Can someone PLEASE help me with my Effexor withdrawal symptoms?

Question

Please help! - I'm 23 and have been taking the anti-depressent "Effexor" for about 2 months to help deal with depression. I do not have enough money to renew my prescription so I have not been able to continue taking the medication. I have not taken the drug in 3 days and the side effects of that are just awful!! -> I have a sick stomach, dizziness, shivers constantly, I am soooo moody and I dont know what to do to help the situation ... I honestly feel like some big herion addict or something going without his "fix" --- is there anything I can do to help alleviate the withdrawal sideeffects??????????

Answer 1

Depending on the dosage you were on, and if you went totally "cold turkey", no tapering, the symptoms should start lessening over the next few days, though may be up to two weeks before they completely stop, and of course, you will also be experiencing the symptoms again that caused you to go on it to begin with.

The best thing to do would be to get your prescription filled. Is there anyone that can help you? Can your doctor give you some samples? If you are low income, you may be able to get your meds free through "needy meds" (google it).

Salvation army or other charities may help in the meantime.

(((((hugs)))))
Please do what you need to to take care of yourself.

Answer 2

I take effexor xr, and if I miss it even by a few hours, I get a weird electric shock feeling in my head and throughout my body. I feel dizzy and nauseous. If it's a whole day, I can't even look to the side without getting a buzzing in my head. Definitly make sure your doctor knows you're going off of it, and do it slowly!

Answer 3

I'm not looking to scare you but of all the SSRI, Effexor is probably one of the tougher ones to with drawl from. Under no condition should you just stop taking an SSRI. With these type of medications you really need to slowly taper off of them. You should gradually lower your dosage over a period of 4-6 weeks.

Answer 4

I went off Xanax like that and very nearly had to be hospitalized for the withdrawal effects. I had no idea how dangerous it can be. Please, please call your doctor and maybe they can give you samples to wean off of it slowly because you can have seizures and what you are having - it sounds as if you are anyway - are panic attacks. It's not a "fix" these are strong chemicals and I found out the hard way it's worse to come off these antidepressants and tranquilizers "cold turkey" than any other drug and you just about have to be weaned off slowly by cutting your dose. I am sure your doc wouldn't want you to do it this way. I'll get off my soapbox now. Be careful, honey, don't let me scare you but call a doctor or a helpline somewhere! Good luck. [e-mail] - email me and let me know how you do.

Answer 5

If you go to walmart to the vitamin section. There's mood medications. Look on line under vitamins for your mood. You might be able to get free care or on a sliding scale at your doctor's. Ask them. It's very important that you take your depression med. VERY!

Answer 6

You need to go to your Dr. The prescription medicine Atarax or any other antihistamine can help with the jumpy feeling, and antivert to help with the dizziness. They can also prescribe a low dose benzodiazapene (which are not expensive) to help with the anxiety. If you do not have money for this, then please at least take Benadryl, but ONLY as directed. This should help some. Trust me, I was on Effexor for a year + and had to withdrawal in two weeks. Realize that this feeling will end within two to three weeks, you were only on it for two months so the wash out period should be relatively quick. Good luck to you.

ALSO DO NOT GO INTO THE VITAMIN SECTION FOR ST. JOHNS WORT OR ANY OTHER MOOD STABILIZER. EFFEXOR IS STILL IN YOUR SYSTEM, AND THE TWO TOGETHER CAN LEAD TO SEROTONIN SYNDROME.