My doctor is switching me from 50mg of Zoloft to 75mg of Effexor. I've been taking Zoloft for 4 1/2-years and it's just not working any longer.

My doctor told me to quit Zoloft cold turkey for 3-days and then begin the Effexor. Ok, now I've tried to quit cold turkey and that is something I would not like to do again.

A friend suggested I wing myself off. Any suggestions? Also, what's your experience with Effexor? Any weight increase/loss?

Thanks so much for your input! :wave:

I was taking effexor for about 2 years. I had good responses from it .... I didn't notice any weight gain/loss ..... but it's different for everyone. The only problem I had with this drug was that because it has such a short half life, if I ever missed a dose, I felt as sick as a pig for a couple of days. Be careful to take it everyday.

Hope it works out well for you.

I took Effexor for about a year and a half. The first few days were weird - it took a little getting used to. I was dizzy and disoriented and had blurred vision. That went away after a few days. Overall, I gained about 30 lbs while on Effexor. That's why I quit - cold turkey. It seemed to help with the depression, but the weight gain became too much to deal with. I had heard horror stories about quitting. As I said, I quit cold turkey. Again, I experienced dizziness, disorientation, blurred vision, also had hot/cold sweats, terrible mood swings. These went away completely after a couple of weeks. I've been off Effexor for 4 months now. I've lost most of the weight I put on - still working on the last few pounds.

Again, it's different for each person. I don't want to discourage you from taking it - just thought I'd share my story. Good luck!!!

hi,

i'm going through the same thing as you. i was on 150mg of zoloft for about two months and it wasn't helping in the slightest. i was still depressed all the time, and my sleeping and appetite got even worse while on it. i saw my doctor about a week or so ago, and he's weaning me off of it and starting me on effexor. i went from 150mg to 100mg for 5 days, then 50mg for 5 days, and nothing at all for 3 days. this is my last day with no meds, and tomorrow i start the effexor, 37.5mg. i'll be on 37.5mg for a week, then i'm going up to 75mg. because i was weaned off, i haven't had any withdrawal side effects, so maybe you should try weaning off the zoloft slightly instead of stopping cold turkey. i wish i could be more helpful, but at least we are going through the same thing together. we should stay in touch throughout this process to see how we are both doing coming off of the zoloft and starting the effexor. i wish you the best of luck!

~mer

I am new here today. I ahve taken so many anti-deprssants over the last 10-12 years. I was on 100mg zoloft and I am now being switched to effexor xr. Today will be my 2nd day of 37.5 mg. My doctor weaned me off my zoloft. I still had/have weird symptoms. Anxiety,"brain zaps" and light-headedness. I pray these go away. I have heard good/bad things about effexor. My problem is, it is very hard to find a medication that works for me, and when one does, it doesn't last. My doctor said I will have cycles where no medicine or amount of medicine will help me. Encouraging, huh! :rolleyes:

If anyone else has this problem, please let me know. Would love to have someone to chat with.

Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I seem to be going the other route. I am currently taking Zoloft, 100mg. was on 50 and that didnt work and I don't really think 100 is doing much either. I started on Paxil to Effexor then Lexapro and now Zoloft. It was hard to find anyone that could understand the "brain zaps" Lexapro made me speedy, Paxil is the devil and Effexor didn't seem to do much. I have been taking meds for about 6 years now with little difference in things. Folks are different but I have lost weight and can't put it on for anything it seems, but I sleep fine? I get runarounds with my insurance company about finding "approved therapy" so its basically lots of calls to mom and a pill each morning. I have to hope that things will get better for all of us even though it doesn't seem that way most of the time.

what's your experience with Effexor? Any weight increase/loss?

ive been on effexor for bout a year b4 i switched to zorloft no weight loss or gain. it just made me sick when (if) i missed a dose so DONT! it may not for u though i feel better on zorloft but they're gonna switch me again im only 11 been on meds for 2 years really mad at life knifes and stuff looked up ne wayz i dont think u should stop meds i stopped and cut myself so DONT STOP! not good! :nono::nono::nono::nono::nono::nono: contact me pleaz twisy_angel@hotmail.com or here at twisyangel

Get a new doc.

You should never stop any med cold turkey. You have to wean yourself, just as you shouldn't start at the highest dosage when beginning medication.

Hi there. About three months ago, I weaned off of zoloft, which wasn't doing anything for me and never did during the three months I took it, and switched to effexor xr (took 37.5 mg for a week, then went up to 75 mg). After a couple months, I felt like the 75 mg was helping me slightly, but not too much, and I was having trouble sleeping. My doctor increased my dosaged to 150 mg, and also put me on 25 mg of elavil to help me go to sleep at night. I'm still having a little trouble falling asleep, but less so, and the 150 mg of effexor seems to help more, but I'm still suffering from some anxiety. And I kind of feel numb sometimes, like I know something should upset me, and I'd almost rather I'd burst into tears like I would have pre-effexor, but now I just wonder if I'll explode...

No weight gain from zoloft or effexor so far, but I've heard it doesn't affect weight in some people until they've been on it for a year or so.

Oh, also, although I've always had some issues with anxiety and depression, things got worse when I went on Yasmin28 (the birth control pill). My doctors have told me I have PMDD, and I'm hoping that when I go off Yasmin, I'll feel the full effect of the Effexor.

Good luck to you!

Oh wait, one more thing -- probably the biggest difference I've noticed in myself since going on effexor is I have become much more outgoing. Before effexor, though I wouldn't think I was suffering from social anxiety disorder or anything, I just couldn't speak out in front of people. Thoughts would go through my head that I wanted to share in classes and such, and I just couldn't get up the courage to say what I was thinking. After I started effexor, professors commented that my class participation improved drastically. In social situations, I've started to speak my mind a lot more (sometimes a good thing, sometimes not so much). Overall, however, I consider this a good thing.

I guess, in conclusion, until I go off the birth control, at least, I feel like effexor is helping me FUNCTION better, but I'm not sure I feel too much better. If that makes any sense?

Hi DK, I have been taking Effexor for about a year. Gained about 30 pounds. And yes I did feel numb most of the time. But I recently tried going off and am having a hell of a time. Instead of feeling numb, I do feel more passionate about things but also more out of control and riddled with anxiety. It's a catch 22. I used to take Zoloft until it made me go to the bathroom ALL DAY LONG! It was aweful. Then I was switched to Paxil and I felt much better for a couple of years. Then I was switched to Effexor and have other side affects like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. But now that I haven't taken it for a couple of weeks I'm much worse. So it's an individual thing to decide what is worse. The panic attacks and being out of control? Or the other side effects. Feeling numb isn't great but it's better for me than losing my mind 12 times a day for no reason. I can't function like that. Good luck!
flower crazy

Every depression medication I have ever taken has stopped working after about a year -- don't know why... The good effects stop, but the side effects just keep coming.

As far as weight -- I gained over 40 pounds on Effexor -- not to mention I had all the other side effects as well.

It has been said that Effexor is the hardest medication to come off of -- based on my experience I would say that is true. I would personally encourage you to try something else and not take Effexor at all.

Just my opinion.

I'm currently taking generic prozac. I started on the brand, then went to Celexa, then Effexor. I have to be honest and say that Effexor made my depression worse. The side effects, for me, were horrible. I was shaky and dizzy all the time. My blood pressure dropped. While I was teaching class, the room would just spin. My doctor wanted me to fight through it but the drug made me panic. I do hope if you take it, it works for you. Just be careful with the side effects.

:wave: Hi everyone, I just tried breaking open the Effexor capsule this morning and taking half so we'll see what happens. I really want to come off of this stuff knowing what it's doing to my body. I never had withdrawls like this before. I used to take Zolof, then Paxil. But this stuff is the worst!
flower crazy :(

Hey! Effexor worked great for me for two years. I eventually had to change, but it wasn't from side effects or anything - it just didn't work the way it was supposed to for me anymore.

I lost a little weight, mostly because I was no longer depressed, and I had *no* problems with weight gain. Some people report drowsiness with it, but I was more awake. Again, this might have been because I wasn't depressed anymore.

I could miss one dose, but if I missed two I'd feel pretty spacey and out of it. As others have said, don't ever quit cold turkey. The reason your doc said you could is that you can usually switch from zoloft to effexor and vice versa without negative effects, or at least I was able to.

i am new here but could really use some help. i was on paxil for 1 year, 5weeks ago i weened off the paxil 60mg. and on to effexor 75mg. i recently stopped cold turky. i feel like i'm going crazy!! i was taking just the effexor for about 2 weeks. i can't sleep, i feel like my head is spinning and i'm sooo sick. will this go away?? alyse

Oh no no! Don't just stop effexor! It will go away, but in the meantime you'll feel awful. I hate the head spinning. Ween yourself off of it; your doctor should be able to give you the right dosage.

i am new here but could really use some help. i was on paxil for 1 year, 5weeks ago i weened off the paxil 60mg. and on to effexor 75mg. i recently stopped cold turky. i feel like i'm going crazy!! i was taking just the effexor for about 2 weeks. i can't sleep, i feel like my head is spinning and i'm sooo sick. will this go away?? alyse

You are just asking to be sick if you go off Effexor cold turkey, no matter how long you've been on it.

You need to taper off.

I have been on Effexor for about two years now. I got to feeling much better and decided that I would tapper myself of of it. I did this about a year ago, and I thought I was going to loose my mind. I have been back on the effexor now for quite some time. I feel better than I did, but not as well as I did before I tried to stop. I have had no weight gain with effexor. I am now taking 225 mg effexor and 150mg wellbutrin xl. Hope this helps.

God bless!

Alyse, it sounds to me as if you may even be still going thru Paxil w/drawal on top of everything else??? How long did you give yourself to wean off the Paxil? Were you okay during the weaning process? And how long exactly were you on the Effexor. And now, why have you quit Effexor cold turkey???? :confused: :eek:

I am not surprised you feel like you're going crazy!

Were you feeling okay on the 75mg of Effexor? If so, you have to immediately go back on it until you no longer feel the way you do. Try taking 37.5mg for a couple of days. If this doesn't help, go back to 75mg and stabilize and then taper verrrrrrrrrry slowly.

Otherwise, I'm afraid you're in for a very long haul of pain and suffering.

Take care, let us know if we can help further.

ive had been on 75mg of effexor xr from jan to july, then was moved to 150mg i feel good. I know theres horror stories about coming off but while on it ive been real happy and have even managed to go outside some thing i really hate. I recommend it as long as you know what your getting into with it.

Alyse, it sounds to me as if you may even be still going thru Paxil w/drawal on top of everything else??? How long did you give yourself to wean off the Paxil? Were you okay during the weaning process? And how long exactly were you on the Effexor. And now, why have you quit Effexor cold turkey???? :confused: :eek:

I am not surprised you feel like you're going crazy!

Were you feeling okay on the 75mg of Effexor? If so, you have to immediately go back on it until you no longer feel the way you do. Try taking 37.5mg for a couple of days. If this doesn't help, go back to 75mg and stabilize and then taper verrrrrrrrrry slowly.

Otherwise, I'm afraid you're in for a very long haul of pain and suffering.

Take care, let us know if we can help further.

Hey Sandalla, should I do the same thing and go back on the 75mg? I've tried doing half since last Wednesday and I don't feel any better! :dizzy: I'm dizzy, horrible headache and feel like I've got the jitters all the time. Is this ever going to get better?
flower crazy

Hey Sandalla, should I do the same thing and go back on the 75mg? I've tried doing half since last Wednesday and I don't feel any better! :dizzy: I'm dizzy, horrible headache and feel like I've got the jitters all the time. Is this ever going to get better?
flower crazy


I'm not as knowledgable as Sandella, but I am sympathetic... I've been stuck at 25 dots out of the 200 dots in a 75 mg capsule... (whatever that works out to be).

As I was tapering I was doing pretty well tapering, until I reached zero Effexor and then I became terrible ill with all the side effects. I went back up to about 37mg a day and have managed so far to get down to where I am.

You should probably go back up to 75 mg or somewhere in between if you were taking less than that, stay there until you feel more stabilized and then try dropping down again.

I'm still going through the process, but the side effects are much more tolerable now... I think for some of us it is just going to take a lot longer to wean off....

Don't get discouraged!

(I can tell you that emotionally I am feeling better because I notice I am actually "feeling" things these days -- as opposed to the zombie effect.)

Glad you're doing so much better, sickofeffexor. I can't imagine having to count those **bleeping** beads every day. But, hey, when you think of the trade-off, there's really nothing to think about!!! Wyeth really should come out with a liquid version of this stuff. But I guess that would be bad business for them ... suddenly everyone would be able to taper off reasonably well, and not be hooked on this damn stuff.

If you're feeling really stable, you could consider subtracting one more bead every other day. Trick your brain, see if it notices! Plus, the psychological benefit of actually seeing yourself going down on a regular basis is GREAT!

Keep up the good work. :)

Just thought I'd tell you, sickofeffexor, I had to resort to going back on the 75 mgs as of today. I couldn't take it anymore, I was soooo sick. Terribly dizzy, massive headache behind my eyes, shakes, nausea, hives, you name it. I will have to stick with this for awhile longer and see if I can find a way to go to the doctors and see what he has to say.
flower crazy

That is the same reaction I had. It was terrible for me. I thought I was going crazy. It made my depression and anxiety so much worse. I went into a state of panic. Back on prozac now.

This is interesting.

I also take Effexor and I have experienced some of the same things as many of you. If I missed ONE day I would be sick, especially having to use the bathroom. I also couldn't fall asleep at night and even though I wasn't depressed, I was anxious all the time. Plus I have noticed weight gain. I am now up to 126 and when I started I was 105. But in reality, I think I needed the weight.
I am on my 8th day of quiting Effexor COLD TURKEY
I have not nor do I plan on going to anything else... Trying that is....
My stomache has been upset an cramping, I have had dizzy spells, headaches and leg cramps. However, I am not anxious, irritable or depressed.
I just figure, if I can get through this then I should be okay.
I wish ya'll luck with switching, and changing doeses. I have had "depression" for 14 years (that I know of) Wellbutrin (sp) was the WORST for me. It was a nightmare. I only took that for 2 weeks. It nearly made me nuts.
I always "managed" my depression "okay" of course I was never chipper, or excited about life. I wanted to stay in bed, wasn't social, cried alot but I still managed to pull myself out of my bed and MAKE myself go through the day. I didn't like going to the store or anything alone, but I never took any medication until the Effexor(except the 2 weeks of Wellbutrin that scared the crap out of me). I had to at that point. I had finally reached the point. I COULDN'T get out of bed. I DIDN'T eat. I would TRY but COULDN'T stop crying. I had finally started to neglected myself and no longer maintained life. Finally my family had enough and DRUG me to the doctors.
I haven't told anyone about me quitting cold turkey. I have done really well on the Effexor (except like I said, when I miss I am sick)
Yesturday, I told my mom I had a secret and told her that I wasn't on the medication.
She was SURPRISED. SHe said she couldn't even tell I was off of it.
I am still laughing, smile, enjoy things and of course life happens, you get upset and you cry or whatever. I don't want a medication to take my pain AWAY I just needed (at one point) a little help DEALING with the pain.
Now hopefully, I can better deal with things (and even daily routines) without the medication and be my TRUE self.
If not, if I can not do this alone. I will most likely go back to the Effexor. Even though it has it's side effects. It was a miracle for ME...
Thanks

You are going to be in a world of hurt soon! I was fine off the effexor for almost 2 months. Felt great in fact. Then the side effects got so bad I couldn't even get out of bed. Every bone in my body hurt and I became a mess. I just went back on it yesterday and already feel better. You CAN'T go off of it cold turkey. It's dangerous. It can even cause seizures. You should be talking to your doctor about tapering off.
flower crazy

really 2 months before it really kicked in?
I still have a whole month supply... Maybe I should take at least 1 a week or something?

NO, don't do it that way. I'm serious! You have no idea the hell I have been going through. If you read more on this site also you'll see I am not alone. I wouldn't have known what I was doing to myself if I hadn't come here. You've got to taper down the dose everyday. Not one a week. It doesn't work that way. And believe me, I thought I was doing okay and then whamo! Fevers, headaches behind my eyes, muscle aches, hives, nausea, heartburn, you name it. I've only taken 3 doses of the 75mgs I used to be on and although I'm feeling better, I still have my moments of sickness. It feels like the flu only WORSE! Don't do it, please. I'm begging you not to put yourself through this. Call your doctor and he'll give you a prescription for a lesser dose to taper you off. It will take awhile but in the end it will be much better this way.
flower crazy

Letfayhol, go to websites such as www.drugawareness.com and www.antidepressantsfacts.com and read up on withdrawal. Flowercrazy is right, if you are unlucky enough to go through horrible withdrawal with Effexor, you'll be able to define for yourself what the word "Hell" means. It all sounds very dramatic, but it's very serious. Don't take the warnings lightly.

My w/drawal hell started kicking in after a week of being at 37.5mg.

Been there, done that ... never again!!!

And no, don't take one a week, it's not recommended practice at all. But, there are no rules! You may be one of the VERY lucky ones who can get away with this. However, if I were in your shoes I'd go back on 37.5mg every day and stay put there for a couple of weeks at least and see how you feel. Then taper from there very slowly. What dose were you at when you just quit?

Good Luck.

I am currently on 150 mg of Effexor, and it has been working really good for me. I was also on Zoloft a couple of years ago, and it did nothing except give me horrible side effects.
The only thing I have noticed from the Effexor is some weight gain and more alcohol consumption.
I would aslo listen to what people said about not missing a dose. The withdrawl symptoms for this drug are awful, but I push that aside considering how much it has done for my anxiety/depression.

75 mg when I quit... I had to take one lastnight. I was sick all day yesturday and then when I read here I realized what was going on. But then today has been worse. I talked to my mom, and agreed I would go ahead and take them everyday and schedule an apointment to get a lower dose. Thanks for the advice

So glad you took our advice. If not for this website, I would literally be in the hospital right now. Good luck and remember, do what you have to do for your health! Mental and physical.
flower crazy

Hey, new to these boards andI think they are great!!

I have been on SSRI's for 5+ years. Took paxil for about 3 years. It worked some but significantly impaired ability to achieve orgasm. Switched to zoloft for about 2 years. It was better than paxil, more energy but still some impairment. Switched to Effexor XR about 4 months ago. IT IS A WONDER DRUG compared to the others. I had forgotten what it was like to feel good. The other drugs enabled me to be functional but didn't get me feeling good. Effexor has been fantastic.

I am currently seperated I can't offer much insight on the impairment issue. I have noticed that is important to not miss a day. The short half life means that withdrawal hits quickly and is pretty severe. I missed two days once and had extreme extrem I mean extreme nausea and was prone to crying.

I do also sweat more profusely. I have always been a heavy sweater but now it is really profuse. Seems to be like it is almost unmodulated. I don't think I sweat more easily but when I do it is just full blast. Also had some BP elavation. Again I was borderline before and this put me high enough to get a BP medication.

All that being said, I would only give my Effexor if it pried from my cold dead fingers ;)

Isn't it weird how medications affect people in different ways? I'm happy for those who are having success with the drug. I wonder what happens in the body that it works differently for different people. I'm continuing my prozac on a daily basis. Kinda in a down state right now. Pretty much the only one of my friends not in a relationship. Safe to say I'm having a lot of down time. But I'll write more about that later when I feel I won't start crying.

I was also on Effexor and quit cold turkey and tried to kill myself by trying to jump out of a moving car....Not a good time. I also gained about 30lbs. I now take Wellbutrin XL and doing great, lost 25lbs and quit smoking and drinking and couldn't feel better.

man, most of u guys know how to scare the sh** out of people!!!!! I stopped taking Effexor just because I thought that i 'couldnt be on pills all my life so what's the use' sorta thing. And, Im afraid to even go back onto taking them for goodness sake!! Im scared of weight gain (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and everything else u have experienced whilst being on it!! The only thing i seemed to get is dilated pupils, feeling sick and nervous for the first few days, but ......how the hell do u put so much weight on with pills like this?? im confused:s:(

It is definitely different for everyone. I was okay on my meds each time for about a year then it started giving me side effects. Zoloft, Paxil now Effexor. I'm going to be switching again soon I hope. Effexor was working great for a year, now I'm no good at all on it. Had horrible withdrawals recently, I'd rather die than go through that again. I'd like to get on an anti-anxiety medicine instead of an anti-depressant. See if that makes a difference. Everyone's chemical make up is completely different from the other. That's what makes each person's human-genome pattern so different. Therefore we'll experience everything differently. But you would think with the technology we have today, they could make pills that make you feel better but not so many harsh side affects.
flowercrazy :rolleyes:

Hi Flowercrazy

Don't get discouraged. I also had the same problem -- my medication would work for a year or so and then quit, so I've taken a lot of different meds.

Personally, I just reached a point where the side effects became my whole life, which is why I'm quitting.

It's brutal getting through this withdrawal, but I'm hopeful that I will get my health back when I done..., lose the weight, stop sweating... my blood pressure is already going down (slowly)...

The best thing so far is losing the Zombie part of me. Yes, I cry a little easier now (mostly when I think of my dog that I lost one year ago today), but I'm also feeling hopeful -- that's new to me.

My best advice is to go online and research whatever medication the doctor wants to give you -- and see how other people react. I know everyone is different, but it will give you a better overview than your doctor will.

i've been on effexor for about 2 weeks now and i am starting to improve when i started i couldn't sleep at all at night but now that is improving i am still a little tired all the time but i hope that will go away i was on symbyax previously and i gained 10 pounds in about a week while on it and now that i am on effexor i am loosing the weight again to get down to my regular weight of 165.

I'm on a pretty heavy dosage of Effexor XR. I take 450 mg (150 mg 3 times a day) daily. I've been on Effexor for about 20 months now and this dosage about 8 months. With everything you hear and read about withdrawl I'm not looking forward to that day when it comes. I've gained about 35 lbs in the past year and a half but can't blame the Effexor. I take other meds for my illness and they all have the potential to cause weight gain. The Effexor hasn't given me the relief I was expecting but it's better than being like I was. I don't remember having any strange symptoms when I started on Effexor but everyone is different and I've never taken Effexor by itself. I hope you have a positive experience with this drug and it helps you with your depression.

I dont understand about this whole weening off stuff! I stopped taking 75mg Effexor cold turkey and was fine- was like nothing happened:s

I dont understand about this whole weening off stuff! I stopped taking 75mg Effexor cold turkey and was fine- was like nothing happened:s

Then I guess you should count yourself fortunate.

Many people don't have it that easy.

I believe this thread is to encourage people that may have problems with it... as opposed to rubbing our noses in the fact that it is just harder for some of us.

How long ago was it that you stopped taking it? The withdrawals didn't actually stop for me until over a month and a half later. Then it was like shear hell. But I was fine for awhile.
flowercrazy