Hi All!
I am curious about something??????????
All of us are in this group and on this thread because we are thinking of, are in the process of or finished the process of coming off Effexor.
I know regardless of where we are, we are all angry that we were not told how addicting this drug is and how awful the withdrawal is.
That being said.....
1. I am looking to reduce my dosage from 300 mg a day to what I think is more manageable, possibly 75 mg a day. Maybe less in the future.
2. I am in the process of reducing and taking my time doing it.
3. Why don't I intend to come off of it? The answer is easy for me, I don't know that the other drugs out their would be any better. I tried about 3 others and they didn't help me at all, but gave me horrible a horrible headache as my body was getting used to it. Because I went straight from one drug to another, I am not sure if withdrawal would be an issue.
4. When I tried to come off of it before (via my PCPs suggestion and her schedule), I started have horrible anxiety attacks after a couple of days, that I was not able to leave my house or go to work. As I think about it, I was on a low dosage of the Effexor because of the horrible anxiety attacks I suffered from. What made me think that removing any part of the med would not cause me to have attacks.
5. I believe with all my heart and soul that MY anxiety is genetic. My two children have it and so did my father. There could be more out there, I don't know. So yes, that away any part of the drug that was helping and yes, the attacks would come back. Is it withdrawal or just my body telling me I need this in order to keep calm.
6. Guess what I am asking, are we really having withdrawal OR is it our bodies fighting us for something we NEED, just as a diabetic's sugar will drop if his/her meds are not taken, OR a person who has another ailment that needs meds that are stopped?????
I am NOT saying we are having withdrawals, I am just asking if it just couldn't be our bodies telling us that the meds we were taking were making our chemical make-up different that satisfied our bodies.

Guess I have too much time on my hands.
Thanks for letting ramble!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)