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Help with coming off effexor

Posted , 4 users are following.

Jakemje
Jakemje

Ok. I don't know what to think. So I will tell my story in a short blip here and hopefully someone can give me some insights

I have had GAD/panic for almost 15 years. Took lexapro for 10 of them and worked great. It pooped out and was put on zoloft. It just made me feel aggravated all the time (along with 6mg daily of valium) took the zoloft for about 8 months and the doc switched me to prozac (still with the 6mg of valium) worked pretty well for almost 2 years. Then it pooped out

Then comes the effexor 75mg. First day felt drunk on it. After that, had about a week of feeling ok, then for 3 weeks had massive headaches on it. Doc told me to taper off it and start 20mg of paxil with it. Tapered down to just 9.37mg of the effexor and stopped 8 days ago.

For the first 3 days or so, didn't feel anything different in the way of withdrawals. Day 4-6 alittle sickly feeling.. yesterday and today. I feel like I'm dying. Cold then hot, dizzy, very tired, just sick feeling.

But I'm on week 4 of the paxil and still taking the valium.

Does this sound common to have withdrawals this late after stopping while on a new ssri? And that I didn't take a large dose of the effexor for long?

Thank you for reading this and any imput is greatly needed and appreciated

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • cora2020
    cora2020 Jakemje

    Posted

    I wouldn't stop straight away. I'm coming off also but I've been on 75mg daily to reduce now I'm on 37.5mg daily. My next plan is to start taking 37.5 every other day. It's never a good idea to cold turkey. It can bring on fits. good luck x

  • elaine73394
    elaine73394 Jakemje

    Posted

    I don't think you were taking Venlaflaxine for long enough or at a high enough dose to give you withdrawal like you describe. Could it be adjusting to Paxil.? Or just the different meds at different doses that you've been taking over a few weeks may have messed you up a bit. Have you taken Paxil before? What you have sounds like wide effects from new med rather than withdrawal from a med you were on for a very short time. Goodluck to you and here to help if you need it

    • Jakemje
      Jakemje elaine73394

      Posted

      This is my first time on paxil..but I would hope that after 4 weeks on paxil, the startup side effects would be gone
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