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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by scooby43215 on July 22, 2009, at 12:04:32
I have been on 75 mg of Effexor for 10 years. Due to sexual dysfunction, I tapered off the drug (with my doctor's help). I have been off of it for 3 weeks and still cannot get an erection and have bouts of crying (I never had bouts of crying while on the drug). My doctor said they should be lessening, but thy aren't. Anyone experienced this? How long should I expect these to last?
Posted by Phillipa on July 22, 2009, at 12:28:51
In reply to HELP Effexor Withdrawel, posted by scooby43215 on July 22, 2009, at 12:04:32
Well first l0 years is a long time for a med to work so that is great. I'd imagine sinde it has to my undertanding a pretty long life that at three weeks still a bunch stored in body fat. I'd say give it more time. I'm sorry your're having such a problem with it. Phillipa
Posted by manic 666 on July 22, 2009, at 12:42:17
In reply to HELP Effexor Withdrawel, posted by scooby43215 on July 22, 2009, at 12:04:32
i had a bad time comeing of that med, if your not takeing any other med 5 htp is ok an maby valerian ,
Posted by bleauberry on July 22, 2009, at 15:38:47
In reply to HELP Effexor Withdrawel, posted by scooby43215 on July 22, 2009, at 12:04:32
I have come to the belief that when one has been on a med for years, it takes quite a bit of time for the body and mind to adapt to the new environment where that molecule that has been there so long is gone.
With me it was Prozac almost 9 years and Zyprexa almost 8 years. I think it really took about 3 months post Prozac to feel I had finally settled into a baseline and that the majority of adaptations were behind me. With Zyprexa the time frame was about the same. Three months. The withdrawals were over long before that. What followed was the adaptation adjustment stage. Bouts of crying, bouts of nervousness, bouts of feeling fairly good, bouts of incredible fatigue, bouts of energy, all kind of mixed together in random fashion. This all settled down to a steady state in about 3 months, at which time it was apparent my steady state baseline was somewhere between dysthymia and major depression, exactly where I had started years ago before the meds.
AT this stage you are still feeling some withdrawals and they will continue for at least another 3 weeks, my best hunch. They should lessen a tiny bit as days go by but will continue. After that, things will still be weird. Effexor is notoriously nasty to get off of, with some unspecified action on the opioid system being suspect, so it would not surprise me if the road ahead continues rough for a while. As long as you know that up front, brace yourself, fasten your seatbelts, and are aware of what is going on, those things help to keep some perspection and control over the situation.
I made the choice to gut it out no matter what and it was hard. I did employ the help of some as-needed things during emergencies such as advil, benadryl, passionflower, valerian root.
I don't know what your future plans are...to stay off meds, switch to another, or what. If you had another med in mind, it might be wise to go for that right away.
Sexual dysfunction should go away in about 2 to 3 months. With some people they report it never goes away. If that were to happen, there may be another herb or med in your future that could revive things.
Posted by Zana on July 22, 2009, at 15:44:26
In reply to Re: HELP Effexor Withdrawel, posted by bleauberry on July 22, 2009, at 15:38:47
I wonder how much is withdrawal and how much is your depression showing through. What were you being treated for? And do you plan to go on to another med or are you trying to be med free? Sounds like rough going but I agree with both Phillipa and Bleauberry that it can take a long time to readjust after the withdrawal of a medication, probably longer after being on it for so long.
Hope things smooth out for you. I like Bleauberry's suggestions of some alternative stuff you can try to ease the symtpoms and agree that knowing with is withdrawal may make it more manageable.
Good luck with it. Keep us posted.
Zana
Posted by floatingbridge on July 24, 2009, at 2:13:03
In reply to HELP Effexor Withdrawel, posted by scooby43215 on July 22, 2009, at 12:04:32
Hi, There's an earlier thread from a week or two ago, still on the board "getting of Pristiq for emsam. Many different palliative measures were offered. (Pristiq is the new effexor.) While effexor is notoriously tough to kick, some people really do it easily and smoothly. I hope that is your situation.
best regards,
fb
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