Question:
> Anybody ever tried to stop such a medication by stopping it COMPLETELY ? > I’m wondering if I could try it and stay in bed for a week (because I > will be all fucked up: dizzyness, nausea, stomach ache, head ache, etc > etc etc…) and then I will be okay ? Or will it still take 6 month > before I get back on my feet ?
I did go off Effexor, and I don’t recommend stopping suddenly. If you’re starting from 225 mg per day, I’d certainly suggest reducing the dose over several weeks. Six months seems like quite a long time, but as usual I think it’s wiser to listen to one’s physician than to random strangers posting in Usenet. You mention that you won’t be taking any anti-depressant at all for two weeks to "clear your blood". A period like this is required when changing between some anti-depressants, but not with SSRIs such as Effexor, I believe. — Francais / English / Esperanto Esperanto FAQ: http://www.esperanto.net/veb/faq.html Rec.travel.europe FAQ: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/travel/europe/faq
Response:
ive gone from over 300mg to 0 straight away with no problems at all. one time i went straight off 75mg and had terrible problems. its rather strange, just a matter of luck i guess. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi all, > I am currently on EffexorXR 225mg. My GP and I have decided >to change it for another SSRI. He told me to reduce the dosage by 37.5 >mg every month. > This means 6 months before getting to 0 !!! Then 2 weeks >without any medication to clean my blood, then at least 2 weeks before >the other SSRI does its effects… > I’m really affraid of waiting 7 months before being on >another medication. Furthermore, I know I will suffer of withdrawal >symptoms during these 6 months. > Anybody ever tried to stop such a medication by stopping it >COMPLETELY ? I’m wondering if I could try it and stay in bed for a week >(because I will be all fucked up: dizzyness, nausea, stomach ache, head >ache, etc etc etc…) and then I will be okay ? Or will it still take 6 >month before I get back on my feet ? > I would appreciate comments on this. > Thank you.
Response:
> Anybody ever tried to stop such a medication by stopping it > COMPLETELY ? I’m wondering if I could try it and stay in bed for a week > I would appreciate comments on this.
I’ve gone ‘cold turkey’ on effexor a number of times. Some times I don’t feel a thing, and other times I get wierd, wierd delusions & hallucinations. I smell things that aren’t real. Buildings seem totally out of proportion. Sometimes get REALLY manic. Other times, it’s like I went from taking sugar pills to not taking sugar pills. Good luck, whatever you decide to do. I suggest making sure you have an ample supply of effexor on hand, if you do start getting bad side effects, so you can get back on the horse, and start tapering. HTH, B
Response:
> Id recommend finding another doctor. You can go off Effexor much faster than > 37.5 mg a month, especially if your intention is to switch to another > antidepressant afterward.
i wouldnt go that far as calling your dr. an idiot…… most doctors are not careful enough, so on that level you are lucky. however, going on and off meds is a very individual experience and really the best guide is how YOU FEEL. if you really need to get on another med, taper a little faster if six months seems too slow. but i would not try to ‘cram’ that isnt the way drugs work. tapering is really the best even if you taper a little faster. having a dr that errs on the side of caution is not a bad thing…. but the reality is that every situation is totally different and what really matters is how these medicines affect *the patient* at any given moment. some people are not so sensitive and need to taper faster and get on that new med. so its really the individuals choice. the best thing a doctor can do in my opinion is listen to and carefully monitor the *individual* patient. that will work better than any formula because every single patient is a completley different case. some people are simply very sensitive to meds. some people are not so. if you dont feel anything adverse, taper a little faster. if you feel something adverse, taper a little slower. the whole idea is how you feel, right? ive known my <good> dr five years now and he lets me change dosages at will without even calling him becuase he knows that i listen to what the drugs do to me. thats the best way imo. my previous doctors did not listen to what i TOLD THEM about how i felt and how the drugs affected me, and that was a big problem. if you and your dr have a good working relationship, then you can adjust your taper according to how it affects you individually……that would be my suggestion….. it really is easier on your brain….. (and a mind is a terrible thing to reduce to waste if you ask me) good luck…. annas holes in whats left of my reason holes in the knees of my blues odds against me been increasin’. but i’ll pull through never could read no road map and i dont know what the weather might do but i’ll drink sweet wine and see the dark star shine ive got a feelin theres no time to lose……. no time to lose….. ~~ blessed am i to dwell in this beautiful temple ~~
Response:
Hi all, I am currently on EffexorXR 225mg. My GP and I have decided to change it for another SSRI. He told me to reduce the dosage by 37.5 mg every month. This means 6 months before getting to 0 !!! Then 2 weeks without any medication to clean my blood, then at least 2 weeks before the other SSRI does its effects… I’m really affraid of waiting 7 months before being on another medication. Furthermore, I know I will suffer of withdrawal symptoms during these 6 months. Anybody ever tried to stop such a medication by stopping it COMPLETELY ? I’m wondering if I could try it and stay in bed for a week (because I will be all fucked up: dizzyness, nausea, stomach ache, head ache, etc etc etc…) and then I will be okay ? Or will it still take 6 month before I get back on my feet ? I would appreciate comments on this. Thank you.
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