Anyone have experience with Effexor?? Please help!

[Breeba8993]

Okay so I've been taking Effexor for about 6 months now.
I went on it directly after I stopped taking Prozac, because it simply did not work for me anymore. My doctor said this was fine.
So every time I miss a dose, I get dizzy. Well not necessarily dizzy, to where I cant stand up, but its like I have head changed and I just feel really tired. I absolutely HATE this feeling, obviously. It's to the point where I want to go off of it.
About 3 months ago, my doctor and I decided to lower my dose. Shortly afterwards, I became EXTREMELY irritable and mean all the time, so we moved it back up.
So now, I feel like even if I want to stop taking it or wean myself off of it, I can't because I'm afraid I will go psycho (I have OCD). I
I just feel so helpless and I feel like there's no turning back!
Anyone with experience in this area have any advice?
PLEASE HELP!

 

[gutterflower_86]

hi, um ok, i've been taking effexor for just over 2 years now.
it was prescribed for anxiety, minor ocd, and depression...
i totally know what that "dizzy" feeling is. i haven't missed doses, but i've run out of pills between prescriptions so id have to go like a week without any effexor... and after ready some effexor horror stories, im suprised i actually survived.
it has a warning to not stop taking the drug unless your told to by your doctor, but i ran out so id stop abruptly, and for days at a time. then id get my refill and just start taking them again. i never told my doctor.
but those days were HELL. always dizzy, upset stomach, constant headache, a terrible mood... etc.
personally, i don't worry about NEVER being able to get off this drug because i know im not ready to now or in the near future...
i mean all drugs are addicting, but this helps me stay "sane" and function "normally" so im not going to worry about getting off it untill im "better". kinda like "ill cross that bridge when i get there."
idk if any of this helps... but you're not alone.
xx jennifer

 

[kathyk]

that dizzy feeling you're getting feels like you're being zapped in your brain right??
that's the withdrawal from the medicine if u don't take it for a while. i got those from every medication that i have been on. I'm on Celexa right now and when i run out i always get scared about the brain zaps. u can look that up online and see that that's caused from antidepressant withdrawals. I heard Effexor is the worst because u have to take it at the same time each day or within a couple hours or u feel dizzy. Is taht true?
i have went thru zoloft, paxil, pexeva, and now celexa and all of them caused the brain zaps. i hate them they make me soooo mad. but anyways is effexor good for OCD?
Cause i think my celexa isn't working as well anymore

 

[krs2snow]

I was put on Effexor. I took it for about 3 or 4 weeks. I didn't get dizzy but, have you ever turned the channel on your T.V. and had that 'fuzz' come on? Like when the cable goes out? The black & white BZZZZZ across the screen? That's how the front of my brain felt when I was taking Effexor. I quit taking it.
My jury in the trial of 'Drug Therapy vs. Holistic Means' is still out.

 

[caitlynx]

I was on/off Effexor for several years and these "brain zaps" sucked. The last time I went off them I weaned myself off super slowly - I opened each capsule and counted out all the tiny pellets within (over 100?) then I divided them up and took, say, 90 pellets one day, then 80, then 70, etc. It helped a lot.

But yeah, the best thing to do is to talk to your doctor about how to get off them properly.

 

[kathyk]

when u wean yourself off the medication, does the OCD come back??

 

[Candlejack]

when u wean yourself off the medication, does the OCD come back??

It shouldn't if you were receiving CBT while you were on the medication. That's what I was told at least. Although it never goes away for good, it's just way more tolerable.

 

[kathyk]

i just take medication and no therapy and i think i should start seeing a counselor or someone i dunno what tho

 

[gutterflower_86]

i just take medication and no therapy and i think i should start seeing a counselor or someone i dunno what tho

If you go to school they should have some sort of counselling program... that's where i go, and it's all covered under my tuition...

 

[decadeOfSA]

Didn't do anything for me except give me these weird "brain shocks". No SSRI has ever helped me and I've tried pretty much all of them several times over. My docs kept pushing them till I told them that if I had some Serotonin problem these drugs would have helped by now and finally one doc conceeded. Docs of course, are paid to push drugs...

Benzos are the only drugs that have helped my anxiety. I wish I could get off them though.

 

[kathyk]

ya i go to school but its a private catholic college i feel like they wouldnt have a counselor for that and i dont wanna tell them.
i mean i told close friends that i have OCD and they dont judge me but i dont wanna tell the school i duno
but my psych told me he can recommend a counselor so maybe i might do that?