[Patience]

Has anyone had a bad experience with withdrawal from effexor? I reacted poorly to it, quit cold turkey after 2 months and 4 months later am still not feeling normal. I am experiencing:

-muscle aches; especially in my back and neck.
-fatigue
-dry eyes

Anyone have this experience too?

[mgl]

Maybe this thread will answer your questions:
http://www.drugs.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3891

[Patience]

Thanks mgl, I can't find any ifo about someone being off for 4 months and still feeeling like this. It seems that most are tapering still or have been off for less than a month...?

[RockedByRequiem]

I had horrendous withdrawl from effexor. Though not the same symptoms you are describing. And only for a few days. But mine were reslessness, sense of being shocked, like someone was squeezing my head sort of, ringing in my ears, dizziness, and an assortment of others. Ive been told its the only anti-depressant that has such withdrawl symptoms. I know this, Ill never go on it again.

[jacobxross]

Just 3 weeks ago I came off effexor and experienced withdrawal. It wasn't to bad, I was very shaky for about 5 days and had pain and headaches, but that all stopped in about a week.

[desertrose88030]

I had no idea of the symptoms of withdrawing until I tried so on my own cold turkey. I have fibromyalgia and the doctor gave it to me for nerve pain--and I've only been on it for about 2 months. Before that, Cymbalta, but my insurance refused to pay for that, so they changed me to Effexor. I had ringing in my ears and was trying to find out why, and thinking Effexor was the new script, I didn't take it for ONE night. ONE night!! I had muscle spasms all night long, so painful I was contemplating suicide. Hot burning pain and my legs, arms, back, neck muscles were just tied into knots that I could not get out. Nightmares! All night long, I dreamed of huge crows pecking and chewing on my arms and legs! My legs were being pulled and torn by unseen hands. By morning I was completely drained, no more than an hours sleep, and I still did not connect the dots. Then I looked up all my meds online, and saw the withdrawal symptoms from Effexor. I took my pills and all my pains and spasms went away. I slept like a baby that night, and now I am terrified. Somehow, I have to get off this stuff. I can't stand the thought of a medicine ruling my life like this. My fibromyalgia pain was nothing compared to this! How do I get off without committing suicide? I quit Cymbalta several times and never went thru anything like this. My God, I wish I had looked up this medicine before taking it.

[Robert_325]

Relax! How much is your dose? Effexor can be a tough w/d, no doubt about that. But it's not that hard if it's done very slowly. Have you discussed this with your dr? I don't mind helping you detox, but I want to be sure it's in your best interest.

Share your concerns with the dr and then let us know what you're told. We can proceed from there. But I've worked with lots of people coming off effexor. I know how to do it. God bless.