Effexor, sweet mother of Jesus

I've been weaning off Effexor with the guidance of my psychiatrist... My dose was at 225 my a day and every 7 days it drops to where I currently am... 37.5 my
..for 6 more days and then off... I had a pretty rare side effect that has damaged a structure in my eye that could potentially cause blindness... So the tapering off has been faster than my p-doc normally allows for with effexor...

It's been quite the eye opening experience...pun intended

Withdrawal has been much like traveling the 7 circles of hell. Just when I think it couldn't get worse, something new and awful presents it's ugly face... To those who have done this successfully, you are my heroes and I hope to join that club soon.

life is a beautiful lie

A low dosage of prozac may help. I've quit twice and it is hell. I didn't have the eye issue. Sorry that you did. Hope it gets better soon.

What is the "normal" taper schedule? I really want off of it, but can't do so anytime soon. I have heard that the withdrawal is horrible, however.

I'm so sorry you're going through such hell. I sure hope things ease up for you.

I know this is a UK site but perhaps it might help you Antidepressants - Venlafaxine Withdrawal

It is totally horrible. I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I've heard Effexor withdrawal is absolutely awful.

splitimage

I'm so sorry, that sounds awful! I have heard that it's a rough one to go off of

I heard that about Prozac, my doctor went with Celexa for now because I've done well with it in the past and added Adderall to help with daytime fatigue... Thanks for the response, I'm sad to go off because it really did knock a hole into the depression and completely eliminated my anxiety.

life is a beautiful lie

I've heard anywhere from 3-6 months... My psychiatrist would've preferred a 3 month minimum but went faster to prevent any further damage to my eye...

life is a beautiful lie

It really is!! And marijuana is a controversial drug... Geesh...

life is a beautiful lie

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

life is a beautiful lie

I empathize with you all. This stuff seems to do a lot more harm than good. Whenever I try a new antidepressant all I can do is hope for the best. It sucks when you try something and instead of getting better you wind up with all these bad side effects. I was put on 150mg. TO START off with. I just figured the shrink new what he was doing. I should have started out with a lower dose. Anyway I was really messed up and when I started having these weird side effects I just STOPPED COMPLETELY. I didn't realize I needed to taper off this stuff. That's what happens when you can't think straight.
Anyhow I thought I was going insane. I was so messed up I didn't even have the sense to go to an emergency room or try and get a hold of the shrink who gave me the stuff.
Fortunately I got an appointment with a regular family Dr. and told him what was going on. He immediately put me on a lower dose and told me I could have died.
The point is BEWARE of all these different drugs that offer hope but may not work for you.
People like us are playing Russian roulette every time we try a new med.

I have been on Effexor for over a year now and I hate to think
about coming off of it with all the bad things people say about it.

I'm now on day 4 of 37.5 mg and I'm not sure why, but this seems to be the hardest jump. The flu like symptoms have been horrible, it seems like I'm not taking anything.

life is a beautiful lie

That's awful. I don't even take 150mg. In fact I flatly refuse to take more than 50mg. There's no telling what could have happened. Doctors need to be more careful... esp the pdocs. I went to the ER once and an ER pdoc gave me anti-psychotics. By the fourth day I was practically psychotic. Homicidal. I stopped right there. And I was only at a third of the target dose.
For whatever reasons, not everyone will have the withdrawal problems. Maybe you'll be lucky. If not, keep the prozac in mind. I used it the second time I stopped Effexor and it was much easier. Unfortunately I crashed completely and had to go back to Effexor. I will probably take it forever.
If it's any consolation you've been lucky if you haven't had the brain zaps or anger/rage. And you may have but the other part is worse for you. Hang in there, it could take a while.

I know your pain. It caused tinnitus, plus it didn't put a dent in my depression, so I was weaned off it over three weeks. That was a terrible month, still have the tinnitus nearly 2 years later.
Pure evil.

Hang in there, it does go away.

Some good news, i woke up today feeling pretty good. I have 1 pill of the 37.5 mg and then I'm off.. just a little longer, my kmuckles are bright white

life is a beautiful lie

Good going. I know it wasn't easy.

Thank you. It's strange that I've decided to consider this an accomplishment but that's where it's at!

*life is a beautiful lie*

It is an accomplishment. I'm on 375 mg and have been on it since 1999. I'm probably going to be on it for life, because I'm too scared of the withdrawal.

splitimage

Off completely for 3 days. The migraines are all that seem to be left for withdrawal and I can deal with those and they might even be related to seasonal allergies.

Thanks for all the responses, I needed the support

#Life is a beautiful lie#

What you said about doctors is very true, I feel like a guinea pig for all the drugs they have tried me on, They keep trying to give me this drug and I refuse to take it because of every thing I have read about the side effects, Then my doctor says I dont want to get better then, I want to get better I just dont want to go threw Hell which I would do, Another drug they are always trying to push on me is Latuda, I have said No repeatedly, I dont think they care about me, They just care about the mighty dollar, Money, This is just my opionion also

That is terrible what happened to you I am sorry, I hope they found the right meds for you and I hope you found a new doctor, I know I am going to be looking for a new one

I am so sorry this happened to you and I hope your eye gets better soon, I hope you find some thing to get you threw this horrible withdrawl, We already feel bad and have issues and these meds just make us worse, Its not right, I am sending hugs and prayers to you to get better soon