[ccapel]

Try the Claritan-D. I was skeptical, but it really worked. It almost eliminated the brain zaps...just make sure to take in the AM otherwise you'll be up all night!

quote:Originally posted by cochranlover

hi!
i am brand new on here ...
forgive me if im repeating requests for info here ...

am just coming off effexor
have been on 150mg for approx 6 months

was ready to come of it and
saw consultant who prescribed
2 weeks at 112.75 and then 3 at 75mg ...

saw consultant again on monday 4th
who told me to told it directly from there ...

am experiencing the hideous brain
impulse zaps etc etc ...

is it normal to go straight from 75mg
to nothing?

because i have hated the zaps so much
i have taken 75mg every 2nd and although they
have definetly started, this takes the
edge of them ... i know this is proabably
not the right thing to do at all but im
really worn out by all this ...

i felt well enough to come off the
med ... its the right thing for me
to do but im exHAUSTED ...

is it RIGHT to come off it like i have
and HOW LONG is it going to take to
even out if so? ihave found going
to work very taxing these past few days
(im a psychiatric nurse!) and am
desperate not to have to have more
time off ...

HELP!

danny

[truehowell]

Hi,I took Effexor for about 3 weeks! I felt AWFUL and had trrrible RAGES!! I had to stop taking this drug and will never try it again. I got on 20mg Lexapro and was a totally different person until about 18 months when I just got used to this drug.

[marybarrios]

i also am taking effexor 375 a day my doctor advised me not to get off of it because she thought my depression 2 years ago was not situational. but i think it is i have never ever been depressed like that, i was sick, lost my job, and i was having marital problems, then all of a sudden i felt this overwhelming emotions that i couldn't get a hold of theese feelings that just over took me, no energy and no intertest to do anything and i just wanted to die. after trying other antideppresants nothing worked. Then i took effexor and that helped trenmendously. but now its been 2 years and i think now its time to get off, exercise and move on. [?]so i cut off 75 mg a day its been a week ive been a little cranky, but ok. i guess ill wait another week and take off another 75mg.[?]See how i feel

thank you

mary

[WhiteTiger49]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this forum (and all forums), but I read all your advice about going off of Effexor. I have been taking Effexor for maybe 8 years now and have gradually worked my way up to the highest dosage allowed. Before this drug, I could not tolerate the side effects of even a half pill of the few others I tried. I have been dealing with severe depression for about 4 decades now.

My concern is this: many of you have mentioned "brain zaps" when withdrawing from this drug. I have had a recurring problem with brain zaps for years (I call them "squeezy brain"), most of the time having nothing to do with missing or being late taking my meds. I definitely get them if I am late (because of the zaps, after all these years I am almost never late - negative feedback really works, doesn't it?), but I don't understand why I get them even when I have not been late. Lately, I have started walking with a friend (too sedentary in my "old age"), and the brain zaps start as soon as I begin to walk. As you can imagine, this really hampers my efforts to get exercise!

Have any of you had these brain zaps before you withdrew from the medication, or did you only get them from withdrawal?

And after reading your posts, I'm going out and getting Benadryl!



Thanks for all the advice.

[uberlammy]

I have been on Effexor for about 5 years and am at 225mg a day, if I even miss one dose I get the zaps as everyone seems to call them. I feel like I'm drowning in my own head and everytime I move my head my heart flutters. I feel like I'm on a psychedelic drug and way too inside myself. It is hard to concentrate and I feel like I'm gonna have an anxiety attack. I try to calm myself down by telling myself that it's just the missed dose and I'm not losing it but it is so unnerving I can't wait to get home and take my pills. Arrgggghh. I want to wean myslef off of this drug and have tried to do it slowly. I hadn't heard of using Claritan D to stop the "zaps" but I might try it. I can't take Prozac due to strange physical side effects that actually might be better than the no Effexor feelings. I went to the doctor about the side effects and he didn't really have any suggestions. The psychiatrist I was seeing (who knew I had side effects to Prozac) said I'll just put you on Prozac that'll get you off the Effexor. Is it just the physical side effects everyone has or are there "mental" side effects too when getting off Effexor? I think I could make it through the physical stuff if I knew there was an end in site....HELP.

quote:Originally posted by ccapel

Try the Claritan-D. I was skeptical, but it really worked. It almost eliminated the brain zaps...just make sure to take in the AM otherwise you'll be up all night!

[uberlammy]

I have been on Effexor for about 5 years and take 225mg a day. If I even miss one dose I get the "zaps". I feel like I am drowning in my own head and every time I move my head my heart flutters and a shock runs down my spine. I feel like I'm going to have an anxiety attack so I try to reason with myself that it's just the missed dose don't worry. I can't wait to get home and take my Effexor to get rid of the damned "zaps". I've tried to wean myself off of Effexor but always decide it's easier to just take it. I went to the doctor about the side effects of missing a dose and asked him how I would ever get off this stuff. He didn't really have an answer. I have a physical side effect to Prozac and when I asked my psychiatrist at the time how to get off Effexor he just said "Oh, I'll put you on Prozac" That doesn't actually sound half bad in relation to the "zaps" although I would prefer not to go that route.

I hadn't heard of the Claritan D helping with the "zaps" so I might give that a go. It wouldn't be so bad if someone could tell me that the physical stuff would subside eventually.

HELP

quote:Originally posted by ccapel

Try the Claritan-D. I was skeptical, but it really worked. It almost eliminated the brain zaps...just make sure to take in the AM otherwise you'll be up all night!

[alexjj]

Folks.

Just to let you know - there have been many positives with this drug for me. It cuts down the anxiety and stabilises (flat) my moods pretty much and just lets me get on with my life.

However it is time to come off it now.

After my experience the last time, I was recommended the "Rolls Royce" method for withdrawal from this addictive (YES it is. Look up the Oxford English Dictionary definition of addiction. Or listen to your customers, Wyeth idiot knobhead peddlars) drug.

The Rolls Royce method is a downward titration of about 75 mg per week (in my case I was on 75mg XR extended white bobbly bit in the poo type pill - yeah you know what I mean).

When you start to get to the last few grains Venlafaxine a day - switch to putting about 2.5mg Diazepam (I believe the marketer speak for this is "Valium") 3 times a day. Then the last week, if it gets bad or you cant sleep, ramp up to 1 x 5mg tablet.

Try and keep this to a mimimum - but it works. As it is such a short time, you wont be addicted to the Diazepam, and it is unlikely you will have any side effects from this low dosage.

Go to your GP and suck it and see. Works for me.

Im not saying its easy. But it is an infinitely more civilised way of doing it....

[Pebbles620]

Hi there,
The only advice I have for any of you is from my own personal experience.
First of all, I am on Effexor XR, use to be on Prozac and it "pooped" out, stopped working.
I have had great success with Effexor XR, I take 300 mg a day.
I never forget to take it, as I take all my medications at lunch time.
My BEST advice is to always see a psychiatrist. There is a reason they are experts on medications. When I first started taking Prozac 7years ago, it was my primary Dr. that prescribed it. They are not experts on these drugs and don't know how to increase the dose or decrease it when needed. I think if anyone is going on, going off a drug, seek out an expert, a Psychiatrist, it makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!
Pebbles

quote:Originally posted by alexjj

Folks.

Just to let you know - there have been many positives with this drug for me. It cuts down the anxiety and stabilises (flat) my moods pretty much and just lets me get on with my life.

However it is time to come off it now.

After my experience the last time, I was recommended the "Rolls Royce" method for withdrawal from this addictive (YES it is. Look up the Oxford English Dictionary definition of addiction. Or listen to your customers, Wyeth idiot knobhead peddlars) drug.

The Rolls Royce method is a downward titration of about 75 mg per week (in my case I was on 75mg XR extended white bobbly bit in the poo type pill - yeah you know what I mean).

When you start to get to the last few grains Venlafaxine a day - switch to putting about 2.5mg Diazepam (I believe the marketer speak for this is "Valium") 3 times a day. Then the last week, if it gets bad or you cant sleep, ramp up to 1 x 5mg tablet.

Try and keep this to a mimimum - but it works. As it is such a short time, you wont be addicted to the Diazepam, and it is unlikely you will have any side effects from this low dosage.

Go to your GP and suck it and see. Works for me.

Im not saying its easy. But it is an infinitely more civilised way of doing it....

[DrgnzAngl]

In the past few years I have been on prozac and wellbutrin and effexor. I have not had any of them in over 5 years. I still get the head zaps on occassion. They are worse than a migraine by any means.
I stopped cold turkey. I was on both effexor and wellbutrin at the same time. I had a really bad experiance with prozac is why I was put on both effexor and wellbutrin. I was down to just the effexor. I have ocd, chronic fatigue syndrome, fms, chronic acute depression, adhd, ibs. I have found with diet that adhd can be controlled without the use of drugs. doctors are still amazed. another story for another time.
But am interested in trying the claritan-d to ease or stop the head zaps. I would love to have them stop. I don't have them everyday. They seem worse for two days before my monthly. I also have panic attacks. not as bad but I do have them.
claritan-d. should I take it every morning even if I have not experianced the zaps? or only when needed? I never know when they are gonna hit is the only thing. I do not like taking anything if I don't have to. so really don't want to take something if not needed. but am willing to try the claritan-d if they will stop. Like I said its been a little over 5 years since I stopped effexor. Doctors have no reason why the zaps are still happening. doc said it could be because of the fms. things seem to take longer to control.

[PoppyQueen]

It's so interesting everyone is talking of head "zaps" coming off from Effexor. About 5 years ago I started getting those zaps. It is the most intense pain. It would come on for no apparant reason and last hours, or days. I've had a neck and a brain MRI and they found compression on my neck (an old whiplash injury) but no one could take away the zaps. I started on Hydros (another story) to get rid of them, they didn't work, but I felt better[]

I just wanted to say I wasnt on any anti-depressants and just started getting them. Anyway they disappeared about 3 years ago.

And 3 years ago I started taking Effexor 37.5 and ramped up to 75 mg. Now I want to wean off and my doctor has put me back on 37.5 and I had no trouble stepping down, really no withdrawal at all. In a month I will start taking one every other day.

Good Luck all.
Poppy Queen

[tetheredcat]

quote:Originally posted by PoppyQueen

It's so interesting everyone is talking of head "zaps" coming off from Effexor. About 5 years ago I started getting those zaps. It is the most intense pain. It would come on for no apparant reason and last hours, or days. I've had a neck and a brain MRI and they found compression on my neck (an old whiplash injury) but no one could take away the zaps. I started on Hydros (another story) to get rid of them, they didn't work, but I felt better[]

I just wanted to say I wasnt on any anti-depressants and just started getting them. Anyway they disappeared about 3 years ago.

And 3 years ago I started taking Effexor 37.5 and ramped up to 75 mg. Now I want to wean off and my doctor has put me back on 37.5 and I had no trouble stepping down, really no withdrawal at all. In a month I will start taking one every other day.

Good Luck all.
Poppy Queen

Well, you see, if its something that lasts hours or days, how can you describe it as a "zap"? Ive never heard of zaps hurting, and Ive never heard of them lasting more than, well, a *zap*. As if you accidentally bumped the live wire of a lamp as you plugged it in and jerked your hand away. KInda like a zzZZZzzzZZzzzZZzzAAAaaaaPP!!
And the zaps are the result of withdrawl symptoms from not taking your regularly scheduled dose of Effexor. Sounds to me like you are describing a migraine. [?]

When I come back, I want to be alive.

[babyduck]

quote:Originally posted by jezzie

I've been on 75mg of effexor for GAD for about a month and a half now, and have noticed tremendous results in regards to the symptoms it's supposed to be treating. No more panic attacks, no more feelings of worthlessness, an overall better mood, and a surprising decrease in my moderate OCD (which is not something the drug's even supposed to treat). I also get chronic migraines, and haven't had so much as a headache since starting on the pills.

The problem for me is that it's brought about chronic fatigue that's become dehabilitating. I went from having a perfect attendence record at work (where I've been for 3 and 1/2 years) to calling in sick three times in the last month due to an inability to get out of bed. I find myself dozing off any time I get a chance (lunch breaks, meetings, etc) and feeling so tired that I've had to leave work early several times in the past six weeks. I've also slept in and been late to work twice this week, which is something I had never done previously. I explained the drug I was on and it's side effects to my boss, and he's been very understanding and lenient, taking into consideration my previous attendance record and work ethic, but I haven't noticed any decrease in these symptoms. I've been considering going on Provigil to counteract the fatigue, since I don't want to come off the effexor when it's working so well, but I can't find any information on drug interactions. Has anyone taken this combination before or know anything about it? My doc's a little pill happy, so I don't really trust him on the whole "what meds are safe" front, and would like some outside info before I go get a prescription from him. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[djdisco]

[8] My name is Brooke. I have moderate to borderline severe anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and some bipolar traits. I am now taking effexor, the lowest dose possible, 1 a day and have been for about 5-6 months now. I am a lot more angry, blowing up at people, real bad temper, and it has gotten worse in the last 2 months. I am going to call my psychiatirst Monday, but I was wondering, should I try increasing or go off it and if I should go off it, what other medicnes are there that would work for me but help with weight loss? I could stand to lose a few pounds in the process?!
thanks Brooke

[ehcehc]

Hi.

I had a bad experience with EFFEXOR XR as well. It just made me tired and angry so i stopped using it while switching to something else. The withdrawals were some of the worst ive ever experienced which is saying a lot. I don't mean to scare you but they lasted for over 5 months! When they did end i remember my mom had suggested oat seed extract becuase it helps with drug withdrawals. The withdrawal ended around the time i started using the oat seed and i think that it what sped my recovery. So my suggestion is too use the oat seed if you are going to withdrawal.
-by the way i withdrew from the drug exactly as the doctor told me to.

Good luck! you can get oat seed from natural food stores or companies. It is just like juice with a dropper. It is like an herb or plant. There is also tea form- but i have not had it before.


-CHE

I don't believe that coming off slowly changes the length of the withdrawal in the case of Effexor.

[miserableffectsor]

This is my first experience on a message board. I hope it arrives at the right place. I started efexor around 1997. My shrink tried every other anti depressant on me. The only one I could tolerate was efexor.

Turns out that my problem was chronic fatigue, not depression. Which would explain why none of the drugs worked. So, mistake number one.

I have tried to get off this drug three times. I have stopped trying because of all the reasons everyone else has. Sick, dizzy, brain zinggers or zaps or what ever you want to call them. Cant even move my eyes without getting all messed up.

So, new doctor said "why do you need to quit?" You are taking so much other stuff whats the difference." UGH. Well I finally convinced her I wanted to quit so she told me to taper down to 37.5 for two weeks and then if I get any withdrawl just go to bed with some xanax for three days. She said three days is how long withdrawl takes. Yea, right!

On day three I am having the worst symptoms of withdrawl. I am terrified that I will have these symptoms for two to four weeks to five years after having read through all the posts here.

I beleive my chronic fatigue is related to my leaky gut which is for sure related to years of antibiotic's and other medications that eat away at the body. So I must get off this drug.

Should I add back a few grains of efexor or should I try the benadryl or claritin d? I don't have much stamina for researching and shopping etc.

I would appreciate any advice from those that have successfully terminated the drug completely.







[/font=Comic Sans MS]

[abey042000]

I also take Effexor 225 mg daily. Ive been on it since the birth of my 2nd child. I went thru extreme post partum depression, anyway I was slowly increased to 225mgs. When I take it I feel wonderful, but when I skip a day let me tell ya I get zingers, dizzy even moving my eyes, crying or even feeling very agitated. I hope I never have to quit this drug honestly, having 2 kids ages 4 and 2, I could never take care of them going thru withdraws. they say its not addicting, thats bull!

[PoppyQueen]

Miserable, how can you taper off a drug you've used for 8 years in two weeks? That's absurd. I've been on Effexor 75mg for about 3 years. I wanted to wean off so my doc put me on 37.5mg for one month, then the next month take one every other day, then the third month 1 every few days.

I can't speak of the success as I started seeing another doc and am now on a new drug called Cymbalta for pain reduction. So far, not too bad. It's been 1-1/2 weeks. They do make me very sleepy and sweaty.

As your doc for about 90 Effexor 37.5 and do the wean as I suggested. Doesn't that make more sense to you?

Good Luck!
PQ

[miserableffectsor]

quote:Originally posted by babyduck

[abey042000]

Has anyone had severe weight gain with Effexor?

[asteroids12]

hi yes i have dropped my effexor dosage successfully with very little side effects .i was on 75mg once nightly.then i halfed it and of cause i had first night felt very depressed but next no
then just dizzy for a week but very tapering.i also have been on a raw diet food which helps i feel and u could try magnesium tablets .well the drop only took a week to pass sideeffects now i am dropping again.oh and dont do it just before your peroid cause it will cause too much hormones to handle just after is best.now i have cut it again in half and very content

[Brigid]

ah great....I am wondering, after reading all of the above accounts, how long before the symptoms I am having disappear. I have stopped taking EVIL effexor about a week ago after slowly cutting back from 150 to about 17 mg over a period of about 4 months. yep...still dizzy spins, electric-like shocks in the head and body, teariness, super-depression, aches, anxiety, mood swings....it's made me sicker than before I was on it!
I blankly refuse, all the same, to go back on it. I started reducing when I was unable to afford to fill a script for a couple of days and didnt want to go begging for the money to fill it. Within about 36 hours, while I was waiting for next pay to come through, I came close to having a fully-fledged psychotic event which scared the living daylights out of me. I just dont want to be THAT dependent on a damned drug.
So...how long before these god-awful symptoms go away? Does anyone know?
Appreciate your time and attention.

[asteroids12]

well my update is i am off effexor now and i was on it for 7yrs.so anyone want help please contact.

[asteroids12]

brigid
im glad you have realised how nasty it is
and yes i slept better on it.but i use st.johnswort tea and that does the same thing now to help me sleep and it is natural.and i wouldnt go leting yu doc just shuff yu off onto another drug.i take same forte 400 for the drop in serotonine levels which cause the bad moods .yes ive been off effexor for4days now and am feeling good .i was on it for 7yrs.yes you can get off it!!!!

[asteroids12]

and yes if you read all the boards effexor does cause weight gain.i have now lost weight and feel more motivated.the fog is lifting!

[mariacv]

i am into my fourth day of coming off effexor-xr. i was only on it for 6 months and on a dosage of 75mg. i freak out when i read people have been on it for years and on doses that are just through the roof! i suffered a nervous breakdown last year which also escalated to severe depression. It was not my first episode but was the first time i received treatment. i'm 33. i'd taken zoloft for a few days last year, which a doctor gave me because she diagnosed me with bad pms! i had the worst side-effects; i threw them in the bin and never went back to that doctor. i took effexor-xr against my better judgement. i'm a bit of a 'natural' freak, eat organic foods and am really careful about what i put in my body. but i was so desperate and the way the whole anti-depressant thing is marketed, you really do feel like you need the stuff (eg. chemical imbalances etc...). i experienced horrible side-effects for two weeks, but hung in there. i've felt good for the last few months, but had a sinking feeling that it didn't have much to do with the medication. i've been seeing a psychologist, who has just been an angel from heaven, and has given me valuable tools to deal with the ups and downs of life. i moved, changed jobs, totally changed my lifestyle and cut out a lot of the stress. with help from the psychologist i learnt to change my negative thinking and learnt to trust my intuition and value myself more. i've put my life in perspective and realised that i'm one of the lucky ones. i'm not saying that those of you with really serious mental illness won't benefit from drugs like effexor-xr, but really seriously think about what you're putting into your precious bodies and brains. i wish i had had more faith in my initial instincts, and had never touched the stuff. i'm paying for it now with all these horrible withdrawal effects, but i know they will pass. if there's one thing i swear i'll never ever do, it's take this horrible stuff again. have faith in yourselves and don't let some profit-driven drug company, or doctor who doesn't know the first thing about you, make a decision that could affect you so much.

[sammy1]

quote:Originally posted by psisci

Why are you coming off the med? The best thing to do is to taper slowly. This is not a particularly good med for panic anyhow....



Dr.S.

liza perraglio

[sammy1]

quote:Originally posted by psisci

Why are you coming off the med? The best thing to do is to taper slowly. This is not a particularly good med for panic anyhow....

Hi,
I have been through what you have been through but I went cold turkey. I use magnesium bath crystals, In one month I was anxiety free and depression free. I have been a recovering cancer patient and doing very well. If I can help let me know.

Dr.S.

liza perraglio

[karen4126]

[:I]I have been on Effexor on and off for the last several years for severe anxiety. But it din,t help my anxiety. I actually had more of it. But my doctor tried other meds with it and that didn,t seem to work. As for coming off Effexor, it was hell. big time dizziness, flu like symptoms and just plain feeling bad.I decreased them slowly and even after being off them for a week or so I would take one just to get rid of the symptons and it did work. When I was on Effexor -xr I had a hard time sleeping.

Karen Callaghan

[bemusedchicken]

hey. I'm new to effexor, i just started it last thursday. it's tuesday now. i had been warned by a good friend once i told her about the pill to NOT take it no matter what. but my parents had already purchased the pill. anyway, i've been on it since thursday and just started reading up on all this stuff over the weekend. Scary, to say the least. I don't want to risk becoming addicted or anything. my next meeting is on tuesday, but i called her and i want it to be sooner.

anyway....I'm wondering how bad the withdrawal symptoms will be if I stop cold turkey now, or just continue to take my one 37.5 pill a day for now. I was told to double my dose on thursday, but after reading some of the stuff i've read, no way in hell i'm gonna do that.

[bemusedchicken]

and i know it's helped some people. but i just can't risk it. i don't wanna give it a chance to do anything.