Has anyone else stopped taking an antidepressant? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

IluvLucy · 03-15-2008, 07:02 PM

My surgeon took me off Effexor before my surgery Wednesday. I started taking it when my husband died 2.5 years ago and now I think I'm having withdrawal from it!

I'm not going to start taking it again because I believe it's in my best interest not to.

I looked it up and I think what I'm going thru is called "brain shivers"

Scarey - my brain needs ALL its cells in good working order

Chrissy0277 · 03-15-2008, 07:06 PM

Your supposed to be weaned off of it not just stopped or you will withdraw big time

IluvLucy · 03-15-2008, 07:11 PM

My surgeon told me I could begin taking it again if I wanted to.

He didn't say anything about weaning me off it. Maybe I need to take one and call him on Monday to get some instructions about being weaned off.

romeos mommy · 03-15-2008, 07:15 PM

you should never go cold turkey on effexor. it is dangerous. you are messing with brain chemicals.

kalina82 · 03-15-2008, 07:15 PM

you should definitely wean yourself off them. you cannot just stop cold turkey. your body has gotten used to being supplied with what it needs from the pills and therefore doesn't make as much anymore. by stopping cold turkey you are denying your body what it needs because it doesn't realize yet that your not taking the pills anymore. i'd wean yourself off for one to two weeks. start by taking a half pill for about a week, then go to 1/4 pill for a few days, and then stop.

Patti · 03-15-2008, 07:26 PM

I have tried to stop taking Zoloft and after a few days of total irritability and anxiety started up again. You do need to wean off them.

sweetheartsok · 03-15-2008, 07:31 PM

Your doctor was so wrong to tell you to do that. I was on Effexor a few years ago and it took me over a month to slowly wean myself off of it and even after the month my brain was still off. I would suggest going back on and if you want to go off open up the capsules and slowly lower the amount of granules you take. I went right down to maybe 10 granules before I quit and right away I went on to Zoloft because I didn't want to be depressed again. You have to be very careful, especially with Effexor. You can read up on all kinds of horror stories online about going off of it the right way. It's not an easy one to get out of your system.

I'm glad you posted and asked for advice. Let us know what you decide to do and how you are doing. I'll be thinking about ya!!!

kalina82 · 03-15-2008, 07:34 PM

effexor is in capsules? i can't remember. i took effexor a few years ago and it didn't work for me so i weaned off of it and started taking celexa. much better. add in some wellbutrin and i'm feeling great!

teh capsules are harder to wean off of just because you can't split it into pieces like pills. sweetheartsok has the idea tho!

4doggiemama · 03-15-2008, 07:40 PM

Yikes! What is with doctors these days? A doc told one of my co-workers to stop taking her anti-depressant cold turkey, and she about lost it.

We persuaded her to go back on it after a couple of days, and she did much better gradually weaning herself. She changed doctors.

KitKat · 03-15-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IluvLucy

My surgeon took me off Effexor before my surgery Wednesday. I started taking it when my husband died 2.5 years ago and now I think I'm having withdrawal from it!

I'm not going to start taking it again because I believe it's in my best interest not to.

I looked it up and I think what I'm going thru is called "brain shivers"

Scarey - my brain needs ALL its cells in good working order

I also take Effexor and I was as sick as a dog about 3 weeks ago and kept forgetting to take my daily dose. I got the brain shivers too (which I found out thanks too my best friend Google

) and I had no idea what it was! It was really bad too, I was getting it every few minutes and thought I was dying!

I had never experienced that before! But once I started taking it again, it immediately went away.

KitKat · 03-15-2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IluvLucy

My surgeon told me I could begin taking it again if I wanted to.

He didn't say anything about weaning me off it. Maybe I need to take one and call him on Monday to get some instructions about being weaned off.

Yikes! I would switch doctors. He should know that and definitely have told you that. I would take your usual dose tonight and tomorrow night and then call him on Mon morning and figure out how you should ween off of it.

TommiGirl · 03-16-2008, 01:31 AM

My mom went off Effexor cold turkey and had no problems.
She did read about the "brain shivers" but that never happened to her.
She had been on it for 6 months. She has been off it since July 2007 now.
And no repercussions.

She had gone on it for the same reason. My dad passed away.

Everyone is different!

Keep us posted on what they doctor says and all. Hope you feel okay!

IluvLucy · 03-16-2008, 05:20 AM

I took on elast night before I went to bed and can definitely tell the difference this morning! I"m going to call my doctor tomorrow first thing and ask lots of questions.

Thanks everybody

BellieBoo · 03-16-2008, 06:10 AM

glad you're feeling better, i hope everything works out for the best, and please keep us updated

(((((hugs))))

red98vett · 03-16-2008, 07:34 AM

oh girl - that's scary - I don't know what brain shivers are but it sounds awful. What does your doctor say about starting back on it ?

I was put on an antidepressant after my husband died a few months ago and couldn't handle it. I had to stop after only a few days - but I'm taking anti-anxiety medication now and it's a huge help -

I don't know if you can switch after being on something so long but I don't have any side effects (except for crying) when I run out - .....I mostly take it at night - sleeping is something I don't 'do' well at all now.

How are you feeling other than that ? I would def call your doctor and if you get scared ...maybe you can call the ER and speak to a registered nurse...they can't 'diagnose' but they can tell you alot if they're experienced and usually will help someone on the phone. They may tell you to come in - but sometimes will help settle your fears -

good luck !!

ooops - just saw your post and am so glad you feel better !!!

03-15-2008, 07:02 PM	#1
IluvLucy Lovin' Lucy & Rebel Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 4,438	Has anyone else stopped taking an antidepressant? My surgeon took me off Effexor before my surgery Wednesday. I started taking it when my husband died 2.5 years ago and now I think I'm having withdrawal from it! I'm not going to start taking it again because I believe it's in my best interest not to. I looked it up and I think what I'm going thru is called "brain shivers" Scarey - my brain needs ALL its cells in good working order __________________ Kim , Rebel ,and baby Dixie RIP my sweet Lucy

03-15-2008, 07:06 PM	#2
Chrissy0277 Its all about the yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,451	Your supposed to be weaned off of it not just stopped or you will withdraw big time __________________ CHRISSY Nikki Precious Lizzy Mimi , Lena Taboo

03-15-2008, 07:11 PM	#3
IluvLucy Lovin' Lucy & Rebel Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 4,438	My surgeon told me I could begin taking it again if I wanted to. He didn't say anything about weaning me off it. Maybe I need to take one and call him on Monday to get some instructions about being weaned off. __________________ Kim , Rebel ,and baby Dixie RIP my sweet Lucy

03-15-2008, 07:15 PM	#4
romeos mommy YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pennsauken , NJ Posts: 4,068	you should never go cold turkey on effexor. it is dangerous. you are messing with brain chemicals. __________________ Bernadette & Romeo

03-15-2008, 07:15 PM	#5
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: with my yorkie baby Posts: 10,141 Blog Entries: 1	you should definitely wean yourself off them. you cannot just stop cold turkey. your body has gotten used to being supplied with what it needs from the pills and therefore doesn't make as much anymore. by stopping cold turkey you are denying your body what it needs because it doesn't realize yet that your not taking the pills anymore. i'd wean yourself off for one to two weeks. start by taking a half pill for about a week, then go to 1/4 pill for a few days, and then stop. __________________ Kellie and Morgan

03-15-2008, 07:26 PM	#6
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I have tried to stop taking Zoloft and after a few days of total irritability and anxiety started up again. You do need to wean off them. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

03-15-2008, 07:31 PM	#7
sweetheartsok YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ontario,Canada Posts: 626	Your doctor was so wrong to tell you to do that. I was on Effexor a few years ago and it took me over a month to slowly wean myself off of it and even after the month my brain was still off. I would suggest going back on and if you want to go off open up the capsules and slowly lower the amount of granules you take. I went right down to maybe 10 granules before I quit and right away I went on to Zoloft because I didn't want to be depressed again. You have to be very careful, especially with Effexor. You can read up on all kinds of horror stories online about going off of it the right way. It's not an easy one to get out of your system. I'm glad you posted and asked for advice. Let us know what you decide to do and how you are doing. I'll be thinking about ya!!! __________________ ~Mary~ Mommy to Mindy 1 Years Old and Bear I Years Old "Proud Member of the Little Gentlemen's Club "

03-15-2008, 07:34 PM	#8
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: with my yorkie baby Posts: 10,141 Blog Entries: 1	effexor is in capsules? i can't remember. i took effexor a few years ago and it didn't work for me so i weaned off of it and started taking celexa. much better. add in some wellbutrin and i'm feeling great! teh capsules are harder to wean off of just because you can't split it into pieces like pills. sweetheartsok has the idea tho! __________________ Kellie and Morgan

03-15-2008, 07:40 PM	#9
4doggiemama Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: KS Posts: 3,290	Yikes! What is with doctors these days? A doc told one of my co-workers to stop taking her anti-depressant cold turkey, and she about lost it. We persuaded her to go back on it after a couple of days, and she did much better gradually weaning herself. She changed doctors. __________________ Joanne Eli ChipperEva Snowboy Rosie(R.I.P. 1996-July 29, 2013) Cocoa(R.I.P 1998-April 26, 2012):

03-16-2008, 01:31 AM	#12
TommiGirl YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Up North, further up north Posts: 771	My mom went off Effexor cold turkey and had no problems. She did read about the "brain shivers" but that never happened to her. She had been on it for 6 months. She has been off it since July 2007 now. And no repercussions. She had gone on it for the same reason. My dad passed away. Everyone is different! Keep us posted on what they doctor says and all. Hope you feel okay! __________________ When you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras.

03-16-2008, 05:20 AM	#13
IluvLucy Lovin' Lucy & Rebel Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 4,438	I took on elast night before I went to bed and can definitely tell the difference this morning! I"m going to call my doctor tomorrow first thing and ask lots of questions. Thanks everybody __________________ Kim , Rebel ,and baby Dixie RIP my sweet Lucy

03-16-2008, 06:10 AM	#14
BellieBoo YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Weston, FL Posts: 745	glad you're feeling better, i hope everything works out for the best, and please keep us updated (((((hugs)))) __________________ Nicole and Belleproud member ofink,crazy,smack-dab-in-the-middle clubs&Secretary of SRC BellieBuddy YT Record Breaker4/13/08 9:30 EST

03-16-2008, 07:34 AM	#15
red98vett Yorkie Kisses are the Best! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Houston TX Posts: 33,590 Blog Entries: 1	oh girl - that's scary - I don't know what brain shivers are but it sounds awful. What does your doctor say about starting back on it ? I was put on an antidepressant after my husband died a few months ago and couldn't handle it. I had to stop after only a few days - but I'm taking anti-anxiety medication now and it's a huge help - I don't know if you can switch after being on something so long but I don't have any side effects (except for crying) when I run out - .....I mostly take it at night - sleeping is something I don't 'do' well at all now. How are you feeling other than that ? I would def call your doctor and if you get scared ...maybe you can call the ER and speak to a registered nurse...they can't 'diagnose' but they can tell you alot if they're experienced and usually will help someone on the phone. They may tell you to come in - but sometimes will help settle your fears - good luck !! ooops - just saw your post and am so glad you feel better !!! __________________ Villette, Chanel & Cheri www.DesignsByVillette.net Custom Address Labels and Note Cards using YOUR Photos! Just Click HERE!