Effexor XR and brain zaps

3 days off Effexor = 3 days of hell. Brain zaps, depression, immovability, bad, BAD dreams of past relationship breakup...even thought of overdosing on heroin to escape my life`s past...no, don`t get on this crap.

I started on 40mg of Celexa in 2002 for depression/anxiety. In 2006, my wife told me she "didn't think it was working anymore" and I should go talk to our doctor about switching. We talked and he switched me to Effexor. No, I'm not blaming him!
After dealing with the massive increase in sweating (at the time I was running a custom A/V installation business including new construction. It was nothing for me to change shirts, underwear and socks 2 or 3 times a day in the 100 deg summer heat!) gaining 40 lbs, watching my cholesterol shoot up to 290 and my bp to 160/120, I decided I'd had enough and went back 1 month ago to talk about quitting. He shrugged, asked why, gave me a scrip for 37.5's, told me to "take them for a couple weeks, then start lengthening the days in between". And "oh yeah, you'll probably feel a little crummy for a week or so after you stop completely".
A LITTLE CRUMMY???
The brain zaps are unbelievable and by far the worst symptom for me so far. Turn your head like you have a plate balanced up there or pay the consequences, right? I had a couple 37's left and that little voice kept telling me to "go ahead, take one, it's ok." I finally flushed the last 3 or 4 pills down the toilet today to prevent me going back at all. (It's ok folks, you won't end up drinking my pills. I'm on septic and way up on the side of a mountain far from any water table.) I can't believe all the data/opinions I've read today on "SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome". Truly unbelievable stuff. With God's grace and my family's support, I know I'll join the ranks of those that have been able to leave this rat poison behind me. One zap at a time, right? ;-)

This medication was a life-saver for me when I first started taking it 7 years ago. Unfortunately, every so often it would stop being effective. My Dr. would up the dosage until I was on the highest and could go no future. So I set out to titrate off, which I did very slowly, but it was hell. The worst was when I was finally done. I felt like a junkie. I was shaking, having crazy brain zaps that made me feel like I was being shocked every time I'd close my eyes. I was sweating like a pig. My sleep was was filled with terrifying nightmares that left me screaming out in my sleep. I am 5 weeks off and still experiencing nightmares, and a few mind-zap things-but nothing like they were when I first started to come off. Yoga and meditation seemed to be the only things that helped. Each day I wanted to take it again just to feel normal. No one can believe that a common SSRI can have such horrible withdrawal effects, so I am on a quest to educated everyone I know.

I took 150 mg a day for a little more than five years. I was afraid to stop taking it due to the horrible way you feel just missing one dose! Yes, I gained approximately 30 lbs (and I go to the gym!), my cholesterol went way up, I had horrible nightmares, and right before I stopped taking it I started having bouts of double vision. I stopped taking it almost a year ago. I have lost some of the weight. I still, after all this time, am having brain zaps in the middle of the night, still don't sleep well, still have bad dreams and still have regular bouts of double vision. I have been to a neurologist who sent me for a brain mri (normal) and blood work (normal). He has recommended I get another doctor to look at me. In other words, there is no obvious reason for the bouts of double vision. I blame five years of Effexor XR for all of this! My doctor should have never allowed me to continue on this drug for so long!

The Dr. gave me Effexor xr 75mg for my depression and 0.5 mg every 6 hrs of Xanax. Since then he lowered my Effexor xr to 35mg. During that period I gained 20 lbs and now I have excessive sweating constantly at least 5 times a day just as if I was coming out a flu like symptom.

My depression is still there buy not as bad but I started to get worried about what was causing the excessive sweating until I saw this site. I will set and appointment with the doctor tomorrow and see what the next plan of attack will be.

I know I was really bad with panic attacks and depression but know I could like to not take any more medications at all. With the help of God and I will recover from my depression and panic attacks. I had depression, panic attacks rasing heart beats, could not focus, memory loss, constant crying, fear. I when to the ER twice tacking I had a heart attack. All heart exams normal.

Now I have to deal with getting off the pills and live a normal life. How can I do this?

I've been on Effexor XR 75mg for 8 months with multiple side effects; headache (feels like the top of my head will blow), stomach pains, constant nausea, excessive sweating, body tremors & a skin rash that started on my chest and has moved to my back, arms & on my scalp. The rash has to be an allergic reaction to this medication. I have went through 3 rounds of antibiotics with absolutely no response. After reading the side effects of Effexor, I am going off this drug - cold turkey. I am on day 6. You name the withdrawal symptom I have experienced them!! eg:Excessive swings in body temps- I am either sweating or chilling to the point I have to get in hot tub to stop shaking, Brain zaps, severe nausea. unending diarrhea - still hitting on day 6, nightmares, heart racing, extreme rage but I feel things are a little better today. I am sticking with this until the end. If you are contemplating getting off this drug you should talk to your doctor and keep in mind days 3 thru 6 will be the worst of the withdrawal so be ready to lock yourself in your home for about a week with hot & cold drinks(tea & 7up) blankets and pray for help to see you through.

I am going on day 4 of stopping my Effexor cold turkey. I was on 300 mg and taking 20 mg of Pexeva. I am stopping cold turkey after being on this medication for three years. The withdrawals are terrible, I don't know why any doctor in their right mind would ever prescribe this medication for anyone. I have those wonderful brain zaps every ten seconds, the only thing that momentarily makes me sane is food, as if the 30 pounds this medication has gained me aren't enough, stopping it is going to pack on another 30. I am a bundle of anger and rage directed at anyone within distance. I am at the toilet every night waiting and praying that I can just throw up. When I finally can fall asleep I am jolted awake in a puddle of sweat having just had yet another nightmare. And when I say nightmare, I mean the kind that have me screaming out loud in terror waking my husband. Minor daily tasks are ignored due to the fact that putting one foot in front of the other is too much to handle. I can't stand this feeling and only pray for the day that it will stop.

I was a completely different person on this medication - different temperament, different likes and dislikes, but the worst part was not having any emotions! When I reported still being depressed to my Dr, she just upped the dosage (from 75 to 150mg) and I hardly remember anything from the time I was taking the high dosage. Coming off of this medicine, I would almost have cravings for it, severe dizziness, the "brain zaps" others have mentioned, and rage like I have never felt before or since. So glad I got off of this stuff!

I have been on Effexor XR since May 2007. I started out with lowest dose 37.5mg and then was increased to 75mg in June or July. Since then I have been experiencing weird dreams (vivid), fits of anger, compulsive behavior, suicidal thoughts and tendencies. I have asked my doc to take me off the meds because I don't like who I have become on them. But all they did was increase my med dosage to 150mg. I want to just stop taking it all together but am afraid of the withdraw symptoms if not slowly taken off of it. What should I do?? I would not recommend this antidepressant to anyone!!!

Brain zaps, tingling in hands and fingers. I take 300 mg, 150mg AM and 150mg PM. Sometimes before I take my PM dose I get the electrical sensation, I call brain zaps in my ears and tingling in my hands and fingers. I have had about a 12 pound weight gain and still going. The weight gain is depressing in itself. I also have the excessive sweating. YUK!