Effexor and cold turkey

I've been on Effexor XR (75mg at night and 37.5 in the morning) for a few years now and have had excellent results. I also been on other antidepressants and had similar luck, but after a few years of taking the others, they seemed to "wear out".

As I read your problems you've experienced with Effexor, I think that maybe you need to try some other meds--that Effexor isn't the right choice for you, not all anti-depressants work the same way. Also, anti-depressants take time to kick in--from one month to six months and then level out. One SUPER side effect of Effexor is if you're suffering hot flashes from peri or full blown menopause, at the right dosage, Effexor (and some other anti depressants) will stop the flashes--a God send in my eyes.

The one thing I did want to share is you should NEVER go off any anti-depressant cold turkey. You should wean off slowly or the results can be VERY uncomfortable. Also realize that it will take a few months for your brain chemicals to come down to were they were before the anti depressant kicked in.

I think more of you should talk to your doctor about what is going on while you're taking Effexor and make some changes. Maybe a higher or lower dose might help--if that doesn't work, then try a new med. If your doctor isn't listening or trying to help you make changes or if she tells you to stop taking an antidepressant cold turkey--get a new doctor.

I have fibromyalgia and started taking Effexor xr last fall to help combat fibro symptoms as recommended by my doctor. I am also prone to SAD. I have found that my fibro symptoms are worse if anything. I crave junk food and sweets. My doctor told me the drug could not be causing the cravings or the resultant weight gain. I finally five days ago told the doc I really didn't feel I was benefiting from the drug and she agreed that I should stop 'cold turkey'. Wellll! since then I am having nausea, chills, very vivid dreams, bordering on hallucination. I feel I have been sleeping for hours during the night and find it's only been two or three hours. I'm still not refreshed, but I can't get back to sleep. I find myself crying for no reason at all, feeling anxious, feeling angry at the least provocation. Chills, runny nose. While I was on Effexor my libido was non-existent. Now it's increased greatly. What is up with this drug. how long can I expect the after-effects to last? I had to stay home from work today for the nausea and tiredness and just general over emotionality.

Calgon take me away

I was put on Effexor because of depression. My husband was going to be going to the middle east and I was so worried and depressed as well as experiencing separation anxiety. I started it a month before he left and IT WAS HORRIBLE.! Getting on it was just as bad as not having it! The side effects were like everyone else. No sex drive (mind you...my husband was leaving to the middle east!), cotton mouth and nausea. He left and that is when little by little it got worst. I GAINED WEIGHT and felt even more depressed because my husband was coming home to a PIG! Hubby got out of the military and I had went home to wait for him. (VA is where I was getting the meds and home is CA) When he got home I decided to get off the meds. I had gained over 30lbs! I was always petite and athletic. 5'2 120lbs and size 3 or 5. I was at 152 and size 9,11 and EVEN 13!!!! I have 2 kids and even pregnat never gained that much weight! I called my Dr. and they said I would have to come in to get off the meds! I live in CA now and cannot go to VA just to get the ween off pills so I did it COLD TURKEY!!! BIG MISTAKE!!!!! One disagreement with my husband made me FLIP OUT!!!! I was out of my character! I attacked him and became physically violent and angry! This is not like me! He could not control me and called the police thinking they were just going to calm me down. Because he told them the truth, but did not want to press charges, they still arrested me and I went to jail that night! I have NEVER went to jail and I never thought I would NEVER be somewhere like this. It was so embarrassing! As a result, my charges were dropped, but because my son was there CPS got involved, my husband and I were separated (although we didn't want to be apart, but if we did not do as they wished they would've taken our children!) for 6 months 1 month after he got back from the middle east! I was made to attend 52 week domestic violence classes! THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE!!!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE TAKE THIS MEDICATION!!!!!

This is the worst drug I've ever been on. This has totally destroyed my life, I took it for 8 years, in which time I felt severely depressed (much worse than the depression it was meant to be treating), irrational and no sex drive whatsoever. I stopped taking it 2 years ago and have extreme withdrawal symptoms for months on end, feeling nauseous, depressed etc and now that I have stopped my body has still not recovered from the side effects. I feel that if I had never been prescribed this horrific drug my life would not be the misery it is today.

I just want to say 'thank you' to Guest 27984, for having something GOOD to say about Effexor as there are people who really need some serious help in their lives and times in a lot of lives when a little help is needed for a shorter period. I found Effexor extremely helpful after a ghastly personal tragedy but have also found it bloody irritating to ween myself off. I have the lightheadness and a stiff, floaty eye experience....is the best way I can describe it... I keep trying to come off it and find the results of that worse...perhaps 'cold turkey' is the way to go..........

I started taking Effexor 75 mg in 2003 because of stomach problems- my doctor thought I maybe was experincing stress, so he prescribed it and Prontonix. The Prontonix worked great, but the Effexor- I never should have gone on it, as I wasn't depressed until AFTER I started taking it. Either I was depressed, or I was a zombie. My life was like a nightmare that I didn't even realize I was in until after I stopped taking it cold turkey in September of 2006. Everytime I used to miss doses, I would have this horrible dizzy feeling, but then I would make sure I got it ASAP so that the feeling would go away. When I wasn't able to get the drug due to a change in my insurance deductible, I came very close to losing my mind. My job suffered, the repercussions still in existence and I almost lost my marriage of 5 years before we even celebrated our 5th Anniversary, but then once the withdrawal symptons finally stopped about 60 days later, I now have a clarity on life that I never had before. My husband said that he finally had his wife back. I promise to never ever go on another drug that is an anti-depressive for any reason.

Nausea, dizziness, pounding headaches, the inability to do anything but sit here and get thru these wretched side effects from a drug that I was told was non-addictive!
What a joke!
How can a drug that makes me feel this bad piossiblity be non-addictive!
Ive gone cold turkey and this is day 17 that ive been off the effexor. Mind you I had only been taking it for barly 3 months and at a relatively small dosage (1x75mg nightly), and I cant beleive how much trouble Im having trying to come off it.
How long does this drug remain in ones body?

I am getting ready to wean myself off of 150mg after being on effexor for about 2 years now for post-partum depression and anxiety disorder. To me, this drug has truely changed my life, and yes, I have had most of the side effects, but not bad enough to stop taking it. What I have noticed in everyone's terrible review of the drug is the side effects when you stop or forget a dose- what you must remember is that this is messing with chemicals in your brain. It is not something that is a miracle pill with no side effects. And it should DEFINETLY NOT be stopped cold turkey!! I feel so bad for you who think that is the right thing to do. This is a powerful drug for a reason- you MUST wean off of it. Your brain is going to have to get used to making these chemicals by itself- no easy task. Please heed my advice and stop blaming the drug company for your side effects- they are a natural healing process, no matter how tough they are. God Bless.

Hello! I went off of Effexor 75mg @5 days ago. The withdrawl symptoms came back with a vengeance. I have tried 3 other times to get off of this drug with no success. Not because of depression, but the physical withdrawl sypmtoms were terrible. I immediately experienced dizziness, "zapping" in my head, nausea, extreme fatigue; all the very next day. I had tried in the past to taper off, same effects as quitting cold turkey. This is day 6 and still have the same syptoms. It's very hard to function at my job and driving is a chore also. I am determined to "not" go back on this or any other drug like this ever again (Lexapro, Celexa, etc) I will say I felt fine while on it, but I'm sick of not being able to lose the 30 lbs I gained while taking it. I want to be able to handle lifes curve balls as they come without any drugs. I will keep you all posted as to how long this goes on. Take care all, and we have to hang in there!!!!!

Thank all of you for your candor. I too had been on anti-depressants for the past 3 years. I finally said enough is enough, each med had different side effects.I had lost interest in my "life" didn't want to exercise, work or really do much of anything...unless I "had to" & was becoming quite the actress going through the motions...this was NOT the ME I had known for 30+ YEARS & will not BE ME. I have the blurred vision, confusion, forgetfulness to name a few of the side effects. It has been 1 year since my divorce (reason I started it)... I no longer felt "situationally depressed" and assumed the unusual feelings I was experiencing was due to the drug and that I needed to get off of it to get my life back. So I stopped Effexor cold turkey.After two weeks & unusal side effects I got on line to see what other experienced. I too have experienced the vivid dreams / nightmares, where I literally felt as though I was "drugged". I have the cotton mouth, when tired "spaced out", mood swings, tiredness, night sweats, flu like symptoms, my appetite has increased, I had no sex drive on Effexor, 2 weeks off and it is coming back at least I'm thinking about it....I can identify with most of what I've read others have experienced on some level.

Bottom line...if I had it to do all over again. I would NOT take any anti-depressants, I suppose I was depressed divorcing & I should have been it is a major change in ones life. In hindsight I should have let my mind and body go through whatever the "natural process" was to be... because the experience going on, waiting to feel "normalcy" (which neve happened) and coming off has been awful. My point of view, there is no "magic" pill that is going to make us get up and go like the TV commercials portray. Life is difficult & I will survive without a "pill", I definately feel better over all getting the Effexor out of my system ...I'm hopeful the side effects will be short lived.

Well, just wanting everyone to know that I stop taking this medication cold turkey 3 day's ago because of the evil side effect's. For those who just started on this med just wait until u miss a day are two or been on it long enough u will experience something's u will not like trust us u will be trying to get off this evil drug!!! I've been on it for 2 year's and at first I didn't experience anything I thought it was great it worked for the hot flashes immediately but after my body got use to taking it the hot flashes came back along with virtigo more and more just wait and see!!! it wont be long, but anyway I quiet 3 day's ago and I feel great!!! the side of effect of dizzyness and me not being able to walk straight are there but the energy & me feeling myself again feels GREAT!!! Im not tired anymore for the first time Im up early like I use to get up, and last night I wasn't sleepy early I stayed up with my husband he couldn't believe it! I actually feel good about myself. If u ask me this medication need's to be revisited because it doesn't help after awhile I wouldn't want to take something that if I were in a situation were I didn't have this med I would be close to death without it, Im off cold turkey and going to hang in there until the side effect's go away and it's out of my system for good! I pray for u all whose on this med because it's insane and not good. Oh I forgot to mention that it get's worse for the first time I over slept and was so,so,so tired friday night I couldn't go to work this drug after awhile draines u and makes u so sleepy and wore out it make u feel like you've been drinking all night and have a hangover trust me this is real.

I STARTEDD TAKING EFFEXOR FOR DEPRESSION BY TAKING 75MG. THEN I WAS UPPED TO150MG. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE MY ENERGY LEVELS. I QUIT TAKING EFFEXOR 150 LAST THURSDAY(7/14/05)BY FRIDAY I WAS FEELING DIZZY BY SATURDAY I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH BALANCE AND JOLT'S TO MY HEAD. I HAD A BAD HEADACHE AND TROUBLE WALKING STRAIGHT. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE WHAT THE SIDE EFFECT'S WERE FOR THIS DRUG AND WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING THRU THE SAME THING. MY DOCTOR NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS OR HOW ADDICTIVE THE DRUG WAS FOR IF SHE (THE DOCTOR)HAD,I WOULD NEVER HAD STARTED THEM FOR DEPRESSION. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I HAVE DEVELOPED WAS A PERSISTANT COUGH THAT AT TIMES WOULD END IN A COUGHING JAG AND I WOULD THROW UP. I DIDN'T DO THIS BEFORE THE PILL.
I HAVE NOW BEEN OFF THEM FOR 4 DAYS AND IT'S BEEN HELL BUT I AM FEELING BETTER. FOR ME COLD TURKEY IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET OFF. IF THERE IS A CLASSACTION LAW SUIT GOING I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT.
CONTACT ME PLEASE.
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I've been taking this drug for about a year and I have also tried to quit the drug with no success. The headaches, unable to walk straight, sick to my stomach is enough to make me take another pill and after taking that pill, all the symptoms go away within an hour. I had lost my husband and this is the second drug they put me on. I'm still on it and they say it helps with nightsweats, which, was also a symptom I got when trying to get off. I've also gained 30 pounds. I want off! I'm taking 150mg. How do I get off, cold turkey can't happen for me.

I quit taking Effexor 5 months ago. I did it cold turkey. That was the only way I could do it. I have to admit I felt great. I had more energy when I quit than I had in years. I no longer woke up feeling hung over. I have to say though it did get me through some pretty tough times. I lost 20 lbs since I quit taking it so for those of you with the weight gain don't worry, the weight will come off. The only thing I still have is the intense dreams and night sweats. Everything else seems to have gone away.

I took effexor for two years and can report that I experienced the halucinations, the bad dreams, the feeling of no feeling. I felt like my creativity and life had been sucked out of me. If I forgot my morning dose (150 mg) I would be dizzy, nauseous, and have hot flashes. I lost 15 lbs that I didn't need to lose, I was weak and felt like I had had a lobotomy. This drug is absolute evil, and I think everyone should run the other way if a doctor wants to prescribe this. I went off it cold turkey, had two weeks of absolute hell, and only am now really feeling my true self. I have been clean of all drugs, street and otherwise, for two years now, and I am happier than I have ever been. Get high on life!

Went to the Dr due to stress on the job, elder parents, and new marriage. I was on Efexor 75 and my Dr increased the dose to 150 due to no improvement on 75. I felt numb no crying, no excitement just going through the emotions of every day life. In two weeks time on 150 I felt more lifeless and my hair is falling out by the handfuls. I went to see a dermatolgist and he told me I reminded him of someone on chemo and not to be surprised if I lost all my hair! Has anyone had problems with hair loss? My Dr has dropped me back to 35 and wants me to start Wellbutrin. I think I am going cold turkey. I don't want to be bald! Thanks for reading.

I just cold turkey on effexor 75mg cause I couldn't get the money to pay for them.They helped me when I was on them,but I haven't taken them for a week.What scares me is the zaps that I feel in my head.If I was to go back on them will it disappear,my doctor is on vacation.I don't know what to do.I need to get more or what? Thanks Gail

I have been on effexor XR for the past going on 6 years. It has made a dramatic change in my life. It has helped my depression and anxiety enourmously. At first I had constipation but that changed when I changed my diet. I too tried to go off effexor cold turkey and ended up in a clinic on my way to work. The first week I felt like I was on a HIGH - felt fabulous - then I started driving erractically - very bizarre throbbing in my head, headaches. Then the crying started uncontrollably - became paranoid - felt like something was going to swallow me up from the feet up and I was afraid to drive as I kept thinking I was going to crash my car. By the time I got to the clinic - I was bouncing off the walls.. Had to go back on it. If I miss one dose I could sleep forever! Angela West - Windsor.

I'm sooooo glad to be off this "nightmare" drug. I had to stop it cold turkey almost 4 years ago because I found out I was pregnant. The withdrawals had me in bed for 2 days, crying, unable to sleep, wanting to die....it was horrible. Not to mention the 50+ pounds of weight gain over the two years I was on the stuff. If I was even a couple hours late with my dose, I (and everyone else around me) noticed that I would get very angry and mean. Here is some advice for anyone out there taking Effexor and having bad side effects....go back to the doctor and get him/her to prescribe something else...there are MANY good drugs out there that have minimal side effects.