smartgun: effexor w/d

[smartgun]

I went cold turkey off effexor(75 mg) 7 weeks ago.

Obviously this was a bad idea. I was fine for about 2 weeks after going off then experienced a resurgence of w/d symptoms about 5 weeks in.

I'm planning to reinstate. Questions:

-This far out, is it necessary to reinstate at the initial dosage? If I'm going to start a lower dose, how am I supposed to decide how low?

-I'm already experiencing severe dysautonomia. At this point, is reinstating going to effective in lessening these symptoms?

 

Thank you <3

 

Edit: I was previously on 75 mg for appx. one year.

[jr1985]

Hi smartgun,

 

I reinstated Effexor 6 weeks after coming off 75mg. I could only tolerate half of my original dose.

[smartgun]

Are you taking the XR? How have your symptoms been since reinstatement?

[Altostrata]

Welcome, smartgun.

 

Since your nervous system may have adapted somewhat, a partial dose may be all you need. The sooner you reinstate, the more likely reinstatement is to work.

 

It's a gamble; it may not work and if you take too much, may cause worse symptoms. As jr indicated, your system may be sensitized to Effexor now. Going carefully with a low dose and titrating up if need be may save adverse reactions to a higher dose.

 

On the other hand, some people do find they eventually have to go all the way up to the former dose.

 

The idea is to stabilize and taper off more slowly from that reinstated dose. This is advice contained in your Effexor package insert.

 

Were you taking regular Effexor or Effexor XR capsules? Do you have any left?

[jr1985]

Are you taking the XR? How have your symptoms been since reinstatement?

 

Yes, it's the XR form. My symptoms have gotten much better after reinstating. The nausea, diahorrea, morning anxiety, etc all went away. I was left with some restless legs, which got worse after I kept chopping and changing the dose too much. They've improved a lot as I've held on the current dose. They are nothing compared to the symptoms I had before reinstatement.

[peggy]

Hi Smartgun - i have done the same thing about 4 times!!! - apparently i am a slow learner. The first few times i went back on 75 and then up to 150 (which was my dose) about 4 days later. I settled within about 4 weeks. But that was when i thought it was a relapse of my original condition.

 

I would suggest going to 37.5mg for a couple of weeks - if you don't feel better then maybe you will need to go back to 75mg and stabilise for at least a month of feeling good before beginning the 10% taper schedule.

[MrAnxious]

If you are interested you can read my thread my friend, I went off Effexor and the same thing happened to me 5 weeks off..it's a intense drug for w/d symptoms.

[smartgun]

Thank you for your replies everyone.

 

Welcome, smartgun.

 

Since your nervous system may have adapted somewhat, a partial dose may be all you need. The sooner you reinstate, the more likely reinstatement is to work.

 

It's a gamble; it may not work and if you take too much, may cause worse symptoms. As jr indicated, your system may be sensitized to Effexor now. Going carefully with a low dose and titrating up if need be may save adverse reactions to a higher dose.

 

On the other hand, some people do find they eventually have to go all the way up to the former dose.

 

The idea is to stabilize and taper off more slowly from that reinstated dose. This is advice contained in your Effexor package insert.

 

Were you taking regular Effexor or Effexor XR capsules? Do you have any left?

 

I was on XR Capsules, i'm sure I'm have some left lying around somewhere. I was thinking of reinstating on regular tablets though, just because I divide them easily, and I don't think I can manage counting out tiny granules. I understand tablets have a shorter half-life and need to taken more than once a day, but is there an actual chemical difference between standard effexor and XR capsules?

[peggy]

if you take 75mg of regular effexor, you need to take 37.5 in the morning and 37.5 in the evening.

i did take regular effexor for a while, but i felt more stable on XR - you can get 37.5mg XR capsules too

[jr1985]

You could buy a jewellers milligram scale and weigh out the XR beads like I do.

[smartgun]

I tried reinstating at a lower dose with no luck. Aggravated withdrawal symptoms, with added severe nausea, and was so freaking high that it was extremely uncomfortable.

 

Withdrawal symptoms have waned in severity to some degree... but are still present. Pretty unpleasant.

 

I've had to put off establishing work/school/social life etc. while I'm recovering. It makes me pretty sad, because life feels pretty empty at the moment. I'm turning 21 next week, and pretty much all I've done for the past year is sit around at home doing nothing.

[peggy]

Hi Smartgun,

What dose did you reinstate on? How long did you take it? Reinstatement doesn't always work, for me it took 4 weeks to feel consistently better, although somedays i felt some improvement, other days felt worse.

[smartgun]

Peggy:

I should have not used the word "reinstated". I only tried taking one dose, 12.5 mg specifically.

 

I am a loss as to what to do at this part. I'm incredibly afraid of taking it again. I wonder if I have done permanent damage to myself.

[areyouthere]

 

I am a loss as to what to do at this part. I'm incredibly afraid of taking it again. I wonder if I have done permanent damage to myself.

 

Just watching here. Just want to help you out here..... "permanent damage" is unlikely especially because of the short time you've been on it.

 

I'd liken it to having the crap scared out of you by the local neighborhood bully. You have had things shaken up and it might take awhile to settle down and feel normal & confident. Don't give in to the bully. Listen to the good advice here. Fear is a bully's best friend. Try to stay calm.

 

ps. And without doubt you sould definitely postpone the latest trend of the all night get drunk 'til you puke and almost die from alcohol poisoning right of passage to "I'm 21"

next week. Bad idea anytime but considering .... it could really mess the effexor thing up.

[areyouthere]

 

I am a loss as to what to do at this part. I'm incredibly afraid of taking it again. I wonder if I have done permanent damage to myself.

 

Just watching here. Just want to help you out here..... "permanent damage" is unlikely anytime but especially because of the short time you've been on it and your youth.

 

I'd liken it to having the crap scared out of you by the local neighborhood bully. You have had things shaken up and it might take awhile to settle down and feel normal & confident. Don't give in to the bully. Listen to the good advice here. Fear is a bully's best friend. Try to stay calm.

 

Ps. Skip the all night alcohol binge on your 21st birthday just makes things worse.

[Nadia]

It wasn't on Effexor at the time, but I reinstated ADs (generic Zoloft and Wellbutrin) in 2008 after about 4 months when I got really bad withdrawal symptoms. I started with a quarter dose, then half, then full. I felt really jittery and wired, on top of the anxiety I was feeling. I had been prescribed clonazepam for the anxiety and used that at a low dose for about a month until I stabilized. I was then stable for another two years.

 

I don't recommed using benzos to get back on, since that could have complications, but what you felt from one dose might not be representative of how you'll feel once you stabilize. It MIGHT be worth a try at an even lower dose, and hold on for at least a week or so to see if you improve.

 

All this so you can then do a looooong, sloooow taper and hopefully avoid withdrawal hell.

 

I took Effexor for a short time around 2003 and remember getting off of it being pure hell.

[Altostrata]

smartgun, it sounds like reinstating Effexor is not going to work for you. I'm sorry, it doesn't always work.

 

It's unknown if something like Prozac or Celexa would help either.

 

You didn't do permanent damage, you need to let your nervous system settle down. Patience is pretty much the whole story in dealing with withdrawal syndrome. We've got some suggestions about how to deal with symptoms in the Symptoms forum.

[smartgun]

I thank you for your replies.

 

It's been about 2 1/2 months, still in withdrawal hell.

[MrAnxious]

I thank you for your replies.

 

It's been about 2 1/2 months, still in withdrawal hell.

 

 

Just hang in there it get's better everyday, i made it to 5 months of withdrawl off 150mg that i was on for over 6years. I caved as I couldn't take it any longer, wish I would have waiting, but i was tired, exhausted and had nothing left. Now I am stuck on the med ferris wheel, hoping to get off someday.

 

I've heard alot of people feel better after the 6month mark of withdrawl but everyone is different, stay on track now that you are on nothing and give updates, how you are sleeping, u have anxiety??

 

Let us now please.

[smartgun]

 

I thank you for your replies.

 

It's been about 2 1/2 months, still in withdrawal hell.

 

 

Just hang in there it get's better everyday, i made it to 5 months of withdrawl off 150mg that i was on for over 6years. I caved as I couldn't take it any longer, wish I would have waiting, but i was tired, exhausted and had nothing left. Now I am stuck on the med ferris wheel, hoping to get off someday.

 

I've heard alot of people feel better after the 6month mark of withdrawl but everyone is different, stay on track now that you are on nothing and give updates, how you are sleeping, u have anxiety??

 

Let us now please.

 

 

I find it very difficult to sleep, when trying to fall asleep I have "jolts" of pain throughout my body

[Altostrata]

Are you taking omega-3 fish oil and magnesium? Melatonin may help sleep, too. See the Symptoms and Self-Care forum for info.

[smartgun]

Are you taking omega-3 fish oil and magnesium? Melatonin may help sleep, too. See the Symptoms and Self-Care forum for info.

 

I have them, guess it couldn't hurt to try.

 

Today is day 90 since stopping effexor.

What's worst is the migraines, there is nothing I can take that offers any kind of relief from them.

 

Something I have noted, is that I have not been able to find a single successful "cold turkey" withdrawal story from effexor online. I've found a few for paxil here and there, but zero for effexor. Has ANYBODY heard of someone surviving c/t from effexor?

[flong]

I know somebody who did. It was his second time on it. The first time he did a slow taper over the course of several months.

The second time he was only on it for a month and went off cold turkey. Hes ok now, bit he really went through hell for quite a while.

[Altostrata]

Yes, people survive cold turkey. It can take quite a while for your nervous system to heal, but it does heal.

[fefesmom]

I went off effexor xr cold turkey in October 2011 and am doing pretty well now. I did take magnesium for several months and I think it helped. I always take 4 fish oil capsules anyhow so maybe that helped too. This site was a lifeline for me. I honestly cannot remember all the details of my journey but you can look up my past posts if you want to. I think the physical symptoms were pretty bad in the first couple of months but subsided fairly well; I have exercised for years and continued that and do to this day. My emotional state presented bigger problems for me and I think I am finally beginning to even out. By the way, I was on Effexor xr for over 10 years and the highest dose was 150mg. I went off c/t not on purpose (at least consciously) but had tried to go off several times and always went back on when I became irritable when I was working (I am now retired so that makes it easier too). I also have lost about 40 pounds with no effort since I am off effexor. Now I learn that weight gain on effexor is not uncommon. I was binging like mad on the drug. Now I can eat moderate amounts of candy, ice cream etc and stop when I want to. Hope that lasts. Well, hope this of some hope to you. And again, this site was a wonderful anchoring place for me during the year after I went c/t.

[Altostrata]

fefes! What good news. Please update your topic at http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1460-fefesmom/

[smartgun]

I went off effexor xr cold turkey in October 2011 and am doing pretty well now. I did take magnesium for several months and I think it helped. I always take 4 fish oil capsules anyhow so maybe that helped too. This site was a lifeline for me. I honestly cannot remember all the details of my journey but you can look up my past posts if you want to. I think the physical symptoms were pretty bad in the first couple of months but subsided fairly well; I have exercised for years and continued that and do to this day. My emotional state presented bigger problems for me and I think I am finally beginning to even out. By the way, I was on Effexor xr for over 10 years and the highest dose was 150mg. I went off c/t not on purpose (at least consciously) but had tried to go off several times and always went back on when I became irritable when I was working (I am now retired so that makes it easier too). I also have lost about 40 pounds with no effort since I am off effexor. Now I learn that weight gain on effexor is not uncommon. I was binging like mad on the drug. Now I can eat moderate amounts of candy, ice cream etc and stop when I want to. Hope that lasts. Well, hope this of some hope to you. And again, this site was a wonderful anchoring place for me during the year after I went c/t.

 

Thank you so much. I needed to see that. That somewhat mitigates my panic :S

[MrAnxious]

 

I went off effexor xr cold turkey in October 2011 and am doing pretty well now. I did take magnesium for several months and I think it helped. I always take 4 fish oil capsules anyhow so maybe that helped too. This site was a lifeline for me. I honestly cannot remember all the details of my journey but you can look up my past posts if you want to. I think the physical symptoms were pretty bad in the first couple of months but subsided fairly well; I have exercised for years and continued that and do to this day. My emotional state presented bigger problems for me and I think I am finally beginning to even out. By the way, I was on Effexor xr for over 10 years and the highest dose was 150mg. I went off c/t not on purpose (at least consciously) but had tried to go off several times and always went back on when I became irritable when I was working (I am now retired so that makes it easier too). I also have lost about 40 pounds with no effort since I am off effexor. Now I learn that weight gain on effexor is not uncommon. I was binging like mad on the drug. Now I can eat moderate amounts of candy, ice cream etc and stop when I want to. Hope that lasts. Well, hope this of some hope to you. And again, this site was a wonderful anchoring place for me during the year after I went c/t.

 

Thank you so much. I needed to see that. That somewhat mitigates my panic :S

 

 

Hey, I hope you are doing well with your effexor w/d i am sure the worst is probably hitting you right now, i hope not. I just know for myself 4-6 month mark were the worst and i gave up, but don't give in at this point, you are strong and can hold in there. I think alot of people don't post recovery storys cause they just want to forget about the pain they went through. keep us update on how you are doing, id love to hear, and yes i had every pain under the sun, still do at times.

 

 

ttyl and take care of yourself

[smartgun]

Effexor withdrawal is absolutely brutal.

I cannot believe I have been living in this state for this long.

Managing stress and emotions is becoming seemingly more and more difficult.

I'm having frequent panic attacks, crying breakdowns, and rage meltdowns. I am constantly depersonalized/derealized.

I can't seem to sleep except at odd hours, like from 10 am - 6 pm

 

I've also been having what feels like periodic cluster headaches. Intense, radiating pain from directly behind my right eye. The pain even radiates down my spine.

 

I am lost, angry, confused, scared, and sad, all at the same time. I feel like I should do something. I don't know if I should do something. I can't sit still. I have to sit still (My thoughts race like this)

 

The unending vertigo/dizziness is like the final kick in the balls to top it all off.

[smartgun]

I imagine this how starving animals feel

[smartgun]

Some good news. Have a new a doctor that is a naturopath. Being very helpful. Working on nutrition and correcting my sleeping habits.

[Altostrata]

Looks like you've had some ups and downs today, sg. I hope you're feeling better.

 

What kind of advice did your new doctor give you?

[smartgun]

She wants to have bloodwork and other testing done to make sure conditions like food allergies, hyperthyroidism, etc aren't exacerbating my symptoms.

[Altostrata]

Those are good ideas.

 

Watch out if she suggests any expensive supplements.

 

Does she understand you have withdrawal symptoms?

[smartgun]

Those are good ideas.

 

Watch out if she suggests any expensive supplements.

 

Does she understand you have withdrawal symptoms?

 

Yes. Besides vitamin d, she is not having me take anything beyond what I already intended on taking, which is omega-3 and magnesium.

[Altostrata]

If she understands tapering and you feel you can recommend her, you might add her contact info to our list http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/988-recommended-doctors-therapists-or-clinics/