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Wanting to get off Effexor XR

Hello everyone, I am 22 and I have severe anxiety and panic attacks, I was on Luvox since 2006 and it helped me out tremendously, but this year it felt like it was starting to wear off, I went to my pdoc and she gave me this demon anti depressant ''effexor XR'' and at first I didn't really feel much from it, but I have been on it a month and it has helped my depression out and put my mood up a bit but my anxiety and panic attacks have been the worst they have ever been so bad that I feel depersonalized because of it as in i don't feel like im myself etc. I am just wondering if I stopped taking it, how bad would the withdrawals be? I have only been on it a month, and I hate it yet I have heard horror stories of people not being able to get off it cause the withdrawal symptoms are so bad. Does anyone have any advice?
Best Answer
480448 tn?1426948538
Hello!

Yeah, unfortunately, Effexor isn't usually the best option for people who have severe anxiety/panic, or for people whose main problem is anxiety.  Effexor is very activating, and because it works to increase norepinephrine (aka adrenaline), it often exacerbates anxiety.

Talk to your doctor about trying something else.  I would recommend one of the SSRI meds, like Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, etc.  Those are MUCH more appropriate meds to treat anxiety issues versus the SNRIs like Effexor.

Do not stop taking it on your own.  You will need to be gradually tapered off.  You've only been on it a month, so you shouldn't need too long to taper.  Effexor is notoriously one of the harder ADs to come off of, which is why you want to do this correctly.

Definitely talk to your doc.  I agree you need a new plan!  Let us know how it's going!
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1110049 tn?1409402144
Hi there, How are you?  Have you managed to withdraw from Effexor.  In my 8th month of withdrawing and doing well.  Hope you are too.  Let me know how you are.
Helpful - 0
1110049 tn?1409402144
Hi there.  Unfortunately when I was put on Prozac it had dreadful side effects.  worse drug I have ever been on.  Much worse than Effexor, which has suited me just fine.

People react differently to drugs, so we cannot really advise people what to take.  Some people are fine on Prozac, and some fine on Effexor - but there are other people who react badly to both.  There is  no way, in my circumstances, that I could take Prozac whilst weaning off Effexor.  

I am doing well gradually reducing my Effexor dose.  I don't want to take another anti-depressant to help with that.

We are all different.  I am glad you are doing so well.  Have you felt fine for the year you have been off anti depressants?  
Helpful - 0
1110049 tn?1409402144
Hi I am weaning off 150mg Effexor after 9 years on it, although I have been on lots of different anti depressants for 20 years.  Yes, I am old too!!

How are you getting on?  Are you feeling the benefits of Effexor, or do you still want to withdraw?

Different antidepressants react differently on people.  For example Effexor stopped my depression, anxiety and panics with no side effects, whereas other anti depressants have not suited me at all.  Often we have to try different ones, until we find the one that suits us best.

Have you spoken to a doctor about this?

I am in  my 8th month of withdrawing from Effexor and have felt fine.  No side effects at all.  The answer is, take it slowly.  If you have not been on it for long, your withdrawal should be less, but I advise slowly anyway.

Good luck.

Helpful - 0
784558 tn?1276007829
It's likely that you have not yet felt the full benefits from Effexor. I've been on it for years, (as I'm old I'll probably remain on it for life). Suggest you give it more time to 'click in' before thinking of coming off it. Whilst the side effects can be unpleasant, the benefits outweigh them. (For me) Good luck!
Helpful - 0
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