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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by shellybelle911 on January 19, 2005, at 2:09:05
I just found this site -- i was just taken off of effexor xr 150 mg and put on lamactil 25 mg and today i feel just awful...am dizzy, lightheaded, and aching all over. Is this normal??? Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated as i am new to all of this...
Thank you,
Michelle
Posted by alexandra_k on January 19, 2005, at 2:24:53
In reply to I am new here, posted by shellybelle911 on January 19, 2005, at 2:09:05
Hey there. From the Dr-Bob homepage there is a link to 'Frequently Asked Questions about Venalafaxine' (or however you spell it) / Effexor.
>Q Are there withdrawal effects if venlafaxine is suddenly discontinued?
>A Because of its very short half-life, venlafaxine should be discontinued gradually over at least 2 weeks. If venlafaxine is suddenly discontinued, a withdrawal syndrome involving fatigue, nausea, dizziness, headache, insomnia, and nervousness may develop.So yes, what you are experiencing sounds normal! Lots of people here (over on the Babble / Medications board) have talked about the side affects of suddenly stopping taking this medication.
Me personally, I don't have any side affects if I stop taking mine. But I guess I am lucky there :-)
If it is bad or whatever then maybe you could contact your Dr again and tell them about the side affects. They should really taper you off it not just discontinue it like that...
Hey, welcome to Babble.
Check out the rest of the boards.
:-)
Hope you feel better soon
Posted by shellybelle911 on January 19, 2005, at 2:38:29
In reply to Re: I am new here » shellybelle911, posted by alexandra_k on January 19, 2005, at 2:24:53
> Hey there. From the Dr-Bob homepage there is a link to 'Frequently Asked Questions about Venalafaxine' (or however you spell it) / Effexor.
>
> >Q Are there withdrawal effects if venlafaxine is suddenly discontinued?
> >A Because of its very short half-life, venlafaxine should be discontinued gradually over at least 2 weeks. If venlafaxine is suddenly discontinued, a withdrawal syndrome involving fatigue, nausea, dizziness, headache, insomnia, and nervousness may develop.
>
> So yes, what you are experiencing sounds normal! Lots of people here (over on the Babble / Medications board) have talked about the side affects of suddenly stopping taking this medication.
>
> Me personally, I don't have any side affects if I stop taking mine. But I guess I am lucky there :-)
>
> If it is bad or whatever then maybe you could contact your Dr again and tell them about the side affects. They should really taper you off it not just discontinue it like that...
>
> Hey, welcome to Babble.
> Check out the rest of the boards.
> :-)
> Hope you feel better soon
>
>
>
>
>
I think my doctor took me off the effexor suddenly as i was recently diagnosed as bipolar and he thought that the effexor was aggravating this. And since starting effexor i have been very prone to anxiety and panic attacks. The anxiety has gotten very bad and it did not help at all with the depression with which i was hospitalized last month. He feels the lamactil will help more with that--I can only hope, I am very tired of feeling this way. Lately i always feel that i am going to explode--and in my job this is really not a very good thing as i deal with the public and not during their good times. Sorry to be so lengthy with this...all i know is none of the ssris that i have been on have helped and i am really starting to feel as if nothing will. I am also having a lot of difficulty sleeping for more than 2 or 3 hours even with ambien and i work midnights so this is really not a good thing...
Posted by alexandra_k on January 19, 2005, at 4:56:30
In reply to Re: I am new here, posted by shellybelle911 on January 19, 2005, at 2:38:29
Hmm. I don't really know very much about medications. I wonder whether it may be possible to gradually reduce your effexor (rather than just stopping it) while you are taking the other medication.
I don't know. I guess it would also depend on whether it was making you 'worse' than your current withdrawal.
It may be worthwhile posting something about your situation on the main Babble board as people know more about different medications over there.
They may be able to suggest something helpful.
You didn't go on :-)
Posted by saw on January 19, 2005, at 8:03:51
In reply to Re: I am new here, posted by shellybelle911 on January 19, 2005, at 2:38:29
Hi Shelly
I too went from Effexor to Lamictal. I am not bipolar though. I tapered slowly and started Lamictal slowly so I was lucky not to feel what you have. If only these meds worked for us without all the horrible side effects and discontinuation syndromes, let alone finding the right med.
But I really know the feeling of wanting to explode and of being so tired of feeling this way.
You are not alone.
And welcome
Sabrina
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