I guess this ISN'T withdrawal?

johnny5126 · 04-16-2011, 02:22 PM

I posted this a few times in the past, but let me review what happened to me quick in the past. I've been on Effexor 75 mg for 5 years for mild anxiety. In July I came off of it cold turkey. I experienced zaps and panic attacks for about 2 months for which they went away. In September I had a hair transplant, a stressful vacation and took Xanax .25 mgs as needed, which was anywhere from 3 times a day to none at all. In that month I began having extreme fear, sweating, chills and nervous twitches especially in my eye. This stood until December when I started the generic Effexor 75 mgs and felt no relief at 6 weeks or even 8 weeks. I began the brand name Effexor and in a number of weeks many of my symptoms started to leave. In the middle of January I started taking brand name Effexor and in february began feeling better, although not the greatest. It wasn't until about 3 weeks ago I started feeling 90% better; I was fully functional, had a positive outlook, fear really nothing, almost all symptoms gone. On occasion I'd feel hot and once and awhile have a spurt of fear, but would only last minutes and far in between. This past Monday I started taking generic Effexor again, and this past Tuesday started not feeling right. Almost like I did months ago. Wednesday not too bad, Thursday and Friday either, but started feeling occasional heaviness in the legs and some fear. Today was the worst; I had fear surges, sweating followed by chills, and anger that it seems to be back after all this progress I made. It seems to of calmed down. Now here's the question:

If this is all due to Effexor withdrawals these past 7 months, and reinstating the brand name made me feel better, and the generic is NOT the same as the brand name, why would I not feel good if this was all Effexor withdrawal?

babs · 04-16-2011, 05:16 PM

If I understand your story right, you tried generic once before, it didn't seem to do anything for you, then you tried the brand name and felt improvement, and then went back to generic again and started feeling bad. It seems like the problem is with the generic and you should stick with the brand name.

johnny5126 · 04-16-2011, 05:23 PM

Yes, but are the generics really different, and if this was all withdrawal since the generic didn't work and the brand name did?

LCrawford67 · 04-16-2011, 05:28 PM

For some people, generics do make a difference. You may be one of those people.

scotty · 04-16-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnny5126

Yes, but are the generics really different, and if this was all withdrawal since the generic didn't work and the brand name did?

Generics are a big problem for a lot of people. Yes, it was withdrawal and the generic didn't have enough of the "active" ingredient to stop it.

rbds22 · 04-16-2011, 09:32 PM

Generics are supposed to be equivalent to a certain allowable percentage of difference in the active ingredient. I think it's up to around a 15% difference or so. Anyway, yes generics can cause problems with people and not to mention the drug alone can potentially cause many negative disruptions in the brain.

prhiannon · 04-17-2011, 12:37 PM

Are you still taking Xanax?

Taking Xanax three times a day to not at all will definitely produce symptoms like "extreme fear, sweating, chills, and nervous twitches." Xanax is a very short acting drug which is also very addictive and produces strong withdrawal symptoms.

By short acting, I mean that the level of the drug in your bloodstream peaks out a couple of hours after you take it, and then drops fairly quickly, so if you don't take several doses a day spaced out evenly, you will experience withdrawal symptoms in between doses. (This is called "interdose withdrawal" and is typical with short-acting benzos.)

It's so addictive that if you take it for a few days and then don't take it for a day, it's typical to experience anxiety, fear and other withdrawal symptoms the day you don't take it.

So this could be part of the picture for you.

johnny5126 · 04-17-2011, 12:53 PM

Actually the last time I took Xanax was in January or February.

renzagliarobb · 04-17-2011, 10:01 PM

I have a similar story. I was on 450mgs of zoloft (not a misprint)...one of my very first symptoms was that of left eye twitching. I got much worse...my symptoms are nearly endless but have certainly subsided with time.

04-16-2011, 02:22 PM	#1
johnny5126 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 51	I guess this ISN'T withdrawal? I posted this a few times in the past, but let me review what happened to me quick in the past. I've been on Effexor 75 mg for 5 years for mild anxiety. In July I came off of it cold turkey. I experienced zaps and panic attacks for about 2 months for which they went away. In September I had a hair transplant, a stressful vacation and took Xanax .25 mgs as needed, which was anywhere from 3 times a day to none at all. In that month I began having extreme fear, sweating, chills and nervous twitches especially in my eye. This stood until December when I started the generic Effexor 75 mgs and felt no relief at 6 weeks or even 8 weeks. I began the brand name Effexor and in a number of weeks many of my symptoms started to leave. In the middle of January I started taking brand name Effexor and in february began feeling better, although not the greatest. It wasn't until about 3 weeks ago I started feeling 90% better; I was fully functional, had a positive outlook, fear really nothing, almost all symptoms gone. On occasion I'd feel hot and once and awhile have a spurt of fear, but would only last minutes and far in between. This past Monday I started taking generic Effexor again, and this past Tuesday started not feeling right. Almost like I did months ago. Wednesday not too bad, Thursday and Friday either, but started feeling occasional heaviness in the legs and some fear. Today was the worst; I had fear surges, sweating followed by chills, and anger that it seems to be back after all this progress I made. It seems to of calmed down. Now here's the question: If this is all due to Effexor withdrawals these past 7 months, and reinstating the brand name made me feel better, and the generic is NOT the same as the brand name, why would I not feel good if this was all Effexor withdrawal? __________________ My life has been full of terrible misfortunes; most of which never of happened. Effexor 75mg 5 years for mild GAD Quit cold turkey

04-16-2011, 05:16 PM	#2
babs "dare to suck big!" Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 7,581	Re: I guess this ISN'T withdrawal? If I understand your story right, you tried generic once before, it didn't seem to do anything for you, then you tried the brand name and felt improvement, and then went back to generic again and started feeling bad. It seems like the problem is with the generic and you should stick with the brand name. __________________ Babs Paxil 20mg 1994-2005 2 failed attempts to quit Tapered Jan-April 2005 Paxil-free since May 1, 2005

04-16-2011, 05:23 PM	#3
johnny5126 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 51	Re: I guess this ISN'T withdrawal? Yes, but are the generics really different, and if this was all withdrawal since the generic didn't work and the brand name did? __________________ My life has been full of terrible misfortunes; most of which never of happened. Effexor 75mg 5 years for mild GAD Quit cold turkey

04-16-2011, 05:28 PM	#4
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 34,485	Re: I guess this ISN'T withdrawal? For some people, generics do make a difference. You may be one of those people. __________________ aka LC aka Laurie C. Paxil, 20 mg since 1997, for IBS Two unsuccessful attempts to quit. Started tapering 11/27/06 PAXIL FREE 12/29/07 Today is the best day, EVER!

04-16-2011, 09:32 PM	#6
rbds22 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 448	Re: I guess this ISN'T withdrawal? Generics are supposed to be equivalent to a certain allowable percentage of difference in the active ingredient. I think it's up to around a 15% difference or so. Anyway, yes generics can cause problems with people and not to mention the drug alone can potentially cause many negative disruptions in the brain. __________________ paxil for: Panic attacks/health anxiety 1999 - 2009 (20mg) (stopped helping over time/debilitating side effects) (2010 Reinstated after 4 months off with severe adverse reactions. Suffered Immensely for 3 1/2 months then my brain partially started accepting.) Jan 2nd 2010 - 14mg 1 year taper Jan 1st 2011 - PAXIL FREE ! God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

04-17-2011, 12:37 PM	#7
prhiannon Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 154	Re: I guess this ISN'T withdrawal? Are you still taking Xanax? Taking Xanax three times a day to not at all will definitely produce symptoms like "extreme fear, sweating, chills, and nervous twitches." Xanax is a very short acting drug which is also very addictive and produces strong withdrawal symptoms. By short acting, I mean that the level of the drug in your bloodstream peaks out a couple of hours after you take it, and then drops fairly quickly, so if you don't take several doses a day spaced out evenly, you will experience withdrawal symptoms in between doses. (This is called "interdose withdrawal" and is typical with short-acting benzos.) It's so addictive that if you take it for a few days and then don't take it for a day, it's typical to experience anxiety, fear and other withdrawal symptoms the day you don't take it. So this could be part of the picture for you.

04-17-2011, 12:53 PM	#8
johnny5126 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 51	Re: I guess this ISN'T withdrawal? Actually the last time I took Xanax was in January or February. __________________ My life has been full of terrible misfortunes; most of which never of happened. Effexor 75mg 5 years for mild GAD Quit cold turkey

04-17-2011, 10:01 PM	#9
renzagliarobb Banned Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 371	Re: I guess this ISN'T withdrawal? I have a similar story. I was on 450mgs of zoloft (not a misprint)...one of my very first symptoms was that of left eye twitching. I got much worse...my symptoms are nearly endless but have certainly subsided with time.

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