Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 109 of 140}

I guess it depends how severe your withdrawal is but you may not know that until you're in it. I could not safely drive a vehicle during that time. It depends what kind of a job you have and if you have to drive much and like ems said, if you're just dazed or have headaches or vomiting you could do it. I couldn't have done it because of the constancy of the head zaps, driving wasn't possible, hot and cold extreme flashes (I had to take my clothes off and on every 20 min or so). It may be tapering further helps with that kind of thing or maybe it isn't as extreme. I don't know how one could predict it tho. Heck I could barely take a shower and open cans to eat out of, but I am not a real go-getter type. I am the lay on the couch and take it easy type. Even that was hard because as soon as I lay down I got the sweats really bad and the ears ringing got worse, it's a crapshoot.

Everyone gets different assortments of symptoms and each to varying degrees, so it seems difficult to predict.

You all convinced me!!! I've stopped taking effexor as of today. Here goes, guys. Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones, but I'm already spacey, ears are ringin' away. Maybe if I play my accordion, it'll make the noise bearable. Did go for a run this morning and drove. Been stumbling and forgetful, the usual stuff that happens when I'm getting adjusted to a new level. Lucky for me, I'm not a 'pucker,' so I don't have to feel afraid of that. The sweats stopped a few weeks ago. For the record, folks, I'm a clinical social worker with lots of patients on lots of meds over the years. I haven't had a complaint about withdrawals, but most of them either stayed on the med or switched to something else. In giving it more thought, I realize a few of them got very sick when they did come off, but I never made the connection, and neither did they. Many complained of weight gain and problems with sex, however. One came off effexor very slowly, on her own, as she wanted to get pregnant. I'm not pregnant, but I'm fat as a cow in my opinion. The biggest reason for me to ditch these crummy pills. Thanks for being there, all of you!
Marilyn

Good for you Marilyn,

I hear you on the fat as a cow syndrome, Im trying to lose this weight and every time I look at myself I wonder how I let myself get this way.

Now I have to work my tail off to get rid of this. Im 51 and don't have the advantage of youth. Its really hard, but I WILL NOT BE A FAT COW THIS SUMMER.... I was last summer and have burned all photos of myself.

Give yourself lots of pampering. Hot bubble baths, massage, anything that makes you feel good.

Best of luck, TWISI

good luck Marilyn!! We are all rooting for ya girl!!

im at day 19 effexor free - i should prob stop counting soon...hehe but as each day passes, i feel more and more happy that im off the evil e. i threw out a packet last night and it was really liberating!

So I wake up this morning feeling like I've smoked 4 joints in rapid succession. When I turn my head, my psyche follows a few seconds later, the swishing and buzzing is there too. Kind of fun, this walking , or should I say, stumbling around on an angle. And I'm ready to go for a run! HA! The best thing that happened is that I read about some woman who spent 2 years sitting on her boyfriend's toilet, and the seat literally imbedded itself on her rear end! She kinda grew onto it! Man, I could not stop laughing!! Then, 2 minutes later, I'm cryin' my eyes out.My emotions are right on the surface, it seems. Anyway, I'm gonna try to get thru another day without effexor. My hubby barely gets it, and I only hope I don't throw him out before this is all over.....Where's my accordion?

Marilyn, everything you just said in your post makes perfect sense to me! my head felt awful for about the first 10 days of withdrawal. i was so worried i would be like that forever but im not at all now. Just ride with it and take each hour literally as they come. same for me with the emotions - one minute cracking up, the other crying my eyes out.

honestly, keep going and keep us posted each day. i posted every day during the first week or so - i found it helped to just write down what i was feeling physically and emotionally. we are all here for you so dont despair and what ever you do - dont take another pill again. even if you feel awful and feel like there is no hope - there is and its really nearly there for you too!! :-)

ems x

Still disconnected. In my business, we call it dissociation. And my heart races now and then. Played the accordion for 2 hours, which helped keep my mind off the weird swishy sounds and the cognitive crap. Good thing I expected this. If not, I woulda thought I was havin a stroke. At least the toilet seat isn't stuck to my arse!!

Marilyn

ejb199jsd:

i just reread yer message 'cause i forgot what you wrote right after i read it.

10 days????????????


wwaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

lol thats one good thing then hey! your toilet seat free!

yes it helps if you are expecting these feelings. i had some wierd feelings last week which i can only assume were withdrawal - each side of neck really painful and my jaw - couldnt chew or talk properly..wierd.

i just read thro some of the older posts from two weeks ago and i cant beleive i carried on with work and drove in 50 miles each day!! madnesss really and really stupid of me. just saw one when i was at 72 hours - im now at 456 hours and feeling great!

yep about TEN days for me to be honest. At about day 7, it did start getting a lot better but i found i was sooo weak and still mildly dizzy. it was day ten coz i was at a conference for work and had to drive 200 miles there and then 200 miles back and when i get home i said to my guy, you know what, i havent felt ill and dizzy all day! and from that day on ive been fine! almost like it switched off...?

I have noticed right along that things come and go rapidly. Like one day it's 'this,' and the next day it's 'that!' I'm getting constant swishes and little zaps when I turn my body or move my eyes, and remain dissociated. I hope this is as bad as it gets. If I keep still I don't notice it. But hey, it's not painful or debilitating. I did drive today, but I was worried and extra cautious. Mostly, any withdrawals I had as I titrated down peaked at either days 4 or 5, or, since I switched from the capsules to the tablets, day 12. I have to go to a workshop on monday all day, and run a major accordion event this sunday. Gulp....

Hey Twisi,
I'm goin on 54, with a birthday coming up next week. Did you notice while on this med that you could not control eating??? I had been trying so hard not to overeat as I watched myself gain more and more weight, and I could not control urges. When I got down to 25mgs. the urges subsided, and I find that I could take or leave food at times.

I have not had any med since tuesday. It's gonna be interesting to see if I wanna eat more or less, and if some of this blubber starts to come off as my metabolism changes. My heartbeat is going wild at times. It'd scare the bejesus out of me if I hadn't been a runner for the last 27 years and know my heart's in great shape. I realize that others have had cardiac symptoms when coming of effexor. The worst constant side effect while on it was drowsiness. Really bad drowsiness!

Marilyn

Hi! Marilyn and the rest of the ladies. Marilyn, I quit after I had tapered down to 1/4 tab for about 3-4 days and while I had all the fun withdrawal effects that you're currently having, they were not too very severe. I loved your description of it feeling like you had smoked 4 joints in rapid succession! I had the same feelings along with the swishing and the buzzing. It was definitely easier not moving my head too fast one way or the other. The thing you've got going for you is being in the mental healthy industry. It will get easier, I promise you! I am almost a month Effexor free. Yay! I'm still having a little trouble at night sleeping, but I think some of it is because I have a hard time turning my brain off at night. I think about what I didn't get done that day, what I wanted to get done, or what I want to get done the next day. But other than that, I feel great! Keep us posted.
Pam

pam:

mentally healthy??????

mentally healthy??????

lolololololol!!!!


we in the mental health profession are some of the craziest folks around!!

ya know what's saved me???

my accordion!!!

marilyn

It's interesting to me how many of us describe ourselves as around 50 and gained weight on effexor. Too bad we don't live near each other, you guys would make great buddies! I guess we made good targets for people to get hooked on effexor. LOL Like certain drug dealers corner the market on college freshman, our docs have a liking for middle aged women who look like they can afford refills.

Just checking in to say, it gets better every day. Except one thing. I ate thru withdrawal, more than usual. I gained 9 pounds in the last week. Pouty face. I ordered the 6 week body makeover kit on an infomercial just now. Time to get back in control and to consider an exercise program. Thank god, without the effexor, that seems achievable. When I was on it, I did not want to move unless I absolutely had to. I am having more calm, steady energy now, my bp is down, and my heartrate is down. I don't feel agitated any more. I am not so self-conscious like I was on effexor. I just feel healtier and happier. Good luck to all the ladies here and many happy tomorrows. PS I still am getting hot flashes, I don't know if it's natural hormonal ones now and maybe the effexor was knocking them out before, or if it's just some body thing re: getting physiological balance back.

EffexorFree: Interesting. I find that while I don't have the intense cravings for sugar, that I've gotten into a habit of nighttime eating. It feels different in that with less effort, I can resist overeating at night now. Before a week ago, I felt driven to eat sweets and no matter how much self talking I did, I seemed to be on remote control, walkin' like a robot to the cabinets and fridge to get sweet stuff. Now, my inner voice is saying: 'Why don't you feel the urge to eat? You should be feeling it? It's time to eat..' and then, I could either tell myself to shut up, or eat a little and then tell myself to stop. A huge difference. (no pun intended). My hot flashes, which initially got me into this mess 25 lbs ago, have returned some over the last 2 days without effexor. They initially left altogether when I cut down to a little less than 37.5. They aren't huge soakers like they were before, and not as frequent yet. But, ya know what? BFD!!! My sister has 4th stage breast cancer. Ain't no way I'm puttin' hormones in this body. I'm gonna buy a fan and pour ice down my shirt and sleep commando. At least I know that it's not effexor doin' it to me. It's just nature. And nature is beautiful!!! Even if it means ya gotta whip yer clothes off in yer office when noone's there!!! LOL! This isn't gonna go well with you guys and gals, but this feeling high thing has it's advantages....makes me feel like a kid again!!!LOLOLOLOL! My kid is laughing at me walkin' around on an angle, yelling 'swish, swish!' every time I get the noises in my head. My humorous side is totally out of control. Anyway, if yer interested in a drop the pounds support group, lemme know. I'm thinking of attaching a toilet seat to my behind to cover it up......

Marilyn

Marilyn---

Yes absolutely -- my appetite was totally out of control. Now that I am off it for two weeks i question every thing i put in my mouth. Its so easy to order fries with that sandwich, but the pain I am enduring every day in Bikram Yoga makes me think twice.

The scale still registers 'cow' and with all the hard work, I see no progress. My husband says he sees a huge (no pun) difference. I know it takes time and at some point it will show - its really frustrating.

The weather is getting nice finally (Chicago) and I WILL NOT spend the summer waddling around like a whale.


I have been laughing my tail off lately. I feel like I haven't laughed in years. What a great great feeling.

Best,Twisi

Hi all. Still check in every so often. Good luck to eveyone trying to get off the Effexor.

I've been off for 6 weeks and have generally had a very good time being off it.

With ONE exception.

QUESTION:

I'm male, and don't seem to be quite the same sexually. Things 'work' so to speak. But things just don't seem totally normal....hard to explain, but getting aroused at various times or moments of days seems more difficult...whether it be if I'm trying to get aroused or maybe seeing something that I would expect to make me feel aroused.

When I have a good nights sleep, I can be aroused in the morning, like most males, but other times I have nothing going on.

I've searched online and found that sometimes it takes time to get back to 'normal'. Others say that being on Effexor a long time can effect your sexual life long term

I was on it at various doses (37.5 and 75 mostly....150 for 3 month).

Is there a male here who has been off Effexor for a long while and can report if he felt a gradual return to normalcy?

I seem to notice a return to normalcy in most other areas.....sleep, stomach problems, head aches......and would like to here some good recoveries in the sexual area.

Thanks!
Fynkytown

I'm not male, but I'm a therapist by profession. I'm wondering: how old are you? Sexual function does change with age.What other meds are you on? Some are known to affect sexual functioning. Other medical conditions (ie: diabetes, hypertension),can also affect sexual function. How much do you drink alcohol or use recreational drugs? Are you in a stable, happy relationship? What's your present emotional status (depressed, anxious)? When was your last complete physical exam? (Actually, I should have asked that question FIRST. 6 weeks may not be enough time for you to get to your pre-medication status. Ask a pharmacist how long it takes for your brain to 'recover.' And when you get an answer to the question, lemme know what it is. I'll wager they'll say it varies from person to person, but I'm reading entries on these threads from folks that report problems months after they've discontinued the med.
These are all questions to discuss with your doctor that could shed some insight into the situation. In the meantime, keep the sexual climate as comfortable and anxiety-free as possible. Just enjoy!

Marilyn

Hi Marilyn,


Thanks for the quick reply.

Because I'm so concerned, I may as well be specific as possible. I'm in my late 30's, first of all. Don't smoke. Drink a beer maybe once or twice a week. Married happily with younger kids. Always had a lack of social skills and a little uptight, but got through my life with no drugs/medicines and like to run a few times a week.


In June last year I landed on my tailbone fairly hard. Didn't break anything but my back was a little stiff for awhile, and more importantly....I was numb-ish all around my underside. It constipated me for awhile and seemed to numb some of the feelings in genital area. For many days I couldn't sleep well....seemed very panicked, so the doctor gave me Lorazepam. I took 1mg a night (which I later found out was very potent). I continued this for about 3 weeks before starting on Effexor 37.5. The doctor thought it would help me get off Lorazpam.

Before I forget, on the fall, my head hit concrete fairly hard...causing a tiny cut that bled a bit and gave me 3 stitches, but I did not black out and was told I didn't have a concussion....though I'm thinking I could have had a mild concussion.

Sexually, I started to be better. I have a wonderful wife, and when together, I could do my duty. And over time, it started to seem more and more normal. But it was a little difficult trying to get myself aroused...I tried many times just as a test.

I tried stopping .5mg of Lorazepam in early August cold turkey. Mistake. I had an absolutely horrendous week.

At this point I was at 75mg of Effexor and didn't want to go up. But as I tried to ween off Lorazepam again, the doctor bumped me up to 150mg.

By early September I was off Lorazapam and taking 150mg of Effexor XR every morning.

All my 'numb-ish' feelings were long gone by now, but I was starting to notice that it took longer to finish when with my wife. And I still wasn't easily aroused.

November-December I felt pretty anxiety free and fairly normal. Sleep wasn't a problem....in fact, I hated that I always felt TOO tired in the morning. Erections weren't too much of a problem, but it seemed to take forever to finish when with my wife. One time I couldn't finish.

By December, I decided I didn't want to be on the crap anymore. So, with a psychiatrist's permission, I started tapering off in early January.

I dropped to 112.5, then to 75 two weeks later. Then to 37.5 two weeks after that. Then stopped around Feb. 12.

All the while I felt pretty great...a lot, I'm sure, because I was proud and happy of myself to not be on the medicine.

From the time I stopped until now, I was able to get erections and perform with my wife the handful of times we were together.

But my male area just seems different. I don't wake up with morning erections (though a couple time I have) and when I test myself to see if I can stimulate myself, it takes a bit of effort to get blood going down there.

I don't take pride in looking at pornograpy or bikini babes on the internet, but have done so to see my reaction. Most of the time I become aroused....obviously me seeing the images is getting me excited. And it would be easy for me to climax by manually stimulating myself. The erections seem fairly normal....though don't stay as erect for as long when I stop trying to arouse myself.

My wife and I haven't been 'together' too many times the past month, so I don't know how I'd perform multiple times.

I'd say I still have a little bit of anxiety/depression...mostly when I'm thinking of things like how my male parts work. But I get out with the kids and still run, which all seem to help. And March Madness will keep my spirits up.


ALSO.....before my whole ordeal started, I would sleep very easily at nights. And on weekends, could sleep in until 9 or 10...sleeping 8-10 good hours.

NOW...I don't fall asleep like a light switch anymore. I usually lay in bed for 10-15 minutes probably before falling asleep. Then I wake up about 5-6 hours later and have a real hard time sleeping more. If I lay there, I'll nod off here and there, but it feels like I'm awake.


ALSO.......some nights I have this thing where I'll almost here myself start dozing off, then have some real creepy dream that wakes me up.


As for other side effects, I felt a littly gurgly in the stomach when coming off, and that's almost gone away completely. Same with the slight, dull headaches. I gained maybe 5 pounds, but I kinda needed it, so maybe that wasn't a side effect.

My boss is wonderful, and has allowed for my various appointments and late to work rituals early on.

BOTTOM LINE for me (and others, I'm sure) is:

If on Effexor for any period of time, can you expect your body to never be as it once was, or....over time...does your body get back to how it was before Effexor started altering the brain a little bit?


Thanks so much Marilyn. Your reply will be greatly anticipated. Sorry for writing so long, maybe it well help you answer mine and others 'recovering' from Effexor.


Funkytown

Funkytown,
My best guess is that ya gotta give it more time. Some of the stuff you're reporting (delayed ejaculation, bad dreams, sleep disturbances, drowsiness, headache)are all withdrawal related). The other stuff, (the fall and such), complicate your picture. I notice that everyone's experience is a little different. I will say, I think you came down rather quickly, and it's noteworthy that you were on and off effexor several times, and the lorazepam complicates the picture (thank god ya stopped that! It's not a med to be on long term!) Can I recommend you go to your bookstore and get/order a book by Joseph Glenmullen called 'The Antidepressant Solution.' Very informative. I'm not a doc, but I'll stick by my recommendation to wait another month or so and stay off the pills. GET RUNNING! It's great for anxiety and depression. I read thru some of your past posts, sir! You seem to struggle with both. Ya might want to find a good talking therapist re: your self confidence issue. If all else fails,after ya give it some more time, get to a good urologist, and take your questions to him or her. Above all else, RELAX!!! Hard to command someone to do, eh? But that's why I play the accordion..... Best of luck to ya!

Thanks so much.

Ha. You're right. I wish it was so easy to 'just relax'. I try not to overdo my commitments....or commitments that I know might stress me out.


Is it your thought that Effexor XR always flushes its way out of one's system? And after, say, another 2,3 or 4 months Effexor free, would you think my withdrawals would be minimal, if not gone?

Happy accordian-playing!

PS: Music, in genral, is AWESOME. I'm able to listen while working and I think it helps a lot.

MIKEMO-
started using ur pill splitting method yesterday & dropped 20 mg yesterday (went from the 3 inch line to the 2) & then back up 15 mg today but seems like im having withdrawals, has anyone else experienced this? i felt fine all day yesterday but today the cloudiness in my head, slight headache, & almost forgetting to breath.. holding my breath for no reason which is making me feel lightheaded obviously. Am i doing this right??

Funkytown,
While I'd love to give you a definite answer and say 3-4 months should show progress, given all the factors, it could go either way. I worked for a shrink for 2 years, who used to tell patients that prozac would be totally out of the system in 2 weeks. But that drug is chemically different from our evil E. If I were you, if it's not gone in a month or 2, I'd get an opinion from a shrink or a urologist re: your sexual issues.

Marilyn

Also, wanted to report that this was day 3 of somewhat milder brain fog and zaps, swishing noises, lack of coordination, memory issues, tiredness. I notice I feel better after I sleep, regardless of the vivid dreams. Hey, some of 'em weren't so bad....sexy ones! Unexpected pleasure for this soon to be 54 year old accordion totin' old broad. But then, once I'm up and around, the crap starts again. I really should not have driven yesterday, especially tryin' to turn my head really fast. Although my head is foggy, and I'm still disconnected mentally from it, I don't have headaches. I did notice that for about 3 weeks straight my eyelid was twitching, just as I was tapering down. That just stopped a few days ago. Tomorrow's day 4, the usual day that all hell breaks loose. Somehow, I don't think it's gonna be so bad. My sense of humor has been wicked bad lately, and folks are wondering what's goin' on. The food thing continues to baffle me. I eat, but I really don't WANT to eat it. The craving is leaving me, but the eating out of control behavior is still kind of there, just becoming less out of control. Easier to stop eating crap food late at night. This, believe it or not, has been the most difficult part of my effexor journey. F - - k the zaps, and dissociation, memory issues and such. It's the fat that hurts the most. I want it gone.

Marilyn

Funkytown,

There is a syndrome called Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction that affects a small percentage of SSRI users. There is a lot of info on the internet if you google Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction Syndrome. Wikipedia defines it as,'Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD)[1] is an iatrogenic type of sexual dysfunction caused directly by the previous use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. While apparently uncommon, it can last for months, years, or sometimes indefinitely after the discontinuation of SSRIs. It may represent a specific subtype of SSRI discontinuation syndrome.

Here is a link to a good forum for this syndrome: http://www.sexual-dysfunction.info/forum/ where you can get more specific answers to your questions from other people having this same experience.