you feel strange, my body feels likes it is pulsating but this is only the 2nd day in which i have stopped. i really hope these side effects stop soon. you'll feel sick, make sure you take some time off if you choose to "go it alone" and go off effexor.

 I stopped taking my effexor xr  after 3 months. I didnt take long, only a few daysafter, I felt so tired, nauseous, vomitting snappy, sharp pains in my head. As soon as  I  went back on it within hours I felt better Imop it was not  a good idea to take myself off because I started to feel better. 

    I would suggest that you talk to your doc and take yourself off gradually because the withdrawl symptoms suck big time. Take Care!

My best friend was removed from effexor abruptly and put on wellbutrin because he told his GP he wanted to lose weight.  He first went into depression, then tremors, tried to drive to the ER and totalled his car.  Hes now in the ICU and everytime they wake him up he is physically and verbally abusive.  After 6 days they are finally starting the effexor again.  Be very careful.

DO NOT JUST STOP TAKING EFFEXOR!!!!!

I have been taking effexor for four years and have been great, but 2 months ago, I accidentally sent the prescription online to my old apartment and couldn't get more for a month, so I just decided to try to stay off it.  4 days ago I started going through withdrawals and it's been AWFUL!!

I can't concentrate and I want to be alone all the time and I am a people person!

It is awful and DONT DO IT!

Talk to your doctor...Don't be stupid like I was.

OMG.....I've only stopped taking effexor 2 days ago and I feel awful.  Just finished throwing up my dinner.  I feel dizzy, tired, and sick to my stomach.  I feel best when laying down.  I suddenly wanted to start crying while watching puppies on TV.....weird.

I've been taking effexor for a little over 2 years and only took 75mg a day.  I felt like I wanted to stop taking it because I don't feel like I need it anymore, but I'm really rethinking my decision.  I'll see how I feel tomorrow morning and, if I'm not any better, I will start to take it again and talk to my doctor.

M

1/ 5/10 4:28am

I'm out of pills cos i slept all day (thanks to sleep scrip - for countering other meds!!) and I feel like crap.  going through old meds - prozac, paxil = helping some, also eating and keeping hydrated.  Definitely getting refilled tomorrow.

M

1/ 5/10 4:32am

Someone on another site had good help with benadryl and dimetapp - back to the medicine cabinet!

Shirl

1/ 7/10 1:27pm

Well, I decided to continue NOT taking the medicine, and I'm now on day 7.  The first 3-4 days were the worst.  I didn't like the TV on or to hear any noise and felt most comfortable sleeping in a dark room on my side.  Laying on my side kept me from vommiting.  I still feel a little dizzy, but most of the nausea has subsided.

 

I went to the doctor yesterday and he gave me something for the nausea, which helped and he wanted to put me back on it and lower me down slowly, but I refused because it had already been out of my system for 6 days.  The doctor said it should take no more than 2 weeks for me to feel better.  I sure hope he's right.

 

If I had to do this over again, I would definitely ween myself off versus quitting cold turkey.  Best of luck to you all.

Shirl 2

2/23/10 4:10pm

Shirl....So, how are you doing now?  I've been off for 4 days and almost can't take it...If the side effects only last two weeks I can stand it..If longer, I've gotta taper.  Please respond.  Thanks, Shirl 2

Lynne

3/ 3/10 10:31am

I have been on Effexor before and remember the coming off was terrible.  I was so reluctant to go on again but in a very bad place because of recent divorce.  I tried to go off after 8 months.  I was on 75 mg and tried to do every other day.  I tried to committ suicide on the 4th day and think it was totally the effexor withdrawal.  They put in in a hospital for a week and put me up to 150 mg because of the suicide attempt.  no one believed me how out of charachter that was for me.  Do believe it was the effexor.  Now it is 10 months later and totally want off this stuff.  Makes me feel so flat.  Cannot cry even when sad but also do not feel any joy in life or look forward to things.  hate antidepressants and i have tried Zoloft and Paxil befor also.  Reading all these links and guess I will not go cold turkey but reduce a little a day by opening the capsules and counting the granuales.  Amazed this stuff is still on the market.  Plan to start on a Friday so get through the first couple changed days each weekend then each Friday cut back a few more.  It seems from all the links I have read this is the best way.  So wanted to go cold turkey just to be done with it.

mamma

6/13/10 12:42pm

I've been on effexor 75 and 150 for about 5 years. Right now I'm feeling absolutely terrible massive headaches, eyes aching, NO sleep as I can't lay my head down on pillow and sitting up makes my back and neck go into spasm. I've not taken tablet for 3 days, cause ran out of script. I thought I had the flu but I guess I'm going through withdrawals, after reading all these posts. I sooo hate taking these tablets but scared to go off them. If a chemist was open now I'd drive to get a script. I'm in pain and want to sleep!!!

leahk12

12/22/10 11:18pm

I took 37.5 for about 2 weeks and then was told to double the dose, almost instantly i would just become nausated, dry mouth, woke up with night sweats, had AWFUL dreams, irritable for no reason (and i work with the public), I even got diarrea and had a brownish discharge (didnt miss my birthcontrol or anything so no other reason for the discharge).  I do not cry much at all and i cried and sobed at times for no reason, i felt like my body had a serge in it and sleep is a big NO, I feel like i could have delt with the other things if i could have just slept.  I was told by Dr to go off it slowly and take smaller doasage then skip one then finally start to take my med that i took before which is citilopram, i didnt have those problems with that med, i just think i need a bigger dosage, i was only on 20 mg.  I am still going thru this withdrawl period and i hope it gets better, I am normally a happy person and fun to be around but not at this point.

I ran out of my Effexor XR 75mg three days ago and haven't had time to get it refilled. Today I feel HORRIBLE! I get this funny, dizzy feeling in my head when I move my eyes around, feel like I'm going to vomit, my speech and thinking is slow, and I have cried several times today. Never stop this "cold turkey!"

I have been off now for 4 days and going on 5 days cold turkey.  I was taking 100mg Effexor.  I felt slightly nauseated maybe twice the second day around, but the biggest effect I have been having is I am constantly on the toilet having a bowel movement.  It isn't quite loose, but it is almost like my body is trying to flush itself out... like I am sick or something.

I noticed someone wrote in there about noise being a bother to them... I have noticed these past couple days I don't want the TV real loud and I get sometimes more irritable doing the same crap day to day.  I didn't really contribute these two things from coming off of effexor, but since someone else brought it up.. heck it might be a side effect from coming off so quick as well.

The biggest side effect I had from taking the Effexor is not going to the bathroom as often as I used to prior to taking the medication.  I would normally have a bowel movement like 1-3 times a day before taking the medication.  When I started taking it sometimes I would not have one for like 3 days!  That was super weird for me.  Now that I am off the med. cold turkey, I have been having one probably 5-8 times a day!  It's crazy!

I am female veteran diagnosed with PTSD. I was put on Effexor XR extended release tablets (150mg) and I have been on it for about 2 years. I stopped taking Effexor XR Cold Turkey on Saturday July 16, 2011 because I found out I'm pregnant (I'm about approx. 1 month and 1/2 on my pregnancy). This is my 4th day without Effexor XR and I have felt on an emotional rollercoaster! crying, defensive, angry, and normal sometimes...I've had loose vowel movement.  I feel very very dizzy especially sitting down right now typing this, I get out of breath when talking about something exciting. Walking the parking lot at work and going up the stairs get me dizzy, pale, and out of breath, everything looks yellowish or foggy like I'm in a dream. I have been having awful nightmares and paranoia. Yesterday, I had to conduct room clearing in my house (gun out, bullet in chamber) because I felt someone was in my house trying to get me killed. I break down in hot and cold sweats and I'm very sensitive to the heat and cold. I hear strong noises in my head, like someone is wrapping my brains in plastic bubble wrap and popping them. Two days ago a felt that wonderful adrenaline when driving fast and thinking crashing would not hurt, a cellphone call at the moment grounded me, and made me slow down... Crazy Weird Crap!... I'm shaky right now, my back is killing me, my eyes (pupils) hurt, my head hurts, and my hands are sweaty and frozen... This is awful... I dont know what to do, I dont want to go back to taking it because of fetus side effects. I need help. I'm going out of My M-I-N-D!

quilterjen

7/20/11 10:50am

PLEASE go see your doctor!!!!  They have better alternatives than quitting cold turkey.  Trust me!  I almost committed suicide and I didn't want to go backwards by going back on it.  There are other alternatives that will be safe for baby.  The side effects don't end quickly and will only get worse for at LEAST two - three weeks.  You don't want to do that!  Let those of us who made decisions that were not productive help you by learning from our mistakes!!!  Call your doctor!

I too have lost my job, insurance and ran out of effexor.  With all my research on coming off, I decided today to call Phizer and see what they could tell me, and what to expect.  I called and they gave me another number.  After waiting, I got somebody on the other side of the world that gave me the same phone number the first time I called.  Just running me in circles.

Well, I can't go to the doctor.  I have no choice but to bite the bullet.  I am on day 2 and feel terrible.  I woke up throwing up NOTHING for at least 30 minutes.  I havent been able to walk more than 15 feet from my couch without getting sick.

I am freezing cold, but the room is normal.  The brain zaps are the worst.  I can't think straight.  I have to drive tomorrow and I am scared I can't.

The doctors dont tell you this stuff when they are so quick to whip out that pen and pad.  I would have been better off taking massive amounts of zanax.  This sucks.  I will keep this posted because I know I am not alone.

I was on Effexor XR for over 10 years. I cycled back and forth from 150 mg to 75 mg back to 150 mg to 75 mg (on the advice of my doctor). I quit my job, lost my drug plan and ran out of meds. I simply stopped taking them - I had no choice, as I had none left and refused to pay the full cost of them without a drug plan (or job for that matter). In addition to being unemployed, I was serving as caregiver for my 80 year old mother - who is on an antidepressant - after the death of her husband and son (my father and brother). My mother has since been hospitalized, due to the ineffectiveness of her Paxil. Here is my question / comment... I feel no withdrawal affects what so ever. I have quit "cold turkey" over 2 weeks ago - and nothing??? I feel exactly the same, no better - but no worse??? You would think that with the state my life is in - no job, no money for mortgage or car payments or bills, my mother in the hospital, the loss of my brother and father  (and my 13 year old dog and cat - I might add) I would feel "something"....but I don't??? What is up with that? I feel the same now as I did when I was on the Effexor. Question - Should I be feeling withdrawal symptoms by now? Am I home free? - Or will it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks one of these days???

quilterjen

4/ 5/12 11:15am

I'm not a Dr., so know that I'm only speaking from experience...  :)  My symptoms come if I even miss one pill or 1/2 a dose.  So, if you've been off it for 2 weeks, you're probably likely to be one of the forunate ones who may not have the severe reactions that many people get.  My therapist told me last week that most of her clients who are on effexor and try to stop have to be hospitalized.  Makes me think I'll be on it forever.  I hope you don't get any symptoms!  I'm also sorry life has been so stressful for you!

Sandra

4/ 5/12 11:44am

Don't get me wrong. My life is not full of "rainbows and balloons" but I have none of the symptoms a lot of the others are suffering from. Sure, I am sad and depressed some days - but look at the world we live in... I just hope that I don't wake up one morning "crashed" and unable to function...