Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 74 of 140}

Just an update. I've been off of Effexor XR now for 3 weeks and am happy to report that I feel great. Hang in there all! It gets better. I'm living proof. I stick to my claim that openning the capsules and removing 10 - 20 beads over several weeks helped TREMENDOUSLY!!! It takes time but is well worth it if you want to buffer the effects of withdrawal.

maadys mom and all others---
ive also been off effexor for about 3 weeks, and the fact that im not coutning the days by thier number is rad. i didnt even realize i had stopeed doing that.
the shocks are subsiding,, however i do feel like i have that 'restless leg syndrome"! (and no om not going to take the rx for it, just saying i have all the symptoms...) does anyone else feel that restless leg stuff?
the crying episodes havent stopped yet, and i feel like im on a roller coaster when it comes to my emotions.
and the other day i swear that my sex drive might of been trying to break thru.
has anyone that has QUIT taking effexor found themselves being really mean and angry as theyre getting off? i feel like maybe i cant follow my gut instict when it comes to making decisions about my life from an emotional standpoint at all. and i rely on that. im hoping this is another side effect and that im not cold hearted to those that are close to me....mainly my live in boyfriend...my friends i dont see that often i am okay to....
:(
??????

Thank you to all the brave supporters. I am on day number 8, I took 150mg for 15 years. All my doctors would advise not stopping until things 'settled down' in my life. Well now I have been unemployed 2 years, sold everything I own, and am living with my sister (I will be 56 next week) and have no insurance coverage. Dude, it can't get much worse.NOW is the time to get this monkey off.

Hi and good day everyone. Just wanted to see how everyone is doing. My head zaps are still bad almost all day every day. I am about 16 days without pills. I feel like sleeping all the time. Has anyone tried anything for the head. Or will it go away soon.

I am on day 20 and am finally feeling great! I am calm, no more spontaneous jolts of anger. I have only had one or two very mild zaps in the last week. It will go away! Keep telling yourself it will pass because it really does.

kinda outta left field here, but I've wondered many, many times over the years ... if I had to describe what I think y'all are referring to as 'brain zaps'; how in the world I would describe them. Have any of you come up with a way to describe these?

For Cait206,

Yes, I did experience bouts where I felt extremely mean and wanted to scream at my husband and 3 year old until I was blue in the face. It went away though. I ket reminding myself that it would pass and that I was just having a bad moment but tomorrow would be different.
Hang in there. It gets better.

hi may name is dawn and am coming off the worst drug i have ever encounted, Effexor. We all learn street drugs are bad and can ruin your life. well this one is legal and doctors ect are all to happy to keep pumping you this stuff.
i am on ONE week off the drug i weened off it by counting the little balls inside the tablet. i was on 75 xl for 4 years and this is the fourth time i have tried. the tapering has stop the brain shivers but i am so tearful and snappy and just shouting and angery with my kids i still wonder if i should just everyone a favour and go back on them... is now me.. i used to be so level headed and understanding and now i don't now my self..

Max 55

Good morning. This is one of the worst. I am on day 19 with no pills. The first week was awful. But you do feel and act better. My head is still shaking but not as much. I will get better. Hang in there for there for yourself. and just keep talking to pepole about it.

Robin

Max55 - hang in there!!!! I am around day 20 or 25 now of being off Effexor. I quit counting the days because I am finally feeling so good! Man did I go through the anger and snappiness coming off Effexor. Around day 13 to 15 things will be much better for you. The first two weeks are ROUGH. I was shaking all the time both inside and out, crying, angry, wanted to just rip my skin off. I had to keep telling myself it would pass and thank God it does pass. You can do it. Exercise and lots of water and healthy food really does help. Keep posting, we're here for you. You can make it through this.

whatever u do or not but dont forget to take bach flower remedy Rescue remedy after effexor withdrawal during panic attacks.

thanks readin the posts is a great help. Its good to know i am not alone, and that there is hope. I just want to be normal again, and be me.
I am taking bach remedy and it does seem to help a little.
And started taking st johns wort, as i heard that it may help.
Hope people reading this who are still going through early stages don't give up...
This forum has been a life line...
My doc told me that the feels i was have where not from this DRUG, what a laugh..
but i now Know this is real and i am not mad..
People should know about this drug...
but i would really recommend the counting of the powder balls in side the casing, it took longer but had a lot easyer time. PLEASE don't just think you can go straight cold turkey with this drug. I have read a lot of sites and done my homework, you could really become very ill....do it very sslowly...

However you can get off this drug it is worth it. Big Pharm has brainwashed the public and the doctors. The people we go to for help should remember their oath 'first, do no harm'. I am on my second week of withdrawl. No apologies.

keep up the good work it gets better. I wish we could educate everyone this is a awful drug.

hi its 12.00 and i am still awake, after avery busy day, and after i have felt tiered all day...
does any one else get very bad chest pain while coming off this drug. It must only be very bad intagestion. But it still hurts. I also am getting very breathless..
BUT i have started feeling a little positive and hope it lasts..
lets just see what my post is like tomorrow :)
Reading all the posts i think there are a lot of brave people out there.
THIS is not easy, and yet here we all are.
SOOO pleased that i have others that understand, i have two small children and god knows how this is effecting them, as i have turned into some monster over night. It sometimes frighting how easy i lose my temper, when once i was so calm about everything..but that was probley the drug, blocking all my feelings..
thats the hardest thing suddenly facing up to feelings i have not had for 4 years...
hope i am still a nice person without this drug ????

hey
im on 75 mg of effexor xr per day...
i have been for 7 months.
why is everyone getting off of it? did it not work for you? i am confused...
thanks!

its not that sometimes it does not work..
some people have bad side effects...so have to come off
The big BUT is when you try to come off...
please read the other posts,
there are ones all the the way back to number 1 at the bottom of the page

THIS drug is Very very very adictive,,, it is so hard to stop taking that even your doctor will want to keep you on them.. my docs told me that because of the really bad side effects coming off i should just stay on them....
Please read who others feel on this site when they just try and cut down there dose...

hi not feeling well been at work all day and was talked into having a glass of wine after. NOT a good idea... been sick and feeling crap on ONE glass of white wine...
hope it does not put back...
was just starting to feel a little better....
let you all know in morning if angry me is back....
Don't drink will trying to withdraw

I was put on Effexor XR 37.5 by my OB/Gyn for hot flashes after I stopped taking hormones. I was told to take that amount for one week and then double the dose. I never went to the double dose because my hot flashes were under control with the lower dose. I've now been taking the 37.5 dose once a day for over a year. Unfortunately, I've gained over 10 pounds in that period of time and I'd like to stop the Effexor. After reading hundreds of posts on this thread, I'm really concerned about how to best stop the pills. I had originally thought I'd take them every other day, but I'm thinking that might not be a good idea. Has anyone had any severe withdrawal from stopping such a low dose? Is it best to stop the way that has been suggested, which was reducing the beads in each pill? I'd really like to hear from someone who's been taking it to replace hormones, rather than for depression.

Hi everyone. I'm the new kid on the block and i guess some of this is directed to cait206. I've started weaning from effexor 150 (4 yrs on it)capsules towards the end of August and YES! Sometimes it takes all of my sanity to hold back and not scream at someone to just 'get out of my face or to just stop talking..this is so frustrating. At first I counted the beads in the capsule and took out 40 and stayed at that dose for 1 month. Then I took out 80 and stayed at the new dose for 3 weeks. Then I found out that the capsules are filled by weight and some have more beads then others so I was on a varied dose everyday. Soooo, I counted out 300 beads & already have fogotten how I justified that amount, but anyway I took that for 2 weeks. What a pain in the _ _s counting them out. A couple of days ago I cut that by 10% = 270 beads. But now I worry do I count only the big beads or do the small ones count as one? UGH! I just want to fling the bottle across the room and stomp on it! Has anyone out there counted whats in the 150 capsule? I'm so moody sometimes & other days I feel great..Anyone else having the mood swings and the butterflies in the stomach feeling? I don't know if I'm weaning correctly or to fast. I'm so confused. All I'm sure of is that I'm not giving up and I'm getting rid of this bastard drug once and for all.

hi
i did the counting and just did it very slowly. I know what you mean about the size of the beads, but its a better way than the docs give you.. which was cut dose in half strengh tablet and then miss a dose very other day... I was soo ill, i tried with the help od my docs 3 times.. this time i did it myself counting the beads taking 3 out very 2 week.
It took a long time and was a pain but i have had least bad reactions..
i am on my 2 week not taking any !!!!! and have started to feel better...
I daon't feel shaky or sick any more. the brain shakes are slowing. And i feel very positive.
Don't give up if i can do it anyone can...

max55
thanx for replying. I'm a little shaky & highly aggitated this morning so I had to take a benadryl, which does help a bit. It must have taken you a very long time to wean off by jusy taking out 3 beads at a time. The problem I have with doing that is the number of beads in each capsule aren't the same. I counted out a 474 beads in one 150 capsule and in another there was only 322 so the dose varies. That's why I tediously count out every one. But since I've already been taking 270 or so beads for the last few days I'll continue that for a couple of weeks but instead of taking out 27 of the 270 next time, I'll remove 13 beads and take that for 2-3 weeks and then 13 more for two or 3 weeks.It might make a difference. anyway I've got to sign off now..can't sit still..but I'll be back later. Thanks again for your input and support.

Hello Everyone!!
It is good and bad to see so many new people. Thank God you found this site but awful to see so many people still taking this drug.

I have been Effexor free for three months now. I feel great! The road was not an easy one but believe me it gets better everyday. I had extreme irritability and anxiety. I was cranky most of the time for no reason...but it ends. It became apparent that I was happier about a week or two ago. I do not feel angry anymore.
I know that at times you will all feel like this is too much to bear but this too will end. I wanted to give in and return to a larger dose but I had a very supportive husband who talked me out of it. DO NOT BE ASHAMED if you must resume taking a larger amount than you were down to. If you must then wean slower. The slower the better. 2 or 3 balls every coulpe of days worked good for me in the end ( at 18.5 mg and lowwer) and I did not have any brain zaps at all, this way. Going any faster was too hard for me.It took me 3 months to wean something I took for 10 years.
It is worth it!!! Keep your chins up.You deserve it!
Delaney

I am just learning how to post here.

Hi Rainwalker,
Welcome to the forum. I'm new to this too. I've only posted a couple of times. Are you also weaning from effexor? If so how long have you been on it and how many miligrams. I've been on 150 XR for 4 years and started to wean mid-August of this year. I'm doing it by taking beads out every three weeks or so. The amount of beads vary in each capsule. Apparantly they are filled by weight..not beads. I should have known that. I had
counted approximately 474 beads but when I found out each capsule was different I counted out 300 and took that amount for 3 weeks and then cut by 10% to 270. Today I took 267 beads. By taking a few out every 3-4 days it still adds up to about 10% a month but the cut's not so drastic. I'm hoping this works for me. Sooo..What's your story??

Hi Everyone,
I'm a little nervous here. For the first time since the slow drop in mgs. of E I had trouble with my vision. It came on sudden & it was as if I had been staring at the sun or a long time or as if a flash from a camera had been going off in my face. Then my periphial vision was blurred for about an hour. I wasn'r dizzy, but I did lay down until things were normal.Has this happened to anyone else?