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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6363)Comment receiving replies
Happy Monday All!
I warn you that this post might be a little all over the place, I have a lot of thoughts going through my mind (watch out......lol.....I'm thinking...lol).
First, would someone please explain to me what 'BRAIN ZAPS' are????
I know all about the shivers, but not the 'brain zaps'.
I know I have mentioned this before, just not sure if anyone agrees with me or not but.....
for those of us who were put on Effexor for anxiety or depression (not for menopausal symptoms, sorry)…….
I know I have been suffering with anxiety since I was a young child (many moons ago).
I know it is a genetic disease since my dad, son and daughter also suffer with it.
I am under NO illusion that I can 'handle' my anxiety without meds.
I tried for years and years with therapy. No, I did not try any supplements.
I believe that many of us have had similar experiences like mine.
So, after all this babbling, my question to you is....
Why do you think that you no longer need any meds to help with the symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Believe me, I am NOT trying to tell you what to do, I am just trying to understand.
I am reducing my dosage of Effexor because I feel that the high dosage (300 mg a day) has impacted my memory and my affect.
Since my reduction, I feel like my head is no longer in the 'clouds'. It feels 'lighter'.
Like I said before, I KNOW I NEED MEDS TO KEEP MY ANXIETY SYMPTOMS UNDER CONTROL.
After dealing with anxiety for years and years, I have found Effexor to be the ONLY med that has helped me, so I will continue to remain on it.
I am currently on 2-75 mg in the morning and 1-75mg at night. I have been on this dosage for about a month now. So far, so good.
I have plans for the summer so I will remain on this dosage until after the summer. I don't want to take any chances.
Well, I'm done.
I warned you, I'd be all over the place. LOL
It's too early in the morning for me to put my thoughts in any kind of order.
(No, not withdrawal, just me).
HOPE EVERYONE HAS AN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION FREE DAY!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
Replies to "Happy Monday All! I warn you that this post might be a little all over the..."
@grandmar
Brain zaps are a common antidepressant discontinuation symptom described by patients taking venlafaxine, duloxetine, citalopram and paroxetine. Anxiety medications and sleeping pills that target GABA also appear to be linked to brain zaps. The symptom is described variously as “an electrical, shock–like sensation in the brain,” “the sensation of the brain shivering,” “brain zaps,” “brain shocks,” “brain shivers,” “head shocks,” or “cranial zings.” The "brain shivers," or electric shock-like sensations are not dangerous, but can be unpleasant. They can happen frequently enough to disrupt daily life, or quality of life. Some are confined to the brain, or head; in other cases, they begin there, but spread out to other parts of the body. Sometimes moving one's eyes quickly from side to side can trigger brain zaps. Sometimes brain zaps are accompanied by disorientation, tinnitus, vertigo and lightheadedness.
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@grandmar- Morning Ronnie. I'm with you on staying on my depressants for the rest of my life. The only time that they fail me is when I fail to take good care of myself. A lot of people build up resistance to it or develop new symptoms and the meds just don't work for them anymore and make the meds unbearable, and some people just don't want to take any medicines and want to get off them for that simple reason. SO I think that it might be more complicated than just wanting to stop taking them.
I also think that when some of us were given this medicine it was thrown at us without explanation and want to see if they are really needed. I was started on antidepressants in my early 20's. Maybe it was valium then and then when I weaned off of those I needed something else. Then antidepressants took over meds like Valium and worked a hell of a lot better.