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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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 19, 2018
In reply to @maryathome "UPDATE: I have been weaning off 112 mg of Effexor XR that I have been on..." + (show)
@maryathome

UPDATE: I have been weaning off 112 mg of Effexor XR that I have been on for approximately 15 years. I also take 75 mg of Wellbutrin XL.
I am tapering slowly- 10 mg every 4 weeks. I am now on my 3rd week at 70 mg.
NEED ADVICE PLEASE: Since I got down to 70 mg, I started feeling more anxious than usual so I’ve been taking 1 mg of Ativan as well. Today I feel right out of it. My eyes feel heavy, feel down and just want to sleep. Do I stay on 70 mg longer than the 4 weeks I’m used to? I feel like hell at the moment. 75% of the time I’m not depressed but still not much motivation. Can’t be bothered with putting up my tree or Xmas lights outdoors like I’m used to. The anxiousness really bothers me. I asked my doctor to take my blood pressure fearing it’s something other than the pills. He said BP is fine.

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@sabrina..did your doctor suggest anything or say anything when you told him how you felt?

REPLY
sandij (Sandi James) | @sandij | Dec 19, 2018
In reply to @maryathome "UPDATE: I have been weaning off 112 mg of Effexor XR that I have been on..." + (show)
@maryathome

UPDATE: I have been weaning off 112 mg of Effexor XR that I have been on for approximately 15 years. I also take 75 mg of Wellbutrin XL.
I am tapering slowly- 10 mg every 4 weeks. I am now on my 3rd week at 70 mg.
NEED ADVICE PLEASE: Since I got down to 70 mg, I started feeling more anxious than usual so I’ve been taking 1 mg of Ativan as well. Today I feel right out of it. My eyes feel heavy, feel down and just want to sleep. Do I stay on 70 mg longer than the 4 weeks I’m used to? I feel like hell at the moment. 75% of the time I’m not depressed but still not much motivation. Can’t be bothered with putting up my tree or Xmas lights outdoors like I’m used to. The anxiousness really bothers me. I asked my doctor to take my blood pressure fearing it’s something other than the pills. He said BP is fine.

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Sabrina, give it a few days to see how you feel, the anxiety may dissipate. And sleep if you need to, your body is healing and needs rest. Epsom salts baths usually help me with anxiety. Hang in there, it sounds like you've made great progress!

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Dec 19, 2018
In reply to @merpreb "All- Please check this out: https://cbdoilreview.org/cbd-cannabidiol/endocannabinoid-natural-production/ I think that the reason that a lot of us..." + (show)
@merpreb

All- Please check this out: https://cbdoilreview.org/cbd-cannabidiol/endocannabinoid-natural-production/
I think that the reason that a lot of us tolerate and benefit from CBD oil is because we produce cannabinoids in our own bodies too- so it's really "natural"
I take Wellbutrin and Zoloft and when needed 10mg of CBD oil. I'm still messing around with dosages.

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@merpreb
Hi marry,
I hope it works for you but I would never use it. There are to many chemicals in it that no one knows anything about. Not to mention the chemicals used to extract the oil, some very dangerous some not. How or does the manufacturing process affect these chemicals molecular structures. I know it’s being studied for certain forms of Epilepsy and the research is very promising. But is every chemical going to be studied. Only half (if that) have ever been identified. What about long term consequences. Some drugs work great after FDA approval, Vioxx for instance. Great drug for accomplishing its intended use. I took it and forgot I even had Arthritis. Remember how many people it killed, tens of thousands. I’ll be dead by the time any long term conclusive studies are done on CBD oil. Please don’t think I’m attempting to stop any one from using it. Just giving a few reasons why I don’t. Not that anyone cares, lol
Take care kids,
Jake

REPLY
ainsleigh | @ainsleigh | Dec 19, 2018
In reply to @shaker1956 "@ainsleigh. Hi there A. Well this is sure a battle. I have a consult with my..." + (show)
@shaker1956

@ainsleigh. Hi there A. Well this is sure a battle. I have a consult with my Dr on the 24th and infusions on the 27th and 28th. That will be my 4th. Only 2 more to go. My nurse called and advised me that the treatments are working!!!!!!! The cancerous lymphnodes have shrunk as well as my spleen. Great news. Xmas will be a very quiet affair for us this year. Not really in the holiday spirit so to speak!!!!!! Our 4th G-baby is supposed to arrive on the 12th of Mach. A full 3 weeks after my last infusion. Its really hard not to spend much time with my grandkids. They are growing sooooo fast. But I think God has a plan for us and I want to be part of it for quite a few yrs. this Chemo brain they talk about is a true thing. Hard to deal with too. My wife notices when I have it. This has sure changed our lives. Hopefully will make me a better person. More understanding and sympathetic towards people. Well time to take my loyal dog for a walk. Takes me a bit longer to take him but he still enjoys it and its good for me to take my mind off things for a bit. Enjoy your day!!!!!!!

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@shaker1956- Hi S. So thrilled to hear you are doing so well! Keep up the good work!
Best wishes
A.

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | Dec 20, 2018
In reply to @maryathome "UPDATE: I have been weaning off 112 mg of Effexor XR that I have been on..." + (show)
@maryathome

UPDATE: I have been weaning off 112 mg of Effexor XR that I have been on for approximately 15 years. I also take 75 mg of Wellbutrin XL.
I am tapering slowly- 10 mg every 4 weeks. I am now on my 3rd week at 70 mg.
NEED ADVICE PLEASE: Since I got down to 70 mg, I started feeling more anxious than usual so I’ve been taking 1 mg of Ativan as well. Today I feel right out of it. My eyes feel heavy, feel down and just want to sleep. Do I stay on 70 mg longer than the 4 weeks I’m used to? I feel like hell at the moment. 75% of the time I’m not depressed but still not much motivation. Can’t be bothered with putting up my tree or Xmas lights outdoors like I’m used to. The anxiousness really bothers me. I asked my doctor to take my blood pressure fearing it’s something other than the pills. He said BP is fine.

Jump to this post

@maryathome
Good Morning!
One of the reasons we wean so slowly is to try to have as few side affects as possible.
It is just my OPINION that you need to read your own body.
Doctors can give you suggestions based on the history of others and what works.
If you are having such horrible withdrawal, I SUGGEST either upping it back to where you were fine (although you may NOT get the same impact) and staying on that dosage for longer, or staying on the dosage you are on now for longer.
Remember, the doctor gave you guidelines. Read your body and do what works best.

I am also weaning very slowly, 1/4 of a tablet taken away every other day for 3 weeks and then every day for 3 weeks. However, if I start to get any withdrawal symptoms that are bothersome, I will stay on the dosage or add to the dosage for as long as necessary. I do not care if it takes me a year or more. I take 150 mg in the am and 150 mg in the pm. Not looking to come off all together but looking to come down substantially.

Please remember that I am NOT in the medical field. I am basing answers on my own experiences.

Feel good!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

REPLY
2 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 20, 2018
In reply to @grandmar "@maryathome Good Morning! One of the reasons we wean so slowly is to try to have..." + (show)
@grandmar

@maryathome
Good Morning!
One of the reasons we wean so slowly is to try to have as few side affects as possible.
It is just my OPINION that you need to read your own body.
Doctors can give you suggestions based on the history of others and what works.
If you are having such horrible withdrawal, I SUGGEST either upping it back to where you were fine (although you may NOT get the same impact) and staying on that dosage for longer, or staying on the dosage you are on now for longer.
Remember, the doctor gave you guidelines. Read your body and do what works best.

I am also weaning very slowly, 1/4 of a tablet taken away every other day for 3 weeks and then every day for 3 weeks. However, if I start to get any withdrawal symptoms that are bothersome, I will stay on the dosage or add to the dosage for as long as necessary. I do not care if it takes me a year or more. I take 150 mg in the am and 150 mg in the pm. Not looking to come off all together but looking to come down substantially.

Please remember that I am NOT in the medical field. I am basing answers on my own experiences.

Feel good!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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@grandma @sabrina- I totally agree with you grandma. Although doctors know more than we do they can not get into our minds nor know how things really feel. Sometimes we have to listen to ourselves, read our selves, study up on our illnesses and know when something is working or not. Phew, long sentence.
I go by intuition- if I "feel" or "sense" that something is not right I call for help. I don't wait, but that's me. I don't care if it turns out to be nothing.
I weaned very slowly off of effexor too. This is very very important. You have altered the chemicals that dictate how your brain works. Now you have to let it slowly go back to it's most normal state. It might be a bit different but it will hopefully will be better.

REPLY
2 replies
grandmaR | @grandmar | Dec 20, 2018
In reply to @merpreb "@grandma @sabrina- I totally agree with you grandma. Although doctors know more than we do they..." + (show)
@merpreb

@grandma @sabrina- I totally agree with you grandma. Although doctors know more than we do they can not get into our minds nor know how things really feel. Sometimes we have to listen to ourselves, read our selves, study up on our illnesses and know when something is working or not. Phew, long sentence.
I go by intuition- if I "feel" or "sense" that something is not right I call for help. I don't wait, but that's me. I don't care if it turns out to be nothing.
I weaned very slowly off of effexor too. This is very very important. You have altered the chemicals that dictate how your brain works. Now you have to let it slowly go back to it's most normal state. It might be a bit different but it will hopefully will be better.

Jump to this post

@merpreb
Right on!!!

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Dec 20, 2018
In reply to @merpreb "@grandma @sabrina- I totally agree with you grandma. Although doctors know more than we do they..." + (show)
@merpreb

@grandma @sabrina- I totally agree with you grandma. Although doctors know more than we do they can not get into our minds nor know how things really feel. Sometimes we have to listen to ourselves, read our selves, study up on our illnesses and know when something is working or not. Phew, long sentence.
I go by intuition- if I "feel" or "sense" that something is not right I call for help. I don't wait, but that's me. I don't care if it turns out to be nothing.
I weaned very slowly off of effexor too. This is very very important. You have altered the chemicals that dictate how your brain works. Now you have to let it slowly go back to it's most normal state. It might be a bit different but it will hopefully will be better.

Jump to this post

@merpreb I think it's a rare doctor who actually realizes that patients do know things about themselves. My ortho was great about that. Too many doctors do not give credit to their patients for being aware.
JK

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 20, 2018

@jk, I think that you're right JK. Sometimes I a doctor looks at me like I'm a miracle because I know who to ask questions or know the name of an organ, lol.

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