Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 123 of 140}

I like morning because it makes yo9u wake up on empty, and then work through an hour while you wait for the effexor to kick in. this is a good excersize for your brain and body to deal with.

I like 15mg drops and then 10mg rises and then another 5mg drop...until you get down to 15mg. Then I like 10mg drops with 5mg rises and then a little 2mg drop. Something like this:

35mg
20mg spike drop
30mg relief day
25mg balance out
25mg balance out
25mg balance out
25mg balance out
10mg spike drop
20mg relief day
15mg balance out
15mg balance out
15mg balance out
15mg balance out

That's 20mg in 2 weeks. But doing it this way is WAY better than just dropping 2mg or 3mg each day for 2 weeks, which would never kickstart your system.

There is always going to be a little withdrawl. That's how your body knows that it needs to change. The spike drop taper method just tries to minimize the hardest parts while still providing the stimulus to change.

Good luck!

Thanks, Mikemo.
FYI I looked back on my calendar, and see that I was on about 70 granules (generic), so about 70% of of a 37.5 (dropping from the full 37.5) for about a week before my last nasty withdrawal episode. So I think I'll try your pattern, but maybe doing 3.75 mg (I got brand name now) where you do 5 mg. What do you think?

Also, any thoughts on adding/switching to Prozac?

THANKS!!!!!!!! AnneT

I have been digging around the internet for the past few days for any helpful advice on how to make the withdrawal symptoms at least a bit more mild. I'm glad I found this site.

My doc told me to stop the 175 MG of Effexor I was on, and to begin on 300 MG of Welbutrin. He said that I didn't need to ease off of it; that there'd be no side effects. HA HA HA

I have been off this poison for five days now. Other than not wanting to move a muscle for fear that the 'short circuiting' sensation will jolt back into action in my brain, the dizziness will bring me tumbling over my own feet, or the nausea will do more than just make me feel miserable...I'm fine. Well, that is when I'm not crying for no reason at all. I've found that if I can sit still enough with my eyes closed I feel almost normal. Unfortunately, I do have to breathe from time to time and that messes that plan of attack up...

I had to go to a meeting at my daughter's school tonight and I held it together pretty well. That is until one of the moms started telling me about the progression of her divorce. It was all over at that point, I was crying. LOL...I've never been THAT sympathetic before!

I'm going to try some of the tips I've read here and see if that helps at all. I thought earlier that I needed to go back on at least a partial dosage to ease these awful feelings, but I don't think that's the answer. I've gone through hell for nearly a week and I can't justify giving in now (we'll see how strong I continue to be).

I have a call into my doctor. If I can manage to not rip him apart verbally, I'm going to nicely suggest that he not 'cold turkey' any other patients off of this evil drug.

Hi Zapped,
It might not be such a bad idea to take even 1/4 or 1/2 of your last dose, and then try one of these tapering methods, with the support of the vitamins, Benadryl, fish oil, 5HTP, and/or Prozac. As you see in my last post, I just figured out that my crash day is around a week after lowering a dose.
Please keep us posted, how you do, and any helps you find.
AnneT

Hi Mikemo,
I tried spreading the granules of just a 37.5, and you are right, it is pretty tough to get them the spread out evenly. So I got my 75 spread out nicely, and separated the amount that I want. Any hints on getting the 2 lots off the paper? Otherwise I'll just take my measured dose by my usual method of lick-my-finger-and-dab-the-granules, and use other pieces of paper or dosettes to keep track of the leftover amount. Thanks for sticking around for us, Mike.
AnneT

Hi Zapped,

A few months back when I was trying to quit the Effexor. After a a weeke of lowering, my doctor recommended gettingo non 150 mg of Wellbutrine at the same time. I noticed my Effexor withdrawal side effects were getting much worse. After a few days of going through with what you are, I researched the Wellbutrin, I found out alot of the withdrawal affects of the Effexor are the same as side effects of the Welbutrin.
Though the doctor felt that I actually needed more Welbutin. He raised my dose to 300 mg, and by the 2nd day, I was crying like there was no tomorrow, outraged and lost. So, what I am saying you may be having reactions to W. or be taking too much of it. Going from 175 of E to 300 of W, seems to be a big jump.
Good luck to you.

Mikemo,
HI, I have been trying the combination we discussed, I feel dizzy and tired and am hanging in there. Will keep you informed.
Again, Thank you so much.
Kathy

Hi Anne T, thanks for the adivce, I might just use the tappering method, I can't stand this anymore. It might be just what I need.

Hi Kathy, I'm going to look up Welbutrin now. If that's true, then I certainly don't need to be making things worse!!

I spoke with my doctor today. He simply said that, yes, he knew these side effects were possible, but not everyone experiences them. When I mentioned all of the websites dedicated to the withdrawals, he said that it made sense since the people who don't experience them wouldn't post. He said that 'our' bodies just aren't as strong as others... The jerk. Humph. I asked what his advice would be to lessen the misery. He said, 'ride it out, they'll go away after a few days'. What do doctors know, huh?! lol

Kathy,

Dizzy and tired ain't too bad! You're on your way!

Anne,

Getting the beads off the paper isn't very hard IF you first fold the paper in half and then open it up and set it on the counter with the crease acting like a little river that holds the beads. Then I just use a flat toothpick to divide the portions at the markings I put along the crease (using a ruler) Once I have them divided apart on the paper, I slide them onto seperate creased papers. Then I use the folded papers to help pour the beads into the empty gelcaps.

You can buy empty gel-caps at the healthfood store. They make them a little bit bigger so pouring the beads in will be easier.

Good Luck!

Zapped,

That is so typical of Drs. They will never admit to anything!! I can tell you, the occurance of adverse withdrawl from effexor is probably closer to 98%. Especially in patients that do it the way he wanted you to do it!!! The 'ones that don't post' are simply the ones that never get off the drug, so of course they never experience the withdrawl!!

Let's say there is a 15% occurance of reported withdrawl problems. I would wager $100 that most of the other 80% are still on effexor, thus no withdrawl.

Go ahead, Wyeth, wanna bet? (they always word the stats to show what they want to show...you just have to find the REAL meaning behind what they say)

Kat1999, you mention going on Wellbutrin seems to be making your Effexor withdrawal worse. I've been on both for a couple of years now. Anyone else think being on Wellbutrin makes the Effexor withdrawal worse? easier?

Mikemo, aha! I get it, about the second layer of papers. Will try.
AnneT

Hey all, just wanted to let you know that things got so bad last night that I went to the ER. It turns out that the doc is positive that I'm having as bad a reaction to Wellbutrin as I am going off Effexor. He ran a myriad of tests (as they always do) gave me an IV with anti-nausea meds and a pain killer for my migraine, and I felt human for the first time in a week!!! Once they got my heart rate down to normal (from 135 bpm) and ruled out a few scary problems, they sent me packing.
I'm home and the effects of the meds have worn off, but I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and at least I know that I can feel good again!
I'm stopping the W. from here on out and am just going to focus on getting off E. and managing the withdrawals.

AnneT,
The reason W. was making me worse was becasue I had a reaction to it, like Zapped did. Just like Zapped, my doctor disagreed with. Since I was on it for only a only a couple of weeks, I stopped it. Then I was back to my usual withdrawals of the E.

Have you been feeling icky for the last year since you started the W.?
It may not be that you have reactions to the W. and it may be the normal withdrawal of the Effexor that seems like too much.
One thing I know that helped me with the nausea and the dizziness, was the Benedryl (the normal kind and NOT the non drawsy). If it makes you drawsy take a lower dose; but take it closer to each ohter. That is what I did.
Are you and your doctor.

You may also want to look into finding out if it is OK, to be taking the 5HTP you have on hand as you said in your first post.

You may NOT be able to take that along with the Welbutrin.

Good luck.

Hi guys,
Thanks for the posts. Zapped, sorry to hear of your ER visit. Maybe further use of Gravol will help.

Kat1999, when my doctor added Wellbutrin to my Effexor (2 years ago) actually worked really well. I was very depressed with suicidal thoughts and pretty much couch-bound. Within a day of adding the W, I felt much perkier and hopeful. So, I've never seen the W as a problem. Though it did give me insomnia that required Zopiclone sleeping pills for about one month.

Today is my Drop Day (37.5 --> 22.5 mg). I felt just a bit 'off', like I do before the severe vertigo comes, so tried the Benadryl. So far so good.

I feel safe taking the 5HTP during the taper, though if I use Prozac I will discontinue it.

I also read somewhere about L-theanine possibly helping. Any feedback on that, anyone?

Take it easy, AnneT

Hey, anyone out there?
I'm on page 11 of this website, strand, whatever you call it. Dough-y belly, weight gain, naps, fast heart rate on E...yup. Aches and pains - thought I had fibromyalgia.

But I also had pain and fast heart rate with withdrawing? Wierd.

Hey all,

So, for the past two days I've been off both Effexor and Wellbutrin all together. Instead, I've been taking 1 tablet of Benedryl with either 1200 MG fish oil with Omega 3, or 1000 MG flaxseed oil with Omega 3,6, & 9, every four hours. It's like a MIRACLE!!!! If I forget a dose all the symptoms come back with a fury. If I keep them in my system, or take them when I remember, I feel like a new person. Honestly, NO symptoms at all -- nada, nothing, zilch! And amazingly, I'm not feeling depressed either, which surprises me, but I'm not complaining...
*I have learned through trial and error that the Benadryl plays an important role, as does the supplement (although I don't see a difference between the fish oil and flaxseed oil).*

Hi Mikemo! I having been using your taper method you gave me a couple of weeks ago. Today I will take my last pill. It is only 3 mg. Do you know of anyone who has had withdrawal symptoms for such a low dose? I just want to prepare myself. I will continue to take the Fish Oil and start to take a multi-vitamin also. Thanks for all your help.

Zapped,
That's great! It gives me hope, too. Do you take the Benadryl every 4 hours also? Doesn't it make you sleepy?

CCooney,
I've read of some people still having withdrawal off of such a low dose, but hopefully you won't have it too bad. Keep some with you wherever you go, just in case. Can you divide it any smaller than 3 mg?

AnneT

Anne T, Yes I could divide it even smaller. I can probably divide it down to 1 mg. Do you have any suggestions?

AnneT -- Yes, I take the Benadryl AND fish oil (or flaxseed oil) every 4 hours. I only take 1/2 the dose of Benadryl that I do when having a 'true allergic reaction' and I don't notice any drowsiness. Of course, that could be because I'm too busy dancing the jig while feeling better! ;-)

What does the Benedryl help with?

Ccooney - I'm actually not sure, but Kat1999 mentioned it, and I was desperate to try anything that made the slightest bit of sense to me. I thought with as many things as Benadryl aids in, maybe... Low and behold, wa-laa! I'm not about to question something that's working so well... ;-)

Zapped, do you have any problems with nauseau?

CCooney and Zapped,
I studied neurosciences in undergrad (who'd a thunk I'd be a living neurosciences experiment 20 years later!!) Anyway, I did some reading, and it make sense that Benadryl helps, because it is metabolized by the same enzyme that metabolizes (breaks down) Effexor. So, either it is working on similar receptors, or it is simply slowing down our metabolism of Effexor, turning it into a longer-acting drug.

This fish oil thing - I know a lot of mental health workers, psychiatrists, etc are saying that anyone with a psych disorder should be on the fish oil.

Chocolate can help (hurray!) because it boosts dopamine.

I am on my second 'levelling out' day at 30 mg. Yesterday I was quite depressed, hopeless, tired. Today I am cheerier, but still find it difficult to think. I just want my brain back. (I also read that 44% of people on Effexor score significantly lower on memory tests. Not sure how well done the test was, and how much of that is the depression, but...ergh.)

Zapped, maybe I'll get some liquid Benadry to try at lower doses. I'm taking a full dose at night, and one or two during the day this weekend. I don't work tomorrow, so grogginess is ok.

Mikemo, and anyone else...since my severe vertigo seems to come at day 7 after a drop in dose, should I take another bonus dose on day 6 or 7? Or just see if the fish oil, Benadryl and supplements carry me through this time?

AnneT

PS I have switched to twice a day dosing for the levelling out days (15 mg am and pm 12 hours apart.)

Zapped,
I am glad you are feeling better.

Ccooney,
The Benedryl, helped me with vertigo and some with the nausea.

Remember to use the regular kind that makes you a bit drawsy. You can take half a dose, but closer intervals.

Mikemo,

Once again, I want to thank you for standing by me and everyone else on this forum.

Second, I wanted to let you know how I have been feeling.

The L-Tryptophan seems to be helping with anxiety. However, the recurrence of my disc problems has kept me agitated during the last 3 weeks.
I am in so much pain that I have to take anti-inflammation meds, and muscle relaxant.
I am not sure if it is ok to take the L with it. But, I try to put some hours between taking the L with the other two.

Oh, the GNC is planning to discontinue carrying the L., wich worries me. Do you happen to know a trusting on line source to purchase them from?
I have been having a frustrated husband, who had been impatient from the start, having to see his strong wife acting so week.
I have noticed that when he is kinder to me, it helps me lots.

I am hanging in there.
Thanks for hanging in there with us.

Kathy

Anne,

Bonus doses aren't realy a good way to go. It would be better to stay at a constant dose until you are ready to make another spike drop and re-level.

Kathy,

I haven't looked online, but I would think a reputable company would be perfectly safe. You can usually tell. Here is one that looks good to me:
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/search/en/query.jsp?q=tryptopha....

You should be fine keeping your doses separated with the anti-inflammitory.

Keep up the good work!!