Questions/Confusion Re: Effexor XR withdrawal
it's so bizarre to hear everyone's issues with this. i'm also experiencing with withdrawals, but my situation is somewhat unique: i'm narcoleptic. although the psychiatrist prescribed the medication for anxiety, one of the side benefits of the drug is a noted decrease in something called "cataplexy", which is basically results in momentary losses of motor control. i was never on any medication for the cataplexy, as i didn't feel it affected me enough to hassle with daily meds.
at several points during my two and a half years with effexor, something would happen where my prescription refill was interrupted for a day or two. one day off was hardly noticeable, but by day two, i got what i started to call "the wobblies"...which is basically a very noteworthy difference in my cataplectic attacks. something that would usually cause only minor annoyance resulted in almost complete incapacitation.
so i decided i wanted off. my new psychiatrist gave me a dosage decrease prescription - i was on 150 mg a day - and he was going to take me down to 37.5 + 75, and then so on and so forth. but i mislaid the prescription and as a result, decided to go cold turkey. mentally i feel fine - great, actually. i feel a great clarity. (perhaps this is due to the amazing orgasm i was able to have shortly afterwards) but "the wobblies" continue. it's been nearly a week now, and i'm trying to power through it, but the constant tightening of my muscles (my tactic for focusing through a cataplectic attack) is extremely fatiguing. WHICH brings to my next problem: it turns out i have hypothyroidism. i've been suspicious of *something* being wrong, just not knowing what. i finally got tired of guessing and i went to the doctor and the problem was immediately detected.
right now i'm just worried if i made a huge mistake going cold turkey. honestly, the worst that's happening is this wobbly issue. i just wonder how long it will take before i'm back to my own normal (only slightly wobbly) self.
am i going to be okay?
My experience is that it is always safest to taper off any medication.
Karen
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