ive been on the drug for over 10 years and this is my 3rd attempt to come off. I want to come off because of the 50 plus lb weight gain and now being on bp medication for it.Each time I tried to get off it was the anxiety and crying that got me to give in.The brain zaps, dizziness and flu symptoms are really hell on earth as everyone says. Anyone here been on it for anxiety and any success in being able to cope with that once off.Im on day 6 of no pills and before that was on a month of every second day of 37.5 mg down from 75 etc.Im hoping that this will all be worth it and that I can learn to deal with the anxiety.
I have been on 150 mg in the morning and 75 mg at night and helped my quick to anger factor. Anxiety has decreased but is still there, I don't think it ever worked for depression. I will never come off it, my weight seems to just stay the same now, but I need to shed 100 pounds. I wish you well.
I did stop Effexor cold turkey once so know how that can feel. I tried again and this time it took me 10 months to withdraw but doing it really slowly I had no side effects from withdrawing. Just don't do it too fast. Take your time and you will manage fine, like I did.
I was on it for 5 years, stopped cold turkey and depression returned within 6 months. I took it for another 4 years and this time withdrew slowly. It is 20 months since I stopped and I am doing really well.
Yes I gained a lot of weight too, but it all fell off within three months of my stopping the Effexor.
You are obviously not withdrawing by very small increments. It took away my anxiety and depression. I found when I stopped my emotions, which had been blunted, came back. Win, win. Try doing what I did do it over months, not week,s the only way not to get those awful brain zaps, etc. It is not too late for you to slow down. If within a few weeks you feel depressed or anxious, it may be that you still need the pills. If, like me, you feel OK months later, then hopefully you will know you don't need to tsake them any more.
Good luck in withdrawing. I take Kalms for anxiety and although they are not as effective as Effexor, they do help. I also take lots of supplements which I believe do help me. Anxiety is not easy to cope with though.
Thank you.Did the med attribute to the weight for you ?
I am taking 2 capsules of omega 3 - 2000 dosage 2 x a day and a mega total vitamin as I read it helps. I think it does as the brain zaps etc aren't as harsh as last time I tried . But day 7 no med so maybe the worse is yet to come?Mornings are the worse for me as I am anxious and feel really down . My husband encourages me and I'm trying to stay positive.Im so mad that this medication does this to patients and Drs continue to prescribe and company keeps making it.
Also anyone here tried using cannabis for anxiety once off the Effexor or while coming off? Any help?
I shouldn't try cannabis as this will increase anxiety and cause paranioa i
I shouldn't try it ? I did not know it could do that . I have no experience with it. But others had said it mellows u.
I have never used it myself and don't intend to. See what other answers you get on here. My nephew smoked it and he became mentally ill, i am not saying he was not ill before but it worsened his state of mind and he became increasingly anxious with paranoia, needless to say he commited suicide. I have heard others say the same.