Coming off Effexor is the worst experience of my life!

I am so sorry you are having to go through this! I was on Paxil when I was much younger and I still vividly remember the withdrawals. I think the most important thing to know, like you said already, that these symptoms are common. You are not alone and you are not crazy. The symptoms WILL subside and you will feel normal again. I also agree with the poster who advised you to "not fight it". Just let the feelings flow over you and hang on to your husband for support. Being an LMSW, (I'm an LBSW :ohwell: ) I'm sure that you know that you need to call upon all of your support system right now. Have you expressed how you feel to your husband so he can have some idea of why you aren't yourself right now? I hate when my husband (or anyone for that matter) says this, but it is apropos here...) hang in there. This too shall pass!

so glad all is going well (well other than the damn withdrawals that is!)
your hubby is supportive, work is supportive, and you have also found support here...
it will be over soon and then you can concentrate on your exciting going to have a baby stuff!

oh... if you have weird bad dreams - that is withdrawals too

I honestly think a lot of doctors are not as aware of the (potential) withdrawal symptoms (or the severity) a lot have when trying to stop taking this. I have heard a lot of stories about people trying to wean off and it being bad after doing exactly as advised by the doctor. Probably because usually side effects and withdrawals are particular to very small parts of the population, whereas, it really seems as though with effexor the opposite is true.

Ah yes, my doctor blamed the withdrawal on morning sickness and gave me some anti sickness pills, which actually did help a lot. I can promise you 100% it does get better, stick with it! The first trimester you cry a lot anyway, just let it all out and remember IT WILL PASS. Let all those feelings flow over you and accept that it is just the withdrawal and not you going nuts.

I have been taking Prozac, and Trazadone for sleep for many years, and have been on it in the past. For me, this combination works extremely well. Due to my low tolerance for drugs of this kind, I am on the lowest dose that can be bought, and even then I usually cut the Trazadone in half. I'm not pregnant, and since I have been through menopause, that will never be an issue. I have tried going off again, but after about a month gave up, and decided that I would be on this for the rest of my life. I never groggy or doped up. I sleep the full 8 hours a night, and wake up feeling fully awake. I have no regrets about this. If, in fact, Prozac is safe while you are pregnant, you might try it, knowing that you may need help with sleep.

All the best, congratulations on your pregnancy, and I hope you give birth to wonderful, healthy infant!

I agree, coming of Effexor is the worst! I had no control over my emotions and went totally psychotic for awhile. Luckily all is well and it's been almost a decade since I had to take anything for depression. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I'm sorry you have these issues. I'm really surprised how many people have to take pills for depression. Is there anything else that can be done instead of having pills? Don't get me wrong please, I believe depression is bad but I was wondering if you can treat it with something else more "natural" if you like. I haven't had to deal with something like this (thanks God) so that's why I'm quite ignorant.

I hope you get better

Hi
I think most doctors suggest exercise, getting outside and counselling as first options when people are depressed. If it is due to a trauma that they need to talk about the medication can make you well enough to actually deal with the therapy in a constructive way.

There are also lots of different medications, some are awesome for those who take it, and others have to try several before they find one that their body tolerates and that actually helps instead of hinders them.

I was very much always in the mind that if I kept taking them it was a sign of weakness. This ended up with me taking 5+ years to fully commit to taking something and to actually start progressing with my therapy instead of just deal with crisis after crisis in a reactive way.

Then when I had gotten a long way in therapy and realised that I have learned a lot of what I needed to learn to be able to cope in life in comfortable happy way, I thought now I'm fixed I never have to take these things again. That took another 5+ years before I realised that my genetic chemical imbalance was so dramatic, that I could not have a reasonable shot at living well without continuing to take medication.

It is amazing how prevalent mental health issues are in our societies but growing up in a country where there is a huge stigma on mental health conditions and requiring medical assistance for it, put me on the backfoot to getting well. Yes pfizer is a mega corp that makes massive amounts of money from anti-depressants but I would probably not be alive if I were not on effexor now (not because of suicidal tendencies... people who are impaired by depression or any other mood disorders are not usually very capable of making safe decisions in their lives when they are not well).

we came to Australia when I was 16 and in relation to my mental health that is a god send. I was quite ignorant too of the need and the frequencies of these things.

The example I always use to explain is about 1 month after I first started taking medication saying to my psychiatrist how life is so amazing and everything is fine and I feel quite giddily happy and awesome and shiny and I really didn't need to see her any longer, and she replied... Q this is not awesome or shiny or giddy. This is what it feels like to be normal. You just think this is shiny and giddy because your benchmark is so low.

being on a medication for helping with a temporary or long term or permanent mental health disorder is like someone tuning in the radio station when you have had static buzzing through your ears and never really been able to make out what is being said with all the white noise.

For some getting off your butt helps, For some getting some sun helps. For some it's meditation, or massage or relaxation or punching bags at a gym. For others the medication is required to be well enough to do any of the natural stuff.
hmmm... I wasn't expecting to go on that long, but maybe that helps a little with some perspective.

I just want to share my (positive) experience with Effexor. I was on 225mg daily for about 5 years and it definitely helped me cope with my depression and anxiety. I got cranky and a little nauseous if I missed a dose, but this happened so rarely that it wasn't really an issue for me. It was only in the last year (year 6) that I felt its effect wearing off, my body getting used to it. I slowly came off of Effexor, guided by my doctor, without any withdrawal symptoms. As I was weaned off, I was put on a low dose of Paxil, which may have been the reason I had no withdrawal symptoms. I've now been on 30mg Paxil daily for a few months and have only had one major depressive episode!

I have been on Effexor 10.5 years. I have had three kids while being on Effexor, and breastfed two for almost 2 years and one for three months before I had to go on different meds that I was not comfortable with while breastfeeding. Now, I have perinatal and post partum depression and 1 child we reduced my Effexor slowly while pregnant, but had a bad post partum response so the next two children I was kept about 150mg. Although this kept me "safe" I *did* see some things in my infants that were possibly related to Effexor during pregnancy. I have wicked withdrawal while lowering dose even a tiny bit, if I take my pill late by a few hours, and other side effects now. We are lowering it slowly to get on a low dose and if I have to switch to another kind of anti-depressant I will but I will do my research first. I can't recommend Effexor at all right now given the *crazy* withdrawal (aka scary as hell) issues.

If there is anyone that needs to talk privately about experiences on Effexor while pregnant or nursing-please message me. We can email or facebook if you like. I had very little support or sounding board while pregnant on meds and I feel I needed someone who had gone through it. I'm friendly and very open so you can ask any questions you like or just share your concerns, etc

Your not kidding. I was so sick when I went off it my husband put a mattress in the TV room so he could watch me.

I even wrote a letter to the FDA telling them it shouldn't be on the market. Horrid stuff.

I feel ya. Back when I was a teenager, I was put on Effexor XR and going off of it (because it wasn't working) was some of the worst experiences of my life. I had something they call "brain shivers" where it feels like your brain is being jolted by a surge of electricity whenever you turn your head or look in a different direction. It was awful.

I also wish people were told how hard Effexor is to quit. If I was late on a dose I would be puking and nauseous. When I came off of it slowly I was so sick I was hugging the toilet puking. I felt horrible. I wouldn't wish my symptoms on anyone. It was horrible. There are a lot of other medications that can be used for people that do not have these severe side effects. I understand using this medication on someone who hasn't found other medications helpful but not as a first medication. General practitioners really aren't trained well enough in psych meds. If it was possible I think people should only go to psychiatrist for psych meds but this isn't really possible in all areas. I hope you feel better soon. Congratulations on the baby.

I'm happy it's working out! It's nice to hear. I too agree professionals do not advise about the withdrawal etc before taking the drug.

I just want to add a bit of advice here too. Hope to jump on a bit.

1) Is that if you feel you need medication-it is okay! It can mean the difference between life and death, hope/hopelessness. I wouldn't be able to leave the house without it (when I first started it). I just recommend folks to do your research. Check into the medication and what long term studies have been done.

2) I used to be one of those people who said my child came out okay and I took it during pregnancy and breastfed...now I highly advise against it because you are initially telling someone of your own experience -one in which they might not have the same....My third child had what they think was withdrawal from Effexor and had some lingering spasms and such Anyhow, until you seen the other side of taking it and no other reason for child to seem like withdrawing from hard core narcotics don't advise others that's it's okay...