Effexor XR discontinuation symptoms. Anxiety/Panic attack
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For the last 10 years I’ve been taking Effexor XR 150mg prescribed by an Internal Medicine doctor but improvement was very limited. The last 3 years I’ve struggled with increasing depressions and anxiety for which my doctor added Wellbutrin 150 to no effect.
I decided to seek a psychiatrist advice instead of our family doctor.
My psychiatrist informed me that neither of those medications are good for me but specially the effexor may actually be worsening the problem. He then gave me a very small dose of Prozac ,10 mg and started lowering the dose of effexor first to 75mg then 37.5 and today is the second day I haven’t taken any effexor. I have not experienced the dizziness or feeling disoriented BUT I experienced a panic attack today after having an outburst of rage and anger completely out of proportion. I feel exhausted and shaken. Many years ago I experienced the same situation when I forgot to take effexor for probably 2 days. Has this happened to other people? Does I get better? I’m feeling anguished.
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m89928 m1969
Posted
Yes. I took Effexor for about 15 years. Weaned off of it over a period of a little over a year, and discontinued it entirely 33 months ago. Even though I weaned off of it over a long period of time, and did not/do not take any other prescription medicines, I experienced the anxiety/panic after I discontinued Effexor. It was odd because I never had those symptoms before or during the time I took the medication. They were worst in the early morning, particularly when I first woke up, and later at night when I laid down to sleep. In the beginning, they lasted several hours, but gradually decreased in duration. They were bad for 4 months or so, then began to improve. I still occasionally wake up in the morning with racing heartbeat and in a panic mode, but I tell myself it will go away, and it does within 30 minutes or so now. But, right after I first stopped taking the drug-and for four to five months-I definitely had this reaction. Hang in there, it is -unfortunately-a long process. If you aren't already taking them, Omega 3s do seem to take the edge off the side effects.
m1969 m89928
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