Re: Effexor Withdrawal...Read This!!!

Posted by Nan on 12/29/04 at 07:20 PM

I am so relieved! I am not going crazy! I had no idea that going off effexor could be the cause of what I have been going through. I was on effexor for about 2 years, partly for depression and partly to control hot flashes-which it did- and it just did not seem to be working emotionally plus i gained 30 punds and felt like I was getting alzheimers. I started reducing it and am now taking the 37\'s every other day but if i go any longer the symptoms become unbearable.I kept thinking that I was getting the flu over and over and that I should start taking the effexor again to keep from adding further stress to my system.The symptoms started when I went from 75 to 37.5 but greatly intensified when I tried missing days.I had gone through this cycle about 3 times in the last couple weeks when the possibility of a connection between the effexor and the \"illness\" hit me. Vertigo, pressure in my head (I just went through a $2200 MRI!), bizarre dreams,jolting awake at night, painful joints and muscles, forgetfulness--I am sorry to hear so many others with these symptoms too but i am also relieved that I am not alone with this. I am 50 years old and really started to think that maybe this was just age-related and it was all downhill from now on. My parents don\'t have as many aches as I do! I don\'t exactly know what to do about this insight-my shrink retired. I have no mental health insurance and my gp is sick of hearing about my aches and pains, I will soon be unemployed and can\'t afford to pay full out-of-pocket to get started with a new psychiatrist. But I will work out something-I always do. I just want to thank everyone who has shared their experiences-at least I can now see light at the end of the tunnel!

Replies	Posted By	#	Date & Time
Re: Re: Effexor Withdrawal...Read This!!!	Patricia	0	12/30/04 10:48 PM