Help!!! Have been taking Lorazepam for 22 years to sleep and Effexor for 10 months. In tha last three weeks, I have cut down on both to every second day to third until now completely off. Can deal with flu like symptoms - but "zaps" as they seem to call them are killing me. Does anyone know how long they last, and have been reading permanent damage possibilities - am becoming scared.
I have gained 45 pounds in the last ten months and from other posts assume this is due to Effexor.
I really don't know which drug is causing major problems - just want to get off everything because I feel my brain and short term memory are turning to mush.
Please help

I was on effexor for 4 years and I tried several times b/f I successfully got off. Like you, I could handle being sick, but the brain zaps were awful. Also, no matter how much water, gatorade, or whatever I drank...I kept getting dehydrated. I had to go to the ER several times to get fluids and they kept telling me to drink more b/c I was extremely dehydrated. That was craziness b/c I was drinking like a fish. I never understood that.
Finally, I tapered down very slowly and got off. Dramamine really helped me. I've heard Benadryl also helps with the zaps and other problems of withdrawal.

Good luck!!