How to overcome Effexor?

Question

I want to get off this drug. If I stop taking it for so much as a day, I feel angry, agitated, suicidal almost. Then, the physical withdrawals. Sweating, severe nausea, migraines. It is so scary. How do I find maybe a natural alternative, a plan in place before I quit this drug gradually. I've also had my metabolism slow down dramatically after being thin my whole life. Anybody able to get off this heroin like drug( as far as the withdrawals)??? By the way, I am on a low dose, got myself down to 75 mg. I also occasionally take klonopin.

Answer 1

Oh baby!!!!! I was (am) on it for 4 years now. I thought I would tough it out and just stop taking it. First the dizziness then the nausea set in. I was so sick I would vomit, but told myself it would pass. Two days later, still as sick, I started getting "Brain zaps". I kept hearing a zapping noise. It was a steady two zap then one zap deal. I went to every room in my house to find the noise. It was just as loud in every room. I finally realized it was coming from my own head!! That was so scary. Again, I told myself to deal with it. Now I have the nausea AND zaps. By the 4th day I still had these two symptoms then the suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety started. There were so many other things also. For 8 solid days I was so physically ill that I cried every day. I kept telling myself that I have been through too much to stop now. I kept making myself go another day thinking it will all be over soon. Day 9 I felt normal......but. OMG....I was sitting in church and had a hard time breathing. I just couldn't catch my breath. I felt I couldn't take a deep enough breath to get enough air into my lungs. This set off small panic attacks. Those in themselves feel as though you are dying. By the time I got home I was having full panic attacks, unable to get even a small breath. I knew I was going to die. My son is a Medic so I called him at the firehouse. He didn't know who it was because I couldn't even get enough air to talk. I finally started saying words in between trying to get air. On top of crying I was a mess. He was going to send an ambulance for me, but he finally talked me out of my attack. The next day I went to the doctor. She told me it was very, very dangerous to try to get off Effexor without a doctors help. She gave me Vicodin because I was having 15 to 20 small panic attacks an hour. I gave in and started it again. I couldn't go on like that any longer. BUT - I was taking 75mg. I just started pouring out half of the capsule and taking that. So, one pill would last me two days. I am doing great now. You are on it for a reason. I realize now that I do need it, but I went to basically 35mg and that still does its job. Oh, you are right, if I don't take it by a certain time of day I start getting the nausea and dizziness. A lot of times if I drink a lot the night before I get the same feeling by a certain time the next day. I think the alcohol may disrupt the working part of the medicine because it is like I never took it the day before (after I drink). One good thing though...I don't get hangovers any longer like I used to!! Good luck

Answer 2

Effexor is a hard drug to get off of. I would HIGHLY recommend you talk with your psychiatrist about his. It sounds like you are having the "warning" signs and need to see him soon. Klonopin is used for anxiety, but if you are detoxing from the drug, you definitely need to be under the care of your physician.

I am not a big proponent of over the counter drugs. Most of these drugs are not FDA approved. If you cannot take the Effexor, again, you desperately need to see your psychiatrist for support.

You should never come off your medications alone. You need to do this in conjunction with your psychiatrist.

I wish you the best of luck. Please make an appointment with your psychiatrist and ask him how you can get of this drug safely.

Please take care of yourself.

Larry

Answer 3

I too was on effexor for many years and experienced severe symptoms when i didn't take it for two days. In order to wean me off this drug, my psychiatrist put me on prozac and clonazepam. for about 3 weeks, i took effexor and prozac together everyday. But the levels of effexor were gradually reduced and simultaneously the level of prozac was increased. Talk to your doctor and see if this will work for you. You should have no withdrawal symptoms if you reduce the ffexor very gradually.

Answer 4

when I was admitted to the hospital they forced that drug on me I was in for 2 months and when I got out I just stopped taking it I suffered through the with drawls if you do what I did you will only suffer for about a month in that time man I was a buzzin I would feel hot them cold then dizzy but I didn't care I was not going to take this drug even if I were to die and I didn't tell anyone I wasn't taking it because if I did then I would go back to the nut house again I was successful I hope you do go off it cold turkey and have great success

Answer 5

Maybe learn to play a musical instrument like the violin or saxophone or piano and join a band that does jazz or R&B or Reggie or whatever. Put an ad in the paper: "Pianist seeks percussionist and vocalist for band." Also you should maybe take voice lessons and learn to sing because many people feel their spirits uplifted and happy when they sing, it could help you out of depression. Good luck!

Answer 6

i take effexor and i think that if you want to get off of it you need to talk to your doc and they can ween you off of it so that you don't feel all these effects. is it not working for you? or are you not into the drug thing? at any rate just talk to your doc it is not safe to try to do these things on your own, if they don't recomend it just tell then that you want off and then they have to help you. hope that this helps and good luck.

Answer 7

Break open the pill and take out granuals if you have to. I missed one last Saturday for the first time and WHOA...

Answer 8

When my hubby misses even one dose, Xanax usually helps.

Answer 9

You need a doctor's advice on how to taper off.