glitch200: Quitting Effexor

[glitch200]

After 2 months of taking effexor with increasing bladder and urinary complications and pain i've decided to quit this horrible medication. My side effects have included severe urinary frequency, severe burning and cramping in my urethra, severe inflamation of the prostate and extremely painful ejaculation. These symptoms have gotten so bad that i was contemplating suicide after a visit to the ER found nothing. I have only been on 37.5mg of effexor for just under 2 months so hopefully the withdrawal won't last long. I stopped taking it on sunday so it is now day 5 of withdrawal. Any idea how much longer this will last?

[ChessieCat]

Hi glitch and welcome to SA,

 

Q:  Have you previously taken a psychiatric drug?

 

The reason it is important for us to know whether you have or not is that it may make a difference to how things go with you going cold turkey off the Effexor because the effect of psychiatric drugs is cumulative.  Generally if a person has only ever been on 1 drug and they have been on it for about 1 month or more we might suggest doing a very quick taper rather than a cold turkey.  However, with what seems like a bad reaction stopping immediately may be the best thing.

 

As for how long withdrawal symptoms and recovering from the reaction will last, unfortunately that is a question that nobody can answer.  The best thing you can do is be patient and give your brain time to heal.  It is important to look after yourself and try not to add any stress, good or bad.  If you drink alcohol and/or caffeine it would be best to stop these for the time being.  You will also need to be careful of introducing any new supplements because your CNS is sensitised.  The only supplements that SA recommends are Magnesium and Omega-3 Fish Oil.  If you do want to start these, try them separate and start with a low dose (eg 1/4 of the recommended amount) to see whether you can tolerate it.

 

Please create a drug signature which will show every under every post you make and means we don't have to go back and read your posts.  Thank you.

 

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature - ALL drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 

• Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.
• Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

This is your own Introduction topic where you can ask questions and journal your progress.

 

 

[glitch200]

I was on zoloft for about 7 years before tapering off and switching to effexor. That was the only previous antidepressant i have had.

[ChessieCat]

Okay, that makes the situation a bit more complicated because we can't tell what it causing the current problems.

 

There is a possibility that what you are experiencing are withdrawal symptoms from going off the Zoloft.

 

Q:  Did you experience any side effects when taking Zoloft?

 

Q:  How did you switch over from Zoloft to Effexor?

 

Q:  When did you first notice the urinary complications?

 

Q:  Do you still have any Zoloft?  If not, are you able to get some?

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

Urination and Bladder Issues (Male and Female)

 

 

[glitch200]

No problems on the zoloft. it just wasn't doing anything anymore so i decided to quit it. All of these symptoms came when i started the effexor. Mild at first but now so severe all i can do is curl up in a ball and cry. I also tapered off the zoloft for a year before quitting it.

[PoetJester]

hi glitch

 

I had burning urethra and painful ejaculations for years on Zoloft.  I also had very little ejaculation.   it probably wasn't as bad as what you are experiencing pain-wise, but it went on for a number of years until I stopped the drug (I was also on zyprexa).   the pain went away and so did my problem with small ejaculations.  I thought the pain in my urethra might have been from serious yeast infection I had acquired when I moved into an apartment with extremely hard (chlorinated) water in 2006.  my whole body smelt horribly for years (like old sweaty gym socks) and my breath was awful (like something rotting) and this is when I started developing the painful ejaculation and low semen flow, as well.

 

poetjester.

[Altostrata]

Sounds like you had some significant adverse effects from Zoloft, PoetJester, including the body odor. These drug disrupt all kinds of systems.

 

Welcome, glitch. How are you feeling now?

[glitch200]

Day 6 of withdrawal. brain zaps are still there but the nausea and bladder pain is easing up.

[AliG]

17 hours ago, glitch200 said:

I also tapered off the zoloft for a year before quitting it.

 

How did you taper? It just helps to have all the information.

[glitch200]

slowly went down to lowest dose, then half a pill for about 6months. Then half a pill every other day etc.....

[glitch200]

Will the retrograde ejaculation go away after being off of effexor?