Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 99 of 140}

Penny,

What kind of rehab? I'm just asking because I went to an alcohol rehab two years ago and they had Effexor, I didn't need to bring mine. They asked what meds I was on and were able to dispense my Wellbutrin and Effexor. I won't go into more detail unless you are referring to something similar. Hang in there.

SweetLo

Hello...

I might as well be honest with my situation because hiding in the dark has never gotten me anywhere. I was ordered by the county to start taking anti-depressants after a very serious suicide attempt. My fiance came home after work only to find me on the kitchen floor passed out from the loss of blood. I feel it is necessary to describe the severity of the situation so that maybe someone can direct me in the right and safe direction.

I started taking 80mg Celexa. The Celexa had ceased to work after 5 months. I've only been taking 75mg EffexorXR (twice daily) for 2 months now and I've been through severe withdrawal symptoms twice already. I had used the starter pack for 4 weeks and my doctor had managed to convince me to make an appointment in exactly 4 weeks without prescribing me a refill. He canceled my appointment and I was unable to receive a refill until 4 days later. I was so desperately ill that I couldn't even get out of bed without vomiting/dry heaving or experience what I like to call 'shocks' accompanied by temporary 'blindness' and my inability to hear accurately while these shocks were occurring. I contacted my doctor and received a refill. I refilled the prescription because the drug was working for me while regularly taking it and I would rather feel better than to be a hazard to myself and fiance.

My Dr. had then given me only 1 refill. He had scheduled another appointment for 4 weeks later and he again CANCELED! I was dying over xmas. My withdrawal symptoms seem to NOT be getting better but only worse. I have managed to call up my friends and collect the remainder of their prescription Effexor for temporary relief. They had stopped taking the drug & had a few left over. I still don't see a Dr. until Feb 4th.

I'm beside myself because I have the most HORRIBLE vivid nightmares and when I wake up in the morning I feel as though I had never gone to sleep. I'm in emotional distressed. I have horrible fits of rage and suicidal tendencies. Luckily, I have been turning to God to help fight them off but I'm wearing thin and I don't have much energy left. All the doctors have turned their backs on me because I have no insurance and the county doctors obviously don't care because I'm unable to get care. I know that I don't belong in an inpatient 5150 program at the local hospitals because I've 'been there, done that' and I left worse off than I came. I don't have the means to enter into private programs at this time. I am wondering if there are any home remedies that might help for the time being? Maybe something to ease one, or more of my following symptoms?

-Night sweats
-Vivid/horrible nightmares
-Severe insomnia
-'Shocks' accompanied by what I feel is temporary blindness and hearing loss for the duration of the shocks. (Usually only a few seconds long)
-Nausea/vomiting/dry heaving
-Loss of balance/dizziness
-Rapid heart rate/anxiety
-Fevers/chills/shakes

I've been self medicating at night with Tylenol PM. The downside to that is that I often have to take 4-6 pills a night just to fall asleep. I've tried herbal supplements & other non-herbal and nothing seems to work. I've taken Dramamine(original formula) and it causes more anxiety and insomnia for me. Nothing is making my 'shocks' or nausea/dizziness feel better. I can't live like this and I can't live without medication. I'm frustrated. =(

Is there another drug out there that works as well as Effexor XR but doesn't cause all of these terrible side effects? I'm willing to try anything.

I've heard of treatment with Lithium. Does anyone here have any kind of knowledge about it?

Thank you for listening to my story,
Ki


I'd like for Brian and I to look this happy again...

(This post contains an image. To view the image, please log on.)

Ki

I understand. I suffer the withdrawal symptoms equally.

Some important things to remember:

what you eat can affect your mood. be sure to get at least three weekly servings of omega 3 rich food - salmon, or black cod are good sources ( or equal in supplements). no alchohol, no sugar, no caffiene - these contribute to mood and energy swings. be disciplined about exercise - especially aerobic activity. St. John's wort helps some people. I tried an herbal tea - Valerian Tea. (it really stinks) but put me right out.

I have been an insomniac most of my life. Being off effexor has worsened it. The hot spells, anxiety, shocks, dizziness, i know, are unbearable. I did not sleep for two days.

Be strong. I wish I could get you help, I really do, you sound like you need help. Keep the people that love you close - you will need them for support.
Hugs to you my dear, you are a beautiful girl - love yourself.

Twisi,

Thank you so much for your response. I realize that self help is the best kind that I can get for myself and it's so nice to be reminded by those who care.

I take 1-2 mile walks at night if I'm feeling well enough. Which I'm sure helps me in the long run. However, on NYE I splurged and had a few glasses of wine. I felt better while drinking but I definitely payed for it the next day. =(

I will go to GNC and try the Valerian Root extract (tea/supplement). Insomnia 'sucks'! hehe I will continue to monitor my diet more closely than I have been. I've noticed about an 8lb weight gain. I'm not sure if it's just all of the wonderful holiday food or me trying to eat (thinking it will make some of my symptoms go away)?
I've always been the depressed person that hides in the house and eats because it temporarily makes me a little distracted/happier. I've never really managed to gain too much weight though. I find that Effexor gets me out of the house and away from food. I can't wait to return back to my second love, the gym. =)

Sorry if this seems personal...

Are you taking something instead of Effexor that works just as well? I'm ready to try anything.

Thank you for the thoughts, 'hugs', and most of all, help.

Kiley,

I am still on effexor but have gone to 75 mg from 300. I want off of the drug. I went through some bad times and did not take if for four days. I realized (after) falliing down, and all kinds of ugly episodes, that it was because of the effexor withdrawal.

This weekend I am doing a self imposed detox weekend. I have found all sorts of resources online. Yoga, meditation, detox bath, vegetable juices, fruit juices, salads with only olive oil, garlic and lemon. lots of fruits. Drinking only lemon water. Also its good to start your day with hot water with and lemon. Its a great cleanser.

Put good things into your body. ONLY good things. Fuel your body, don't FOOL your body.

Kiley - I just keep trying different things. Healthy things. I WILL GET THROUGH THIS.

I think if I feel physically better, then hopefully i will feel emotionally better.

Just a thought. Take good care of yourself. Do some positive steps.

Hey sweet, I'm going in for alcohol rehab. I'm scared of the big jump from 150 to 75 & withdrawl. My neasea has not stopped I'm down 40 pounds. I'm lucky to keep one meal down a day & it's not much. I'm so bony now it's scary. Music has been my safe place to fall & of course snuggling with my dog.

Penny







What kind of rehab? I'm just asking because I went to an alcohol rehab two years ago and they had Effexor, I didn't need to bring mine. They asked what meds I was on and were able to dispense my Wellbutrin and Effexor. I won't go into more detail unless you are referring to something similar. Hang in there.

SweetLo

all - check out this link: blank">http://www.detoxmoxie.com/

Penny,

Congratulations. It's a huge step and you are very brave to take it. When I went to detox, I was sedated for a couple days and in bed as they need to monitor people going through alcohol withdrawal. I would recommend to stay on your current does of Effexor while you go through this. Your body is going to go through a little bit of hell not getting the alcohol it's been used to! One thing at a time, my dear. The Dr.'s at the facility should also be able to help with your side effects. They have just about every med possible as well as psychiatrists/ therapists for patients! My prayers and thoughts are with you. Stay strong and be very proud of yourself.

SweetLo (Loretta)

I am new but have been reading for while. Trying the splitting method of down 20, up 15 down 5. I am down to 40. The low days are not unbearable but not fun. I plan them for the weekends when I am not working but mu whole weekend is wash. I am wondering what happens when I am down to 20. Do I go down to 0 then up to 15 and down to 10? What is after 10. I can handle the moodiness and tiredness but not the brain zaps and dizziness.
Adker

Adker, things get funny at the low doses. I used to think that you don't need to be afraid to sit at a dose for longer than 4 days.

But lately, I am thinking that once you get to 20 and under, the quicker to taper off the better.

Some folks have reported the worst effects when trying to get off the last 10mg.

All I can say is, here is what we did. And it went pretty well. Residual withdrawl (endurable) continued for about a month after the 0 dose day (party day).




25
25
25
25
25
25
10
20
20
20
20
7.5
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
5
10
10
10
10
2.5
5
5
2.5
2.5
0 PARTY!

Hi,
i posted back in Novemeber and have since started tappering from 75mg. the first time i tried i got down to about 10mg and felt sooooo awful that i just gave up and took my 75mg capsule. I am about half way through tappering now and end of jan will be when i should start to get down to the 20-10mg stage again.

Mikemo, do you suggest then to try and taper off asap when down to that level? Or should i try and say stay at 10mg for longer - i.e not give up like last time!

i ahve been feeling ok - headaches but i dont know if thats more to do with caffiene withdrawal - i am really trying to cut down fizzy drinks!

i have been trying to eat healthy and have been exercising. have also been taking extra amino acids (just cant drink the milky drinks im afraid!) and a B complex. Did try the omega 3 6 and 9 but i could taste fish ALL day - will look for a flavoured one i think!

cheers for your help,
ems

There's nothing wrong with taking breaks from the tapering when it gets tough and you hit a wall.

What IS wrong is going ALL the way back up to 75mg when you hit a wall like that.

My recommendation is to get it down to 25mg and cointinue to take 25mg every day until you have 3 days in a row of feeling fine.

THEN follow the plan in my last post.

If you hit another wall at 10mg, just go up to 20 and wait for 3 days of feeling fine again before continuing.

The point I was making in my last post, though, about getting it done quick, is just a theory that says these small doses are just enough to feed the withdrawl. I haven't postulated this much, though. If anyone has had this experience at the lower end of the taper method, let's hear your story and suggestions!

For EMS...Carlson Labs makes lemon flavored cod liver oil from Norway. It is supposed to be the least offense for taste. I take a teaspoon followed by ice cold water daily and the after taste lasts only a second.

Mikemo...Thanks for the low dose schedule. If all goes well I should be done by middle of February. I am already noticing on the good days feeling less numb, more connected and normal.
Adker

Thanks Mikemo - yes, i dont want to go back to 75mg again! i really wimped out and just took the damn thing and resigned myself to the fact that maybe ill have to take them forever...

this time though i am much more knowledgeable and will make sure i just go back up a tiny bit if i start to feel really bad. then worst thing for me is the reason i was put on these in the first place - my vomit phobia being out of control - thanks for telling me abt all the nausea hey doctor.

Thanks Adker for the cod liver oil tip - i shall check out my health shop and have a look.

Hello everyone. So glad I found this forum.

Mikemo, I definatley want to use your tapering method, could you get me started with the numbers? I have been on effexor for a year and half, currently at 225 mg for the past several months.
I have gone through a few days of withdrawal on a few occassions due to waiting for finances to pay for med., and it has been enough to scare me out of using this any longer.

My biggest thing is dealing with nausea. The other stuff I can get through, but I cannot handle nausea. Has anyone had any success with making the symptoms a little bit more comfortable?? Is there another part of the forum that discusses this? I was wondering if anyone got an anti-nausea med for the duration of tapering?

Thanks everyone for sharing. I'm scared to get started, but more scared to stay on this drug.

laniblue,

The main instructional page is here:

blank">http://www.abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/102450/

This is required reading before you start to taper.

Since you are starting at 225, I need to know how you take that. Is it 150 in the morning and 75 in the afternoon, or what?

Mikemo,

I have read that page, printed it out in case I need to refresh also. I have been taking my entire dose in the mornings, so 225 every morning at once. A 150 capsule and a 75 capsule, so I have both to work with.

Thank you so much!!

Lani

Cool. Having it all at once makes things easier!

First thing to do is practice the splitting. You can use baggies or whatever to keep the doses you make. You should have bought the empty gelcaps by now. Let me know if you have problems getting the splits done, I can go into more detail for you if you need it...

Anyway, the key for you is going to be taking your 150mg pill without thinking about it. We'll taper your 75mg pill until you don't need it anymore. So in the recipe below, I am only looking at the 75mg pill. BUT DON'T FORGET to TAKE the 150mg pill every day too!

Since you will have that 150mg going in anyway, we can be a bit more aggressive with the taper of the 75mg pill.

75 (and your 150...)
75
75
75
50 low spike
65 rebound
60 settle in
60
60
60
35 low spike
50 rebound
45 settle in
45
45
45
20 low spike
35 rebound
30 settle in
0
20
15
15
0 settle in with your 150 alone
0 this may take a while to feel goood
0 before beginning the
0 next phase.
0
0


During those days of settling in, you may need to go longer than 4 days or shorter than 4 days. Only you can decide. But NEVER go back up unless 6 days at the settling in dose doesnt fix you. And even then, only go up halfway to your last settle in dose.

Listen, my map above is a great guidline for the METHOD of tapering that our bodies respond to. The key is getting your body to RESPOND to it. So don't feel like you have to stick to what I say. The important thing is to challenge your body to respond with a low dose spike, and then give it a helping hand to get through the withdrawl, but don't baby yourself by going back up too much. It's like 'tough love'. :)

Some folks can taper like this:

75
40 low spike
55 rebound help
50 settle in
50
50
50
50

See the difference? Same spike, but bigger jumps.

One thing I've found is that as you go through this, you will find points in time where you can make these kinds of moves, and other times when you are only dropping a little. You are the one in control. Give your body some tough love, and get it back!

Mike

Mike

Thank you soo much!! And to everyone else, thank you for sharing. After reading successful stories, I feel I can get through this! I will keep posted!

Question: during 'withdrawel symptom' days on this method, does everyone have tolerable symptoms, or are there things that I can do to alleviate symptoms?? nausea, brain zaps

Hi everyone,

Sorry I went mia after the holidays! I just got a chance to read everyone who replied to me.

dazrazzle - I will definitely wait until I'm completely done Effexor to go on 5 HTP. I just found out my brother was on it for a while and it did good things for him.

funkytown - despression is definitely a withdrawl symptom for me. I'm going to take your suggestion and start exercising more. I think it will really help.

mikemo - you've definitely made a difference in my world. I've been tapering and hit a wall yesterday when I freaked out and had an 'episode' for no reason (well, no good reason). I felt like going back up in my dosage but then came onto the forum and saw the advice you gave about taking breaks from tapering when it gets tough and not to go back up to 75 mgs. That REALLY helped.

My progress is going well, but MAN do the headaches suck! LOL.

Ianiblue - unfortunately I haven't found anything that alleviates brain zaps. For the nausea, I've been taking Pepto Bismal or Tums.

SW

Ooooo! Ooooo! I'm excited to say that I beat my chronic heartburn!

The reason I'm telling about this is because you mentioned nausea. I don't know if it would help you or not, but you could try, anyway.

I mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons of apple juice and 2 tablespoons of welches grape juice. It is a shot, not a drink ('cause it stinks!)

The theory is that the acid in the vinegar tricks your stomach into stopping to produce acid. Unlike antacids which may actually cause your stomach to produce MORE acid to nutralize the antacids!

Funny how working WITH your body's natural functions can give great results...

I haven't had heartburn for a week now. I take this concoction 20 minutes after dinner each night. It amazes me. Anyways, fun info for ya'll.

PS---there's a rumor that Heinz Apple Cidar Vinegar isn't really the right stuff for this. I use the store brand.

Hi To All
I haven’t posted since December but want to share my progress.

Firstly a belated Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all.

I started the Mikemo taper method doing it a little different eg. I drop 15mgs each time I feel I'm ready, rather than going down, then up and then down. (I would prefer this method but I'm rather lazy and split my capsules 10 mins before I take it) I have not rushed or tried to go to quick as the withdrawals terrify me. I have been on Effexor for 14 years and I started tapering at the end of September from 150mgs and I'm now on 45mgs. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I do have withdrawals but I believe I may be one of the luckier ones as I can function fairly well, the most noticeable withdrawals for me are bad hot sweats and very bad diarrhea the diarrhea hasn't gone and only started since tapering, I’m now seeing my doctor over this incase something else may be wrong. I have felt depressed on occasions but then I start the self help by constantly changing the negative thoughts that come into positive thoughts and repeat, it doesn't always work but the more I keep on it the better I am.

I wish all the best of luck.
Love and best wishes to all.
MandyC

Thanks for your post, MandyC! It's great to see that someone who's been on Effexor for a really long time, actually be able to taper off it.

Thanks for the updates everyone.

I, too, have started tapering down.

I was on Effexor since June '07. I worked up to 150mg by September.

A doctor I've seen a couple times doesn't think I need it anyomore and suggested the 150---112.5---75---37.5 method. Each drop is 2 weeks after the previous.

I'm on day 12 at 112.5 and feel fine. I've noticed a little achiness, but I also have a little cold, so hard to say it's caused by the withdrawal.

I drop to 75mg Saturday, then plan to drop to 37.5 two weeks after that.

The doctor explained to me that your body neees the wake up call, thus it's important to make a farily significant drop to start. I'm anticipating a rough time once I get down to 37.5 and on. But I'm feeling positive with how I'm feeling now and that the next taper will go fine.

One question:

Is it possible that aches and pains from tapering off Effexor could reside in joints and muscles that are used the most? I run quite a bit, and have noticed one of my hips is a little achy. It could be an overuse injury....or maybe the Effexor is magnifying aches in certain parts of my body a little bit.

Thanks all. Good luck!
funkytown

Hi Snow White

Thank you for your lovely comments.

I can't say it's been easy to taper but I like to keep my head positive, even on the bad days I tell myself look it isn't that bad Mandy but as much as I am insistent on remaining positive I do have really down days but they have been few and far between. My strength has come from being angry that I remained on this drug for so long and I feel I lost 14 years of my life. I never had a great deal of interest in getting off Efexor because there are to many withdrawals for me and that terrified the life out of me that's why when I did get the guts to start tapering I'm doing it extremely slowly. Then I found this site, this inspired me & also made me happy to know there’s a whole world out there similar to myself (I'm not happy for the reason we have all come together but it gives one strength when you know others are like you). Whether I need an anti depressant or not I will never touch another one again which tells me right now I'm doing great. I really can't say I will never touch one again as if I fall into a big hole who knows what I will do but right now my frame of mind is good, my head can function without feeling like a zombie, I can make important decisions without procrastinating, my emotions are good I don't let things that worried me when I was on a larger dose affect me anymore. I love the new me, I have confidence and I am assertive.

But as I'm sure you will no because our bodies and minds are all different we do react in different ways and Efexor seems to help some people and it did help me in the first few months on it but after that I lost who I was and I personally hate this drug.

Stay positive.
MandyC