Okay, so I took Effexor XR for a little over three years after having some major panic attacks. I had to go through a bunch of different drugs/prescriptions before my doc and I settled on 150mg Effexor daily, plus 100mg of Trazodone to put me to sleep at night. Letely I've been feeling foggier than usual--yes, I have CRS* from the Effexor (*Can't Remember ****)--and I've been tired and achy.

I went to the doc on Friday for an arthritis check up (hands), and she gave me a referral to get a nerve conduction study for a compressed ulnar nerve (elbow). She gave me some samples of Celebrex for the arthritis pain and decided to switch me from Effexor to Cymbalta. Got a start up packet of Effexor--last night I took a 75mg, which is half of my regular dose. Had the brain creeps a little this morning, but nothing major. I think I was a tad less patient and foggy today. My schedule is to take the 75s for three nights and then take a 37.5 plus one 30mg Cymbalta for three days, and then move on to the 60mg Cymbalta. She didn't change the Trazodone.

I have to say that I was a little frightened at the fast change after reading all of the horror stories on this board, but so far, so good. No screaming heebie jeebies. I have been wondering lately if I even need this stuff anymore, but the doc thinks I do, and hopes that the Cymbalta will be good for the joint and nerve pain as well. I just don't want to have to search for words or go blank in the middle of a conversation, especially at work. I've always been very driven and innovative, and it's hard to do that when I feel dull, as if I've gone from sharp as a tack to sharp as a blunt crayon. I just want my edge back.

I'll post a follow-up tomorrow some time.

This post has been edited by suburgatory: May 4 2008, 11:07 AM

So far day two on the 75mg is going okay. A little brain creep in the morning, and some weird dreams. I'm not at a terribly stressed-out point in life, so I think this transition may be fairly benign. I was able to sleep late today, which is nice. I feel well-rested and don't have the spooky feeling in the pit of my stomach that I had when I woke up in the middle of the night last night.

Okay, so day three went by pretty well. A little less brain creep, a little more energy, a little less CRS. I am feeling itchy, however, but that may be due to environmental allergies and a hyperawareness of how I am feeling at the moment. Tonight I took my first of three 37.5mg Effexor--one quarter the dose I took just four days ago. I'm happy to have a not-scary transition to share. I also took my first 30mg Cymbalta tonight. More tomorrow.

Day four went pretty well. I've been having some more feelings of stress than usual, and I feel a little flighty, but it's nothing debilitating. I am kind of enjoying it, actually. It's nice to feel like ME instead of me. I am considering just weaning off the Effexor and not starting Cymbalta after all. I've only taken one 30mg Cymbalta, so I guess it won't be a big deal to just take another couple of days of 37.5mg Effexor and call it quits. I'm really liking the idea of being off of the mood drugs, although I think it will be harder to get away from the Trazodone, because I'm somewhat of an insomniac. Hopefully that will change when I'm off of the Effexor all the way. More updates tomorrow. Hopefully the outcome will continue to be positive!

Today was fantastic. No head creeps, but I am having a little of the weird feeling when I move my head too fast. I was really busy at work today and I'm tired. I was also annoyed today, and enjoyed some good laughs with my coworkers and my family. It is so nice to actually FEEL and enjoy different emotions instead of being blunted/dulled. I'm hoping that I can get away with no anxiety attacks. So far, so good. I think I will just stop taking the Effexor after one more 37.5mg dose, and not start the Cymbalta after all. I'm not ready to consider stopping the Trazodone yet.

Good day today. Feel a little weird, but it's nothing I can't handle. I just keep telling myself I won't feel strange for long and that all this stuff will get out of my system, and so on... I will not take an Effexor tonight, and I think I am going to reduce the Trazodone to 50 mg. I felt hung over this morning, and I'm guessing it's that I don't need such a big dose of Trazodone to sleep now that I'm getting off of the Effexor. I suppose I'll find out by trial and error.

ikeda
I love your descriptions of what you're going through. I've been off effexor for 2 weeks now. I feel more energized. I always took effexor in the morning. My doc said it would be better then. do you think you might try that while you're going off. Im also going in this direction with cymbalta, but I'm staying off everything for at least a month. I've been on effexor and wellbutrin for over 10 years. it was about time. i didn't know if it was working. I have been having some anxiety, a couple attacks but I have to see if I can do this. If I need to go back on as much as I don't want to I will. Well i'm going to bed now. you have a nice peaceful sleep too.
peace K

K--I'm glad that my post has been helpful to you. I applaud your ability to keep a positive attitude, even when you are anxious! Best wishes to you during your transition. I am off the Effexor now and not going back. I tried AM and PM doses over the three years I took it and it worked best for me to take it at bed time along with the Trazodone.

I'm with you on feeling more energized. I feel so much more like myself. The only problem is that I have a bit of a temper, and that's creeping back out of the fog with the rest of my personality. I am working hard to keep it in check as I try to find a new, Effexor-free sense of balance. The thing I dislike the most is the feeling that my brain is creeping about my skull at odd moments. I am also getting some weird, shocky adrenaline feelings that run down my arms from the base of my skull in conjunction with the creepy brain sensation. They have both become a little more frequent and more pronounced today. I guess I'm in for the worst of it over the next few days as the last of the Effexor clears out of my system. I will probably take 50mg Trazodone later to sleep. I think I was right about the dosage--I wasn't hung over from it this morning after taking half a tablet.

Ohhh, boy...

What a weird day. I didn't take any Trazodone last night, and I'm a couple of days off Effexor. I had the brain creeps something terrible today. They are now accompanied by auditory disturbances--the worst of the shocky feeling is partnered with a whoosh! as if I am actually turning my head really fast in a wind tunnel. Strange. Really bizarro dreams when I got to sleep last night. I have the nausea and dizziness, too. Again, trying to remain positive and I keep telling myself that this will not last forever. I imagine that it's something like quitting smoking--if I give in to it now and have a little Trazodone, this will just drag on longer and longer and I'll have a harder time reaching my result. For now, I'm eating spicy food to cure the nausea (yay Thai!) and getting plenty of rest. Not looking forward to Monday, but I had a mini-shift today and things went okay. I'll make it! Best wishes to all who are or who have gone through this. From what I've read on this and related sites, the worst of it seems to come on after about three to five days and then tapers off by four to six weeks.