Effexor Irritable

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Hello, I started taking Effexor solely for anxiety about 7 years ago (75 mg). At the age of 23 I decided I wanted to attempt life without a medication for anxiety. My doctor cut my dosage in half (37.5 mg). Although I feel like I am doing ok with the half dosage in the area of anxiety, I feel different than I did before taking Effexor. I am extremely irritable, I don't feel like myself, and just feel (for lack of better terms) BLAH! I am so worried that I either have to stay on Effexor 75 mg for life or live this -blah- life. Has anyone ever experienced these feelings after decreasing the dosage? I have been on a half dose for about a year and the feelings haven't gone away.

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1

You might want to go back to your doctor and explain this. Perhaps tapering in smaller increments?
If you need to continue the medication, I hope you won't feel like there's some negative stigma because of that. There are lots of people who need medical intervention for this. But I understand wanting to try living without it if you can. Let your doctor help.

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Yes. I was on Effexor for depression during a time in my life when I underwent 17 surgeries in a 3 year period. I chose to be changed to Effexor from Cymbolta as Cymbolta seemed to change my behavior to the point that I was even aware of the behavioral changes. I was on the Effexor for 3 years, as I got better and started to ween myself from the meds, with the assist of my doctor, I felt bluh and tired all the time, but within 3 weeks,I reduced the dose again, I began to feel more like myself. It took 6 months of weening before I was off most of the meds that were mind altering drugs, and have never been back on any other antidepression medications again. However, anytime you start a taper on any kind of medication, you are going to feel changes that may seen at first that you are not able to decrease the dose or get off med, but being able to focus on other important things in your live, and a bit at a time, you will begin to feel better and better. Medications work different on everyone as our systems are all different. Trust your doctor and most of all, believe in yourself and you will make it, and be happy. Best of luck. and trust your doctor to assist you with the weening of medications

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Yes, yes and yes. Effexor is horrid to try to stop taking!! I weaned from it with the assistance of my psych provider. After we had weaned completely off, months later, my behavior was intolerable. I was yelling at people for no reason. Irrational in my thoughts. Not like me at all. I am on it for depression/anxiety. You and I are definately not the only ones. There are groups worldwide about this medication. Petitions to try to get this effect of the medication known. Those brain zaps that we have when we start Effexor, when we stop they are non stop. Google this please, don't just take it from me. And good luck.

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