I was a new man. I felt good, though tired. I got quite a few comments regarding how much I had changed. It made me feel wonderful. After a while I could see myself slowly slipping back into the same thought patterns and feelings I was having before.
Help?
I'm a new member - just cut my dosage (after 3 years) cuz I want my life back. Need to know if ANYONE has successfully weaned themselves off this stuff and actually felt BETTER afterward? I want to have my memory,libido,...ah heck....I want to FEEL again.....this stuff has made me numb inside. Why didn't anyone tell me about this in the beginning?
Any advise/encouragement would be GREATLY appreciated.
Enoeth,
Firstly, let me welcome you to HW! We are glas to have you and hope you find the support you need.
I am sorry you feel like a lab rat. Unfortunately, everyones body is different and meds need to be "tried" rather than just taken. Hang in there and I hope you find some relief
Here's to a "solution"!
--Michelle
Co-Moderator for Anxiety/Panic Forum
Firstly, let me welcome you to HW! We are glas to have you and hope you find the support you need.
I am sorry you feel like a lab rat. Unfortunately, everyones body is different and meds need to be "tried" rather than just taken. Hang in there and I hope you find some relief
Here's to a "solution"!
--Michelle
Co-Moderator for Anxiety/Panic Forum
HeyLady,
Welcome toi HW. There are many people who have weened on and off of meds here. I am not one of them (yet). I hope you can find some answers I am sure someone will be by to share with you.
Here's to finding your answers!
--Michelle
Co-Moderator for Anxiety/Panic Forum
Welcome toi HW. There are many people who have weened on and off of meds here. I am not one of them (yet). I hope you can find some answers I am sure someone will be by to share with you.
Here's to finding your answers!
--Michelle
Co-Moderator for Anxiety/Panic Forum
I am on effexor as well, just started on them about a month ago.
Had to stop taking celexa, having major probs. with bowl probs.
Did try a new drug brand new on the market called cipralex and I really noticed a big difference, but alas it is not covered on our insurance co. so this is why I am now on efferox, and I do find to have dizziness.
I thought it was just me!!!
Had to stop taking celexa, having major probs. with bowl probs.
Did try a new drug brand new on the market called cipralex and I really noticed a big difference, but alas it is not covered on our insurance co. so this is why I am now on efferox, and I do find to have dizziness.
I thought it was just me!!!
Hi all,
Babyjoe, welcome to HW! Lots of good feedback on this already. Yes, I've heard quite a lot about dizziness, etc, coming off Effexor. Make sure you are coming off it really gradually: this can really help cut down on the bad side effects.
HeyLady, Welcome to you too! Effexor had much the same effect on me, but I don't think that's typical. I didn't realise it was the meds for ages (because had been very depressed and just thought it was me not recovering for ages). Well, after a year of it making *everything* difficult to do, I went back to my doc in tears and told her how bad everything was. She changed my meds and ... hey presto ... much better!! On my current meds (citalopram/Celexa), I feel like myself -- no numbness to life, etc. Do remember that meds that work for you don't numb you to things, don't take away your humanness, and certainly don't solve your underlying issues: meds that work help with imbalances (chemical, etc.) and return you to a state in which you are able to deal with underlying issues. Strikes me that Effexor is not that med for you. If coming off it returns you to normal and you are able to cope with things like yourself again, great. If there is still a problem with your ability to cope, and anxiety is playing up, do consider trying a different med. You should definitely talk to your doc about this.
Take care,
Rosie x
********************
Babyjoe, welcome to HW! Lots of good feedback on this already. Yes, I've heard quite a lot about dizziness, etc, coming off Effexor. Make sure you are coming off it really gradually: this can really help cut down on the bad side effects.
HeyLady, Welcome to you too! Effexor had much the same effect on me, but I don't think that's typical. I didn't realise it was the meds for ages (because had been very depressed and just thought it was me not recovering for ages). Well, after a year of it making *everything* difficult to do, I went back to my doc in tears and told her how bad everything was. She changed my meds and ... hey presto ... much better!! On my current meds (citalopram/Celexa), I feel like myself -- no numbness to life, etc. Do remember that meds that work for you don't numb you to things, don't take away your humanness, and certainly don't solve your underlying issues: meds that work help with imbalances (chemical, etc.) and return you to a state in which you are able to deal with underlying issues. Strikes me that Effexor is not that med for you. If coming off it returns you to normal and you are able to cope with things like yourself again, great. If there is still a problem with your ability to cope, and anxiety is playing up, do consider trying a different med. You should definitely talk to your doc about this.
Take care,
Rosie x
********************
People are not like fish: they do not work better battered.
********************
Hi there.
After 5 years, I stopped taking Effexor XR on Wednesday. By that time I was down to one 75 mg capsule every two days, but didn't really partake in a tapering process as such. For the past 48 hours I have had serious 'headzaps', balance problems and visual distortions - I also feel very, very anxious. My skin is 'crawling' all over my body - has anyone else experienced that?
I stopped taking this drug because I do not think I have needed it for a long time but the side effects of trying to stop have kept me taking it simply in order to be able to work / function. I booked a week off work to go cold turkey, so I have 7 possible days left. I really just want to sit this out if at all possible so I can be free of this drug but I feel AWFUL. Is there any possibility that if I grit my teeth and sit out the next week that the symptoms will abate? Otherwise I'm trapped again because I couldn't possibly work while feeling like this.
Any advice very, very gratefully received!
After 5 years, I stopped taking Effexor XR on Wednesday. By that time I was down to one 75 mg capsule every two days, but didn't really partake in a tapering process as such. For the past 48 hours I have had serious 'headzaps', balance problems and visual distortions - I also feel very, very anxious. My skin is 'crawling' all over my body - has anyone else experienced that?
I stopped taking this drug because I do not think I have needed it for a long time but the side effects of trying to stop have kept me taking it simply in order to be able to work / function. I booked a week off work to go cold turkey, so I have 7 possible days left. I really just want to sit this out if at all possible so I can be free of this drug but I feel AWFUL. Is there any possibility that if I grit my teeth and sit out the next week that the symptoms will abate? Otherwise I'm trapped again because I couldn't possibly work while feeling like this.
Any advice very, very gratefully received!
Hi Chris,
Welcome to HW!
From my own experience, and some posts by others, I think this is pretty common as a withdrawal symptom. You might find that a slower tapering process would help -- maybe one every 3 days, then 4 days, then off. If you're a few days into the withdrawal though, you might have already got through the worst of it, in which case maybe best to stick at it -- but stop yourself from worrying about the effects because they are typical and there's nothing wrong with you.
All best,
Rosie x
********************
Welcome to HW!
From my own experience, and some posts by others, I think this is pretty common as a withdrawal symptom. You might find that a slower tapering process would help -- maybe one every 3 days, then 4 days, then off. If you're a few days into the withdrawal though, you might have already got through the worst of it, in which case maybe best to stick at it -- but stop yourself from worrying about the effects because they are typical and there's nothing wrong with you.
All best,
Rosie x
********************
People are not like fish: they do not work better battered.
********************
I really, really hope this is the worst bit and that things can get better soon.
Thanks for your input :) anyone else have any experience of this?
Thanks for your input :) anyone else have any experience of this?