Getting off of Effexor XR, who else has done this?

Question

I have gone two days with no effexor, four days with no alcohol and yes I did cut down slowly on the effexor, not as slow as I could have but I want off! I feel like it hasn't helped being on the stuff for six years because I have still lost some of my friends, my husband hasn't changed his attitude toward me and I still feel like crying all the time. The only thing keeping me here is my son. My husband thinks I am better because I dont talk about suicide, I don't talk about it because he said he would leave me if I talked about it any more. If I am true to myself, everyone hates me, if I do what they want, they just want more. I have to know who I am before I make any more decisions, I am not myself on drugs, I am the watered down version of myself that is a little more socially acceptable. I am missing out on my son's trick or treating tonight, I can hardly see straight. I feel like there are electric shocks hitting me, I feel angry and I'm crying. I feel like a failure, help

Answer 1

Reading what you've said,I'm not sure that coming off Effexor will help you.Antidepressant drugs can only help so much,and often only alleviate the worst of the symptoms for people who are chronically depressed.You've been on Venlafaxine for quite a long time too,so the withdrawal process could be very difficult.It just sounds to me like you're very frustrated about your life in general...drugs can only act as a crutch though-they aren't a panacea.I think you're being quite hard on yourself,which is probably part of your depression.I'm quite concerned that you may end up in an even worse state if you start to relapse further.Venlafaxine is very hard to come off-are you sure you're making the right decision here?...It doesn't sound like you're problems are related to being on this drug,or how helpful it has been for you.I've withdrawn from Venlafaxine,so I know what it's like.I wish that I could offer better advice,but I realise that you're having a pretty horrible time right now.Maybe you should reconsider whether coming off Effexor is the best thing to do right now.

Answer 2

i comprehend what your managing, I had to take Effexor for a on an identical time as and once I felt like i did no longer want it anymore it became particularly no longer easy to get off of it. I did the comparable as you, weaned myself each of how right down to 75mg from 150mg yet after that i found no very easy thank you to resign taking all of it mutually. I basically took some day with out artwork of paintings and became sick with the section outcomes for 4-5 days with interesting concepts zaps, haha. So your no longer loopy those are incredibly. i comprehend you mandatory an much less demanding answer yet I basically mandatory to tell you that your reaction is customary and that procuring off of Effexor is properly actually worth the with-drawls you pass by skill of. I hated being on that stuff and the phobia of lacking an afternoon and having poor section outcomes from it. in case you do pass chilly turkey like I did drink particularly some water and undergo in concepts approximately to eat regardless of in case you do no longer experience such as you will possibly be able to, your physique will want it. sturdy fulfillment and that i desire you're valuable!

Answer 3

Of course you are going to have to cut back on your dosage, and wein yourself off of the meds. You SHOULD NOT stop taking it completely. I was on it for awhile and my husband said that it made me unsocial, and not better, so that is what I did. Not taking any antidepressants has been better for me. I tried Effexor, Zoloft, and Paxil. My husband is on Prozac, and it helps him wonderfully, so I thought I would try it to help with my stress level, and it made me scared to go to work, socialize, or go outside, and almost made me to the point of wanting to commit suicide. I take NOTHING now. With not taking anything, socially, emotionally, and mentally, I feel just fine. Exercise always helps to make you feel better, and vitamins. Sometimes being on something for so long, your body can possibly become immune to it, so if you feel like you need to be on something to help you socially and mentally, then maybe you should try another type of medicine. Talk with your doctor about it. You shouldn't feel the way you do being on the meds, because obviously it is not helping. I really hope that everything works out for you. I don't know you but my prayers go out to you.

Answer 4

I know how you feel. I would suggest that in your present state, you see your doctor. Just because one anti depressant does not work, dose not mean that another will not work either. Taking yourself off of these drugs is just inviting trouble. You can, ans it sounds like you have crashed. This is very dangerous. If your doctor is a general practitioner, then you should go to a psychiatrist instead. You need the counseling to go along with the meds. General practitioners often time will give you the drug but not know how to treat your mood. Please do not give up, your family needs you. And your husband needs to see a counselor to help him understand what is going on with you.

Answer 5

withdrawal symptoms:
-intense insomnia
- an unconventional dizziness/ vertigo
- the feeling of shocks, similar to mild electric one, running the length of your body
- extraordinarily vivid dreams
- extreme confusion during waking hours
- intense fear of losing your sanity
-steady feeling of existing outside of reality as you know it (referred to as depersonalization at times)
-memory and concentration problems
- Panic Attacks (even if you never had one before)
- severe mood swings, esp. heightened irritability /
-"scratching sound" inside one's head
- constant white noise in the ears
- breaking into tears
- tingling sensation in cheeks, lips, tongue and surrounding areas.
- heart palpitations/ chest pain

Talk to other people here:
http://quitpaxil.info/chatboard/index.php
It's Paxil, but effexor is similiar