Effexor XR withdrawal symptoms. I can't take it anymore!

	Asked by Unregistered (Female; 42; USA; depression, anxiety ) on Thu 04, Sep 2008 07:13pm :
	I have taken Effexor XL for the past 3 years and have been tapering myself off of them for the past month. I was taking 75mg and now I am taking only 1 every 5 days or so. I have to take one every so often because the dizziness is so bad that I just can't stand it anymore. Will I ever be able to stop taking these completely? I am just tired of the dizziness and I have found that I am getting more emotional the longer I go without them. I hate this feeling but don't want to start taking them again. Any suggestions? All my dr. did was tell me to take miclizine (I think thats how you spell it) it doesn't really help though.
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	Answer by Dr Noopur S, MD (doctor) on Tue 23, Dec 2008 10:32pm: Hi, Thanks for writing in. Discontinuation of Effexor results in bad withdrawal symptoms. One of the strategies is to switch to less potent antidepressant like Fluoxetine for some time and then withdraw it slowly, this way the withdrawal effects are very less. You can discuss this with your doctor. Keep us posted!
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