I recently ran out of my prescription of Effexor 150 mg. I have been taking this med for 8 years.?

Discontinuation symptoms have been systematically evaluated in patients taking venlafaxine, to include prospective analyses of clinical trials in Generalized Anxiety Disorder and retrospective surveys of trials in major depressive disorder. Abrupt discontinuation or dose reduction of venlafaxine at various doses has been found to be associated with the appearance of new symptoms, the frequency of which increased with increased dose level and with longer duration of treatment. Reported symptoms include agitation, anorexia, anxiety, confusion, impaired coordination and balance, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, dysphoric mood, fasciculation, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, headaches, hypomania, insomnia, nausea, nervousness, nightmares, sensory disturbances (including shock-like electrical sensations), somnolence, sweating, tremor, vertigo, and vomiting.

During marketing of Effexor, other SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors), and SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), there have been spontaneous reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of these drugs, particularly when abrupt, including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g. paresthesias such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, hypomania, tinnitus, and seizures. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms

Since on effexor, my hair has thinned out considerably, and in the past 8 months its WORSE. It also has started to make my skin itchy, I have psoriasis on my elbow, this started 3 months ago. I have been very anemic,
and my doctor and I think it is also because of my effexor.

I have had so many probs since being on this drug. It was GREAT for my dperession. But the withdrawl symptoms are horrible. I hope my hair grows back after I have been on it. It sheds like crazy. I used to have thick hair and now it is thin and lifeless. I thought my Iron def. was causing my hair loss, but now my doctor and I discovered it is also a side effect of Effexor. She doesn't want to refer any more patients to this drug b/c it is too hard to get off of, and too many side effects.

Oh and lastly, another side effect of effexor is thyroid problems. which I also developed after taking effexor.

Hope this info is of help to some of you.