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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mari6526 on December 11, 2002, at 22:30:41
I have been on effexor xr for the last two years. I loved it at 1st being that it was the 1st antidepressant which actually worked for me. However, i have not been feeling like myself for a long time. And the obsessive thoughts are not being helped by this medicine either, I also have less sex drive and just a general blahness feeling. I decided to try switching to lexapro 10 mg , mainly to help me taper off. Effexor is from hell when it comes to withdrawal! I am so afraid of the withdrawal symptoms I had last time I tried to get off. Uncontrollable hunger, anger at my child, constant crying, zap-like shocks in my head and panic attacks. Does any one know if the low dose of lexapro will help the withdrawal? I want to taper from my dose of 75 to 37.5 for as long as it takes to feel normal (whatever that is...). Then take the 37.5 every other day..until I can stop it completely. Any comments will be appreciated!
Posted by comftnumb on December 14, 2002, at 1:46:21
In reply to getting off effexor, help please!, posted by mari6526 on December 11, 2002, at 22:30:41
Going off effexor myself. Trying to quit it in 2 weeks or less. I quit smoking cold turkey and it wasn't that bad. Can effexor be worse?
Posted by mari6526 on December 15, 2002, at 12:59:30
In reply to getting off effexor, help please!, posted by comftnumb on December 14, 2002, at 1:46:21
Yes. I also quit smoking, it's very different. The effexor withdrawal can be pretty bad. Esp if you are on a high dose , I would advise allowing you allow yourself at least a month and taper off slowly, remember, this drug did not start working over night, and it takes a while for it to completely leave your system, You don't want to Shock your body!. The withdrawal effects from smoking generally subside within a week. Effexor withdrawal is much more intense. If you are doing this with your doc, tell him to gradually lower your dose. I do not reccomend the cold turkey idea, since you may end up having to get back on it due to withdrawal effects (these are sometimes worse then the original reason that you got on the drug)
Good luck!
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