Date: Tue Feb 27, 2001 8:34pm Hi, I'm new to this group, but not new to Effexor - in fact, I've been trying to get off it for months, with little effect. Right now, I'm down to 37.5 mg., and I cannot seem to get any lower than that without the horrible side effects starting back up again. My regular dr. told me to go see a psychiatrist to wean me off the drug (reg dr can't understand what's "wrong" with me for not being off it already.) The shrink appointment is in two weeks, but he did call me already. He seems to want to use other drugs to get me off Effexor, then presumably to get me off those drugs. I don't know what to make of it,but I'm willing to try anything that will get me SNRI free. Is anyone here an Effexor survivor or currently using it? I noticed by reading other posts here, there are effects that go beyond withdrawal problems with other drugs, such as liver damage, etc. Is there anything in particular about Effexor that causes problems like that - like should I be getting a liver test? I do not trust this drug at all, and I'm ready to kill myself, thinking my brain chemistry has been permanently screwed up by this crap. Does anyone know if the change IS permanent? Does your brain eventually readjust? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm on an Effexor list as well. Many people there are having problems, but I also notice there seems to be Wyeth Ayerst cheerleaders there, too, and you have to be SO careful that one of these Effexor junkies won't be insulted. Any help is appreciated, Debb Date: Wed Feb 28, 2001 4:43am Response: Hi Debb, Welcome to the group. I am sorry to here that your trapped with Effexor right now. Can you tell me if you are taking capsules or tablets ? I think what your doctor will try to do is to put you on Prozac because of its longer half-life metabolism. I would not do that if I were you. Try to figure out if there is an oral-suspension (liquid form) of Effexor (for kids). It could be helpfull to taper off more slowly. Also visit our "files" section and read "SSRI's: How to come off". There might be some usefull info for you there. Please keep us posted and take care, Charly Date: Wed Feb 28, 2001 11:43am Hi, Charly, thanks for the welcome.... I'm on the tablets (I was previously on the capsules). I know about the Prozac thing to supposedly wean you off Effexor. I talked to this shrink on the phone yesterday, the one I'm supposed to see in two weeks. He didn't say Prozac, but I assume he wants to use either that or something like it. He did say he thought that the symptoms I was having might because I wasn't taking ENOUGH of the drug. I said, that is such bullshit! I said I wasn't like this BEFORE I took Effexor (I went on the drugs because I experienced the death of both parents and an ex-fiance I was still close to within three months of one another.) The funny thing is, I've been trying to deal with Effexor in all this time, and I've never dealt with the deaths yet! So I guess Effexor has its good points - it certainly took my mind off other people's deaths and made me focus on my own! I'll read the "how to get off SSRIs" section. I don't want to take Prozac or anything else, but at this point, I know I can't get off Effexor without some strong help. I'd be willing to do about anything to stop this f***in sh*t. Debb Date: Wed Feb 28, 2001 3:32pm Response: I'm so sorry for your losses, but as you've discovered, taking a pill will not bypass the grieving process. I hope you are successful in getting of this mind crap and find yourself a good grief counselor to work through the sadness. My best friend's daughter was killed a few years ago and they put my friend on Paxil. At the funeral my friend came up to me rather desperately and said, "What the hell did they give me? I've been trying to cry for five days and I can't shed a tear!" I told her it was the Paxil so she pitched it in the garbage right there in the family grieving room. Wishing you luck in your recovery. Trisha Date: Wed Feb 28, 2001 12:11pm Someone on another group asked me what side effects I was experiencing. This is what I told them, if this is of any interest: Side effects while on Effexor were weight gain, sweating, insomnia, horrible nightmares, sudden exhaustion, bad headaches, nausea. Withdrawal effects were sudden sweating and uncontrollable shivering, muscle and joint pain and aches, nausea, the uge to vomit, overwhelming feelings of anxiety, confusion, a feeling of unreality (as if I were on one side of a vast divide, with me here and humanity over there), even more horrible nightmares (some real doozies), migraine-like headaches, and a reoccuring desire to kill myself, just to end the horrible physical and mental pain. The latter suicide urges would disappear within hours of retaking Effexor. I shoiuld mention I've never been suicidal before in my life. Debb Date: Wed Feb 28, 2001 2:41pm Response1: Debb, how typical, your fit in with the typical reactions. Well you will get better, and I had the sweating too, it was wierd. Cynthia Date: Wed Feb 28, 2001 3:34pm Response2: All ths side effects you mentioned while on and getting off Effexor are exactly what I experienced getting off Paxil. Nice drugs, huh??? Trisha Date: Sat Mar 10, 2001 2:08am I haven't been reading my e-mail for the past few days, thanks to the delightful time I'm having trying to stop my 25 mg. of Effexor. I really don't care if it kills me; I'm NOT taking it anymore. But the way I feel, it may kill me. I have a headache that hasn't gone away, no matter what I do; terrible anxiety, a sense of nervousness, terrible body pain (cramps, joint pain, etc.) I just really want to die rather than deal with this another frigging moment. I hope whoever it is who thought this drug was such a good idea and either forgot or didn't bother to tell people how addictive it is and how awful it is trying to stop it just rots in hell. I know if I live through this I'm writing an article on Effexor and on the drug company. If any of the people on this list are in the NY-NJ-PA region and want to be profiled - either cause you like it or you don't - please write and LMK. Thanks, Debb Date: Sat Mar 10, 2001 4:19am Response1: Debbie, your gonna get better, you sound like you are having a really bad time, just keep thinking that your going to get better, ok ?! And it will pass. It just takes so darn long. I am so sorry your having a hard time, Cynthia Date: Fri Mar 9, 2001 11:09pm Response2: Debby take it slow and don't quit to quickley. Your brain can really whack out and it will take you longer to recover. You don't want your brain to start zapping to much. This, I think, is what got me in trouble. Everyone here knows you want to quit but we all know it can not be done in a day. Patrick