Depression and Weight IssuesHave you been diagnosed with depression, are possibly on depression medication, and find it affects your weight loss efforts? Post here for support!
Brain zaps REALLY suck! I always get such bad SSRI withdrawls even with the SSRIs that don't have such a nasty withdrawl reputation that I refused to be put on Effexor.
The zaps are so scary and made me feel so out of control I can totally understand the impulse to want to eat, just for a sense of control. Maybe you can keep a lot of celery sticks or something with you. You can still munch on something when you get the urge and the diet impact will be minimal.
I'd also recommend a previous posters suggestion to go on a low dose of another SSRI while you're going through withdrawl.
Well, reading through these posts and I am leery to begin effexor at all. I lost my mom in August, did some counselling through my church, then when that session ended I didn't go back as I felt good. I am generally not a person who goes on pills, I am 43, started HRT, am hypo,take the pills I need only. I have been having crying jags for the last few days and went to see dr thinking I needed a boost in the HRT meds,but he seems to think this is over my mom nad not dealing with it properly. Of course, he thinks I should take these pills as I seem to be lacking serotonin in my brain. HE says counselling would help but would be slow going. I am reluctant to start these because I don't want to gain anymore weight than I already have with the thyroid, and the withdrawal really sounds scary. I really don't think that I need these pills and generally feel great. Please give me some advice!!!
I took effexor for a while and the withdrawl was pretty bad. I would avoid them if at all posible. There are lots of other antidepressants Just ask for a different one if you do feel you need one. I'v tried Quite a few others and never had any problems like I had with effexor.
Thanks, I was in Edmonton for the first time for the Easter weekend, it was nice, love the WEM!!!! We stayed downtown at the Coast Hotel and did lots of shopping. I have already made up my mind that I won't take these or any other anti depressant until I am satisfied I have tried every other avenue. I wonder if there is some sort of vitamin or such that would help boost the serotonin up?
effexor is the only anti-depressant that has worked for me (been on it almost 8 years now). I have no immediate plans to go off of it. I have an imbalance with serotonin and effexor corrects that. Why stop something that works?
effexor changed my life-- I take it for anxiety, not depression-- and I haven't had a panic attack in monthes, skipping doses can be bad for some-- I get headaches, dizzy and exauseted-- but it's worth it for me.
I'm on Effexor XR for the 2nd time around. The first time I was on a much higher dosage than I am now. I had brain zaps while on it and all through the weaning process. In fact, brain zaps was the reason I came off of Effexor.
The one thing I learned was that the smaller the decrease and the slower you take it, the 'easier' it'll be. Unfortunately, I spiralled downward really bad after coming off of it and went back on it. This time things seem better. I've been taking it for about 6 years now.
I have been on Effexor, Paxil, and a few others over the last 10 years. Each of them had some side effect I couldn't live with or they just didn't work. I am now on Wellbutrin for my depression and Celexa for my anxiety. This is the best I've had so far. It's also the first time I went to a psyciatrist instead of my regular doctor.
I guess what I'm saying is don't give up. There is help out there but I think each of us responds to meds in different ways.
The "brain zaps" are your neurotransmitters getting back in balance with your body. They are not an alien phenomenon, nor are they harmful.
Many ways (I have discontinued efexor thrice) can be used to ameliorate the symptoms. Try pulling your XR capsule apart, and take out 2/3 pellets every 2 days. the 2 times I withdrew from it, the symptoms were unnoticable.
Efexor isn't some demon weight-gain drug, there are many confounds to deal with when you are depressed. Blaming it on the pills is not only hindering the real solution, but will probably end up seeking another pill.....
I would say that in many cases its hard to stop taking Effexor, and that it does not work well for everyone. There are many, many other SSRI's available...if you haven't taken anything for depression before, perhaps try another type that doesn't have the difficult withdrawal reputation. If you have to change it up to find the right medication for you, it will be easier. If Effexor doesn't agree with you the withdrawal may scare you away from trying another medication...which you may in fact need.
Velveteen...obviously your decision to go off of Effexor is a huge one. The withdrawal symptoms will pass. Take it slow, you can do this! A LOT of us did it, and we're here to write about it!
Geez...after reading some of these posts I am scared to death. Today, my doctor diagnosed me with severe depression. He put me on Effexor XR and I will start it in the morning. I know different people react to things differently, so I am going to look at this as a positive for me. I hope I do not have some of the experiences some of you have described. Also, I probably sound like a dummy but what exactly is a "brain zap"? Blasto described it as your neurotransmitters getting back in balance with your body. Honestly I have no idea what that means...lol. Is it pains in your head or what?? I wish you all luck on coming off and continued luck to those who are staying on and I hope this is what I need to get better.
My Dr. prescribed Effexor for hot flash relief but I couldn't take the nausea it caused me. Took it for one day and felt awful. I've since heard you get over that if you stay on it. My brother works in the pharmaceutical field and they refer to it as "side-Effexor".
I'm now 3 weeks Effexor free! I am still getting the occassional buzzing in the head but it really seems I'm out of the woods now!
I feel better, though I have to say I have had some outburts of crying (I personally think with good reason) that I was able to supress when I was on the drug. I am not sure suppression is the answer for me though, so ultimately this is better for me.
I have spent my whole life basically internalising things and now I feel free to just feel my feelings, get them out, talk to people and move on
while on it and all through the weaning process. In fact, brain zaps 
