A few weeks ago I had what seemed to be reoccuring constant panic attacks. My heart was racing 24/7 sometimes passed 120 BPM, it was horrible. While this was happening the doctor prescribed me effexor. I was already pretty scared to do this as I read about all the horrible side effects. I had been on 37.5 mg until yesterday night. I took 75 mg as the doctor said and I am honestly too scared to continue it, I feel it is only making it worse. I am having involuntary muscle twitching, insomnia and horrible diarrhea. I want to quit sooner than later. Since I took 75 mg can I just take 37.5 mg tonight again instead of the 75 mg I took last night or will I experience withdrawls?
I would like to continue taking 37.5 mg until I am able to see my doctor again in a week, but for now I just need to know if I am able to do so.
Thanks.
I don't know about this specific medication, But if you only took the higher dose on one occasion then you should surely not experience withdrawals by dropping back down to the lower dose. Thise leaftlets with the side effects freak me out too. I was prescrived diazepam for panic attacks, but decided not to take it after reading the leaflet as I'm not too sure about medication anyway and prefer to try natural methods first. All the best x
I would take the lower dose since you only took the higher dose for one night. I'd phone doc tomorrow and ask to speak to another doc for advice if necessary. I'd also ask for some diazepam or something like that whilst you're adjusting to help give you an immediate calming effect. It could be too high a dose for you or the wrong type of med.
I should add I've taken small doses of diazepam for years just now and then. It helps so much during a panic attack. Not addictive if you stick to a low dose like 5mg and only when you really need it. For this reason my docs are happy to prescribe it to me.
My dr gave me diazepam three times daily three years ago and now i cant get off it. Never told me about side effects or tolerance. I have now been on 2mg ones but cant get lower, how do you manage to keep it low. My anxiety just not under control. Do you use anti deps too?
Hi, I had a nervous break down over 7 years ago. All of a sudden from nowhere I was getting panic attacks with a racing heart. This scared me because I didn't understand what was happening. The doctor told me to take diazepam as and when and several times a day if needed. I decided to only take one if I really couldn't cope because I wanted to try and manage the fear myself. After a few weeks of constant crying and panic attacks I decided I would just keep myself as busy as possible during the day and if I felt panicked, just to breathe and busy myself with something. I also added in lots of exercise. Over the weeks it really helped and I felt a lot better. SInce then, I just get panic attacks now and then and usually related to certain situations. It is then that I take diazepam - either 2.5mg or 5mg. It really helps! I would never take a few a day because not only can they become addictive but you can end up needing a larger dose to get the same effect. I am going to see my doctor as it happens in a couple of weeks to ask for something long term - even though I don't have anxiety every day I know that I can get panicky occasionaly and especially in certain situations which for others is normal. I am going to ask to start on a really low dose antidepressant and work up if need to. If that doesn't work, I will just go back to the occasional diazepam if needed. A box of 28 usually lasts me three months and I never get withdrawal or need a higher dose. This has been the case for 7 years. Taken daily - that could be a different story. I would go back and speak to your doctor. See if you can taper to 2mg twice a day, then once then just as and when. Hopefully when long term pill kicks in you won't need them. That's what I'm hoping. But when you get panicky, get breathing and busy! Good luck x
Of course you can lower the dose..you only took one high dose..so you wont get withdrawels..you will probably feel better.on the lower dose, until you see your GP.
Take Care. xxxx