[Unrigged64072835]

I recently transferred to a new pdoc who is a resident. I wanted to stop using Effexor because I was having side effects and it wasn't helping my depression.

Needless to say the pdoc did a short tapering off. Now it feels like my brain's zapping itself. I also get nausea and soreness all over, and part of my face feels numb.

Did anybody else go through this and how long does it last? I've heard it could take weeks.

[ShaggyChic_1201]

I was on Effexor for 11 years. I had the dreaded brain zaps and bad withdrawal every time I tried to get off it. I gave up after 8 weeks of torture and went back on it. I was eventually even counting grains of the drug to taper as slowly as possible, but I could only get off the Effexor by switching to the similar drug Pristiq. I took small doses of both at the same time and then dropped off the E and stayed on the P, eventually increasing the Prestiq til I had enuff to notice a difference. I have way fewer side effects, even tho they seem to be similar drugs.

Not to give you TMI, but the sexual side effects from the prestiq are much less and I don't have the night sweats and fast heartbeat like I did from Effexor. Of course, I have no idea how bad w/drawal might be from this drug if I have to go off it. I'll just keep praying it continues to work.

Good luck! Hope you find something else that does work!

I remember the brain zaps when I went off another drug years ago. Its terrible and I'm sorry you're going through that! It lasted about 2 weeks, if that.
When I went off effexor, I went VERY slowly. I am back on it now though because I need it again.
I wonder if talking to your doctor would help, maybe there is something doc can give you to help withdrawal be easier?

[splitimage]

Effexor is known as the absolutely worst drug to come off of, in terms of discontinuation syndrom. You have to be tapered off it very slowly. I'm talking months - not weeks of tapering. So if you're still tapering, I'd up the dosage and work out a longer schedule. If you're off it completely I've heard that prozac can sometimes help with the withdrawal symptoms. I've heard of both prozac and paxil being given at the very end of an Effexor taper.

I'm at 375 mg and have been on this med over 10 years, and thank fully it's still working for me, but I absolutely dread the thought of coming off of it.

--splitimage

[leeches]

I slowly tapered off from 75mg/day and the side effects were pretty bad. In my case, the brain zaps and other symptoms lasted around 3-4 weeks after completely discontinuing my meds. But now I'm 187.25mg/day, I truly dread ever having to come off/switch meds because I feel horrendous if I miss even a small dose... To be honest, I'm not sure if they are actually helping me, or the side-effects of discontinuation are so horrific I'd rather just be on meds for the rest of my life...!

Thinking of you, and hope you feel better soon

[BeyondBlue]

Originally Posted by Fharraige

I recently transferred to a new pdoc who is a resident. I wanted to stop using Effexor because I was having side effects and it wasn't helping my depression.

Needless to say the pdoc did a short tapering off. Now it feels like my brain's zapping itself. I also get nausea and soreness all over, and part of my face feels numb.

Did anybody else go through this and how long does it last? I've heard it could take weeks.

That's exactly what happened to me when I quit. Although I quit taking all three of my meds at once. I shouldn't have done it but long story and it was on impulse. Effexor also heightened my anxiety and few other side effects, but when I stopped taking it I was worse off. For about a month I had those brain zaps and thought I was going crazy.

[Jerrypharmstudent]

Originally Posted by Fharraige

I recently transferred to a new pdoc who is a resident. I wanted to stop using Effexor because I was having side effects and it wasn't helping my depression.

Needless to say the pdoc did a short tapering off. Now it feels like my brain's zapping itself. I also get nausea and soreness all over, and part of my face feels numb.

Did anybody else go through this and how long does it last? I've heard it could take weeks.

It's unfortunate that your doc did a short taper. AD's need to be tapered over many many weeks to prevent the symptoms you are experiences. Yes they do go away but one cannot give a specific time frame for that to happen.

Hang in there!

Jerry

[+Fight+The+Illness+]

Originally Posted by Fharraige

I recently transferred to a new pdoc who is a resident. I wanted to stop using Effexor because was having side effects and it wasn't helping my depression.

Needless to say the pdoc did a short tapering off. Now it feels like my brain's zapping itself. I also get nausea and soreness all over, and part of my face feels numb.

Did anybody else go through this and how long does it last? I've heard it could take weeks.

Effexor was the worst medication I've ever been on. Same thing happened with me: I was taken off of it cold-turkey. I did experience the brain zaps, but I also had psychological blackouts and "woke up" to find that I had hurt myself. I had visual hallucinations and was sent to the hospital for about 2 weeks, but I was on "close supervision" by my parents, so I couldn't go to school for an additional week. The hallucinations faded, but I still had blackouts; so my parents just made sure I didn't try to hurt myself when I blacked out b/c I didn't remember doing it. All in all, your reactions should fade in about 2-3 weeks...I think.