[Christina86]

I've been weaned off my antidepressant (Effexor) for approximately 2 weeks now. I'm currently only on Lamotrigine (it's to prevent seizures, but is also used as a mood stabilizer) at 200mg?

Anyways, over the past two months I've gone from:
187.5mg of Effexor, to 150mg, to 75mg to 37.5mg. (And as of two weeks ago, I'm completely off it)

By far the worst side effects came when going from 150 to 75!

BUT.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had longterm withdrawal effects after you've come off of Effexor. My mood has drastically changed (NOT for the better) and I've been more lethargic/tired and have had massive headaches.

To be fair, it could be any number of things causing these symptoms, but I figured it was worth a shot asking people if they've had longer withdrawal effects from Effexor than would seem "normal".

Thanks

[weatherfreak]

I have come off it twice at 150mg. Once cold turkey and the second time I weaned very slowly, to the point of opening the capsules and removing an extra 5 pellets a day until there were none left.

Same result for me both times, it was hell and lasted for about 4 weeks, for zaps, headaches, fatigue etc... and then I felt very flat for about 6 months then I finally came good, BUT I have this problem with all SSRI's and SNRI's, some people, like my sister don't.

Good luck and hang in there, it will be over soon.

[Christina86]

Originally Posted by weatherfreak

I have come off it twice at 150mg. Once cold turkey and the second time I weaned very slowly, to the point of opening the capsules and removing an extra 5 pellets a day until there were none left.

Same result for me both times, it was hell and lasted for about 4 weeks, for zaps, headaches, fatigue etc... and then I felt very flat for about 6 months then I finally came good, BUT I have this problem with all SSRI's and SNRI's, some people, like my sister don't.

Good luck and hang in there, it will be over soon.

That's not cool. I haven't had the brain zaps (thankfully) ... that would suck. I'm debating whether or not to convince my psychiatrist that I *need* to be consistently on a med of some sort because my mood is really bad. (Then again Ive got health issues at the moment which don't help)

Thanks for your reply

[googley]

Christina-I'm sorry you are going through this. I have never been off it since it started for an extended period of time. Good luck.

[splitz]

Why did you decide to come off of it? It's good that you have cut the dose down slowly (I was on 475mg a few years ago and it took me 4 months to wean myself off it) the worst side effects I had were the brain zaps and the feeling that if I moved my head it took a few secs for my eyes to catch up! (I get that effect if I miss a dose too).
If you have noticed that your mood has dropped it might be that you do need to be on it longer term. I fought going back on it but eventually had to give in because I know it works for me (I just didn't want to be back to relying on meds lol) So I'm back on 450mg and it's having some effect.
Make the right decision for you, if you need them, you need them. (I justify it by telling myself that I wouldn't tell a diabetic not to take their insulin and it's just another illness that needs meds to help me live as well as I can (hope that made some sort of sense?!!))
Good luck.
Splitz

[Christina86]

Originally Posted by splitz

Why did you decide to come off of it?

It actually wasn't ME who decided. It was more of my pdoc. He said that he doesn't like people being on meds for all of their lives unless needed so he'd try this "experiment" to see how I coped not being on an antidepressant.

If you have noticed that your mood has dropped it might be that you do need to be on it longer term. I fought going back on it but eventually had to give in because I know it works for me (I just didn't want to be back to relying on meds lol)

Glad it's not just me who feels like that! I don't want to be on meds for my entire life. I've been told I've likely got situational depression, NOT chemically based depression so that it may not be necessary to be on drugs forever. Was hoping to just be off them and be done with it.

Make the right decision for you, if you need them, you need them. (I justify it by telling myself that I wouldn't tell a diabetic not to take their insulin and it's just another illness that needs meds to help me live as well as I can (hope that made some sort of sense?!!))
Good luck.
Splitz

thanks I know I may need them ... but it's still hard.