If you are having a difficult time withdrawing from Effexor talk to your doctor about the possibility of taking a small dose of Prozac (fluoxetine). While Effexor helped my anxiety/depression, it created other side effects that I did not like. This tells me that this drug should NOT be on the market. I went without Effexor xr for 4-5 days and my head is killing me. Read more. The brain zaps are undoubtedly the most horrible part. Ive been titrating off Effexor XR as well, and am actually completely off of it as of this week. I didn't think it would get worse as the days went on. My mood has been out of control. I am thankful that I am a college student and do not have to commit to a full time job. medication. My skin literally hurts. It is theroadback.org. Experts on antidepressant withdrawal were asked to comment – Will Hall, Altostrata, Peter C Groot, Bob Fiddaman, Josef Witt-Doerring have generously given time to do so. If you want to taper, get a prescription for the immediate release medication. If you can't be seen right away, call your insurance company and tell them your problem and they will find a doctor who will see you in a timely manner. Have been on 75mg six years and due to all the side effects of which many relate to me I am ready to get this drug out of my life. It is unconscionable that doctor's prescribe this drug. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome occurs in about 20% of people who have regularly taken an antidepressant for at least a month and suddenly stop taking it or who drastically reduce their dose.1 Some types of antidepressants seem to be more likely to cause discontinuation syndrome than others, but you can develop it from any type. Start with protein shakes (Amino acids in protein are the source for the body to produce serotonin) It’s my 3rd day clean, my brain does not shiver, I get dizzy sometimes thou. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Omega 3 1200 (either fish oil or flax seed oil, note fish oil has cholesterol, that’s Omega 3-6 and 9) My first day wasn't too bad; I had missed doses before and was familiar with the slight dizziness. It is UNBELIEVABLE to me how many posts there are on this subject. What should I expect if I stop using Effexor? Do not alter your dosage or discontinue Effexor, or any other medication, without notifying your doctor. The antidepressants most likely to cause troublesome symptoms are those that have a short half-life — that is, they break down and leave the body quickly. Most important tip: PLEASE TAPER OFF. He told me I should not have withdrawal symptoms of the Effexor. I read through pages and pages of Effexor withdrawal posts and cried for hours, thinking that I would never be able to successfully quit this drug. Tapers over a period of months and down to doses much lower than minimum therapeutic doses have shown greater success in reducing withdrawal symptoms.” The authors suggest that drugs such as sertraline (Zoloft) or paroxetine (Paxil) should be tapered very gradually. I started taking it the very next day and started to have withdrawals that evening. The withdrawal symptoms are relieved within hours and the patient goes through a sluggish fluoxetine withdrawal that is typically symptomless. When you're addicted to a substance like drugs or alcohol, it causes changes in your brain tha… How Long Should Klonopin Withdrawal Symptoms Last? Hydration- Gatorade was a lifesaver! I tried quitting about a year ago and a different doc told me to take the pack they use to taper you up and do it in reverse. ", http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0801/p449.html, http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256, http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/rest-relaxation-and-exercise, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/antidepressant-withdrawal/faq-20058133, http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/anti-depressants-withdrawal/successful-venlafaxine-reduction-programmes/, http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/venlafaxine-oral-route/precautions/drg-20067379, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1681629/, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. With a pill splitter you can split your pills in half when necessary. What should I do? I told him I would rather switch to Cymbalta. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned. I would never have understood what they were, had I not suffered them myself. Now it's down to one or two times occasionally. I have been tapering off EXR for a little more than a month. I would strongly suggest that you find a new MD. If a person were to stop taking venlafaxine suddenly, or reduce the dosage, withdrawal symptoms can occur, often within a matter of hours. Eat well. The body is smart: what is not needed will be discarded. I have had the "brain zaps." I have had a bad sinus/bronchitis cold at the same time that I have been off of Effexor and thought I was experiencing these feeling due to the cold. Perhaps go back on a low dose and re-taper. Magnesium (avoid headaches, mood improvement) Hi Mandynikki. This medication is used for depression and/or anxiety, not for relieving pain. I felt like a zombie, completely out of my own body. What do I do? Venlafaxine HCl (commonly known by the brand name Effexor) is an oral medication commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, and social phobias. I was able to miss my classes with minimal consequence, which was a huge help. This stuff is bad. Multivitamins (as a base, any brand is good, normal dosis) Good luck for you all! In other words, you may not be able to cop… Brain circuitry and chemistry will attempt to regulate as drugs and/or alcohol process out of the body after dependence has formed, and this causes withdrawal symptoms.The duration, intensity, and type of withdrawal symptoms will differ based on which drug … If you don't feel better soon, talk to your doctor. Anything that puts you through withdrawals like I went through cant be good for you, and should probably be illegal. Hi, I'm going to taper off Effexor xr 75mg ( Vensir ). Get enough sleep. Deep Breathing. ... (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), duloxetine (Cymbalta) and Venlafaxine (Effexor), and they have made a … This is because when decreasing or stopping an antidepressant, a neurochemical change takes place in the brain. I can live with it. I have felt like I have the flu. Omega-3 fatty acids, which seem to alleviate depression in some people, seem a promising remedy. I bought the powder mix in bulk, and always kept a liter bottle … Edie65110601 over a year ago, smw0304 How hard is it to get off of psychiatric medication? Dr. Horowitz said he had severe withdrawal symptoms after tapering down after 15 years on antidepressants. By tapering your dose (ideally under doctor supervision), and by taking steps to cope with your withdrawal symptoms, you can ease yourself off of the drug. Go to urgent care if you don't have insurance and get safe advice from the doctor there. Call the doctor who prescribed your Effexor today! Withdrawal symptoms. When I asked my doc about it, she kinda chuckled and said that it must be from something else and then changed my prescription to effexor. Here are the things that helped me with the physical withdrawal symptoms: 1. These suggestions are helpful and reassuring while I'm getting back to having the proper level. Effexor withdrawal is as bad as opiate withdrawal in its own ways. WHAT A GREAT choice that was. I ran out of my Effexor XR 2 days ago. Only take the drug as it was prescribed for you! Sexual dysfunction and loss of libido sometimes go hand in hand with this. The most common symptoms of venlafaxine withdrawal are dizziness, nausea, and agitation that leads to mood swings. It is important to be monitored and to adjust your tapering strategy based on symptoms of withdrawal or the return of your depressive symptoms. By using our site, you agree to our. Research the internet for amino acids (whey protein) and depression, vitamins and depression, withdrawal systems and depression, etc. Is it safe to just stop as I've only had 4 doses? I have trouble focusing. Now I have decided that I do not want to take any Antidepressants. So many posts that they have to keep making new threads. It has been going on for abut 3 weeks and i dont know how to stop it? If you want to get notified by every reply to your post, please register. Provided easy-to-follow steps to aid in recovery. Medications for Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms: What Helps You Quit Weed? The drug is … I was on something else before this and for the life of me, I can't remember the name, but when I forgot to get a refill, I got the brain zaps, confsusion, nausea,etc. Treatment specialists will administer medication as needed to ease your discomfort and clinical staff will provide … withdrawal symptoms getting. Of total milligrams per week to two weeks and I dont know how to ease symptoms... For years, like suicidal thoughts, keep reading References cited in this article was co-authored Padam! Should be reduced under the direction of a small dose of Prozac has been going on for abut weeks... Drops or spikes unpleasant side effects that I would strongly suggest that you are well-hydrated and! 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