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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Stacey Mullins on October 22, 2003, at 15:52:57
Found this board just when I'm getting fed up with trying to get off Effexor and found lots of other people in a similar boat.
My question relates to a symptom that I've not come across before related to Effexor withdrawal. Been on 150mg for about 18 months, and any time I miss for a couple of days I start having a strange vision problem. It's like the tail on the mouse cursor when it's set that way, where you can still see where the mouse has been on the screen when you move it? If I look from here to there, especially if my eyes cross over the midline in my visual field, a delay? a skip? an indescribable weird thing happens where (the dr says my eye(s) jump a little) the incoming visual information isn't being processed in real time, but with a split second delay. Dr. says this is because one or more of the optic nerves is being affected by the CNS problem when Effexor is missing.
I've been trying to get off of the stuff now for a month or longer and can't get past the final 37.5mg dose. I take one every other day and if I go 2 days without, this vision thing starts in again. The typical depression symptoms usually follow shortly after this one makes it's appearance unless I take another small pill. 4-5 hours later and I can see straight again.
Has anyone ever heard of or had anything like this when coming off anything, Effexor included? When people say "dizziness" do they mean the actual vertigo phenomenon or if pressed could they describe something more like this or a similar visual problem-not an equalibrium problem. Any experience helpful.
Posted by melbob on October 23, 2003, at 23:02:55
In reply to Effexor and weird vision problem?, posted by Stacey Mullins on October 22, 2003, at 15:52:57
hi...ihaven't had those vision probs, but i just got off of effexor myself, after only 3 weeks. benedryl and klonopin help the withdrawal symptoms. it may also help your vision thing...? perhaps it is worth a try...that effexor is some weird stuff! i don't like it, it got rid of the depression temporarily, but then the side effects got worse and worse. if i had stayed on it, i'm sure my doc would have upped my dose to the "maximum therapeutic dosage", and then i would have really had trouble coming off it! anyway, i am rambling...good luck!
melbob
This is the end of the thread.
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