Hi, I was on effexor for a few yrs and recently came off them because of the unpleasant side-effects.
I came off them very slowly, eventually reducing to 75mg daily, then 75mg every other day for a couple of weeks. Then my ps doc immediatley started me off on another drug, citalopram so I wasn't without a drug for more than a day.
Hope you feel better soon.

When I came off the Paxil it felt the same way.

I was on it for 6 yrs, I had alot of problems coming off of it also the same thing dizziness and I had to go back on a low dose and be tappered off like MaRhianna said every other day and I did that for a few weeks and then I could get off of it alot better.

Yeah I am trying to decide what to do. IT is now day four and it's just as bad as yesterday. If i don't feel better in the AM i am going to take one. This stuff is like Heroin or something. I am so firing my doctor from any of these psych drugs. I'm going to see a PDOC. I can't believe she told me just to stop taking it.

I think perhaps most of these mind altering drugs need to be tapered off gradually. I was on Cymbalta and had a hard time coming off it.

Is the Effexor in tablet form or a capsule with powder?

you could always cut the tablet or if it's a capsule open it up and take out a few of the granules at a time wean off over a period of time.
or tell the doctor and they may be able to give you something to help with the transition.
I am surprised that the doctor told you to just stop it even at that dose.

ginger helps with nausea.

Today is day five no effexor.
Brain zaps
dizziness
vertigo
nausea

seriously does anyone put there know how long this is going to last?

Bless yoru heart! I CANNOT BELIEVE that a doctor of any kind would just tell you to STOP any of these drugs. if anybody has done any kind of research at all, they would ALL know you do not just come off these pills! I would call your doctor and tell her/him that you cannot just stop this drug and that they have to give you more so you can taper off them! If not threaten to report her!

I know it sounds bad, but when my doc was threatening to take me off my meds....I told her that I would tapper off of them, but BY LAW she cannot just make me stop these, as it could cause life threatening situations, even death....needless to say she changed her tune and said ok!

I have still changed doctors and go see my new one next week.

I don't know about effexor, as I was only on mine for 3 days and it gave me such headaches that I stopped it, but with xanax, if you just stop, it can cause seizures and even death. These doctors need to be more UP on what they give their patients!

Good luck darlin' I know you are going through hell!

Hi There,
Today is Day 7 with no Effexor. Still not feeling that great, but it seems like the "Zapping" has stopped. But I am still dizzy. Headache isn't that bad.
Unfortunatly my anxiety is still bothering me. I'm super sensitized to everything right now. So i just sat in this hour long meeting and it was relatively stressful and I started to have a little panic. When the heck am I going to be back to my old self.

Went to the doctor, said it could be another week.

this is the longest I've ever gone without effexor since i started.

Seriously considering starting something else, but I want to see how i do without this medicine at all for now.

More power to you and BEST of luck!

hi ya , i cannot believe your doctor told you to just stop taking efexor without reducing over a period of weeks . Thats madness. Even when i was reducing efexor it was hard an i done it over around 6 weeks in total . The way i looked at it was there was no rush . Reduce gradually an the chances of anxiety coming back and the terrible withdrawels are less likely an here i am off them 10 months and doing very well. I actually got no withdrawel sysptoms. Sorry can t spell it but if i d done it my doctors way i would have been in the horrors. They haven't taken this drug only dish it out and your left to cope on your own. So my advice to you would be reduce slowly if you can. You know your body best .

One more thing i just wanted to say was you are going to want something to take the feeling away but meds like this can heighten your anxiety.I honestly feel so much better off anti deps . Ok i have a few rough days but i pick my self up and off i go again. Try to stay strong and you will get better , don't doubt it for a moment . There's so much help out there .Try to get your hands on books an breathing techniques and anything at all to do with relaxation. I wish you all the best .

HI all
well today is DAY 9 with no Effexor. i FINALLY Stopped having brainzaps, and my headaches and dizziness are still there but not as bad. My anxiety and depression is all over the map, but I'm just hoping to feel a little more normal as soon as this withdrawl deal is over.
Trying to stay super strong. Want a quick fix, but it's not going to happen overnight.