Re: Re: Re: Help with Effexor withdrawal symptoms

Posted by Julie on 09/29/05 at 04:59 AM

I too was a victim of effexor. I am also a nurse and therefore feel that I should have known better, however..... I am not sure how long you have been on it, but I will share with you my story and you can make your own educated decision...(just know I can really relate) I began on effexor 5 1/2 years ago at 37 1/5mg than up to 75mg than 150. I had just had a hysterectomy and was going through a divorce and needed something to help me through this horribly depressing period. I have tried 5 times to get off... the 1st was at 37 1/5 mg (I felt ok on it but hoped I could come off) and I was unable to even taper gradually without becoming very ill so I went to the Dr for help he said that at that small of a dose I was not blocking the appropriate neurotransmitter receptor site and that the reason I needed to increase the dose, not go off. Being the trusting individual I was, I bumped it up to 75mg I started having some side effects, insomnia, lack of emotion, weight gain etc plus I was feeling depressed more than ever. Again I tried several times to go off. I even went so far as to use a razor blade to slice small amounts off the splitable tabs in order to try and avoid the horribly debilitating withdrawal symptons......nothing worked. Again the Dr said we need to bump it up so I went up to 150mg.....Yes there were some great things about it, I didn\'t cry all of the time, but I was still so down, and the weight gain although not too great was even making the depression seem worse. I finally switched to my Drs nurse practioner who has a great reputation with using natural hormones and that sort of thing. I explained to her how depressed and yes, suicidal at times, that I was feeling. After hearing more effexor horror stories from her, we decided to wean me off yet again with the help of some natural supplements. It has been really, really hard (but not like the times before)I am at the end of three weeks, and the roller coaster ride of emotions has not stopped.. I have a hard time with the fact that this drug is so easily prescribed without the info on how horrible not only side effects can become, but what a slave we are to it should we not have it or try to go off of it. Do a lot of research on the other antidepressants....I know paxil is also horrible in the same manner as effexor... I am opting to try and ride this out and see if I can make it without one, but if I need something you can be sure I will research it to death before I ever put poison like that in my body again. Good luck with whatever you decide, my heart goes out to you