I was on Effexor and had horrible withdrawals. I ended up going to the hospital, I was in so much pain. My psychiatrist was out of town, and hadn't been of much help to start with, she had been weaning me slowly and didn't think I was going through withdrawal at all.

Anyway. I told the hospital I was at my wits end, because the medicine was causing so much pain, so they did a video conference with their psychiatrist, and she decided to just completely switch me over to Cymbalta. They're apparently in the same drug class, but they work differently on your brain chemistry so you have no withdrawal from stopping Effexor cold turkey.

The difference was immediate. I wasn't in pain anymore, and my mood was much more stable. I've been on Cymbalta now for about 4 months, and I haven't looked back. I'm so grateful to that psychiatrist for doing that, because it changed my life.

Perhaps you could check into Cymbalta or another similar drug to switch to under your psychiatrist's supervision? Best of luck.

Really you need to read Prozac Backlash, By Joseph Glenmullen MD Overcoming the Dangers of Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and Other Antidepressants with Safe, Effective Alternatives.

I read this book, which is american, they have a historic study on these types of drugs.
Basically, I and they say, these are like class A drugs, mind altering drugs, you wouldnt suddenly cut down by 25mg of a class A drug without withdrawal, people have found in America these awful withdrawal symptoms. So england does not have this studies, So with these drugs, you are being taken off them too quickly.

like with a drug slice little slithers off it, little, and I mean really slither of a slice, to get the least of those nasty withdrawal symptoms. and Report on a yellow form you can get from chemists about the effects you have while coming off them.

I did it very very slowly, with visual disturbances, electric shocks through me, head aches, sleepy tearful. So if you can go somewhere quite without the responsibility of kids. Im being serious. You wouldnt want someone on class A drugs to withdrawal, with kids about, so you shouldnt on these. Like with class A drugs you could end up fitting, convulsing ,,, and if you come off too quick, it can bring you into a another, big downer of depression worse than before. Your brain which was without those chemicals, needs time to ajust. GPs dont know this, they maybe dont read about it, in the magazines or updates, or maybe not what they are interested in. I was in france, and did this very very slowly, I got very emotional, all sorts of withdrawal. So tell your doctor you think hes doing it too quickly, get the tablet form, cuts bits off, if capsule, take a bit, out, bit by bit. I wish you all the best,,, But do tell your doctor!! and the chemist!!

Effexor is one of the most difficult antidepressants to get off of. Taper slowly, drink lots of water and exercise. It takes awhile to completely get out of your system. Good Luck

@A MyDepressionTeam Member I've said it multiple times. I am weaning gradually. And still I receive these effects. I refuse to continue to be on Effexor for the rest of my life. I locked it once I'm sure I can do it again.

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A MyDepre...

Definitely talk to your doctor about a gradual wean. It is dangerous to try to stop cold turkey if you are having these types of withdrawals I would say hopefully the doctor is or will have you taper slowly. I was taking something a few months ago which I can't remember the name now (brain fart😂) and I thought I could just taper for a week and be ok though I had every withdrawal your talking about. I had to take the same amount for a week then decrease the amount and take it for a week and do the same thing for a month then went to every other day for a week then every two days for a week and so on. I did have a better experience doing that taper than the taper I tried to do myself. However I am still on Effexor, Wellbutrin, and atomoxetine. It seems medication will always be apart of my life unfortunately.