I don't think I am dying, I just wish I was. The electrical pulses/shocks in my brain are slowly taking away any hope of sanity. I was prescribed Efexor six months ago. I was never told of the withdrawl effects. I had my last Efexor on Monday. On Wednesday I began to feel ill. Started with electrical pulses, then fever, nausia, horrific nightmares. I am exhausted but too frightened to let myself sleep for fear of the horrific visions that come in my dreams. Please how long will this last. I can't hang on much longer. Death would be a releif.

------------------
CJL

I'm so sorry you're feeling so bad! Please tell me if your last effexor was after a slow tapering off - or if you stopped cold turkey. Effexor should definitely be tapered off slowly - just like you increase dosage slowly in the beginning. If your doctor did not do this, please call him/her immediately. Even if you did taper off, please let the doctor know what you're experiencing. Even if they can't do much, the doctors need to know when people go through this. My pdoc. denied that it happens very much - but if the online stories are true - it happens more than they will acknowledge. I read the horror stories before I started Effexor - and I started anyway because I was so desperate. Some day I may be in your shoes. The only thing I can remember from some websites is that sometimes Benedryl can help. I've also heard that using Prozac short term while you're tapering off of Effexor can be helpful. And I think I remember that drinking lots of water can help move the drugs out of your system and get you through the process sooner. I do think you'll survive, but I certainly sympathize with what you're going through. Call your doctor! And if you didn't taper off, ask him/her about going back on and then slowly dropping the dosage a little at a time. Good luck, Mel

Yes, you will survive it. You may not feel like you will but you will.
The only thing that saved me was knowing it was NOT me and that it was the drug making me ill.
It will take time. I hope you tapered.
I was on it for 2 1/2 years. I have been off for 3 months I think. The first month was absolutely awful and I could not get dressed as I was usually wringing wet.
But I also have a husband who works in the hospital on the psych unit so I had a personal watcher. That and I am a tuff old broad.
Keep posting here. I don't know about you, but I could time my sweats, chills and such as they come in waves, around the clock so being female and having had children I literally lamazed my way through.
I still have some difficulty but am much improved and look forward to even better recovery.
I will never take it again.
Now saying all of that, for some people it offers the best hope possible. No matter what you take for whatever condition there will be a trade off at some point. Even the natural stuff has its draw backs.
It is simply a quality of life issue and benefits and risks deal.
If you feel frightened and are alone, please contact the doctor.
If it is late and you are frightened, go to the emergency room.
If you have friends who can help you, tell them what it is that you are doing , inform them as much as you can so they will know what to expect and what to look for.
Peace out, this too shall pass.
ej


------------------
If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.....

Everybody wants to be somebody in the world but remember, to somebody you ARE the world.

There is hope! Honest! I came off Effexor last year and thanks to the help of many people on this board I knew what to expect and how to taper. I talked to my Dr. about the suggestions on this board (I suggest you do to) and she agreed. After 2 weeks on 75mg I went down to 37.5, my Dr. left it up to me when I wanted to reduce from there, so two weeks later I opened the capsule, and put about 1/2 of them back in and took that for a week and 1/2, then for the next week I would open and take about a 1/3 every day, then 1/3 every second day, then every third day etc... as the symptoms subsided, and after once again talking to my Dr. and us both agreeeing I was doing well enough to stay off the meds for a while, I stopped all together. It has been over a year now! Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhh! You can do it too. The shocks were the worst, my whole head used to feel like it was stuck in an electric socket, but I thought about it in this way: everytime I got a shock I said to my self that there was another successful seretonin boost! My Dr. explained that it was my brain taking over where the medication left off, regulating the seretonin it's self.

I REALLY hope this helps but like the other posts said, you won't die from it but tapering slowly with a Dr.'s observation works well.

I never really understood if the name “effexorjunkie” meant you liked that drug or not, but I think I get the idea now.

I have been off for about 1 week. I am still dizzy but it is not as bad as it was.
I do not remember the shocks maybe they were being covered by everything else.

I got the sweats/fervor, nausea, and nightmares.

I still get the nightmares. Even if I just take a 1-hour nap I’ll awake from having a real intense dream.
My nightmares are weird though because there is usually no killing or images like you would think from horror movies. I try not to write them down or remember them, but I think it is usually me at a party or me talking to someone one who might be angry. That’s it no violence at all, but that is enough to get my heart pounding. Crazy huh?

One thing I think I had was very dry eyes every morning.

I am at the point now that withdrawal effects are not extremely painful. But I am kind of worried that I might have wrecked some thing inside me permanently because they are lasting so long


[This message has been edited by ffsmith (edited 08-02-2002).]

Thank you everyone for your replies and encouragement. I did taper off but aparently not slow enough. I ended making an emergency trip to my doctor yesterday not long after posting my original message. I began vomiting, couldn't even hold fluids. He gave me an injection of Maxalon, which helped greatly. I feel a lot better today. Day 6 of withdrawl. The electric shocks have become less frequent. I did live to see another sunrise. Thank you all for caring. The reason I was taken off Efexor is that I am being changed to Dothiepin. Could any of you give me some information on Dothiepin. eg. side effects or known serious withdrawl effects. I don't trust taking anti drepressant medication after the Efexor. TA LOTS.

------------------
CJL

Chris J-L 50

Hopefully I can say this without being too gross. But if you had negative sexual side effects on the effexor I would say that it has been my experience that those are reduced as you stop using the drug.
That might be a plus for you.

Chris, I too am weening off effexor. Tonight is my last pill of 37.5. I am so nervous to get side effects. But I did alot of research on 5 HTP and have started 50 mg twice a day. I will increase it with the last effexor to 50 3 time a day. Good luck with the rest of your withdrawal. Let me know how it goes.
Swiggs

Swiggs,
What exactly is 5 HTP I get confused with all the terms used for drugs. What is a brand name for this drug. eg. is it Dothep or Dothiapin? I am still very ill, as soon as the Maxalon wears off the vomiting starts. I had a fight with my GP today. He wants to put me back on Efexor. He doesn't believe my illness is from the withdrawal, but a return of my depression. I have refused to take the Efexor again, I could not live through another period of withdrawal. Please let me know ASAP what 5 HTP is and if it is addictive or has severe side affects. I don't know where to begin looking now for a new Doctor, who will talk to me and listen to what I am saying instead of telling me I have no idea what is good for me. How can he tell me I don't know what I am talking about, I don't believe he has taken Efexor himself, so how the hell does he know what I am going through. I am still very angry.

[This message has been edited by Chris J-L 50 (edited 08-05-2002).]

Hi,
I was just wondering, how long after you start to go off effexor do the withdrawal symptoms start? I take 450 mg/day of XR and don't plan to come off, was just wondering. --NL

Chris,
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. 5-HTP is herbal based. It stands for hydroxytryptophan. I did alot of research on the net, but would not suggest going against your doc. You need to feel comfortable with them, so definitely find someone who listens. 5-HTP has been used to treat anxiety, depression, obesity, insomnia and many other disorders. It is over the counter. It is supposed to increase seritonin, but not store is up like a SSRI does. There are supposed to be fewer side effects, and I dont believe any withdrawal.

Once again, LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR. My anxiety and depression is very mild, and more of a situational depression. If your interested in 5-HTP, do some research and talk to your Doctor about it. Please dont do anything on your own. Please let me know how things go!
Good Luck!
Swiggs

Swiggs
Thank you for that, I am feeling a little better now and definately more rational. Yes I agree I need to get on a good basis with my Doctor. I believe he may be feeling a little upset himself that he didn't reduce my Effexor slow enough. I went from 150mg to 75mg in one week then stopped. Perhaps in reflection it would have been best to go from 150mg to 75mg over a three week period then reduce to 37.5mg for a few weeks. As you have come down slowly hopefully your reactions may not be so severe.

Nlathers
The withdrawal symptoms I think may vary from one person to another. If you are on 450mg a day at present then it will be really important, if you do for some reason have to come off Efexor, that you work closely with your Doctor and reduce your dose over a long period of time to avoid the sort of reaction I had. Mind you not all Doctors are aware of how severe the withdrawal symptoms can be, so talk to your Doctor and discuss this with him very carefully. You may find each time you drop down your dose you could experience some form of withdrawal. The vital thing here is that you are aware of what is happening and what symptoms you can expect. The biggest problem I had was that I was ignorant of what to expect and unfortunately so was my Doctor at the time. Still things are looking better now. I did live to see the sun rise another day.

[This message has been edited by Chris J-L 50 (edited 08-08-2002).]

Hi Chris,

I took Dothiepin for about a year ten years ago and had no problems tapering off. It's a tricyclic AD in the same family as Amitriptiline and Imiprimine.

The side effects I had were a dry mouth and a need to sleep about 2 hours after taking it! I'd take it at about 8pm and be in bed by 10pm. I'd be bit dozy until about 9am the next day, so if you drive in the mornings please be aware of this....

I hope you get no side-efffects at all, which is possible.

God luck and best wishes

Zafu http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/clown.gif

Hey Chris,
I am one day off the effexor, and feel ok. I anticipate tomorrow to be bad. The 5-HTP seems to be helping out. Hope all is well with you.
Swiggs

Zafu, Swiggs, ffsmith

Hi Zafu
Thank you for that, I feel more confident now about taking the Dothiepin. The reason I was changed from Efexor to Dothiepin was to assist me with sleep. I suffer a severe sleep disorder which I have been advised is the reason for my illness.

Hi Swiggs
I hope all is well with you, I'm confident if you went off the Efexor slowly you will have no problems. If you do sufferer some withdrawal hopefully it will be very mild and will pass quickly. If you do begin to suffer with nausea and hot/cold sweats get your Doc to prescribe something to assist you. Unfortunately I have now developed a bad chest infection from sitting close to the fire when I was shivering with cold then running outside the cool off when I started having the hot flushes when I would sweat profusely. I went through several changes of clothes each day. I have also lost a lot of weight, 3.5kg in the past week.

Hi ffsmith
Your message regards Efexor causing loss of sexual interest sounds spot on. My poor husband has been terribly neglected in that area for quite some time, I am very lucky he is such a patient and wonderful man. He has given me wonderful support since my illness began. When I told him your message, I believe I may have seen a twinkle in his eye and look of hope. Thank you.

[This message has been edited by Chris J-L 50 (edited 08-08-2002).]

[deleted]

[This message has been edited by chrysanthemum (edited 01-09-2003).]

Thank's Chrys, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif I am a lot better and I hope my experience will help others. I know it will help my Doctors other patients on Efexor. He has promised me, even crossed his heart, next time he has a patient come off Efexor, he will bring them down very slowly and monitor them very carefully. God bless his cotton socks, he honestly didn't realise Efexor withdrawal could be so severe. I think it frightened him. My pain was someones gain, seems to make it almost worthwhile. But I hope I never have to play that song again Chrys. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif

Thank You Everyone

Hello All,
I am on day 3 of my withdrawal from effexor, and feel pretty bad. I understand the electric shocks, nausea, and have been in and out of the bathroom all morning. If you ween down slowly how long do the symptoms last. I hope that it doesnt get worse than it is now. I upped the 5-htp to 100mg 3 x day. I hope it will start to take the edge off. I just feel in a daze, and very sad. I hope the sadness is just a symptom, because I dont want to feel depressed anymore.

thanks for listening,
swiggs

Swiggs
Hang on in there buddy, you'll make it. I've still got some yucky symptoms left, but I am heaps better. Try to focus on the fact your illness is part of the withdrawal. Get to your Doctor if you start the severe vomiting, keep up the fluids and see if you can get something from your Doctor for the nausea. It will pass I promise. I'm a survivor, you will be too.

Zafu
I was put on Dothiapin to help me sleep, but looks like one of the withdrawal symptoms of the Efexor which originally was a feeling of complete and utter exhaustion has now turned in to insomnia. It's 12:54 am here. I took the Dothiapin 4 hours ago and I'm wide awake. As you will note also from my response to Trip Around the World. I think my humour hormones are tripping out somewhere past Venus.

Hi Chris,

Like any AD Dothiepin will take a while to get into your system poroperly - it took about two weeks for me to get the full sleepiness effects.

Best wishes and hugs

Zafu

Thanks Zafu
I'm currently up to having passed the 26 hour stage of no sleep and on top of still having some withdrawal from the Efexor (not too good a time is this little duckling having). I'll perservere with the dose of Dothiapin I am on and contact my Doc for advise if I can't get some sleep soon. If you don't hear from me for a day or so, it's because hopefully I'll be tucked up in bed with my huggy bear. I'm a bit concerned about Swiggs. Keep a check on him will you please while I'm snoozin. TA http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/yawn.gif

OK, Chris,

Like I said, anything you need to say, just say it here. I'm here to listen. If you physically are in really dire shape, I really would encourage you to call your husband - it sounds really important and he'd want to know, I'm sure. But if you just need a friend right now, like I said, I'm here.

(((((Chris)))) I wish I knew how to make you feel better.

(((((((((Chris)))))))))))

I'm praying for you. I know you'll pull through this. Sometimes our bodies can bring us to what seems like hell on earth, but then we rebound.

Chris,

I am going to bed now. As you have not posted in 15 mins, I hope you are now sleeping comfortably. I really feel for you. Please hang in there and call your husband if things get worse.
I am sending you good karma from halfway across the world.

Dave

OK Dave
My husband is home. today you were my Real Life Angel http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif I will go off line now. Husband taking me to Doctors surgery. I will be OK. Thank you so very much.

OK Guys I’m back, in case any of you got a bit worried about the last few messages, thought I’d better let you all know I’m OK. And just to confirm that……

Can any of you relate to this? "One" of my problems is Severe Sleep Disorder. Anyway while you guys are sleeping I’m wide awake, and when you guys are wide awake I’m wide awake. Since coming off the Efexor, I’ve been even worse. A couple of weeks ago at least I used to get a few hours sleep during a period of 24.

On the fourth day of my Efexor withdrawal when I was lying on the couch, my head exploding with electric shocks and nausea causing the room to swim, I noticed the lounge windows were dirty. The sun was shining directly through them. Boy I really hate dirty windows, but I was too sick to get up and clean them. Well that night or I should say next morning about 2.00am, I wasn’t feeling too bad and seeing as I couldn’t sleep, and didn’t know what shape I would be in during daylight because of the Efexor withdrawal ROLLER COASTER I was on, I decided to grab a bucket of hot water, my window cleaner, torch and ladder and clean the window while I could. Now this seems perfectly rational to me.

Anyway I was up the ladder feeling really good about getting the job, cause like I said "dirty windows really bug me", when this dark figure appeared out of the darkness around the corner of the house. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif Geezus my heart must have just about done a complete years cycle of pumping. Next minute my husband's voice calls out Chris, Chris is that you!! What the hell are you doing luv it’s 215am http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif. Well I tried to explain, but he just looked at me with total anguish and concern on his face and said sweetheart they lock people away in asylums for doing less than what your doing now. Well heck I couldn’t understand why. Like I said seemed quite rational to me. Anyway to make him feel better, I packed everything away and went inside. I told him I was OK, he should go back to bed. He has to get up at 5.00am for work and as he works a 10 hour day, he needs all the sleep he can get.

Now I’m really lucky because my husband loves me unconditionally, and honestly, to me, he is the most kind and wonderful man in the world. What I’m going through could put a lot of stress on most marriages, but as luck would have it, the wonderful man I am married too also has a wonderful sense of humour.

Also as luck would have it, next night on the telly was a very appropriate episode of the Simpson’s. Marg was going through anxiety and emotional trauma, as a planned holiday was ruined because of her fear of flying. I don’t know if any of you saw that episode. Anyway Marg starts staying up all night long cooking and cleaning and at one point she is up on the roof banging away fixing the roof tiles. Homer yells out Marg "What are you doing it’s 1.00am" Marg replies "I’m fixing the roof tiles", Homer replies "your supposed to be in the kitchen cooking". At that point my husband and I looked at each other and burst into tears of laughter, neither of us could stop laughing tears streaming down our faces. My hubby looks and me and said "come here Marg" I looked at him and said "Ahh Homer I love you" http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/love2.gif. Thank god for the Simpson’s. I love that show.

My ROLLER COASTER ride off Efexor continues, it was only 6 hours ago I was vomiting and passing out. Now even though I haven’t slept for "I don’t know how many hours or days", I feel quite lucid and actually in a good humoured frame of mind. This is so really weird. WHAT THE HELL DO THEY PUT IN EFEXOR THAT CAUSES SUCH A HELL OF A WITHDRAWAL NIGHTMARE. Still I am lucky, my hubby is taking this ride with me and doing the best he can to help me over the really rough bits when he can. You guys are doing a damn good job of helping him when he can’t be there for me. Who could ask for more. GOODNESS I AM SO TIRED http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/yawn.gif

THANKS EVERYONE

OMG
Chris, are you ok? Did you get checked at the hospital? It sounds like this maybe more than just the effexor w/drawal.
Did want to update you all. I am feeling 100 times better. Still getting the brain shocks and heart palpitations, but have subsided. The 5-htp has really helped the the symptoms. Chris, if you think about taking the 5-htp, please consult your doc. It does interact with ssri's and other psychdrugs.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please take care and dont be afraid to ask for help. Thank you all for your words of encouragement!

Swiggs

Hang tough there Chris------my spouse helped me too.
I went through the same sleep pattern you are. This went on for several weeks and then I totally crashed.
Then I went through being lethargic and not being able to get enough sleep. Guess there might have been an adreneline let down of sorts.
Now I am starting to level off thank goodness and swing back into balance of energy. I still have a ways to go but know that this will pass.
Odd thing about this, is that you get to experience the extreme of everything in the spectrum---one side to the other and bypass the middle.
The middle comes later.........

I had a hard time with effexor. I am a teenager who was put on it. I was changed from 150 mg to 350 mg in less than a week...the withdrawls are terrible!!!

I guess my greatest concern about yesterday was that when I telephone the !!!emergency help line!!! here in Australia and told the girl I had come off Efexor, she imediately told me that couldn't be the problem as "EFEXOR" has NO WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/blob_fire.gif . The same happened on the !!!!Phsyc emergency health line!!!!. Now Heck if "EFEXOR" has NO WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS according to the emergency health lines. WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING THROUGH. This concerns me mainly because I am a mature enough person to actually find out more about my illness than the average bear to help me better understand what I am going through.

UNDERSTANDING is the key to recovery in every illness a person may have. So what happens to others who are having bad withdrawal effects, who don't know how to access information on their illness. Especially what happens to them when the !!!!!emergency lines!!!!!! set up to help them http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/blob_fire.gif tell them they are not suffering WITHDRAWAL effects.

If it wasn't for the fact I was pretty well certain I was suffering withdrawal, I may have been tempted to take a different course of action, one that could have had fatal consequences. WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE THE AUTHORITIES IN THIS COUNTRY BE AWARE OF HOW SEVERE WITHDRAWAL OF THIS DRUG CAN BE http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/mad.gif. I don't honestly believe I can be the first person in the whole of Australia to have come off EFEXOR.

DAWNING-SUMMER & SWIGGS
Hope you guys are both OK. Glad to hear you are feeling better Swiggs. Dawning-Summer how long have you been off the EFEXOR. I need to know how long this will last. I am on day 12 of withdrawal.

[This message has been edited by Chris J-L 50 (edited 08-09-2002).]

Hi Chris,

It's well known the SSRI's and NSRI's can have severe discontinuation syndromes.....

I almost lost a friend who ran out of Efexor and became suicidal overnight......

With many kind thoughts.......

Zafu

Effexorjunkie
How long have you been off the Efexor and how long did your sleeplessness last. I can't afford to go too long without sleep, as I also suffer a physical disability that is greatly affected by my lack of sleep. That is why my drug was changed from Efexor to Dothiepin. The Dothiepin hasn't helped yet. But as Zafu has informed me. It takes a while to get into the system.

So Zafu,
You survived after I had you jumping out of the plane http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bouncing.gif. Sorry my story line mixed up the flow of the story. It may be the difference in time or something, but quite often my posts don't come up for ages after I've posted them.

HAVA A GOODAY http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif

------------------
CJL

[deleted]

[This message has been edited by chrysanthemum (edited 01-09-2003).]

SWIGGS
I'm glad your feeling OK, I was very worried about you. Yes I got checked out. The chest infection I have probably made things worse for me. But definately on the way up "and I aint gonna stop till I get to the top".

Thank you also for caring. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif

------------------
CJL

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif CHRYS http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif
Thank you very very much. Yes I was just bowled over http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif, by the girl on the emergency line telling me Efexor has no withdrawal effects http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/mad.gif. Guess you can see why I hung up. There was no way this lady could help me.

I don't think the Australian Govt Drug information network line has been updated with information on Efexor since it was first released. I am going to check this out, especially seeing as my Doctor didn't even know about the severity of withdrawal from Efexor either. Mind you he tells me now he has quite a few patients on it and I am the first patient, would you believe, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif that he has had come off it.

Homer thanks you for the hug http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

------------------
CJL

Chris......do you know they look at me like a bug at the doctors office regarding withdrawal?
You can thank the drug company for this in my opinion.
If they don't put it out there correctly or honestly the only story the medical field gets is the one printed.
In fact, I am going to print off this page and take it with me among other e-mails from around the world I started receiving when I posted on the effexor website.
My sense of time and space were totally screwed up so I am guessing it was about 2 or 3 weeks with the insomnia thing and about the same with the tired feeling. Still having a little, in fact, I have a regular dr.s appt monday for ekg and the works to be on the safe side.
I will never forget the withdrawal as long as I live.
It is by far the hardest thing I have ever done and ever hope to have to do.
The worse part is not being believed by physicians.
Not only do you get to experience the horrid event, you get to thing you are a total loser and wimp in the process.
I really have issues with this drug so I will stop at that.
I have read that it can take 6 months to a year to become reasonably yourself again.
I only hope.


[This message has been edited by effexorjunkie (edited 08-10-2002).]

Geez, Yikes guys. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif

I just dropped from 225mg to 150mg earlier this week. I was popping asprin like a baby pops their pacifer & yesterday finally gave up & took a migrane pill. No headache today. Thank goodness.

But is this what I'm going to look forward too each time I decrease my dosage? Yikes http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif Cat

P.S. Figured I ought to tell you that I did this without docs knowledge. As far as I'm concerned they only know enough about 20 minutes with you. So I figured I was on way too high a dose anyway. Cat

CAT & EJ
Well this looks very serious. First of all Cat http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/nono.gif """"""PLEASE"""""" Cat don’t take chances like that. I was mortified when I read what you had done. It is very dangerous Cat to go off or even reduce your prescribed amount of medication without the complete knowledge of your Doctor. Now after that telling off. *****Are you OK****, if you start getting serious withdrawal effects, return to your normal dose and discuss with your Doctor how you can reduce VERY VERY VERY VERY SLOWLY if you feel your current dose is TOO HIGH.

Please CAT do this for me. PLEASE ****PLEASE**** (Hell CAT Don’t make me crawl, DAMN I hate crawling OK you win) PRETTY PLEASE *****GOOD GIRL******

Now EJ you take care, I was really concerned how much you have suffered from withdrawal of this drug. YOU ARE DEFINITELY NOT A LOSER or A WHIMP.

Now I know I am not alone in HELL through this DRUG. I WOULD LOVE TO ensure OTHERS ARE PROTECTED.

EJ YOU AND I WILL BECOME THE

EFEXOR ANGELS http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif
CAT YOU GONNA BE ANGEL NO.3

Gee I wish I could have more smilies

EPISODE 1.

I believe all persons reducing their dosage and coming off this medication should be monitored very carefully (it is my personal belief, from my personal experience, this drug has the potential to cause serious HARM). I also believe a lot of information on this drug hasn’t been publicly released as yet, even the Doctors are a bit in the dark. (AWFUL DAMNED OBVIOUS IN MY CASE)

My experience has been so bad, I have been searching everywhere to find some help and answers. I did find some information on a government site that I believe should be distributed IMMEDIATELY in written form to
"""""""""ALL HEALTH CARERS WORLD WIDE"""""".
The web address is http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2000/mar00.htm#effexo.

It clearly lists the reported symptoms of Efexor withdrawal for both Effexor and Effexor XR. I printed a copy of this out and gave it to my Doctor. I THEN said "NOW TELL ME EFEXOR HAS NO WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS"…It should not have been my job to http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/hammer.gif home this information. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS INFORMATION BEFORE I WAS EVEN PRESCRIBED THIS MEDICATION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

He was very apologetic and embarrassed after reading the print out and we have now started to deal with the issues properly. Had he been aware of this information before reducing my dose so rapidly, I would have been prevented suffering A DANGEROUS & FRIGHTENING situation, that in view of my illness, could have had fatal consequences for me. Now I am going to send this information to the HEALTH MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA and ask him WHY THE EMERGENCY HELP LINES IN AUSTRALIA (especially the emergency psychiatric lines) are not aware of this information.

BOY, OH BOY, IS MY RAGE GROWING. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/blob_fire.gif And I’m so doggone tired and still can’t sleep http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/yawn.gif

THIS SERIES AND THE FIGHT FOR EFEXOR KNOWLEDGE
****SHALL CONTINUE****

Hi Chris http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Don't worry about me. I'm one little tough cookie and I feel tons better with the reduction.

My doc was experiementing with my Effexor anyway due to what I told her on my last visit and I figured if it was a crap shoot for her then I might as well get in the game and check out my own theories.

I'm glad I did. Doc wanted to increase the Effexor rather than reduce it, all because of 1 week of real bad PMS symptoms.

We'll what I discovered with my little experiement of reduction of the Effexor is I have more energy, I'm not so tired & I no longer want to sleep all the time. Which I know that I handle stress & other factors so much better when I have energy rather than when I'm tired. Thus, the severe PMS symptoms on such a high dose.

Of course, I have another 2 to 3 weeks to wait to see if the PMS monster will raise it's ugly head. If it does it blows that theory, but all is not lost, I still feel better now, than I have since the increase to 225mg.

A/D's are still an experiment with the doctors as both you and EJ have figured out. So who better to figure out my own body than me.

Chris, you go girl. Get on that Austrailan Government. Your absolutely right about those Hotlines and I don't blame you a bit for being angry.

Once again, 2 other cases just goes to reinerate that Doctors are not Gods and the responsibility for our own well beings does not lie in the hands of the Doctors but on ourselves. Cat http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Notice the info said "minimize". It is nice to see those symptoms in print, however it is still not forthcomming with the horrid affects.
I tapered over a 3 to 4 week time, gradually reducing my dosage so all in all I spent about 12 weeks reducing and finally stopping. Sorry, had the absolute worse case. If I had not done it that way I have to wonder what would have happened had I just stopped.
Would I have stroked out? Would I have had a psychotic episode? Would I have been MORE paranoid? YIKES!
One of the awful points is, I should not have been on that drug to begin with.
I did not have the 'usual suspects' of depressive symptoms. I did have anxiety, however it was due to an event. I never knew full blown depression until I stopped that drug. I knew it existed, have friends who are clinically depressed, and used to pride myself on personal research on medications.
I felt like a fool. I also have immense guilt as I recommended it to my mother. It was very hard to tell her what I discovered and I don't think at her age or state of mind she could go through what we have. You can't know how sorry I am, I mean, that is my mom for God's sake and the only parent and grandparent we have left.
It breaks my heart, makes me feel guilty for placing her in harms way. I was only trying to help and now , at my word alone, she is at risk.
If I have to, I will pay for her medication for the rest of her life, I love her too much to let her go through this, God knows she has had a hard enough life.

Feeling invalidated at the doctors office is almost the straw that breaks the camel's back.
I really have a tuff time with that one.
I suppose its pride on my part and the fact that although I don't hold a degree in anything, I am reasonably intelligent and there is almost nothing worse than being viewed as a fool.
No one pays attention to a fool so how many people are at risk because of the propaganda of the manufacturer.

I have never been contacted by the company. I made my first post on their web site. I began to get e-mails from around the world (I forgot and used my home e-mail address). There were people contacting me in the midst of withdrawal who were left out in the cold.
They were frightened and sick. They were also ignored.
This is how I found this board. It is also what kept me from going totally insane.
My husband saw me sweat, cramp, become ill, walk and talk like a drunk, go without sleep and my fear.
He wanted me to go to a clinic. We cannot afford to do that, and like I said, I am pretty tuff. But he was frightened for me as he knows how strong I am.
To see me in such a state was more than he could bear.
But these people were here. I didn't share much of what I was going through (fools pride), but I went from newbie to veteran in just few short weeks---round the clock.
If you go back through the archives you will see that I posted at the weirdest times and lots of typos.
But they were patient and let me post and post and post.
I am angry with the drug companies and their practices.
I have to wonder how many people have been misdiagnosed because of their withdrawal and placed on other drugs to combat the syptoms.
It makes me sick.
Drug companies and Insurance companies are part of Corporate America. Thank God corporate America and it's greed is being taken to task finally.
Many of us are helped by comming here. Imagine the threat we represent as we help each other get through hard times. You can't fill that in a bottle.

We are not the only ones this has happened to and how much you want to bet there are others out there who are worse off.
I have made it my personal mission to take this particular drug to task. If I had known I would have become addicted to anything, I would have chosen something worth withdrawing from!
We got the hangover but no one invited us to the party.
In fact, I think I shall write the company, I thought long and hard over suing them for the shoddy information and the candy coating they have taken MUCH time to develop.
Because of this, my pharmacy has taken to giving their customers a few pills until the patient can see their doctor for a new prescription. I hope this trend is world wide, if not, you can be a part of changing it by your experience.

Now, I know that many of you who take the drug may be alarmed by my posts and the experiences of myself and others.
There are times when only one thing works for you and it is up to you to decide. This drug sometimes is prescribed too quickly but in some cases it is the only thing that will work. If it works for you, then by all means stay true to your plan.
When it comes to opinions, you simply take what you need and leave the rest. What is true for me may not be true for you. We are individual.
My major beef is with the slip shod documentation of the drug companies. Everybody wants to discover something new, or be published, or make a profit.
Thats where we get into trouble-------egos and profit.
This is with all medications. Sometimes the old and true work well. Celebrex and Vioxx is not anymore effective than ibuprofen, naproxen, or even aspirin.
But it costs a whole lot more and many insurance companies have a large co-pay, require prior authorization, or refuse to pay for it at all.
In the end, it is us who pay the price.
There is a trade off, just use your head.
Nothing is without risks.
Sorry to have rambled, I have a righteous anger concerning this topic.




------------------
If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.....

Everybody wants to be somebody in the world but remember, to somebody you ARE the world.

My Goodness """EJ""" you had a lot to get out didn’t you. OK Did getting a lot of that out HELP. I hope so EJ. HERES ONE SUPER BIG HUG.

((((((((((((((((((((((EJ)))))))))))))))) ))

Oooops Sorry I squeezed so hard. DIDN’T BREAK ANYTHING I HOPE. EJ……….EJ, it’s OK breath, breath. Oh good your colour is coming back I see. That was a very big HUG but goodness you needed it.

Yes I guess what you (and me and, I’m now discovering lots and lots and lots of other people) are feeling is ANGER, ANGER, ANGER, ANGER http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/mad.gif And this is understandable. It’s not a good feeling to get prescribed a medication to help your illness, then discover the medication, in your case, actually made your original illness insignificant in comparison to how sick you became on withdrawal of the medication.

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/nono.gif please don’t feel responsible for advising your mom on this medication. It was her Doctor’s responsibility to assess if the drug was suitable for her on examination of her situation. If he gave her a script, then he must of thought it was OK. You were not to know THEN what you know NOW. But your Mom’s Doctor should have had all the details available to help him make the right decision. THAT TO ME IS THE SCARY PART.

DO THESE DOCTORS KNOW enough about this DRUG when they prescribe IT. YES I SHALL CALL IT …"IT"…
and I feel sometimes like """"IT’s"""" coming to take me away HAHAHEEHAHAHEE.

Geezus what’s that, the time here is 3:00am. When did I last sleep sleep sleep sleep. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/tired.gif

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CJL

[~~ Chris J-L50, please be mindful of the HealthBoards guidelines re: posting of websites. Most of them are not permissable. If you want to post details of a website, please contact us first be sure that it is ok. ~~ Thanks, Minerva ]

[This message has been edited by minerva (edited 08-10-2002).]

Hi Cat

Good, I’m glad you are OK and you are absolutely right. We all need to take responsibility for ourselves and our own health. DOCTORS are not GODS and they are also very busy. It is hard for them to be right 100% of the time and always make a correct diagnosis. Especially when they have such a short amount of time to evaluate us in a 20 min consult. We should all make an effort to find out what we can about a suspected illness to help ourselves and our DOCTORS understand what we are going through. We can then, with assistance from our Doctors, help ourselves with recovery

Your a clever cookie CAT. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/grad.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/grad.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/grad.gif



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CJL

Owwwww! You squeezed my ribs LOL!
Nah, I feel just fine with the hug, its the politics of medicine.
If we have to become do darned responsible for our treatment, then I say if we do the homework we should get the discount LOL!
The objection I have to all of this , the documentation is purposely inaccurate. So when the medical staff goes to read up on it, all they have available is what the drug companies bother to put into print.
I wish the govt. would hire me to be their watchdog LOL!

.

[This message has been edited by chrysanthemum (edited 01-09-2003).]

Thanks Chrys
No still not got a good shut eye yet. Managed to catch about 2zz's and up and bouncing around like a maniac. Very hypo at present with over active humour hormone. I've been on NAME THAT ILLNESS SITE and when you read it, you will see why......... SSSSSOOOOOON they will be coming to take me away hehehehahahaha......... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bouncing.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bouncing.gif

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CJL

Hello All,
So glad you are feeling better Chris. I still am feeling better everyday, but did have insomnia bad last night. It is day 6 of "discontinuation symptoms". I read your attachment Chris, and I love the terminology. I hope this doesnt last too long. Hope you all take care.
Swiggs

swiggs,
Glad your feeling better, keep hanging in there. I'm feeling better every day that passes.

Gone from http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif to http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif to http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif to http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/blob_fire.gif all in a matter of 10 minute intervals with withdrawal, but my biggest problem is still http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/yawn.gif

One day I will sleep, god damn it, one day I will SSSSSLLLEEEEPPPPPP.



------------------
CJL

I had no idea Effexor had this kind of withdrawal. I'm currently on 150 mg of Effexor and 300 mg of Wellbutrin, I'm not currently thinking of coming off of either one but it shocked me to know what could happen if I did. I'm glad I found this website tonight, you guys have been very informing. Thank You.

Chris, are you from Down Under? There is a song that was featured in a famous flick - Pricilla Queen of the Desert, it was....

"I Will Survive"

And so will you. I'm living breathing proof that there is life after depression and effxor!

HI
I have gone from 300mg of efexor and being on that for 5 years, to nothing!!
I slowly tapered, and have been "clean" for about a week, and oh, my god it sux.
Im constantly getting shocks, feeling i need to passout, sweats, chills all the good stuff. Im so tempted to pop a pill, but im so proud ice gone only 1 week after 5 ears. I gave up smoking (was a smoker for 18years) 2 months ago, gave up caffine and so as you can guess i feel like i want ot kill someone, but am so proud of myself, its the only thing that keeps me going.

Its so hard, but its great when i see on hee other people have done it, well, hell so can i

kerina

Swiggs,
What exactly is 5 HTP I get confused with all the terms used for drugs. What is a brand name for this drug. eg. is it Dothep or Dothiapin? I am still very ill, as soon as the Maxalon wears off the vomiting starts. I had a fight with my GP today. He wants to put me back on Efexor. He doesn't believe my illness is from the withdrawal, but a return of my depression. I have refused to take the Efexor again, I could not live through another period of withdrawal. Please let me know ASAP what 5 HTP is and if it is addictive or has severe side affects. I don't know where to begin looking now for a new Doctor, who will talk to me and listen to what I am saying instead of telling me I have no idea what is good for me. How can he tell me I don't know what I am talking about, I don't believe he has taken Efexor himself, so how the hell does he know what I am going through. I am still very angry.

[This message has been edited by Chris J-L 50 (edited 08-05-2002).]

im also on dothiapin and fine the drug turms also confussing....
iv been on it about 10 years for depression sleeping probs and servear anzity probs as well as pannic attacks and servear agrophbia..
i realy feel the docorts dont care where i am and just fob you off tell me by 1 doctor that he knows what he is doing and i think to much and should not learn about my probs as im not a docort and should leave them to do there job and that i over react..
also at the time i was not coping and was riping my hair out and went to the doctors for help to be told to get a grip:mad: .
i found this very upseting and my husbend was up-set with the ruadness of this doctor with i now refuss to see..
i dont understand why some become doctors if they truely dont want to help.

I've been on Paxil for a yr and a half and I'm tired of feeling like a lump with no feelings. Yeah no lows but no highs either. I feel like everytime I want to do something I think " I can't" I have lost motivation. So... I stopped the med completely and started 5-htp after reading alot about the research done. If this natural med helps stimulate serotonin then why take this prescription to re uptake it if I may have a problem with a low level to begin with. So far so good. I'm starting to feel like me again. I'm calm and sleeping well and generally feel good for the first time in a while. No anxiety or over analyzing everything. There is a great book availabel with alot of research info on amazon. As an RN I found it very interesting and informative. I look forward to feeling agoin and actually living. check out info on 5-htp. You may find it life changing. I was never one to even consider any talk of natural cures like melatonin-thought it was quackery-but this is helping more than ever in 20 yrs. It's worth it to be educated.