I have been on this for about 3 months and have decided that the side effects are no longer worth the trouble. Also, I have stress induced depression as my stress is almost gone I am going to try another alternative. I was just wondering how long the coming off side effects last and how long does it stay in your system? Thanks
Robin

I had a very difficult time coming off effexor xr. I did it very slowly but had "shocks" and other things for weeks. When I got to 37.5 I even opened my capsules and split up the meds inside and took half each day and then half every other day. Honestly for me it was hell. BUT it worked really well for me while I was on it, I went off it when I found out I had add and we thought I wouldn't need it anymore. Turned out that in addition to the adderall I did have some depression and tried zoloft, which didn't work for me. Believe it or not I actually asked the dr if I could go back on effexor xr because the benefits outweighed the side effects for me. So I just started back on it again. For me it was a really long hard time coming off but eventually you will be over it. I think my dr said the effects can bother you for as many as 6 weeks. Would you be switching to another med or just coming off antidepressants all together because that may make a difference.

Prozac is supposed to help with the withdrawal. It lasts differently for different folks but 6 weeks is probably about right. I actually just did another trial with a very small dose of effexor with my leftover bit to see how it interacts with stimulants and I think I liked that though it was such a small dose it was subtle. And I've got the sleeping problems back again (waking up early & in the middle of the night) so I've gone off it again. Maybe another SSRI.

I'll be following this thread as I plan to start stepping away from Effexor in the next few days. It filled my need when I was experiencing my own stress-induced depression. I'm prepared to deal with withdrawal pains because it can't be as bad as the side effects from the drug itself. I have been sweating like an animal and been sexually dysfunctional. That's a bad combination, especially when I'm paying about $750 a year for this privilege.

I can't beleive how ****ty these make me feel to come off of!!!! :( But I'm ok I guess. I more upset now with the "zaps" than anything!! They are not welcome and I will be happy to get it over! Anyway I will keep you all posted and let you know how it is going Here is my dosage now an then.....
I started on 17.5 (the 37 gave me migraines) for about 2 weeks
Then I was on 37's for about 3 months
Decided to up myself to 75 for about 1 week (for weight loss not depression)
Then I deced to wean myself off of them now I am on about 1/2 to 1/4 pill every other day. The only problems I have is that I am tired and the zaps mess with my head. It is kinda hard to concentrate and focus when you can't function :rolleyes: . Anyway I started my daughter on supplements for add and took her off of her adderall (I don't want to ruin her liver). And I will be going on supplements my self.

Question: how long does it take to get the meds out of your system
Thanks
Robin

Robin at the dose you are at it might not be as long or as difficult - although I was at 225 mg and dropping to 150mg,75mg and 37.5mg wasn't that bad it was coming off altogether. But it eventually does get better, every time I moved it seemed my lips tingled then I got a zap and my heart sped up. I may just have to stay on them for life this time!!

Like blueguy I spend a fortune on this stuff, I spend over 100 a month on effexor and about 100 a month on adderall. My husband takes a cholesteral med that is about 75 a month so we are almost 300 a month just in meds....augh.

Itlang12,
Effexor has a very short half life, so taking a pill every other day is probably not the way to go to wean yourself off - smaller doses everyday would likely give you fewer side effects, I would think. And if the withdrawl is bad, you should take a few weeks to wean yourself off, it will be easier that way.
Oh and by the way, Adderall is not particularly hard on the liver. There are reasons you might not want your Daughter to take Adderall, but THAT is not really a valid one. Every chemical that enters the body is pretty much broken down by the liver, so the supliments you talk of could well be hard on the liver too - I'd research that carefully, since it's not like the manufacturers of supliments have to go through FDA approvals.

Hey Gregster,
I am also taking her off of the Adderall because of her attitude. Yuck, she is just nast, mean and evil. When she started hitting that is when I decided to take her off of them. She was like that on Ritalin la too. She is back to eating again and is much much happier!!! :D So the liver and kidney thing was just part of it :)
Robin

Oh and Deb I get the same thing. When ever I move I get "zaps and tingleing" I especially get it when I'm really busy or move suddenly.

I have been on this for about 3 months and have decided that the side effects are no longer worth the trouble. Also, I have stress induced depression as my stress is almost gone I am going to try another alternative. I was just wondering how long the coming off side effects last and how long does it stay in your system? Thanks
Robin

I'd like to know what the side effects are that you experienced while on the Effexor.
I just started it. I'm ramping up and just started the 75mg this week. I had to get meds for anxiety at about 3 days on the 37.5 mg.
When did the side effects start?
What were they?

Like Debs indicated, scaling the doses downward was easy enough to handle. However, the final step of not taking any at all was difficult. There were constant zaps or shocks and occasional floods of emotion from time to time, often resulting in crying. And when you're a guy in a public place, that ain't always cool. I'm still convinced it's the right move for me, though. It's been about a month and the withdrawal symptoms are subsiding. The zaps are less and less frequent. Emotions seem to be welling up just under the surface from time to time. My sweating has subsided as well but that has been amplified by the onslaught of winter. As for the sexual dysfunction, it's better now but I'm still not all the way back. I wonder how long it takes to rebound 100% or even if I will rebound 100%.

That's my update for now. It's been tougher than I expected but I'm going the right way. The next challenge is to find an alternative to meds that works for me, including nutrition, vitamins, and improved sleep habits along with glyco-nutrition.

Onward and upward...

I weaned off of Effexor XR without too many problems. I was at 225 mg, then went to 150 for 5 days, 75 for 3 days, then 75 every other day, then 37.5 every other day.
The only major side effect I had was dizziness.

I forgot! I was on 37.5 every other day for about 5 days. the dizziness lasted about 5-7 days after that.
When I was on Effexor XR for depression, it worked great for me!