Effexor withdrawal ... holy crap!

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Never ever stop that stuff cold-turkey. Taper off slowly. A week is usually not enough. It's been known to take a couple of months. Your brain needs to readjust.

Some people report no withdrawal symptoms, and they're lucky, but if you're not one of those people, why put yourself through that if you don't have to?

When I forget to take my Ciprilex I can't sleep at all at night and I feel a bit agitated and hyper (I have too much energy). When I was on Zoloft I didn't notice much of anything when I accidentally missed a day or even two. Effexor sounds like it has really severe withdrawal symptoms for an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication.

You're right that you should never stop this stuff cold turkey.thats true of many meds. Problem is that sometimes these meds cause withdrawal symptoms if you're just a few hours late taking a dose. Do you usually take your Paxil at 6pm with dinner, but tonight you work late on an emergency project and don't get home til 2am? Ha! Paxil has a surprise in store for you starting around 9.

The prescribing doctors are being irresponsible when they fail to inform patients of this reality. Really, how much time and effort would it take for the doc to say, "you have to take this med at the same time every day because if you don't, it's very likely that the dropping blood levels will quickly cause some unpleasant effects. So it would be a good idea to keep a small supply at work, in your purse, briefcase, car, or some other place where you can quickly get to it if you realize you didn't take it at the usual time."

Heh. Maybe I answered my own question. If a patient is given that warning along with a prescription, how many would say, " thanks, doc, that stuff just doesn't sound safe. Lets try something else?" Not a good result for the drug companies.

If I had had a gun, during my Effexor withdrawal, I would have blown my head off. It was THAT bad.

Other runners up in the sh***y withdrawal symptoms: Paxil, Xanax and Cymbalta. Never ever again will those four drugs pass my lips.

Though, some of my friends swear Effexor works miracles. Didn't do anything for me.

Here comes the really bad news (hope it was only true for me, not other people)--I was unable to withdraw from Effexor. Went "cold turkey" for six whole months and the withdrawal symptoms (sweating, panic attacks, etc.) never went away. Finally had to get back on. I know other people have been more successful, though. SSRIs are not the happy, benign drugs they are often represented to be.

If I miss a few days of the antidepressant I'm on, I get dizzy and start having anxiety attacks and there's a chance I'll end up having a meltdown.

I came off Zoloft (Sertraline) last March after being on it for 2 years. I decided to come off because it wasn't working and I didn't want to stay on it for a long time as had found someone to help me with the things that caused me to be put on it in the first place.
I'm now 1 year 3 months off it. I'm still experiencing withdrawal symptoms. I wake up panicky every morning, have a constant headache, constant stomach upset, have burning pains in my joints and muscles, all my sensory issues are a lot worse, my emotions are really strong........I could go on but it would be a very very long list. I've become agoraphobic too, as feel faint all the time.
I refuse to go back onto any psychiatristic med so am just trying to be patient and let things get better. I am making progress and my body is healing, it's just taking ages. I wish I'd been told about the possibility of withdrawal when it was suggested I go onto antidepressants, because I wouldn't have gone on them.

on a cheaper alternative to cipralex, forgetting a dose one day in an otherwise stable administration is not so bad, forgetting it twice in a row made me very very sad.

Some people have had success switching to Prozac first, then discontinuing the Prozac. LINK.

I don't want to take any of those medications anyways but that's another reason for me to not take them. Unless someone else remembers and reminds me I am really bad about remembering to take medication. I can't even remember to take my vitamins most of the time.

Effexor is an SSRI and SNRI , Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor. Perhaps its withdrawal symptoms are more severe than the plain SSRIs as it effects two neurotransmitters.

That's what I thought too, and that's probably why.

Feeling much better this morning, but with a huge headache, and a sore throat (probably unrelated to my missed dose).

Glad you're feeling better!

Weird I never went through withdrawals after stopped I taking any of my meds.

Exactly.

Which makes such 'doctors' drug pushers and shills, rather than a healing physician. They all take an oath to first do no harm, and to protect and help the patient. The patient should be their first and only priority - not kickbacks and gifts from drug companies.

Drug companies also sponsor buffets and such for med students and donate to medical schools. Might as well be called Big Pharma U. in my opinion.

When a medication designed to help people can cause suicidal ideation something is very wrong. I have also heard of a diverse array of other drugs like flu medications, antibiotics, and nerve medication and 'stop smoking' pills, which can cause psychosis and suicidal ideations.

Who's watching things and protecting patients, is my question.

I do not believe there are any magic drugs, all have some side effects and with drawl symptoms which vary between patient.

Everyone should attempt to make themselves fully aware of potential side effects, whether by asking the doctor or research.

I'm not condoning the Big Pharma Brave New World but I would probably not be alive today without some chemical crutch to lean on.

Last edited by neilson_wheels on 19 Jun 2013, 5:09 am, edited 1 time in total.