How Long Will They Last? As someone who has taken Effexor XR (venlafaxine HCl), I know all too well what the withdrawal symptoms of this medication are like – they can be pure hell. I was fortunate to have only taken this medication for a couple months. However, there are people out there that have been on this powerful antidepressant for years. If you come off the medication cold turkey, you may send your body and mind into a state of total shock, depression, anxiety, and disarray. In other words, you may not be able to cope with what you are experiencing because the withdrawal is that powerful. Obviously if you were taking Effexor XR, you know that it is an “extended release” SNRI medication. In other words it contributes to the re- uptake of the neurotransmitters Serotonin and Norepinephrine in the brain. This is supposed to help people with depression and anxiety function better in society and cope with their condition. This medication is considered among the toughest to withdraw from due to its potency as well as short half life of the drug. Factors that influence Effexor XR withdrawal include: 1. Time Span. How long have you taken Effexor? Did you take it for a couple months? Have you taken it for over a decade? The amount of time you have taken this medication means your body has become reliant on this medication for everyday functioning. Dosage. What dosage did you take? The dosage of Effexor that is commonly prescribed is 7. However, some people may start at 3. The higher the dosage of the drug you were taking, the more difficulty you will have withdrawing. Individual Physiology. Individual factors play a huge role in withdrawal. If you naturally aren’t really affected from antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, you may not be hit as hard with Effexor. Effexor official prescribing information for healthcare professionals. Includes: indications, dosage, adverse reactions, pharmacology and more. An Overview of Wellbutrin and Weight Loss Wellbutrin ® (bupropion hydrochloride) is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of depression (also known as major. Dog Gone Knit: Grr. Free Dog Sweater Knitting Patterns. On the other hand if you are very sensitive to medication, you may have a tougher time coping with the withdrawal. Cold Turkey vs. Tapering. Do you plan on stopping Effexor XR cold turkey? Or have you set up a tapering protocol with your doctor? These are some questions to ask. Obviously cold turkey is much tougher on your body and brain’s readjustment compared to a gradual taper. Effexor XR Withdrawal Symptoms. The symptoms of discontinuation from Venlafaxine XR typically are most severe upon complete cessation, but may start to emerge during a taper (i. This is likely a result of stopping your medication. You aren’t able to feel as good as you did on the medication so your brain is trying to compensate. This may make you become increasingly hostile and a tough person to hang out with for awhile. Anxiety – Since the brain will not have the surplus serotonin available that it was getting from the drug, it is highly likely that you will experience anxiety upon withdrawal from this medication. Confusion – It may be tough to think and you may experience a degree of confusion when trying to stop Effexor. This is just your brain attempting to readjust to normalcy. It may take awhile, but eventually the confusion will stop. Crying spells – If you have severe depression, you may cry for no reason or experience “crying spells.” This is basically uncontrollable crying because you feel so depressed. When coming off a medication that was helping treat your depression, it is natural to experience the opposite of happiness. Depersonalization – Do you feel like a zombie or unlike yourself? Do you feel like your soul left your body and you have become someone else? This is natural and it’s called “depersonalization.” This is a very common symptom of withdrawal. Effexor Xr Weight Loss Or Gain On Fluoxetine 20mgNot a good way to start the New Year! I’ve been taking Effexor XR, 300 mgs a day for well over 10 years. There’s a refill waiting for me at my local pharmacy. Bupropion (Wellbutrin) versus Venlafaxine (Effexor) - comparative analysis, head-to-head clinical trials. Depression – You may experience increased symptoms of depression or more severe depression while coming off of Effexor. Try to take a step back and realize that this is totally natural. Eventually you will recover from feeling so down in the dumps. Dizziness – Antidepressants are extremely powerful and can really mess with your brain. Once your brain becomes accustomed to a chemical, and you take it away, it attempts to recalibrate itself. Therefore you may experience dizziness upon withdrawal. Electric shocks – Some people experience what are commonly referred to as “brain zaps” or electrical shocks when they stop taking Effexor. This is most common with drugs like Effexor and Paxil that have short half lives and are extremely powerful. Fatigue – Nearly everyone will experience fatigue, lethargy, and tiredness when stopping an antidepressant. Headaches – Do you have a pounding headache or migraine? If you experienced this when you quit taking your Effexor, it could be a withdrawal symptom. Insomnia – The inability to fall asleep at night is what people with naturally higher levels of anxiety may experience. Irritability – Every little thing may get on your nerves or “set you off.” Try your best to relax and control yourself around others. Loss of appetite – Some people may not feel like eating. It’s important to make sure that you are eating healthy and maintain a good diet even when stopping this medication. Mood swings – You may be irritable, crabby, angry, etc. If your moods are all over the place when coming off this medication, just know that this is pretty common. Nausea – Do you feel nauseated and somewhat sick? This may be an especially prevalent side effect in the first couple weeks of withdrawal from the medication. Nightmares – Some individuals experience weird dreams and/or nightmares. These are no fun, but part of the process. Pain – You may experience pain within your muscles and joints. Although this is less common, it is still what some individuals experience. Panic attacks – Everything may send you into a major state of panic. Your work, your school project, etc. This is because your brain doesn’t have sufficient stores of serotonin – they will eventually get replenished. Vomiting – Do you keep throwing up? If you are constantly puking as a result of stopping Effexor, just know that it’s part of the withdrawal. If this is a big deal, you may want to taper more gradually. When will Effexor XR withdrawal symptoms subside? It may take weeks, it may take months, and it may take a year for you to completely recover to 1. Everyone copes differently with their withdrawal period. If you are withdrawing and have a major panic attack or anxiety that won’t go away, you may think that you’ll never end up recovering. Just give it time and continue about your life the best you can. As you probably already know, Effexor is one of the toughest medications to withdraw from if you have been on it for an extended period of time. These antidepressants are no joke and some would say that they are more extreme than hard drugs to withdraw from. Although your psychiatrist may consider withdrawal to be easy or a simple process, he or she did not take the medications so really has no idea what’s going on internally – within your mind and body. Be sure to always communicate with friends and family during your withdrawal period. Try your best to get sunlight, stay outside, eat healthy, and exercise. Eventually you will recover. A lot of people think that they can get permanently damaged from taking antidepressants – this is pretty doubtful. However, it may be a couple years before you are completely recovered and feel completely “natural” again. Take things one day at a time. Gradually life will get easier. If you can make it through this drug withdrawal, you can do anything.
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