Comments on Effexor

I had no idea of the symptoms of Effexor withdrawal, but mine are much less than other people's I have read. I take 4 gms of Omega-3 per day (from the Zone people). I have no doubt the Omega-3 helps ease withdrawal.

HAVE BEEN OFF THE STUFF FOR 7 DAYS MY HANDS ARE STILL SHAKING.MY HEART POUNDS AND I CAN HEAR IT A SWOOSING SOUND IN MY EARS.I CAN NOT SLEEP.I HAVE NIGHTMARES WHEN I DO SLEEP. WHY WOULD A DR. PUT YOU ON MEDICATION THAT IS SO ADDICTATIVE.EXCUSE MY RAMBLINGS I THINK I AM LOSING MY MIND.SHE NOW HAS PUT ME ON WELLBUTRIN XR 150 MG.IF THERE IS ANY HELP OUT THERE I COULD SURE USE SOME.

This page has given me more information than I have ever dreamed of. I wish my doctor would have read this page before I was taken off of it.

I just wanted everyone to know that it is getting better. Today is day 18 of being completely off of this crap. Most of the brain zaps are gone. I still get them randomly. The anger comes and goes also. Emotional outbursts seem to be the worst right now. I get FURIOUS over nothing. I act like a child throwing a tantrum. Then I go into the bathroom and lock the door and cry. I feel bad for my kids. I had to sit down with them and explain to them about going off this medication just so they wouldn't think their mother had turned into a monster.

I do see the light at the end of the tunnel finally so hang in there everybody. Each day is an improvement, some days I feel like I am backsliding so PLEASE don't get discouraged if this happens to you. The next day will be better. I am just grateful I did not have to pick up a drink over this. I am so grateful I stumbled onto this website. If you are just getting off of effexor, don't give up. You can get through it one day at a time.

I cannot believe this!! I have been on Effexor for 2 years 150mg. It never seemed to alleviate what it was supposed to. I had side effects (night sweats, weight gain, joint pain, ), but never seemed to help with depression or anxiety...it was basically "neutral" as far as any benefit in the "mood" department. I wanted to go off it about 3 months after I started. This was after reading an article in a magazine about how people had suffered with horrible withdrawals after stopping. I cut back to 75mg for a week and then 37.5 for a week. I was fine the first day, and now the second day....i feel like im going to die! The pain in my head is so horrific and the electrical sensations are unreal. I am so scared that this will never go away. I have an appt. with my physician tomorrow. I have printed some articles for him to read. I have trusted my doctor for 15 years....but i have to wonder why he would ever prescribe this to any patient?? He couldn't possibly know the side effects of the discontinuation of this horrible drug!! I would advise anyone to stay clear of this medication----it should be removed from this earth. If any one has any suggestions as to how I can make the tapering off easier....I would greatly appreciate it!!! chesleyjill( AT) yahoo.com

I am in the process of trying to wean myself off of Effexor and came across this website. I have been on 75mg for about 3yrs., but really want to try to get off because of the weight gain. I have to say, this drug has been a miracle in my life. For over 30yrs. I suffered with panic/anxiety that controlled my life and made my world smaller and smaller.

After years of therapy that never helped, my cardiologist convinced me that it was a chemical problem and to try medication. After two weeks on this drug I felt like I had been born again. I don't for a second regret taking this medication, and if my panic/anxiety returns, I will know that I may have to be on this for the rest of my life. I know getting off may be extremely difficult, but I'm ready to try. I would love to hear from someone who was or is taking this drug for panic/anxiety disorder and if it returned after getting off the medication. For everyone who is in such pain trying to get off, my prayers are with you.

On 10/27/05 I had a tummy tuck, etc. after losing over 100 lbs. With that came mass quantities of pain meds, drain tubes, etc. I took everything from Oxycodene to Valium (for muscle spasms). It had been 4 days since I had taken any meds at all when on 11/08/05 I was sitting in my car and saw the bottle of Oxycodene and the thought, "I could take all of that, go to sleep, and never wake up".

My sister freaked out when I told her this a few minutes later and INSISTED I meet her at a local clinic where she gets all her medical needs met. (She's on anti-depressants, too). She told me that it's just like having to take meds for diabetes or high cholestrol because my brain isn't doing what it's supposed to do and that's why I'm having these thoughts. The doctor put me on step up pack of 37.5 to 75 mg and I took it for 2 weeks and felt better yet he still upped my dose to 150mg/day I also didn't take anymore of the valium either - not yet making the connection. When I went in December to my GYN I told her about the whole experience and she suggested that I try going to 150/mg a day and see if I feel even better. I had just told her I felt fine! But, I wasn't thinking and was still so emotional from the near-suicide thought that I followed blindly.

Now I have made the discovery that coming off valium/oxycodone can make fleeting thoughts seem more real than they really are. I've known this for several months now but have just discovered that weight gain can be a side-effect of Effexor. I've gained 20 lbs in less than 3 months. Other side effects are sudden mood swings, hot flashes, jittery, carpal tunnel pains in wrists (not sure that's one?)

Wondering which weaning approach would be best for me? I can't imagine going cold turkey - I'm a stay home mom with a VERY active 3 yr old --- I don't want to become lethargic or crash or become wired from withdrawal symptoms.

I started taking Effexor six months ago due to sleep problems. I have always been a health nut. After gaining 20 lbs. and starting to sleep constantly, developing borderline high blood pressure, I looked up the side effects on the internet. I am blown away at all the others who are having the same problems as myself. I hope I can go off these meds without losing my mind. Has anyone contact an attorney about a class action? This is horrible not to disclose this to us!

Well, today was day 7 that I am taking only 75 mg. Actually, I did not even take a pill yesterday and I felt OK. I was a happy camper! Today, started off good, we opened gifts and laughed and eat a great breakfast. Suddenly, I began to feel nervous and I cried while taking a shower, and I cried after putting on my make-up. I cried while cooking! SO, I took a 75mg and after about 2 hours I felt better (no more crying!) This bothers me. I really hate this rollercoaster ride.

Tomorrow I have a final I MUST complete! I must send my "work" to the prof. by Thursday "end of day". So far I have not been able to concentrate on my studies and "this is soooooo important!" If I get lower then a "C" in this class I'm in big trouble! I feel like I'm retarded! My Prof. will not CARE that I'm weaning myself off EFFEXOR. ugh!

it's about 11:35pm I'm so tired, my dreams/nightmares have been too much to handle SO I stay up late hoping to fall into such a deep sleep I somehow won't dream! I will see my Dr. Tomorrow afternoon. We'll talk about my D.T.'s and crap like that... what can she do???? Nothing! I have to walk this road myself..... Once I'm "finished" I'm not sure I'll even want to "try" the Topomax.

I want to begin 2007 a better person. I just don't know if I can do it without "something". This depression has haunted me since I was a kid! I've had so much therapy and I am in a relationship that is so healthy and GOOD FOR ME! I just don't want to pop a pill daily! Yet, I feel like if I don't ALL MY GOOD "STUFF" WILL GO AWAY.

I have been on Effexor XR - 150 mg for about 4.5 yrs and have wanted to discontinue it for sometime. Well, I got the change after learning that I am expecting (twins!).

I have also been following the "Omega-Rx Zone" (book) nutritional program by Dr. Barry Sears ( www.drsears.com ) and would highly recommend it in conjunction with the ultra-refined fish oil ( www.zonelabsinc.com )!

In his book, Dr. Sears cites the 1999 landmark study done by Harvard psychiatric researcher, Dr. Andrew Stoll, who wrote a book entitled, "The Omega-3 Connection".

An interview conducted with Dr. Stoll and published in "The Saturday Evening Post", May - June 2005 edition, can be read online here: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1189/is_3_277/ai_n13684165 (3 pages).

On Tuesday, November 28th, 2006, my psychiatrist began tapering the Effexor XR 150 mg to 75 mg for 14 days, coupled with Dr. Sears "Omega Rx Zone" nutritional program and taking 2.5 grams of Zone Labs ultra-refined fish oil, and I experienced no withdrawal symptoms, even though, it was the 12th week of 40 weeks of my pregnancy with twins.

I then was further reduced from 75 mg to 37.5 mg and have taken that for 11 days with no withdrawal symptoms, and am currently at 15 weeks + 1/7 days of 40 weeks pregnancy with twins. I did increase the fish-oil from 2.5 grams to 5 grams daily and feel great. :) Yippeee!!!!!!!

I plan to follow the tapering recommendations as mentioned/posted "by Michelle On Mon Oct 09 22:37:49 2006". The link is: http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/anti_depressants/withdrawal/Venlafaxine_Withdrawal.pdf for the last 15 days of my prescription beginning in 4 more days.

After then, I will keep everyone posted and let you know how it all turns out. I am hoping that my success will be of use to someone else.

I am glad that I found it because I don't know if I am experiencing side effects from starting Zoloft or withdrawals from Effexor 225mg Sept, 150mg Thanksgiving week and 75mg 12/7. I started at 50mg Zoloft for 2 weeks 12/7 and then went up to 100mg on 12/15. I go back to my doctor this week where whe will further reduce my Effexor dosage.

From reading other postings, it appears that Effexor is quite a nasty medicine to withdraw from. However, I am confident that we can all make through the hard times.

Someone should make a movie about coming off Effexor. It could be titled The Effexorcist and could feature spinning heads and spewing vomit. Believe me, I feel like Linda Blair had a walk in the park compared to what I'm going through. Three days till Christmas and I'm not sure I'll be able to even get out of the house to finish what I need to get done. My poor kids- This is not exactly the holly jolly Christmas they signed up for. Dramamine has been helping a bit with the dizziness and nauseous (but just a bit)however, there's no remedy for the crying and rages. Why did I decide to do this now?

As you're reading these Effexor comments, it's also important to understand the underlying causes that would lead a person to such a painful place.

I almost feel guilty because my life has become so enjoyable and so easy. Especially since I remember how miserable I used to be.

Basically it comes down to making one slight shift in what you do everyday, and you can watch in amazement as your life slowly begins to start working out in almost every way.

It's such an important change that I've written a complete e-book about it. And I'd like to give you a copy for free. All you have to do is write your first name and primary email address into the space below, and you'll be receiving a link to download the e-book right away.

Free e-book reveals exactly what to do right now, starting today, to feel better.
Your Name:
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Your name and email is 100% safe. I'm honored by your trust and I respect your privacy.

I have only been taking Effexor for a few months/ 5 at the most. This week (Monday night) I tapered down to one pill a night. One 75mg a night, I was taking two a night. it's only Thursday night not even one week and I already feel terrible. I am so confused and my skin is crawling. I can't turn my head quickly and just typing makes me nauseous.

The holidays are right around the corner and I've gotta tell ya I can't even find a reason to "speak to anyone". the only good thing that might come out of this rotten trip is I'll lose the weight I gained on this drug, 20 pounds in no more then 5 months!

WHAT CAN I DO TO STOP THESE SIDE EFFECTS? today I had to leave work an hour early because I could not sit still, I could not think straight and nothing seemed to matter to me. I had a clear head for about 15 minutes and then I became confused again AND I just couldn't communicate NOR did I even care too. Can any one give me a suggestion?

begin this week taking 75mg, next week 37.5 (I think or is it 35.7???) what ever the case may be my doctor feels this will be long enough to wean me off to begin Topamax.

Another doctor friend of mine told me to take 75 mg this week, the 35.7/37.5 next week every night, then the third week take the 35.7/37.5 every other day, the forth week take the above one twice a week. OK so about ONE MONTH of tapering off.....

The bottom line is to begin Topamax in the future. please forgive my grammer and possible spelling errors.

Normally I care, tonight I really just can't care. I think I'll return to the bathroom to Throw-up for the 10th time today.... There is nothing in my belly.. so the action hurts but it does take the felling of nausea away for a bit. Please help me through this....

Today is my 15th day without Effexor. I am finally beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I started taking 75 milligrams in July of this year. I did not like the way it made me feel and I started gaining weight. (20 lbs. in 4 months).

I decided to get off of it so my doctor put me on 37.5 milligrams a day. I took it every day, then every other day, then every 3rd day until I finally just quit taking it. I had just about every withdrawal symptom listed. Especially what felt like motion sickness and brain zaps. (miserable) I am also a recovering alcoholic (18 months sober) and had to stay really plugged into AA. I did not want to jeopardize my sobriety for the misery of getting off of this drug.

Chrissy...hang in there. It does get better. I haven't had a brain zap yet today or any dizzy spells. Thanks for this wonderful site. I found it after 2 days of being off of it and it helped so much!!

I have found in over 100 blogs and medical web based message boards that people have had a dramatic increase in the desire to binge drink, or to just drink alcohol. Also in most cases they have reported that they have blacked out while drinking on Effexor (as have I). As well the incidence of psychoses while drinking and on Effexor is quite high (about 70% of cases I have found). Most of the time this has been a lot less dramatic than what I have experienced myself.

One study I have read seems to lead to the fact that in some cases Effexor and drinking can lead to psychoses in a permanent manner. This on top of the fact that 20% of the cases I read ended up with violent urges as well, leads me to think why is this drug on the market in the first place.

By the way, there was never a warning on the bottle or from the doctor on the side effects of drinking on Effexor. There is in the USA a new warning about the heightened risk of suicide while on Effexor. One can only wonder why this drug is still on the market today. If there is a class action law suit in Canada regarding Effexor and its may side affects (as there is in the USA) I will gladly sign my name to the list.

Yes by the way I did drink a lot while on Effexor and had to be put in the hospital because of my Psychoses and it was almost two months of being in and out before I was able to live on my own again. I still remember vividly the day I had to go in. Thank God for my friend, or I may have been too late in seeking help. Trust me I had many thought of suicide in this time frame. It was almost one year of pure hell.

If you are on Effexor, please talk to your doctor about this dangerous drug and think about being taken off.

I don't really feel like ranting and raving, because most of what I feel has already been expressed by other people on this site. However, I must say that I have lost all faith in my doctor who prescribed this poison...Effexor. I am a 30 year-old, vibrant female. Correction: I was. Only on Effexor for 3 months, I began weaning myself off of it as fast as I started on it. The sad part is, I have had to plan my Christmas holidays around it.

I am relieved to find that I am not crazy. My boyfriend, an M.D., has watched dumbstruck as I cannot get out of the bed or sit through a movie. I hope it ends soon.

I have been taking Effexor XR 75 mg for several months now. I recently just stop taking it, "cold turkey". I have had really bad mood swings, happy, sad, crying, but I have been really mean and ill. It is affecting the ones around me, I do not advise going "cold turkey"!! Other symptoms I have are, loose stools, headache, stomach ache, shivers, sweating, BAD DIZZINESS, BAD ANGER schzio type mood. You really need a support group and family-friends helping you with this, lower your dosage, don't come of completely!

The main reason I choose to come of of this was a personal decision. I do not want to be on any type of meds for the rest of my life. The only thing that is helping me is my husband and kids and going to church a lot to pray! Happy Holidays!

I have been part of a clinical study for hot flashes. They said the drug is a relative of Effexor. It is desvenlafaxine succinate sustained release. I had moderate results from it on the hot flashes.

Now I'm in the middle of a two-week taper off and I thought I had the flu. A smart friend suggested it is withdrawal. I called the 24-hour doctor line and paged twice and no one has answered me. So I started this internet search.

Thank goodness for you all and your comments. I feel so bad and only you can understand. I took a Benadryl just now. Thanks for the tip. My "zaps" are about every 15 seconds. It is hideous.

OMG I cant stand this anymore. I started taking Effexor xr about 3 yrs ago. It seems to be working fine, but I want off .. I'm pregnant. Ive tried to stop taking the Effexor a few times in the past but I get so dizzy and sick that its not worth it, until now. I never knew what terrible withdrawl symptoms there were until I read this. I wish I never would have started this in the first place. I have to stop , I want to stop for the sake of my unborn child, can anyone tell me how long this dizziness will last? Help!!

I have been on Effexor for about 5 years. I have been on a dose of 220 for the past year. I have been weaning myself off of it w/o doctors help because they just want to push more drugs on you and I want to try and go the natural route this time. I weaned myself all the way down to 37.5 for about 1 1/2 weeks, now I have been completely off for 2 days and I am going NUTS!

I thought I was crazy until I looked up the withdrawal symptoms and found this website. I just started crying my eyes out because I am not alone. I am so glad to have read everyone's comments about what they are going through. I have all of those symptoms. The 'brain shocks', headache, diarrhea, nausea, sweating, uncontrollable crying, and the list goes on and on! I feel like I can barely hold my eyes open most of the time. I don't even want to get dressed in the morning.

I am scared because I have to go back to work in 2 weeks and I know I can not work like this. But I am determined not to go back on it. I am also in recovery for drugs and alcohol and I am going to constant AA meetings because the symptoms make me want to drink or use again and I have been clean and sober for years!

I am so lucky to have been able to take time off but it is coming to an end soon. My poor husband and kids are trying so hard to deal with me too. I am also scared of the depression. I am scared the natural way won't work and I after all this I will end up back on something anyway. Whatever happens I know I will not ever take Effexor again. Thank you so much to everyone who shared their Effexor nightmare with me and thank you for letting me vent, for some reason I feel better already.

I have been taking Effexor since July 2000. I was suffering with severe anxiety and depression. After a short time taking Effexor I felt much better. However, like many others, if I knew then what I know now, I would have chosen a different drug.

After several attempts to discontinue Effexor, I finally decided several months to make it happen. My husband and I want to have children in the near future making this a must. My doctor put me on Straterra and starting tapering the Effexor. Friday was my last day taking the 37.5mg capsule. Saturday I was fine, but Sunday it started. I am having severe withdrawal symptoms including headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and other stimuli, electrical shocks, palpitations, decrease peripheral circulation to hands and feet, emotional/teary.

Basically, I feel like SH_T!! I knew I would have a hard time, but I just wish I knew how long this is going to last. I feel like I can't work feeling so terrible.

I saw my doctor today, she put me on 20mg Prozac to help with the withdrawal symptoms. I pray this works and FAST! I'm trying to stay calm and talk myself through this. I will say it is nice to know that I am not alone! I'm just sad that we have to deal with such terrible effects from this drug! If I only knew!!

I was on Effexor XR for 4 years. Mainly because I have a history of depression and at the time they put me on it my mom was diagnosed with her 2nd cancer and her prognosis was only 3 months to live.

Up until this summer I thought I was doing ok. Then my husband was complaining a lot about how I don't do anything around the house and how I was a zombie when I was at home. So he started doing research online and found a lot of websites like this one where people were talking about their problems while taking and trying to get off of the Effexor. At first I didn't want to hear about it. I didn't want to come off of the meds because I was afraid of what might happen; I was suicidal when I started taking it. After he threatened to leave me if I didn't try to get off of it I decided to look into it.

I bought some books and did my own research online. I felt like I'd been cheated out of the last 4 yrs of my life!!!! I was a zombie. So I decided to come off of it. I talked to my dr about it and although he supported it, he wasn't really involved in it. I went to him for one appt to tell him what I wanted to do and that was it; I've never seen him since. I've done it on my own.

I started off on 175mg a day. Every four weeks I stepped down a dosage. The first time it took 3 weeks before I felt the withdrawals; I was ill for 3 days and had to miss work because I couldn't get out of bed. Then, I missed two days a few weeks later. In about 3 weeks I missed 7 days of work because of the withdrawals. The last straw was when I woke up with the worse headache I've ever had in my life. I called my manager and told them that I needed to take about 2 months off so that I could go through this without worrying about missing so much work. After my 2nd tapering, I decided to stop taking the meds altogether and I was bed-ridden for almost 3 weeks! I could barely walk. If I was still working I would've surely lost my job!

Now, here I am...almost 2 months later and I'm still dealing with withdrawal symptoms. Mostly headaches and 'eye pain'. I'm still not back to work yet; that's another story; but I can't believe that I've had to go through this! I almost lost my marriage over this and then I almost lost my job! It's ruined my life.

I found this website because I wanted to find out why I was having frequent brains zaps/shocks/a case of the zzzts-zzzts-zzzts shortly after having stopped taking Effexor (3 days ago).

My story, very briefly, is that I started taking Effexor XR (75 mgs/day) 5 years ago to alleviate ferocious hot flashes which started when I went on to Arimidex, an anti-cancer drug which suppresses estrogen. I had been diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer in 2001 and had an estrogen-positive tumor. After two surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, I prepared to go back to work.

Then I entered hot flash country. They were terrible, making me feel as though I was being suffocated as well as miserably overheated. Effexor did the trick pretty well, although I still had the odd mega-flash so stayed on it throughout the five years of Arimidex. Last Thursday I completed my 5 years on Arimidex, stopped both medications cold turkey, and felt overjoyed and like celebrating. Friday I started having the brain zaps & sensation of dizziness that I had experienced now and again when I missed the daily Effexor dose. My heart sank.

How long would this go on? When I had experienced it before (only for a day at a time) I occasionally felt unwell enough to stay home from work. Now retired, am I going to lose my usually abundant energy, ability to sleep well, joy of living etc. etc.? As with cancer, I'll have to take it a day at a time. I am naturally fairly resilient and up-beat, but have experienced short-term chemically-induced depression, so am very sympathetic to those of you who have had to endure full-blown depression for any length of time.

What I REALLY want to say is that I am so outraged that all of you, whose stories I have read, are in so much pain, and in some cases despair, and in many cases because you took what you trusted was a drug that would help you. Instead, you have been betrayed. It's NOT OK WITH ME that drug companies & doctors brush us off as being under some kind of illusion as to these withdrawal symptoms. It's NOT OK for this medication to be prescribed without the patient being INFORMED about side effects and withdrawal symptoms - not all of us are computer savvy and know that we can find a huge amount of information about our medications on the Internet (thank goodness for websites like this one).

The truth of the matter is that increasingly we are expected to take responsibility for informing ourselves as to side effects, withdrawal symptoms, etc. etc. Those doctors who can't take the time to help us through these difficult experiences are guilty of blaming the victim, adding insult to injury.

Don't lose hope, my friends. Take life a minute, an hour, a day at a time. Remember you are not alone in this distressing situation, keep reading what others have to say, take heart that some have finally come through it all, and remember that drug companies are in business for the money - your money. Don't give them your health as well.

Oh, by the way, re: drug companies and your money & health, I mentioned to a nurse practitioner last week that after having had years of low cholesterol, mine had suddenly shot up. I have always had high HDL so my doctor is not unduly worried. However, I said to the nurse that many of my women friends in their late 50s and early 60s (where I am) have suddenly had the same high readings. Why, I wondered. We all exercise, eat healthily, avoid animal fats to a greater or lesser degree.

She looked at me and said, because the drug companies want you all to start taking Lipitor. You know, I had wondered if cholesterol level testing had been altered to reflect a falsely high reading so that we'd feel compelled to take a drug to protect ourselves.... What do you think? Sound too much like a conspiracy theory?

After reading these comments I think I'm just gonna go ahead and check in to the local phsyco unit! I've just recently decided to try to get off all this medicine I'm taking. I started reducing my dosage of Effexor one week ago. My wonderful wife found this website and insisted I read some of the comments. I currently am taking 450mg of Effexor daily along with 400mg of Wellbutrin, and 75mg of Lamictal. My intentions are to eventually stop taking all of this stuff. I have reduced my dosage of Effexor to half. I am already experiencing some of the symptoms such as blinding headaches, nausea, dizzyness, and confusion none of which are very bad except for the headaches. Please describe "brain zap". I'm not sure I understand what they are.

(Brain zaps are the electrical shocks that some people feel when they're going through SSRI withdrawal. They generally start in the head and can extend all the way through the body. Extremely disturbing and irritating, they don't seem to cause permanent damage. - Mark)

Thanks so much for your site. I too thought I was crazy. I have been trying for almost a year to get off Effexor due to it's numerous side effects. I tried weaning, cold turkey but always gave in and went back on it as I couldn't stand the withdrawal. I even think my Dr. thought I was nuts until I printed some of the comments from this site and showed them to him.

Well I am on day 12 with no Effexor and still suffering from the brain zaps/pulsing. I have been taking massive doses of Omega 3 which doesn't seem to be doing much. I have also tried Benodryl and Clariton D. They took the edge off a little bit but zapping/pulsing was still there.

On the positive side...I feel happier, clearer headed and am sleeping better. I will NEVER will take this drug again!!! I am just trying to be patient as I know the brain zaps/pulsing will ease up sometime but it may take a few more weeks.I had a crying jag the other night over a Xmas song but it felt great. I felt like I was emotionally numb while on Effexor and felt lousy from all the side effects.

Good luck to all of you out there trying to get off this nasty drug. I feel as if I am over the worst of it (I hope) and am looking forward to feeling NORMAL.

I was on 450mg day plus 80 mg of Paxil and went off Cold Turkey for the exception of (3) days of Prozac 40mg.

Where to start...I have been on 220 mgs for six years. About two months ago, my doc wanted me to wean myself off the 75 mg pill. WOAH. I had the terrible side effects, the same as everyone else. I couldn't do it.

Since then, I have gotten married. We want to try to have kids Aug/Sept of '07. I want to breast feed. The Effexor goes through the breast milk, not the placenta....Once you stop breast feeding, the BABY goes through the withdrawals!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I couldn't, in good faith, do that to him/her.

SO today (12/4/06) I went to a new doc. She told me, for the next two weeks, take 150 + 37.5 every other night and 750 + 75 the other nights. Hopefully I can get down to 150 + 37.5 every night, then down to 150 then down even further. I am SO afraid to go off this strong medication not because of my depression, but because of the awful side effects.

I sat here crying as I was reading these posts because I don't want to have to go through that again. Granted, it was only for a week but it was pure hell. I don't know what to do...I am so scared.

OH man! I have been looking for reasons to my constant nausea and dizzyness for quite awhile. Believe it or not I actually requested Effexor because I heard it was sooo wonderful. Having been diagnosed as OCD I took Zoloft for several yrs. The problem was that I shook terribly and suffered from anxiety. Zoloft stopped working for me and I began seeing a psychotherapist to help with anxiety issues.

I feel like a fricken junky now with Effexor. I simply cannot stand the withdrawal from it. If I forget to take a dose I know that I will be sick. This is what made me aware in the first place. I blamed it on the anxiety and not the meds. I want to stop these meds so bad, but I cannot deal with the withdrawal and function at all.

The only thing that seems to help is a bit of food, or a lot of food. That worries me too since it can lead to huge weight gains. I desperately want to get off this medication. I have 3 daughters and I cannot put them through my withdrawal. This is worse than the depression and the anxiety that I thought I was having. I simply cannot even remember what it felt like to be normal anymore. Someone please help!

I had been on Effexor xr for almost four years. It really helped me get through a rough time, but I was ready to be done with it.

I tried about a year and a half ago cold turkey and went through the all of the withdrawal symptoms.

I tried about six months later, this time doing the tapering thing. I had the same effects. I am a wimp sometimes so back on the medicine I went. My doc had given me some sample about 3 months ago and half of them were 37.5 mg so I thought, what the heck, let's try getting off of this again.

I had gone from 150 mg to 75 mg and had been doing okay there for quite a while. I was on the 37.5 mg for a month and went back to the doctor to get a new prescription.

We decided to go to the 25 mg regular Effexor and take one in the morning and 1/2 of one at night. I then went to 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night and then just 1/2 in the morning. I thought this was it. When I stopped taking the 1/2 pill or 12.5 mg of regular Effexor once a day I started the withdrawal again.

I went back to my doctor, who was very encouraging and supportive of me getting off the drugs and she put me on Prozac. I stayed on 25 mg of Effexor for three days while I took 20 mg of Prozac. I then stopped the Effexor and stayed on 20 mg for two more days and then went to 10 mg for 5 days and then nothing.

I kept a journal of how I was feeling for about 4 weeks, but I have been feeling so good that I finally quit my "Effexor" journal. I kept waiting for the after effects to kick in, but nothing. It feels so good to not be taking this stuff and even better to not have any withdrawal symptoms. It can be done!!! I am living proof of that. Good luck.

One night in 1998 I considered the ease of stepping up and out the window of my 24th floor apartment. The next morning I sat in my doctors office, gladly accepting a prescription for Zoloft. It worked for a time, then it didn't. I have been on 150mg of Effexor for about six years.

A week ago I stopped taking it. Cold turkey. The first few days I felt fine. With an "I'm lucky, self-congratulatory attitude", I blissfully floated upon calm waters. I crashed into the coral reef yesterday. I'm thrashing, flailing, clawing for solid ground. I came here for a compass. I know I'm not crazy, but I feel like it. I'm angry, oh you bet I am. I'm stolid one minute, sobbing with grief the next. It gives me strength and hope to read the experiences of others here. I know I'll make it today.

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