Dealing with withdrawal from Effexor

[kelsischanging]

I am going off effexor and am having a horrible time getting off of it ...I was on 300mgs but tappered off to the last two weeks just being on 37.5mgs...monday was the first time I didn't have any and didn't have any since...since then I have felt nausus(sp)...really lightheaded and dizzy and have had a constant headache, and am extremely emotional...i'm a mess I just want to cry at everything ....it's bad enough that I want to just stay on effexor just so I don't feel like this ...when will this go away ...is there anything I can do in the mean time to help w/ the effects other than OTC asprins and stuff...it's also bringing back memories of detoxing when I started rehab for a drug problem...I just feel really crappy and reallly lost...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

[ThatLady]

Kels, are you tapering off the Effexor by yourself, or with a doctor's help?

[kelsischanging]

this is following my doctors(psychiatrist) advice and help...

[ThatLady]

Good. I'm glad you're working with your doctor to get off the medication. Too many people try to do it alone.

Have you let the doctor know you're having the problems you've mentioned? Anytime a doctor is working on medication changes with a patient, feedback is critical to him/her. They can't know how things are going if you don't convey the information. The doctor may be able to help you deal better with the reduction in Effexor through use of other medications, or some other method. Are you taking any other medication at this time?

[foghlaim]

sorry to hear u are feeling so ill coming off effexor kels...
no advice to offer i'm afraid. i'll lleave that to those you know hwat they are talking about. but i'm glad to hear you are doing under supervision.

I hope you start to feel better soon ok.


nsa

[David Baxter]

Definitely try to talk to your doctor, kels. One of my clients also had difficulty recently discontinuing Effexor - she was given some lorazepam to help her cope with the final stage and it did help.

[Retired]

Reporting the way you feel to your doctor would be the thing to do as everyone has suggested. As you may know, Effexor is a relatively short half life drug, which means it requires gradual tapering of the dose to avoid withdrawl symptoms which might be what you are experiencing.

Have you and your doctor discussed switching to another anti depressant medication to replace Effexor?

[braveheart]

Hi Kels.

I recently had a hard time coming off efexor. (from 150mg) With close supervision from my GP and carefully watched by my psychotherapist. It took me several months. I had to do it really slowly. I found the initial drops each time were the worst.
(and I was also taking remeron still throughout). For me there were lots of emotional issues connected with withdrawal from a medication, and that tended to make things harder sometimes, I felt.

I found my beta blocker invaluable in dealing with the anxiety especially.

Hold on in there...as my GP said over and over to me, it will pass.....

[foghlaim]

reading this thread has me worried a little... i'm on effexor also.. won't be coming off it for a while tho.. but i'm on a total of 375mgs... wow reading about the withdrawal symptoms is scary...


sorry didn't mean to make this about me..
kels i hope u really do feel better soon ok

nsa

[Halo]

I know for me that I was on Effexor for about 4 years and finally came off of it about 8 months ago. The only side effect that I found troublesome was headaches. I did have headaches almost daily for a little while but the eventually became less and less and then just went away.

I think that as long as you are decreasing the dosage slowly and with the advice of your doctor than it should be okay but of course everyone experiences different withdrawal symptoms so what happens for one might not happen for another.

Nancy