Venlafaxine Withdrawal - Dizziness, Dry Mouth, Excess Sleepiness, Confusion, Mental Oblivions
Nov 30, 2014
I've been on venlafaxine for about 2 years, taking a dose of 150 mg per day. I used to take the generic pills which are cheaper. To be honest I didn't even know there was an 'original' one, named Effexor, until last friday.
When I changed town I continued the treatment with another doctor, and he suggested i came off the drug. I thought I'd try, and for the first month I reduced from 150mg to 75mg. Nothing wrong there. Then I took another step and reduced from 75 to 37,5mg and in the fourth day I collapsed.
I had this breakdown, feeling all kind of weird symptoms: dizziness, dry mouth, excess sleepiness, confusion, mental oblivions (memory lapses), total apathy, total loss of libido.
I got really scared and tried to go back on my own since I was off town and couldn't talk to the doctor.
I took for 3 days the 150 mg pills but that didn't help. I consulted another doctor and he suggested to take a 107,5 mg dose (75+37,5) for 20 days and then restore the original 150 mg dose afterwards.
It's been 6 days since I started taking this dose and I still feel awful! I feel like I'm not the same anymore!!! It's the strangest thing ever. I had to ask for a job-absent license cause I can't work in these conditions.
One other thing is that a moved from the generic pills to the Effexor (from Pfizer - Wyeth) - the doc suggested that - and I don't know if that is making things worse...
I feel really awkward, useless, like my brain is in slow motion. I've been thinking about going' cold turkey since taking back venlafaxine did not help.
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Anyone recommend a supplement to help me calm down and relax, as I'm withdrawing from Venlafaxine and I'm really having a difficult few days!
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So frustrated search for posts containing burning mouth click on them and it doesn't take you to them. Does anyone know of any links between BMS and venlafaxine.
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Has anyone else been diagnosed with this syndrome and takes venlafaxine? It's driving me insane
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which supplements to buy to help me with withdrawal of Effexor!
I've read that a good quality Omega 3 supplement will help and maybe 5 htp?
It's day 3 of withdrawal and I'm feeling so so tired and in need of some energy!
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Yes it's me again, last few days I've felt agitated and on edge now this afternoon I'm full of tears!, is this part of withdrawal? I feel very very isolated and I just need to know if this is to be expected!
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My psychiatrist has just agreed that I can try reducing my antidepressant medication. I'm on 225mg venlafaxine and 30 mg mirtazapine, and he's suggested I gradually reduce the mirtazapine first, and see what happens He's warned me that i might notice less sedation, so sleep less well. Are there any other withdrawal symptoms I should know about? Anyone else tried it?
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I have been on venlafaxine for around 10 months. I haven't had them for the last 3 days as I have been waiting to see a doctor to get a script for them. I ended up getting some today. I took 150mg for the first time. ate a banana after that. 15 minutes later i felt so sick i threw up. I don't know if i should take another tablet or not? I don't want the sweats to happen again tonight. I have been sweating excessively for the past 2 days and having nightmares. My boyfriend is going to buy me some tablets to stop me from being sick. i just want a good night sleep tonight..
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I'm so used to having a couple of cups of coffee a day but since i started withdrawing it seems to make my symptoms worse...especially the buzzing in my brain. Has anyone else found this? Any tips?
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I've got all the symptoms and feeling like death warmed up at the moment. Have been weaning off for three months now, and been on 37.5mg for a month. My philosophy had been that, once my body had levelled out on that particular dosage, I'd cut to the next ... so, here I am on nothing since last Wednesday (Tuesday today here in NZ) and suffering like crazy, but thinking one of two things. I either ride the wave, and surely, surely I'll feel better soon? Right? OR, to go back on the 37.5mg for longer!! But, if I do that, won't I just be delaying the inevitable? I mean from what I've read, the side effects are inevitable no matter what I do ... I'm self medicating with pain killers, antihistamines, and Coconut oil. Can't take Omega 3 as that by itself used to give me brain zaps so not sure what my options are here?
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I have been on antidepressants for 11 years, for OCD, and on Venlafaxine for roughly 6 years. At its highest i was on 225 mg plus 5mg Abilify. About two year ago my OCD had been under control for a good few years so i wanted to come off the medication for that reason but also I was suffering with chronic tiredness (falling asleep at work) and headaches that the drs could find no explanation for and I thought the drugs might be causing this. So I started reducing my meds.
I am off the Abilify and have got the Venlafaxine down to half a 37.5mg tab in the morning and a quarter tab in the evening. This has not been without its problems though. I could deal with the nausea/head zaps etc but about five/six months ago I tried reducing from 37.5mg every day to every other day (on the 'advice' of my GP who said it was 'such a baby dose you should be able to come off it in two weeks' ha!) and this resulted in my having heart palpitations (rate of 130bpm) and severe shakes and ending up in A&E. GP and doctor in A&E were both sceptical that withdrawal could cause this. GP made me do a 24hr heart ECG thing which came back normal so she put it down to 'anxiety'.
There were other (less severe) instances of heart palpitations in the following months that became less frequent. Then yesterday I couldn't remember if i'd taken my Venlafaxine in the morning so I took a quarter of a 37.5mg tab in the afternoon and a half of a quarter (crazy maths i know) in the evening. I then woke up suddenly at 1am and proceeded to get violent shakes and a feeling of a burning sensation in my brain. I got my partner to call an ambulance but by the time the paramedics got here the shaking had stopped and they said i was ok to stay home.
Has anyone had similar problems with convulsive shakes or heart palpitations with Venlafaxine? I want to come off it but these symptoms are alarming and no one in the medical profession seems to understand, all are dismissive of Venlafaxine withdrawal and even more so if you mention what you've 'read online'! But reading other people's experiences of this nightmare drug are reassuring me that i'm not insane (or at least no more than i was anyway).
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I have been a nurse for over 30 year, i have never realized ramipril could and has such a dramatic effect on a person,i.e. severe fatigue,very severe dizziness, dry mouth, incessant thirst, loss of appetite due to nausea,i feel hopeless as i can and do normally be able to help, but the worst of it is despite going from 2.5mg to 5mg things are going from bad to worse? i am at a loss how to help,the blood pressure is still way to high,he is on his 3rd week of medication.
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Im currently in the process of withdrawing from Zoloft / Sertraline and finding it a lot harder than I thought it would be.
I was on 50mg a day for 6 months approx, then I moved down to 50mg every other day and then finally down to 50mg every 2 days.
I took my last pill 9 days ago. The first 5 days were absolutely fine but then on the 6th day the extreme dizzy spells and brain zaps started to occur, 4 days later they are no better.
Has anyone else been through a similar experience to me? was i foolish in thinking that tapering off would result in zero side effects? how long are they likely to last and is there anything I can do to take the edge of the side effects ?
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I have been on 50MG of losartan for around 5 months. The worst side effect was sleepiness and memory loss. I started taking it at night because i was sleepy all day. This worked well for a while. lowered my BP from 160/94 to 138/80 . Sleepiness wore off then came back with a vengeance. Memory loss was awful. I went to see my Dr. and we decided to try and half my dose. I still take at night. it really puts me to sleep. This has been about 2 weeks. The last couple days have been strange. I feel depressed and fatigued and my mind is cloudy. Very difficult to concentrate. It's worse in the morning and seems to improve as the day goes on. The thing is, I'm not positive it's the meds, and not my anxiety creeping in. I'm considering quitting the losartan all together and seeing what happens. Since starting the losartan, I have lost 22 lbs, am eating better, and exercising. My BP this morning was 145/85 . I will take it again this evening.
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Sertraline/Grapefruit Juice Interaction
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug, changing your diet or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Important. Possible changes in your diet, medicine, or dosage should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.
How the interaction occurs:
Grapefruit juice decreases the ability of the gut to process sertraline.
What might happen:
The level of this drug can increase in your blood. This might lead to sleepiness, nausea, nervousness and increased heart rate.
What you should do about this interaction:
While you are taking this medicine, you should avoid eating grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. You may choose an alternative citrus beverage (such orange juice).In the event that you are instructed by a healthcare professional (e.g., doctor, pharmacist, or dietitian) to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice you should immediately discuss with doctor the effects of grapefruit on the blood levels of this medicine. If you notice an increase in any side effect from your medicine, such as sleepiness, nausea, nervousness, or increased heart rate, contact your doctor.Your healthcare professionals may be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change your medicine or diet before checking with them first.
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I was diagnosed with RRMS in 2000 in the middle of flare which caused numbness in my face and just a weird feeling when I walked. I have been fortunate not to have experienced too many problems aside from a couple of minor flares and the usual fatigue that goes along with MS.
Last week I was on my computer and all of a sudden I felt like I was not quite sure what was real...thoughts racing from one thing to another. I kept thinking of things and would immediately wonder if it happened. I finally decided to go the the ER. Doc did a neuro exam and said it was OK. I also thought I had a UTI but urine came back clear. He told me to go home and rest. The next morning when I talked to my daughter she said I sounded weird and it was taking me a long me to explain things. The MS nurse also said my speech seemed a little off and slow. Neurologist was out of town but when he came back he told her to call me to set up an EEG because it could have been a seizure. Since then my hand tremor has been more pronounced and weird little symptoms like twitches and sort of an internal tremor in my legs when I walk. I have the EEG next week and then will see my neuro.
I was just wondering else has had something similar. It was distressing to me because I can't really remember things I am usually right on top of; I couldn't remember my meds (I have a list at least). I felt like I lost time and was not sure how much.
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Anyone else feel depressed about this situation.My husband is the type that wants to be busy all the time.With this new problem..well realtively new..the atrophy,I have anxiety every day I wake up not knowing if I will feel good enough to go to the store,out to eat,trips etc.He on the other hand wants to be constantly on the go.I still have not decided to take HRT yet,so thus the confusion.I am really scared I will make the wrong choice as what to do about the therapy as well.I have had 3 different doctor opinions so far and that is depressing as it only confused me more,plus all the money its costing.Guess I could use some encourageing words.Thanks.I thought I sailed through menopause and it was over,didnt even know about atrophy..what a surprise and not a good one!
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I've been on it for years and it's been brilliant. I was tired all the time and it gave me new energy.
The downside is that if you miss a couple of doses the withdrawal side-effects are quite horrendous. Venlafaxine XL (time released ones) are gentler with the side effects than the ordinary ones.
They've definitely worked for me.
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My physician hasn't been very helpful on the matter of brain fog. I can't focus. I am constantly losing my train of thought and half the time can not speak without sounding like I just had something along the lines of a stroke. I sometimes can't form a complete thought. I've had Fibromyalgia since I was a child and I'm used to the pain, it's just a part of my life now, but the fog seems to be worsening. It's hard to even write this because I keep losing track of the topic.
It's putting my job on the line. I can barely function. I'm feeling like I can't do anything right. I have a hard time processing what people are saying to me and everyone is so tired of having to repeat themselves, and people are always yelling at me for constantly forgetting things and it's like I'm in a constant state of confusion. It's like my brain is tired. I had to make a PA a while back to the customers at work and I had to have someone help me because I couldn't think, and I couldn't get the words out and I told them, very slowly, "help please make this PA, I can't do words right".
Before I forget what my point was, I'm asking if there's something that can be done, on my own. I'm barely functioning, and need some advice. My doctor wasn't very helpful at all, and he won't hear me out. He won't refer me to pain management because he wants to take care of this himself, which he isn't doing. He has me on Tramadol and while it helps take the pain from a 9 to a 4, it definitely makes the fibro fog worse.
Is anyone else dealing with this? What do you do to help it? I'm only 22 and I feel like fibro fog is going to destroy my future.
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I recently had outpatient gynecological surgery, following which I had frequent urination, burning, stinging when urinating and side and back pain on the right side. Went back to my doctor, and she diagnosed a UTI and put me on doxy and Cipro. Took them a few days, but the side and back pain persisted, on and off, in waves. I also became debilitated with extreme fatigue and weakness--i went back to the doctor, and couldn't even fill out a simple form in the office, simply couldn't think or have the energy to write. She sent me to the ER, saying she thought I had a kidney stone. They did a CT scan and said I have stone in my kidney, but that normally when it's in the kidney it doesn't cause pain. They couldn't explain my other symptoms (included also sweating, fairly frequent urination, low grade fever, confusion). They gave me 2 rounds of pain meds (& fluids) in the ER and I felt better for a couple hours. The next day I felt so rotten and weak I could barely sit up, i couldn't talk, check email or texts, read, move, shower, etc. over the past 3 days it has gotten slightly better. The pain has virtually subsided since the ER, but the fatigue is debilitating. Two friends described their experiences with kidney stones as similar--has anyone experienced the same? Does anything help?
I have heard water and beer help a kidney stone pass, but is that only once it's descended? I'm not really in pain, so my doctor thinks it may have shifted around in the kidney (she thinks my symptoms are something else). Anyway. I don't know if it would do any good to try to flush it out at this point or just wait and see. I simply can't go on for much longer feeling this extreme weakness and cloudy head, feeling rotten, etc. I continue to have a low grade fever, but my labs came back after the antibiotics clean. I do have similar symptoms when I get bad sinus infections, but that's clearly not the case now. Thanks!
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I'm 69 & only have had 2 significant health issues over the past 7 or so years:-
1) BPH with a permanent indwelling catheter for 3 years..
2) chronic mucus production.
the BPH has been recently sorted with a TURP but the mucus problem is still ongoing.& seems to be triggered if i want to go out or do some simple task in the house - i just cough it up to the point of being sick - the mucus is clear, sticky & sometimes frothy.
strangely the "attacks" never happen in anyone's presence & when i was in hospital for the TURP & before that for 2 weeks suffering from urine retention "the attacks" never happened at all.(??)
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