Effexor XR---worst WDs ever.

Anybody else on this forum stop using Effexor? I was on 225mg daily taken at night. I was tapered off over only a 1 month period and put on 40mg of Viibryd. Terrible auditory hallucinations, extreme insomnia, rancid smelling sweat. Anytime I would nod off finally, a loud thunderclap would go off in my head and I'd be jarred awake. Anybody whotakes Effexor and plans on stopping, just know you are in for about 5 days of hell! Any other experiences shared would be great!

 

I never took it. They tried to get me to take it, but my grandmother takes it and she gained a lot of weight on it and it also gave her a 'hot' sensation like she was constantly sweating all the time, it was like summer in winter for her. So I was like NOPE! Fuck that shit.

 

I tapered off Effexor and a couple of other meds 3 years ago, all over the course of one month. Not fun but I lived through it. I tell you, it makes you think twice about any medications you start afterward.

Hang in there :grouphug:

 

It worked great for my depression as a result of a divorce and my inability to cope with the lack of time with my son as a result. My only problem with it besides coming off was my nonexistent libido.

 

My libido did not suffer because of Effexor.

I went off all my meds for a few years due to financial inability to stay on them and keep up with doctor appointments.

 

Any tips on helping bring back my libido a little faster? Been off Effexor for 3 months and still not where I would like it to be and it's hurting a relationship.

 

Are you taking other medications? Sometimes it DOES take 3-6 months for the Serotonin and Norepinephrine post-synaptic receptors to UP-regulate after being thrashed-upon by Venlafaxine for long periods of time.

If it is really a BIG problem, taking Bupropion is considered helpful by many medical professionals. It is also, yes, an antidepresant, but a very different type. It is more related to amphetamine and has NO affinity for the serotonin transporter. Its moderate affinity for the Dopamine Transporter increases sexual appetite.

However, I can completely understand why you would not want to take ANOTHER antidepressant after just getting off of one! People also use the herbal extract Yohimbe for sexual dysfunction caused by SSRIs/SNRIs. I would be very cautious about the dosing however, as taking too high of a dose can elevate one's heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels.

However, it is completely legal and commonly used in the United States.