Effexor withdrawal...anyone ever had it? Can you help me?!

Effexor withdrawal...anyone ever had it? Can you help me?

I've been on Effexor XR (150mg) for a little over a year for mild depression and after finding out it was being taken off IBX formulary, I asked my dr. about a switch. While it did help my depression, it also caused an irregular heartbeat and raised blood pressure, so I have more reasons than just cost for a switch.

He tried to avoid the tapering thing by just switching me directly to Prozac (20mg) and if the withdrawal symptoms were totally unbearable, he'd taper me instead. They're not quite "unbearable", so I'm one of the lucky ones, but I wouldn't say I feel great (i.e. normal) either. I've felt others, but the main symptoms now are dizziness and nausea. It's my 4th day on Prozac and off Effexor and I'm just hoping it will get better. Anyone out there with any suggestions? With what I've said, do you think it will go away quickly/soon? Help, please?

Not to mention, I hate being on medication PERIOD!

3 weeks ago
Oh, and I'm planning on joining a gym to get more exercise and maybe even try accupuncture, so with any luck, maybe I won't need any more meds, right? :-) Any thoughts on this too would be helpful. Thanks!

I'm so sorry to hear about more people having this problem. I recently switched off of Effexor, too, and was having all the known withdrawal symptoms. I know it sounds aweful, but if you aren't having that brain shock-wave feeling, than count yourself one of the lucky ones.

My doctor did prescribe Prozac, but from what I've read and from questioning my doctor, you aren't supposed to switch just completely to Prozac. The idea is that Prozac has a longer high-life, thus it naturally tapers you off that type of medication rather than you trying to taper off of Effexor slowly. If your doctor said to keep taking the Prozac for a prolonged period, you should definitely call and ask him about it.

There is a website that comes up for every google search you can possibly think of for effexor and effexor withdrawal. I think it is the Road Back or something like that. When I broke it down (without buying their product) there were several things that I found I could do without buying their product. One of which is a vitamin supplement called L-Glutathione. You can buy it at the drug store or a healthfood store. It is found in the vitamin aisle. It has helped a lot and seems to have many other positive health qualities. It's main purpose is that it is an antioxidant.

Try exercising too. I know it is hard when you feel crappy from the effects, but I've felt better while exercising and I feel like it is helping to work it out of my system.

Hope things get better.