Effexor troubles.....help, please?

[tweetalope]

I need some help.  I hope someone knows something or at least has a suggestion of where I should go to find out something.

I have fibromyalgia and depression.  I am/was taking Effexor XR 150mg twice a day for my depression.  I have been on this dose for four years.  I want to try Cymbalta for the fibromyalgia because it just got approved by the FDA for its treatment.  I saw my doctor and she absolutely REFUSED to titrate me off of the Effexor before starting me on the Cymbalta.  I told her that she needed to titrate me off, but she just refused!  She told me to quit taking Effexor cold turkey and start taking 60mg of Cymbalta ONCE a day.

I have been without Effexor for two days.  I woke up this morning so miserable.  I was so dizzy.  I was walking like I was drunk.  I nearly fell many times.  I could not hold things; I kept dropping them.  I have gotten nauseous a couple of times.  I have had severe headaches. 

Anyway, I was SO MISERABLE tonight, that I broke down and took an Effexor XR 150mg capsule.  I don't know what to do now, though.  I am going to switch doctors ASAP, but I don't know how long it will take in the system I am in.  My plan is to just take the Effexor as usual and NOT take the Cymbalta until I get a new doctor.  But I still feel pretty bad even though I had a dose of the Effexor.  Does anyone know how long it takes for it to get back into my system?  When will I feel better?

And how exactly am I supposed to titrate it?  I want an idea so I can know if my new doctor is actually doing it right.  I cannot believe this other doctor told me to go off of it cold turkey!!

Any help or support is appreciated.

[laura124]

My girlfriend was an Effexor and quit cold turkey AND had all the symptoms you're having.  She says that she felt like she had the flu, it was awful.  She also said she was having "brain zaps"--that's scary.  I can't remember how long it lasted, I'll ask her but she stuck with it cold turkey and it eventually subsided.  Check the half life of Effexor (that is how long it stays in your system after you discontinue it).  Cymbalta is the same drug basically, different company.  My friend is on Celexa and loves it--no side effects or anything.  Ask your doctor but I think you're going to have to stick out the withdrawals.

[bettys814]

Usually when changing antidepressants, you wean off one while you wean onto another.  If effexor and cymbalta are essentially the same, there would be no need to do that.  However, perhaps your cymbalta dose is too low to be comparable to the effexor dose.  Maybe you should be taking the 60 mg. twice a day..(Ask your doctor before doing this!!) Therefore, you would have discontinuation symptoms.  I know that usually within 3 hours or so of a dose of effexor, the symptoms should abate.  I weaned off effexor 150, with not too many problems.  But I did it very slowly.  However when I changed from lexapro to generic citalopram, I just went right from one to the other because they are mostly the same drug.  I had no problems there either.  Hope this helps! 

[ceh1354]

First and foremost, I wouldn't tell you to go against anything a medical professional has told you. However.... Effexor is well known to have bad withdrawal effects. I personally got them quite badly, even for only being on it for one year at 75 MG.
I agree, if you feel that badly, you should keep on what you have been doing (Effexor), until you can get to another Dr. The Effexor shouldn't take long to kick back in if you've only been off for 2 days. I can't say if your Dr. is doing it "right" or not, but I do think that you should not be in such misery! And I think you should let your new Dr. know that you were when you just quit the Effexor cold turkey.
It may take a few hours, but you should be feeling better fairly soon after your dose.
I wish you luck and hope you find a Dr. who is more sympathetic!

Hi, Betty!

ceh

[bettys814]

!

Hi, Betty!

ceh

Hey, how are you doing??   

[ceh1354]

Tweet, how are you doing? Did you continue on Effexor and are you feeling better?

I'm doing pretty well, thanks, Betty! I am 1 week and 1 day without Effexor. I have a few bouts of mild dizziness, some zaps and stomach upset. Nothing that terrible.

[bettys814]

Tweet, how are you doing? Did you continue on Effexor and are you feeling better?

I'm doing pretty well, thanks, Betty! I am 1 week and 1 day without Effexor. I have a few bouts of mild dizziness, some zaps and stomach upset. Nothing that terrible.

I am soo glad to hear that, good for you