getting off effexor onto zonisamide

[babygirl3ch]

I am a 37 yr old woman.I was on 50 mg. of effexor and i couldnt sleep at nite so my doctor started me on 25 mg. of zonisamide and took me off effexor.I am having horrible side effects but dont know which med. is causing it.I have been crying in the mornings,having a constant stomach ache and my head feels very confused almost to the point of disillusion. Which med. is causing this?Should my doctor have me on antiseisure meds for depression?

[WeezerSeizure]

It is the zonisimide I am currently having the same experience. I am  so sorry for how you feel right now just know though that it is the zonisimide. I was experiencing those same side affects and found out it was the zonisimide. I have seizures and I was on getting off keppra onto zonisimide and was experiencing the same thing. I just went to my neurologist yesterday told him what was going on and he took me off the zonisimide and now I am on to a new and better one. Hang in there I hope you find another better medication soon.

[sharona1947]

Maybe I am going through withdrawal symptoms too from Effexor too.  I was on Effexor and Lyrica. Effexor for depression but also for neuropathy pain in my fee also.  It seemed the Lyrica and Effexor combined worked for the pain, I went to a neurologist and he took me off the Lyrica, which made me gain 60lbs! lol... and put me on Zonisamide.  It has been great for my pain.  But now that aI have been on it awhile I am feeling sick to my stomach every morning and my head feels fuzzy.
I asked if I could get off the Effexor as it was raising my blood sugar levels, I am a diabetic & Cymbalta and Effexor raises my blood sugars).  So he said sure give it a try.  I asked if I could go back on Prozac without gaining my pain back.  He thought it would be ok.  But he didn't tell me to ease off Effexor, I just stopped it cold turkey and started taking the Prozac.  Well, the pain hasn't come back but I have gone through major crying spells and depression! Not wanting to live, not able to go to work even because I couldn't stop crying.  You see, not only do I have neuropathy pain from diabetes but I have also gotten Charcot Foot & Ankle and am in pain with that.  My right foot is deformed and I have to wear a brace.  I also have developed cerebral ataxia and I not only can hardly walk but I have no balance and fall over easily.  I don't think I can live like this for the rest of my life.  I will be 65 in 2 weeks. Life is not fun and I'm ready to leave it.

[Paxiled]

Also, you're suffering classic withdrawal symptoms from the Effexor.  Did you taper off slowly, or quit abruptly?  Effexor can be a very difficult med to stop taking, so it should be done carefully.  You have three options:  go back on Effexor and taper off more slowly, go back on the Effexor if you liked it and see if you can deal with the sleep issue separately with something like melatonin or other natural remedies, since any of these meds can cause insomnia,  or just try to tough it out and hope it resolves quickly rather than later.

[M4Y0U]

I don't understand his decision. The reason you weren't able to sleep at night was mostly due to the norepinephrine reuptake inhibition of Effexor. I would have switched you on a SSRI like Zoloft of Prozac instead. No wonder why you get the depression side effects, you don't are not getting the serotonin reuptake inhibition taking place. please go talk to your doctor, they are not pharmacist.

M4