take time to read this and just insert "Effexor" anywhere you see "Paxil"....

www.paxilprogress.org/pdf/Pax...2005.pdf

^ if that link does not work, type in www.paxilprogress.org and then click on "paxil withdrawal guide" at top of page.

A Success Story:

I tried unsuccessfully to get off effexor at least 3 times, but would always give in and take it because the symptoms were so bad and I literally couldn't do anything but sleep. Then my doctor got fed up with me and said he wanted me to go off the effexor immediately and switch to prestiq. I was conflicted about this for a few reasons. 1) Prestiq is just the metabolite of Effexor so essentially I thought it was the same thing (the doc said that it was supposed to have fewer side effects and easier to get off of.) I wasn't bying it as I just saw it as a way for Wyeth to make more $$$. 2) I was down to about 1/2 of a dose of the 36mg effexor and was switched onto 50mg Prestiq. I saw this as taking a huge step backwards from my goal. 3) One of my biggest fears, was that switching to the prestiq would be the same bloody hell that I always go through, however i was hopeful that since it is essentially the same drug, I wouldnt have withdrawls. So I was real scared, but my doctor wouldnt give me anymore effexor so i had to. I was fully prepared to suffer through it again, and waiting for the symptoms to come. They didnt. I was real happy to be off the effexor and that the transition went so smooth but the prestiq sucked! My depression came back and I felt tired all the time. Plus I could not afford to pay for it each month since I was out of work. So I asked to try something else. My doctor didn't think anything else would work for me due to the fact that before going on effexor, i had tried alot of other SSI's that didnt work. Still, I told him I just wanted to try ANYTHING else. Although he didn't think it would work, he put me on a higher starting dose of Zoloft (100mg; I am now up to 200mg). He wanted me to take the zoloft for a week before going off the prestiq. I was totally prepared to suffer through the withdrawls, and waited for them to come. Again, they didn't! All i had were a few headaches - but not bad ones, just a kind of dull ache. Now, I don't know whether it was the added Zoloft that stopped the withdrawl symptoms or maybe its true that Prestiq is easier to get off of. All I know is im finally off effexor and i did it without any pain!

I hope not but it can take a very long time the last post I read by u was after only a few wks off. How are you doing now? For me it has been 16 months and while the brain zaps and vomitting are gone (fingers crossed) I still get have a lot of other symtoms. Sleep is all over the map body pain from what seems to be my body unseizing is still an issue I am currently getting physio therapy to help with the pain but it is so much better than a year ago. I still don't find much joy in life and think that a very real side effect of effexor. I think it can take years and not sure what else to say except it does get somewhat better in time. I still have no sexual urges or feeling ( sex organs are basically numb ) not sure if that will ever end.

I was on effexor 7 years and think you return of a sexlife is a huge plus which may mean you will recover fast.. I hope so nobody should have to live like this.