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Patlal
You ask too many questions



Registered: 10/09/10
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Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it?
#14136526 - 03/17/11 12:26 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I read at several places that once you try to quit effexor, your gonna go through hell from the withdrawal.
Has anyone here been through that withdrawal? Is it really that bad?
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Drumfiend
Duke of Fiends



Registered: 10/13/08
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: Patlal]
#14136634 - 03/17/11 12:50 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yes!
I had one bottle of Effexor. My only experience with anti-depressants. I was only about three weeks in, I forget the Mg, but it wasn't much. Forgot to take my pill one morning, and a few hours later at work I actually had to leave and go home to get the pill. I couldn't fucking hold it together. Mood swings were off the chart, I was like a menopausal woman, haha.
My uncle (who's been dealing with anti-depressants since his bout with lymphoma) told me to get the fuck off Effexor, off any pills if I could swing it. So I weaned myself off by cutting the dosage over the next two weeks or so.
Not something I think you want to be involved with unless you absolutely cannot function without it.
-------------------- "Your accountants are waiting in the West wing, sir." "Tell them I'm sick." "Shan't have to lie. That refugee charity called..." "Write them a check." "And the Committee for the Prevention of Obsessive Behavior in Middle-Aged Men?" "Write them a check." "Very good, sir. Your sense of humor is as keen as ever, sir."
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WakeboardrB
Pepe Silvia



Registered: 05/18/03
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: Drumfiend]
#14136694 - 03/17/11 01:04 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I took it for 4 days. The side effects alone were bad enough to make me stop taking it.
But I've heard withdrawal after taking it for a while can be pretty bad. Definitely not something you want to quit cold turkey. I've heard of bad shit like brain zaps and other bad feeling stuff.
Taper it down slowly over a few weeks or months depending on your dosage.
-------------------- Same thing happened to me when I played Neil Armstrong in Moonshot. They found me in an alley in Burbank trying to re-enter the earth's atmosphere in an old refrigerator box.
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s240779


Registered: 12/07/10
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: WakeboardrB]
#14136730 - 03/17/11 01:13 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
WakeboardrB said: I took it for 4 days. The side effects alone were bad enough to make me stop taking it.
Like what?
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WakeboardrB
Pepe Silvia



Registered: 05/18/03
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: s240779]
#14136846 - 03/17/11 01:39 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I started out on a half dose for 3 days, like 37.5mg if I recall, then on the 4th day I stepped up to 75mg.
I felt dead tired, lost a lot of coordination in my hands, could barely talk, couldn't even hold a pen to write.
It was pretty bad. So bad I wanted to jump off a bridge.
-------------------- Same thing happened to me when I played Neil Armstrong in Moonshot. They found me in an alley in Burbank trying to re-enter the earth's atmosphere in an old refrigerator box.
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ManianFH
living in perverty


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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: Patlal]
#14136864 - 03/17/11 01:41 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I was on med/high-dosage levels of effexor for a year or two as a response to OCD. The side effects were pretty intense. I couldnt orgasm very well, and everything, including life, felt numb. It didnt help with the OCD at all but the doc insisted that I stay on it. During the same time (20 years old) I had a fantastic mushroom experience that left me with no OCD urges for a few weeks, which was amazing for the ocd level I was at. I stopped taking the drug cold turkey the day after my trip, and there were no side effects .
A caveat: I wasn't depressed, I had OCD, so if you're depressed, maybe taper off.
-------------------- notapillow said: "you are going about this endeavor all wrong. clear your mind of useless fear and concern. buy the ticket, take the ride, and all that.... " ChrisWho said: "It's all about the journey, not the destination."
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s240779


Registered: 12/07/10
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: WakeboardrB]
#14137040 - 03/17/11 02:23 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Sounds like akathisia.
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AlteredAgain
Visual Alchemist



Registered: 04/27/06
Posts: 11,181
Loc: Solar Circuit
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: Patlal]
#14137080 - 03/17/11 02:31 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Incredible how drugs like Effexor are even legal..
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WakeboardrB
Pepe Silvia



Registered: 05/18/03
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: s240779]
#14137092 - 03/17/11 02:34 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
superhigh said: Sounds like akathisia.
Nowhere close, and I can say that with experience. A few years ago I had a massive panic attack and my friend took me to the ER. Instead of them just loading me up with benzos like I suggested, they gave me a shot of Geodon, which is a very potent anti-psychotic.
I fell asleep for about 20 minutes and then woke up feeling like I was about to jump out of my skin. I thought I was dying, it felt so fucking awful. It was like I was turning inside out. The feeling lasted for a long time too, even after the finally granted my request for massive amounts of IV benzos. Ativan and then Versed finally cause I was freaking out so much. It was probably the most terrifying experience of my life, like 10x worse than my worst panic attack, which by itself is extremely terrifying.
That was true akathisia. And the Effexor experience was nowhere close to that. It still sucked, but nowhere close.
-------------------- Same thing happened to me when I played Neil Armstrong in Moonshot. They found me in an alley in Burbank trying to re-enter the earth's atmosphere in an old refrigerator box.
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Psilocyentist
Carbon based


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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: AlteredAgain] 1
#14137179 - 03/17/11 02:52 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
AlteredAgain said: Incredible how drugs like Effexor are even legal..
I am actually really glad they are. One surprising and accidentally found use of Effexor is to treat narcolepsy/cataplexy.
Narcolepsy/cataplexy is strange condition where the afflicted do not have normal REM cycles. The person enters REM sleep at night in fits and spurts and a lot less overall than normal people.
If you ever known someone with narc/cat its horrible. Fall asleep at random times (narcolepsy) or fall down completely paralyzed, but fully alert, trapped in your own body (cataplexy). These attacks can last anywhere from 5 min to 45 min depending on the severity. They are often accompanied by tremors and seizure like symptoms. These episodes are brought on by any strong emotion (happiness, anger, sadness, laughing, loving, etc.)
The previous standard treatment for years before this use of effexor was found was a combination of Xyrem (GHB) to force REM at night and Provigil (stimulant) to suppress REM during the day (and also I suspect to allow people to stay awake from their consistent GHB treatment). The xyrem has to be administered twice a night, once before bed and once 4 hours later.
The person I know was on this treatment and it was awful. The provigil caused near psychosis and hallucinations, and did not eliminate all of the drop attacks!
Now on Effexor, he is able to have a normal life, attending college and majoring in engineering. None of this would have been possible without Effexor and the cutting edge sleep research at two separate universities (the only two conducting these studies in the nation!)
P.S. Yes the withdrawals are horrible. He threw up his medicine one day and did not want to redose (not knowing how much was in his symptom) and withdrawal occured within hours. This is unfortunate, but better than the alternative.
-------------------- I know, I know you probably scream and cry That your little world won't let you go
Edited by Psilocyentist (03/17/11 02:53 PM)
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WakeboardrB
Pepe Silvia



Registered: 05/18/03
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: Psilocyentist]
#14137349 - 03/17/11 03:29 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Interestingly enough, GHB is the only drug on the controlled substance act to hold two places, both as a Schedule I (addictive, abused drug with no medicinal value) and as a Schedule IV when sold as Xyrem (medically accepted, low abuse potential).
Such bullshit.
-------------------- Same thing happened to me when I played Neil Armstrong in Moonshot. They found me in an alley in Burbank trying to re-enter the earth's atmosphere in an old refrigerator box.
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Psilocyentist
Carbon based


Registered: 11/04/10
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: WakeboardrB]
#14137358 - 03/17/11 03:31 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
WakeboardrB said: Interestingly enough, GHB is the only drug on the controlled substance act to hold two places, both as a Schedule I (addictive, abused drug with no medicinal value) and as a Schedule IV when sold as Xyrem (medically accepted, low abuse potential).
Such bullshit.
US drug policy is like one giant
-------------------- I know, I know you probably scream and cry That your little world won't let you go
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Poid
Shroomery's #1 Spellir




Registered: 02/04/08
Posts: 40,372
Loc: SF Bay Area
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: Patlal]
#14137363 - 03/17/11 03:33 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Patlal said: I read at several places that once you try to quit effexor, your gonna go through hell from the withdrawal.
Has anyone here been through that withdrawal? Is it really that bad?
I took Effexor XR (still have a prescription for it), and I never felt any of those terrible withdrawal symptoms that people describe online after discontinuing use.
Effexor is a mild stimulant, I just use it whenever I want a little boost; if I use it for too many days in a row, though, its effect dissipates, so I usually don't take it daily.
-------------------- Well I try my best to be just like I am, but everybody wants you to be just like them. -- Bob Dylan  fireworks_god said:It's one thing to simply enjoy a style of life that one enjoys, but it's another thing altogether to refer to another person's choice as "wrong" or to rationalize their behavior as being pathological or resulting from some sort of inadequacy or failing so as to create a sense of superiority or separation as yet another projection of a personal fear or control issue.
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s240779


Registered: 12/07/10
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: Patlal]
#14137367 - 03/17/11 03:34 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Xyrem is a cool brand name.
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Irishdrunk
Democracy? We Deliver!!!

Registered: 09/12/03
Posts: 24,201
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: s240779]
#14137411 - 03/17/11 03:42 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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The withdrawl only lasts a week. Ask for some xanax and zoloft or something to pass the time.
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WakeboardrB
Pepe Silvia



Registered: 05/18/03
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: Poid]
#14137499 - 03/17/11 04:01 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Poid said:
Quote:
Patlal said: I read at several places that once you try to quit effexor, your gonna go through hell from the withdrawal.
Has anyone here been through that withdrawal? Is it really that bad?
I took Effexor XR (still have a prescription for it), and I never felt any of those terrible withdrawal symptoms that people describe online after discontinuing use.
Effexor is a mild stimulant, I just use it whenever I want a little boost; if I use it for too many days in a row, though, its effect dissipates, so I usually don't take it daily.
Wha? When I took it, I could barely get out of bed. On the 4th day when I upped the dose I spent more than 36 hours in bed because I felt so drained and fucked up.
-------------------- Same thing happened to me when I played Neil Armstrong in Moonshot. They found me in an alley in Burbank trying to re-enter the earth's atmosphere in an old refrigerator box.
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Synesthetic
Ratings go in journal.



Registered: 12/11/08
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: Irishdrunk]
#14137519 - 03/17/11 04:06 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I can say from experience that anti-psychotic meds can really fuck a person up if they aren't actually psychotic.
But then again, people dumb enough to take any of my meds kind of deserved it. I got some good shit, brah, to treat this here bipolar disorder.
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Poid
Shroomery's #1 Spellir




Registered: 02/04/08
Posts: 40,372
Loc: SF Bay Area
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: WakeboardrB]
#14137529 - 03/17/11 04:08 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yeah, everyone reacts differently--I felt a bit of fatigue after the effects wore off, but it was never nearly as extreme as what you've experienced. It isn't described on Wikipedia as a mild stimulant, but my psychiatrist says it is. 
EDIT: oops, nevermind...
Quote:
Venlafaxine hydrochloride is in the phenethylamine class of modern chemicals, which includes amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and methamphetamine. This chemical structure likely lends to its activating properties; however, some patients find venlafaxine highly sedating, despite its more common stimulatory effects.
I took up to four 75 mg capsules, BTW.
-------------------- Well I try my best to be just like I am, but everybody wants you to be just like them. -- Bob Dylan  fireworks_god said:It's one thing to simply enjoy a style of life that one enjoys, but it's another thing altogether to refer to another person's choice as "wrong" or to rationalize their behavior as being pathological or resulting from some sort of inadequacy or failing so as to create a sense of superiority or separation as yet another projection of a personal fear or control issue.
Edited by Poid (03/17/11 04:11 PM)
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BeverageFace
Beer Baron


Registered: 03/13/11
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: Poid]
#14137919 - 03/17/11 05:12 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Poid said:
Quote:
Patlal said: I read at several places that once you try to quit effexor, your gonna go through hell from the withdrawal.
Has anyone here been through that withdrawal? Is it really that bad?
I took Effexor XR (still have a prescription for it), and I never felt any of those terrible withdrawal symptoms that people describe online after discontinuing use.
Effexor is a mild stimulant, I just use it whenever I want a little boost; if I use it for too many days in a row, though, its effect dissipates, so I usually don't take it daily.
Effexor is an ssri. it doesnt take effect for a few days to weeks. What you are describing is the placebo effect.
at the op. I've been on several different ssris. the last being effexor. trying to quit it was hell. horrible brain zaps even when trying to taper off. they make you pretty much unable to function. it's like a zap then your brain shuts off for a few seconds, vision goes blank for a microsecond, and your body goes week. Also effexor and all srri's affect sex drive negatively, makes the feelings of sex numb. it makes all emotions turned down, and you feel numb.
and the worst part is, the effects can last several years after you stop. So i'd really suggest not ever starting them. they aren't really anti-depressants like they are marketed as. they are anti-emotion. they also make it near impossible to trip on any hallucinogens, or mdma.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-SSRI_sexual_dysfunction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI_discontinuation_syndrome
I wish i never was prescribed ssris.
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s240779


Registered: 12/07/10
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Re: Effexor - Have you ever stopped taking it? [Re: BeverageFace]
#14137975 - 03/17/11 05:19 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
BeverageFace said:
Quote:
Poid said:
Quote:
Patlal said: I read at several places that once you try to quit effexor, your gonna go through hell from the withdrawal.
Has anyone here been through that withdrawal? Is it really that bad?
I took Effexor XR (still have a prescription for it), and I never felt any of those terrible withdrawal symptoms that people describe online after discontinuing use.
Effexor is a mild stimulant, I just use it whenever I want a little boost; if I use it for too many days in a row, though, its effect dissipates, so I usually don't take it daily.
Effexor is an ssri.
No it isn't.
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