I was on 300mg's of the antidepressant Effexor Xr. The great thing is that I took my last dose of Effexor 18.75 ( immediate release ) 5 days ago. I have been tapering slowly of this antidepressant since July 25, 2011 now 4 months later I am off.
First if your reading this and tapering off Effexor ( XR or immediate release ). Please know your not crazy. All the " brain zaps, dizziness, vertigo, headaches, tiredness, flue like symptoms, aching muscles and joints, crying over everything, extreme anger, nausea, stomach aches, vomiting, diarrhea and so on. It is from the Effexor. Your didn't lose your mind.
Why does this happen? I don't really understand it.
I can tell you that Effexor is an SNRI ( Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor )- The SNRI affects your Serotonin and Norepinephrine Neurotransmitters ( these neurotransmitters play a big role in your mood. Effexor alters that) also Effexor effects your dopamine production. These are things that we all produce naturally.
The Effexor may have worked great in the beginning but, after time and your doses are increased. Which caused you to have really bad side effects, i.e. like not wanting to get out of bed, sleeping all the time, no libido, anxiety attacks even phobic and not wanting to show your face, also not caring about anything anymore ( apathy ) kind of like your numb, having trouble with expressing emotions along with the rest of the horrible side effects. ( Effexor is not addictive, it screws with your Central Nervous Symptom and Neurotramitters: Serotonin and Norepinephrine ) You will have strong withdrawal symptoms. Also, you have to taper slowly. You did not put yourself on this medication. Your doctor did. Hoping to help you with depression, PTSD, anxiety, panic disorder it may have helped you through a bad time. However, some doctors forget to warn you about Effexor XR and Effexor ( immediate release ) side effects and claim there is barely any withdrawal. Remember that this is your body. Don't let your doctor make you taper in 3 weeks that's way to fast. Don't be afraid to tell your doctor this is to fast. If the doctor doesn't support this decision and won't help correctly. Find a new one. ( psychiatrist or primary physician )
The above is confusing. You may want to do a Wikipedia search: What is an SNRI ? which explains the chemistry stuff, and also explains you will have withdrawal when you start tapering off this medication. ( Do not stop this drug " cold turkey " the withdrawal symptoms are worse and you will feel like your in hell and you can't get out. ) Also there are bunch of forum's regarding Effexor withdrawal.
Remember this medication is not addictive. We wouldn't want to get off of Effexor if it was that great. The side effects are the worst. You try to escape the side effects by tapering off then your introduced to withdrawal effects. Pharmaceutical companies are the ones making the money. However, Effexor seems to be one of those pills that, was a miracle drug ( like prozac ) but, not enough research was done of Effexor ( generic Venlafexine ). It was released to soon. Doctors were told about how great the medication is but, are also told there are little side effects, and no withdrawal effects.. We all know now this is bull. However, it seems a lot of doctors don't really know about this drug even in 2011. Pyschiatrist's seem to be prescription happy. Tell the doctor to take it himself and then get off of it.
Also this medication has a short half life. People who have missed a dose start feeling brain zapping, dizziness and vertigo. But you feel better as soon as you get this stuff back in your system. Just taper off of this.
Its often compared to Alcohol Withdrawal.
You can get off this medication. Slow taper, however, remember you will still go through withdrawal when your tapering that feel like your going nuts and there is something wrong with you. Your not crazy.
I am off this medication completely. As mentioned above I took my last dose 5 days ago. I am having withdrawal symptoms as I write this. These started Friday Night its now Monday. Remember everyone's body is different. Some people it lasts longer after the initial taper, it may be shorter or you don't experience withdrawal at all. I am explaining the days it takes me to feel normal again which is 10 to 14 days.
I supplement with Omega 3 ( fish oil ), multivitamin, L-tyrosine, D3. However, if you can't take all these supplement at least get the Omega 3 fish oil. It really does help with the brain zaps.
I dropped to 150mg from 300mg every 4 weeks. Then every 3 or 4 weeks. I chopped the dose in half. It didn't bother me as much chopping down. However, I screwed up the process when my doctor told me to count beads from the capsule and only take half that would equal the 37.5 dose. I was also put on Wellbutrin XL at this time. I had no patience for counting beads. Then I decided to quit the Effexor Xr at 75mg, ( because I refused to count beads. ) and quit the Wellbutrin XL. That was the stupidest move I have ever made. I slipped into psychosis when I abruptly stopped. I had no idea when I was told to count beads from the Effexor XR capsule, how bad the withdrawal could get. ( don't stop till your down to the littlest dose. )
Because I dropped off the 75mgs of Effexor and Wellbutrin XL. I slipped into psychosis.
Like I said above, I have been off of Effexor for 5 days. ( 18.75 ) I refuse to take it. Even though I am suffering withdrawal.
Just get off this drug. You will have a life again. Try to remain positive. Also, remember there is no relief when going back on. You just end up back at square one again. Effexor with nasty side effects.
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