I'm down to just 37.5 mg a day, but if i even miss that dose by a couple of hours I get the worst anxiety, nausea(coupled by the fact that Im pregnant with severe nausea anyways)heart palpitations and general uneasiness.

Im at my wits end considering I am having a tough enough time with the hyperemesis(pregnancy nausea and vomiting) and I know there is pretty much nothing I can take right now to calm the symptoms.

Any ideas on how I can make this a bit easier for myself? Im a little nervous that this is putting undue stress on my body when I dont need it.

i wish i could help you. i had horrible side effects when i went off Effexor.

i would talk to my doctor, ASAP, about how you're feeling. he might be able to help you out with a med....good luck, pat

[Gracey]

I had horrible side effects ON Effexor. After about ten days I guess, I nearly had a stroke. Was sitting at my desk, saw spots in front of my eyes. Thought it was something on my glasses, but when I took them off, the spots were still there. Ugh. Found one of the docs I worked for and she immediately sent me down to a clinic to have vitals done. My b/p was 210/160. . .INCREDIBLY high. They admitted me and weaned me off the Effexor post haste.

If it was THAT bad on it, I can't imagine what it'd have been like coming OFF.

[okiedokie]

Hi Rainbowzz,
I agree with Pat that you should contact your doctor. There are other meds he/she can give you to make the withdrawal easier and quicker.

Effexor 75 mg has saved my life! Totally relieved my depresison. From reading the posts about withdrawal, I think I'll plan on staying on it for life!!

Okie

I feel for you. I think effexor withdrawl is the worst. On top of it all you are pregnant. To help with the nausea problem. (I call it all day sickness!!!) Keep crackers by your bed and upon wakening don't sit up or do anything until you eat a cracker or two. Being hungry will make the nausea worse. Lay there a while longer before getting up. This helped me in the morning. For the rest of the day. Good Luck. Try eating many small meals instead of a few big ones. Keeps your blood sugar up better. Hope this helps.

my skull felt like there were rocks rolling around in it. seriously. i had the brain zaps and headaches and shakes......i'm glad that drug works for you, okiedokie, and trust me, i will not LET YOU COME OFF OF IT! i love you too much!!!

the crackers got me through two pregnancies....all of the advice about lying still.....etc.....

please call your doc!!! effexor is known for causing high blood pressure....get checked out.....xoxoxo

[okiedokie]

Listen to Fayerody!! She is the best nurse I know!

Okie

[wickedwings]

((((((((gracey))))))))))) you are one lucky girl. yeah, you nearly did have a stroke. you are so lucky. geez. i was not so lucky. i had a stroke over a year and a half ago as a result of birth control pills. i had no warning whatsoever. no symptoms or anything. it happened right out of the blue. i thought i was nuts when i felt so weak - i was 33 when it happened! but my dog detected it and went crazy. when he went crazy, i knew something was wrong with me. had to call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. fortunately, i was able to recover fully, physically. unfortunately, it was an ischemic stroke and i have brain damage as a result. you are so lucky, gracey. the stroke complicated my chronic major depression and made it even more treatment-resistant (i had treatment-resistance for 15 years).

Splitting capsules can help because they don't make capsules in appropriate sizes for a pain-free gradual withdrawal.

That involves opening the caps and counting the grains (so you get some idea of the average number of grains).

Then reducing the number of grains that you take VERY SLOWLY.

Do you have some time you have to cease by (with your pregnancy)?

Slowly does it.

[trippin666]

u need to get a script from ur doc for prozac for a week it's a long acting anti-depressant, stays in ur system longer it will help. i went thru the same thing with cymbalta withdadrwal. worse then coming off herion. good luck. jocelyn

I have been taking Effexor for about 5 years. Yes, the withdrawal effects are horrible. That's why I have no intention of discontinuing the med. Plus it has worked great for me. I have made the mistake of misloading my pill box and not taking the Effexor for one day. Horrible! How come you are discontinuing the Effexor?