Chincho
MyPTSD Pro
I've been taking Effexor for about four years. It has worked very well for me, but lately I've been noticing that it is affecting my brain. I keep forgetting some people's names, can't seem to find the words I want to say sometimes, and forget what I'm talking about in the middle of a conversation.
I also gained about 20-25 pounds, but I guess that's not all Effexor's fault as I don't exercise as I should.
My psychiatrist agrees that it's time to give it up. She wants me to change to Brintellix.
I first tried to taper down in 2013, taking beads out of every capsule, but the side effects were horrible so we decided that I should keep taking it. It was too much to cope with: the Effexor and my hubby's cancer.
This time, I'm doing it differently. I was on Effexor XR 150 mg in the morning and 75 mg in the afternoon. One week ago, I went down to 75 mg in the morning and 75 mg in the afternoon.
I started with a huge headache 3 days after I lowered the dose. On the fourth day, I thought I'd lost my brain somewhere because I couln't think or remember things like locking the car, or even if I'd eaten lunch! That same day I went to bed at 6pm and slept until 9am the next morning. Yesterday, the 5th day, I still had the headache and my neck hurt. Today, I'm short tempered, but all symptoms are gone!
I will probably lower the dose again in a couple of weeks although I know that side effects might get worse.
If you have any experience with Effexor and any advice you can give me, I'd be really thankful. :)
I also gained about 20-25 pounds, but I guess that's not all Effexor's fault as I don't exercise as I should.
My psychiatrist agrees that it's time to give it up. She wants me to change to Brintellix.
I first tried to taper down in 2013, taking beads out of every capsule, but the side effects were horrible so we decided that I should keep taking it. It was too much to cope with: the Effexor and my hubby's cancer.
This time, I'm doing it differently. I was on Effexor XR 150 mg in the morning and 75 mg in the afternoon. One week ago, I went down to 75 mg in the morning and 75 mg in the afternoon.
I started with a huge headache 3 days after I lowered the dose. On the fourth day, I thought I'd lost my brain somewhere because I couln't think or remember things like locking the car, or even if I'd eaten lunch! That same day I went to bed at 6pm and slept until 9am the next morning. Yesterday, the 5th day, I still had the headache and my neck hurt. Today, I'm short tempered, but all symptoms are gone!
I will probably lower the dose again in a couple of weeks although I know that side effects might get worse.
If you have any experience with Effexor and any advice you can give me, I'd be really thankful. :)