1. < Depression & Anxiety

Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

I have been taking Effexor/Venlafaxine for years and tried to get off it a few times but each time I try to give up the chemical withdrawal symptoms are a horror story and I give up giving up. Anyone got any tips or tried and tested strategies? Thank you

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catbitess | @catamite | Sep 21, 2018
In reply to @renwald "Gp’s are in a tricky position and would probably prefer a psychiatrist deal with it. If..." + (show)
@renwald

Gp’s are in a tricky position and would probably prefer a psychiatrist deal with it. If anyone takes more than two psych meds they prob should see a Psychiatrist who is more fluent in the interactions and withdrawals. Monitoring those meds is all they really do anyway in this day and age. My FP saw me every 3 months, asked how I was coping and reduced by another quarter of a tablet. He dropped it by half a tablet last time but I didn’t do it. I didn’t want the sudden wallop I would get.

Proper sleep, nutrition, stress reduction and modest exercise is a baseline for anyone disorder or not. After that, it’s the brain, body med combo for those of us dealing with conditions. This med can override all the above. How much worse for people who don’t meet even those basics.

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Another thing. Two nights ago, I had an horrible event. Female Priapism. It went on all night. I am afraid to go to bed now. Anyone else having a problem like this?

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2 replies
Joanna | @maryathome | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @cherylannm "This is horrific to come off. Four weeks off today , all I do is cry..." + (show)
@cherylannm

This is horrific to come off. Four weeks off today , all I do is cry for no apparent reason.. am so scared all the time. How they allow pharmaceutical companies to make these drugs is beyond me ....

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Perhaps you should go back to a small amount for about a month.

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grandmaR | @grandmar | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @renwald "Gp’s are in a tricky position and would probably prefer a psychiatrist deal with it. If..." + (show)
@renwald

Gp’s are in a tricky position and would probably prefer a psychiatrist deal with it. If anyone takes more than two psych meds they prob should see a Psychiatrist who is more fluent in the interactions and withdrawals. Monitoring those meds is all they really do anyway in this day and age. My FP saw me every 3 months, asked how I was coping and reduced by another quarter of a tablet. He dropped it by half a tablet last time but I didn’t do it. I didn’t want the sudden wallop I would get.

Proper sleep, nutrition, stress reduction and modest exercise is a baseline for anyone disorder or not. After that, it’s the brain, body med combo for those of us dealing with conditions. This med can override all the above. How much worse for people who don’t meet even those basics.

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@renwald
Happy Saturday!
I an a strong believer of seeing a psychiatrist if you are on ANY psychotropic (sp?) meds.
I see mine every 6 months except if there is a change of dosage or actual meds. Then, I see her every 3 months.
Good luck!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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grandmaR | @grandmar | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @catamite "I feel like I need a time out in a rest home. Someone to feed me,..." + (show)
@catamite

I feel like I need a time out in a rest home. Someone to feed me, look out for me. I don't know if this was worth it, really. The crying jags are bad, the scary thoughts are worse.

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@catamite
I am so sorry you are suffering so much.
I suggest you see a therapist ASAP.
Good luck!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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grandmaR | @grandmar | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @catamite "This is a particularly bad one. My kids are telling me I look frail. I'm not..." + (show)
@catamite

This is a particularly bad one. My kids are telling me I look frail. I'm not eating on purpose. It's just that food doesn't appeal to me. I cannot tell if I am feeling sick or hungry. I am beginning to wonder why I decided to get off this drug in the first place.

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@catamite
Are you doing this with a mental health professional? Or, on your own? Or, your PCP?
If you are doing this with a psychologist or psychiatrist, they can give you something to take off the edge.
Good luck!
Ronnie

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texasduchess | @texasduchess | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @catamite "Another thing. Two nights ago, I had an horrible event. Female Priapism. It went on all..." + (show)
@catamite

Another thing. Two nights ago, I had an horrible event. Female Priapism. It went on all night. I am afraid to go to bed now. Anyone else having a problem like this?

Jump to this post

@catamite
Effexor, the gift that keeps on giving! I read of other sexual problems (inability to achieve release the most common) while on Effexor, but this one, no.

However, a little Google searching and here's a story I found—"In the case of a 29-year-old woman who suffered such an ‘erection’ for five days, the condition was cured by an over-the-counter decongestant, according to a new report of her case.

Common causes of priapism in men and women are taking certain antidepressants and psychotropic medications, such as wellbutrin (bupropion) and trazodone, which were the drugs the patients was taking as part of a clinical trial for low libido.

These drugs block a type of receptor called alpha-adrenergic receptors. That's why the doctors decided to try a drug that does the opposite, and stimulates these receptors. Sudafed, which treats stuffy nose and cold congestion, is one of this class of drugs.

After one day of taking painkillers and Sudafed every six hours, the woman went home and continued to take Sudafed for another two days, until everything returned to normal, the researchers said."--https://www.livescience.com/43571-permanent-erection-in-woman-case-report.html

This story is probably about the same patient--"Despite cessation of the suspected causal agents, trazodone and wellbutrin, her symptoms persisted. The patient was managed conservatively with analgesics and around‐the‐clock oral pseudoephedrine and experienced complete resolution of her symptoms. Oral pseudoephedrine may be a reasonable option for certain patients, and may be considered as a first‐line therapy and adjunct to conservative measures."--https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1743609515308535

You can buy pseudoephedrine (generic name) over the counter, but for some years now, it's been locked up and you have to ask for it and show ID (I believe illicit drug manufacturers can use it to make meth).

Keep some on hand (good to have around anyway when you get a sinus pressure headache, or have blocked nasal passages).

Hope this helps!

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kbmayo | @kbmayo | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @catamite "This is a particularly bad one. My kids are telling me I look frail. I'm not..." + (show)
@catamite

This is a particularly bad one. My kids are telling me I look frail. I'm not eating on purpose. It's just that food doesn't appeal to me. I cannot tell if I am feeling sick or hungry. I am beginning to wonder why I decided to get off this drug in the first place.

Jump to this post

One thing I know loud and clear from my own experience -- and it's not from Effexor, it's from being a sober alcoholic -- is that not eating, which will mean low blood sugar, is a major stressor and contributor to rage/anger/short temper. When I haven't eaten, there's no way my thinking can be even remotely rational. In AA we have a saying ``HALT -- don't get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired'' because we know that any one of those can make it easier to decide to drink again. In fact, I was in a meeting this past week where that was the topic. (Just watch a little kid have a meltdown when she/he is hungry or tired, and you'll see how it works.) I've always had trouble eating because I'm single so I don't have to prepare meals for others and I seldom get really hungry. My psychiatrist told me to eat small but consistently -- string cheese or other decent cheeses, good wheat crackers, sliced turkey, apples or oranges (the fructose is absorbed more slowly). I can't stand Ensure or similar drinks, but I sometimes can motivate myself to make smoothies, which help a lot. My guess -- from my own experience -- is that it's the low blood sugar which is making you question getting off the drug. Your brain is telling you to take the easy way out -- i.e., get back on the dragon.

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1 reply
kbmayo | @kbmayo | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @texasduchess "@renwald Irritability and rage are most certainly known Effexor withdrawal symptoms. "Anger – Do you feel..." + (show)
@texasduchess

@renwald
Irritability and rage are most certainly known Effexor withdrawal symptoms.

"Anger – Do you feel like you are ready to rage? This is likely a result of stopping your medication. You aren’t able to feel as good as you did on the medication so your brain is trying to compensate. This may make you become increasingly hostile and a tough person to hang out with for awhile.... Irritability – Every little thing may get on your nerves or ‘set you off.’ Try your best to relax and control yourself around others."--https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/03/12/effexor-xr-withdrawal-symptoms-how-long-will-they-last/

"According to Richard C. Shelton, M.D., a psychiatry professor at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, there's a name for what I was experiencing: rage attacks. They most likely result from decreased production of serotonin—the neurotransmitter that SSRIs [SNRIs also affect serotonin] increase in the brain—which can lead to aggression, says psychiatrist Steven P. Levine, M.D."--https://www.glamour.com/story/going-off-my-ssris-rage-attacks

Also--https://www.reddit.com/r/Anxiety/comments/3erkjn/weaning_off_effexor_extremely_irritable_and_angry/
https://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forum/f30/effexor-withdrawal-will-this-go-away-55413/
https://www.steadyhealth.com/topics/uncontrollable-rage-with-effexor-withdrawal

I certainly agree with your avoidance of provocative stimulation and news programs. There are some murder mysteries (books and TV) that are just too violent for me right now and I also found atonal, or music in minor key extremely bothersome.

It's not clear if you are still tapering. If you are, it sounds like you are going too fast. Usually when a taper is too much, the recommendation is to go back to the dose where you didn't experience withdrawal symptoms and stay there for a while before attempting another taper–usually to not such a drastic drop.

I tapered off very slowly from only 25mg, but had been on Effexor for 18 years. Six weeks after the last dose, I began having discontinuation symptoms. I am taking supplements (including l-tryptophan and GABA) which help tremendously, but when akathisia occurs, I've had to take Valium (prescribed for this).

Talk to your doctor about your rages. S/he may prescribe something to help.

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Great information!! Thank you!!!

REPLY
kbmayo | @kbmayo | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @texasduchess "@renwald Irritability and rage are most certainly known Effexor withdrawal symptoms. "Anger – Do you feel..." + (show)
@texasduchess

@renwald
Irritability and rage are most certainly known Effexor withdrawal symptoms.

"Anger – Do you feel like you are ready to rage? This is likely a result of stopping your medication. You aren’t able to feel as good as you did on the medication so your brain is trying to compensate. This may make you become increasingly hostile and a tough person to hang out with for awhile.... Irritability – Every little thing may get on your nerves or ‘set you off.’ Try your best to relax and control yourself around others."--https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/03/12/effexor-xr-withdrawal-symptoms-how-long-will-they-last/

"According to Richard C. Shelton, M.D., a psychiatry professor at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, there's a name for what I was experiencing: rage attacks. They most likely result from decreased production of serotonin—the neurotransmitter that SSRIs [SNRIs also affect serotonin] increase in the brain—which can lead to aggression, says psychiatrist Steven P. Levine, M.D."--https://www.glamour.com/story/going-off-my-ssris-rage-attacks

Also--https://www.reddit.com/r/Anxiety/comments/3erkjn/weaning_off_effexor_extremely_irritable_and_angry/
https://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forum/f30/effexor-withdrawal-will-this-go-away-55413/
https://www.steadyhealth.com/topics/uncontrollable-rage-with-effexor-withdrawal

I certainly agree with your avoidance of provocative stimulation and news programs. There are some murder mysteries (books and TV) that are just too violent for me right now and I also found atonal, or music in minor key extremely bothersome.

It's not clear if you are still tapering. If you are, it sounds like you are going too fast. Usually when a taper is too much, the recommendation is to go back to the dose where you didn't experience withdrawal symptoms and stay there for a while before attempting another taper–usually to not such a drastic drop.

I tapered off very slowly from only 25mg, but had been on Effexor for 18 years. Six weeks after the last dose, I began having discontinuation symptoms. I am taking supplements (including l-tryptophan and GABA) which help tremendously, but when akathisia occurs, I've had to take Valium (prescribed for this).

Talk to your doctor about your rages. S/he may prescribe something to help.

Jump to this post

Great information -- thank you!!!

REPLY
renwald | @renwald | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @catamite "Another thing. Two nights ago, I had an horrible event. Female Priapism. It went on all..." + (show)
@catamite

Another thing. Two nights ago, I had an horrible event. Female Priapism. It went on all night. I am afraid to go to bed now. Anyone else having a problem like this?

Jump to this post

Effexor caused that?

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