Effexor Withdrawl... I’m stunned... | ADHD Information
In June, my psych (who doesn't impress me much) put me on 75mg of Effexor which she said was the lowest dose (which it isn't). I'm taking 300mg Wellbutrin and Concerta. Somewhere along the line I've decided that since I was prescribed the Effexor and Wellbutrin for Depression before I was diagnosed ADHD, that now that I'm realizing the true nature of my symptoms, I don't want to be taking so many drugs.
The silly part... I just up and decided to kick the Effexor without mentioning it to my doctor. I figured (dumb me) that since it was the lowest dose (I thought) that I could just stop taking it. So, I stopped. At the same time I stopped two weeks ago, the *itch at work got fired and all her stuff was put on me. This has been a wonderful thing for me because I didn't have enough to keep me busy enough at work and when I'm not busy, I'm doing stupid things and running my mouth.
All that week when I had stopped and the firing happened, I was having these brain-zap things. In addition, I had a couple nights of just dream after dream after dream that kept waking me up all night long and I'd have cold sweats and freaky feelings. Then, I started crying here and there and being down and up and all over the place. For two weeks I've been a mess!
I just now read some posts on another board where people were describing the hell of getting off Effexor and their experiences were exactly like mine. I couldn't believe it! Now I'm scared the brain zap thing won't go away. I can't believe that I thought I was 'stressed'. This has upped my resolve to get off everything but the ADHD stuff that helps me function as needed (work, times I need to sit).
Has anyone else had this experience? Does the zapping go away? (I know this post would be good for the 'medicines' forum but I like you guys here in the adult forum so much I thought I'd take a chance and blab away.
Hi O,Yes, I was on Effexor for 3 years, and travel alot. A few times I'd forget to pack it, or would run out. Within 24 hours I'd get the 'zaps...
When they finally weaned me off'n it, it took TWO months before I was completly off. I had to go down to 37 1/2 mg eod for a week b/4 I could finally cold turkey the stuff. Two MONTHS!!! I loved Effexor, but hated it's side effects (sexlessness, zaps, sweats (doc had to put me on an anti-sweater), hi bp, and fattening.
I wouldn't quit any anti-D that requires spin up, w/o spinning down, too. AND talk to your doc a/b why he puts you on each med.
Depression is not the same in every head. Anti-D's fall into efficacy and MOA categories, and a combo may be better than a single substance. Anti-D's may not all work in the same way.
Q's, ask Shakespeare or GlenW or me, if you can catch me...Catch me if you can!
Effexor is like other SSRIs in that you can develop "seratonin syndrome" if taken off it immediately. It does go away - but can be quite a nasty thing. It's not addiction - but an imbalance of seratonin that your brain needs to slowly come back from.
You can continue to stay off if it's mostly just the feelings you get now and nothing serious beyond that. But be careful and keep watch on it.
Effexor is not a fun drug, although it is very effective for some. My first instinct is to remind you that when people go off antidepressants, particularly in an abrupt fashion, they find that there original symptoms return with a vengeance. If you were depressed, and it wasn't just part of your ADHD, then be on the lookout for signs that you may be sliding down again.
Effexor has an absurdly short half life, which is why the immediate release formulation recommended dosing up to 3 times daily. Rule of thumb: The shorter the half-life, the more severe the withdrawals. I took Effexor when I was 17, but I don't really remember what it was like going off of it. More recently, I went off Cymbalta (another SSNRI with a fairly short half life) and had the typical "discontinuation syndrome." Primarily "brain zaps" that were almost debilitating. My life was hell for about a week and a half, and then very suddenly I was OK again. Two weeks is about the average, though symptoms can persist as long as one month for some. Give it some time, and don't freak out about it. I know, it sucks...
And yeah, going off cold turkey without telling the doc was silly (and that is the most polite way to put it). Titrating down slowly would have helped ease some of this, but if you've gotten this far...
You should ask balancedreality about this... it's his area of expertise....
And yeah, going off cold turkey without telling the doc was silly (and that is the most polite way to put it). Titrating down slowly would have helped ease some of this, but if you've gotten this far...
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In hindsight, you're correct. But, it's done and I feel like the withdrawl symptoms may finally be disapating. I've felt great today and only had a minimal amount of those 'brain zaps'. It's just interesting how hard this whole episode has hit me in terms of realizing what exactly I was taking. I thought of it so lightly that I also took stopping lightly. It never hit me how serious a drug this is.
[QUOTE=shakespeare]And yeah, going off cold turkey without telling the doc was silly (and that is the most polite way to put it). Titrating down slowly would have helped ease some of this, but if you've gotten this far...
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I could have taken the harsh way of telling me... "Hey listen dumbass..."
(Here goes the crass, innappropriate humor...)
I've been feeling great this weekend. I haven't had many 'brain zaps', I've had a ton of energy and I haven't noticed anything to do with depression. I'm still taking Concerta and Wellbutrin, however, so if all's well, I'm excited to have ditched one med. I'm hoping to eventually jettison the Wellbutrin but I won't do it without the doctor's help.
Hey there omalley, sorry to hear about the withdrawals, that sucks. I don't understand why doctors lie the way they do, or maybe they don't know, but it seems like they should. My doctor tried to blame my failure with 40mg of Adderall XR on me -- said "well you were the one said it was wearing off by 3 or 4 o'clock!" Did that mean he had to double it? Then he tried to say that 20mg is a child's dose! Uhh ok there are no adults out there who have taken and done well on 20mg, right . . . Are you going to start looking for another doctor, maybe?
Self educate
doctors only practice
Yes, 37.5 mg is the smallest tablet and you can't break them up.
When I went off it a few years ago, I got down to 37.5 and then finally had to take a long weekend and go cold turkey. After that I was fine. You just have to remember, its your body going through an adjustment, nothing more.
i had a terrible time on effexor.
night sweats, disturbed sleep, unable to orgasm, and soon.
these 'brain drugs' are a little scary.
always consult dr. b4 quitting any maintainence med. your brain has to adjust to the change in chemical balances.
take care of yourself.