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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texasduchess | @texasduchess | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @farmboy "One more thing. I was on 75mgs until the past weekend and then they told me..." + (show)
@farmboy

One more thing. I was on 75mgs until the past weekend and then they told me to quit. I have 37.5 to take if you think that would help.

Jump to this post

@farmboy
Please remember I'm not a doctor, just another person who took Effexor and experienced difficulty when quitting it. All I can give you is what I learned during the process. I think the rest of us on here are/were in the same boat. My research found time and time again that someone's doctor underestimated the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms and overestimated the likely success of the tapering schedule suggested. A friend who was an elderly lady then told me 40 years ago, "Nothing is too much trouble for the person who doesn't have to do it."

Your taper has been steep and fast (225 then to 150 for 2 weeks, then to 75 for 2 weeks, then 75 every other day, then every other day, then stop).

A few days ago, I posted this in reply to you--
"When the withdrawal symptoms are too much, the usual recommendation is to go back to the dose where you didn't have those W/D effects, stay there for a while (weeks, months, etc.) before again tapering to not so big a drop. Your tapers have been pretty steep and you haven't stayed at the next lower dose for long. You may think you're losing ground by going back, but the discomfort you're experiencing is not worth it. The main advice on this site is go slow. Some suggest no more than a 5-10% drop at a time (or even less if your W/D is bad)."

Find out if there are any restrictions/interactions with the Hydroxyzine and Buspirone you're taking; then if not, you can try taking two 37.5mg Effexor to make 75mg and see if you get relief. Consider starting over and tapering off sloooowly to much smaaaaller reductions. After some weeks (or even months), you can taper to a slightly smaller dose, stay there weeks and then, try tapering again.

REPLY
2 replies
texasduchess | @texasduchess | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @farmboy "I take it Valium is pretty strong stuff." + (show)
@farmboy

I take it Valium is pretty strong stuff.

Jump to this post

@farmboy
I was given 5mg Valium and usually found relief with 1/2 of a tablet. But I didn't taper off as much Effexor, nor as fast as you have--I wasn't in great shape, but you sound like you're in a "mell of a hess." Hydroxyzine and Buspirone are both anti-anxiety meds. When I experienced serotonin syndrome from other medications interacting with Effexor, I was given 10mg Xanax. I don't know how any of these compare to one another in strength, or effectiveness in addressing anxiety.

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @texasduchess "@farmboy Please remember I'm not a doctor, just another person who took Effexor and experienced difficulty..." + (show)
@texasduchess

@farmboy
Please remember I'm not a doctor, just another person who took Effexor and experienced difficulty when quitting it. All I can give you is what I learned during the process. I think the rest of us on here are/were in the same boat. My research found time and time again that someone's doctor underestimated the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms and overestimated the likely success of the tapering schedule suggested. A friend who was an elderly lady then told me 40 years ago, "Nothing is too much trouble for the person who doesn't have to do it."

Your taper has been steep and fast (225 then to 150 for 2 weeks, then to 75 for 2 weeks, then 75 every other day, then every other day, then stop).

A few days ago, I posted this in reply to you--
"When the withdrawal symptoms are too much, the usual recommendation is to go back to the dose where you didn't have those W/D effects, stay there for a while (weeks, months, etc.) before again tapering to not so big a drop. Your tapers have been pretty steep and you haven't stayed at the next lower dose for long. You may think you're losing ground by going back, but the discomfort you're experiencing is not worth it. The main advice on this site is go slow. Some suggest no more than a 5-10% drop at a time (or even less if your W/D is bad)."

Find out if there are any restrictions/interactions with the Hydroxyzine and Buspirone you're taking; then if not, you can try taking two 37.5mg Effexor to make 75mg and see if you get relief. Consider starting over and tapering off sloooowly to much smaaaaller reductions. After some weeks (or even months), you can taper to a slightly smaller dose, stay there weeks and then, try tapering again.

Jump to this post

@farmboy
Hi!
I'd like to add to @texasduchess
I am currently tapering down, too. I have no intention of coming off the Effexor 100%, just reducing my dosage to a lesser amount.
I'll tell you what I am doing.
I've been on Effexor for over 10 years. Can't tell you when I started but it has been a long time. It saved my life during very difficult times. However, at the last increase, my memory became worse than before and I felt like my head was in a cloud.
Here's the drill....
I was taking two 75 mg in the morning and at night. I've ALWAYS broken my dosages into an AM and PM, otherwise it was too much. So, that is a total of 300 mg a day.....way too much as far as I am concerned.
I have NOT touched my AM dosage, yet. Everything I tell you is what I am doing with my PM dosage only. I will follow the same pattern when I get down to 1/2 a pill in the PM, I will begin with my AM dosage.
The time frame I give myself for each decrease is 3 weeks. If I start to have withdrawal symptoms, I will go back up 1/4 and remain there for 3 more weeks or as long as needed.....
Remember, this is just my PM dosage of two 75 mg pills.

I cut 1/4 off of 1 pill. I alternated that dosage every other night for 3 weeks (2 pills, 1-3/4 pills, 2 pills, 1-3/4 pills, etc.).
I felt fine so I took the 1-3/4 pills EVERY night for 3 weeks. I felt fine.

Next, I cut off an additional 1/4 off one pill. I took 1-1/2 pills every other night for 3 weeks (1-3/4 pills, 1-1/2 pills, 1-3/4 pills, 1-1/2 pills, etc)
I felt fine so I rook 1-1/2 pills EVERY night for 3 weeks. I felt fine.

Then, I cut off another 1/4. I took 1-1/4 pills every other night for 3 weeks (1-1/2 pills, 1-1/4 pills, 1-1/2 pills, 1-1/4 pills, etc.).
I felt fine, so NOW I am taking 1-1/4 pills EVERY night for 3 weeks. So far, so good.

If I continue to feel good, my next dosage will be 1 pill every ohter night for 3 weeks (1 pill, 1-1/4 pills, 1 pill, 1-1/4 pills, etc).
After that, as low as I doing well, I'll be taking 1 pill EVERY night.

I am not sure what I will do after that. My though Is to continue with the 1 pill at night and start the same pattern with my morning dosage. Of course, everything depends on how I feel. You can see that this has been a long process, so far. I am in no hurry. I once started to come off the pills altogehter at the advice of my PCP. I believe I was at 37.5mg, at the time. She had me stop one who pill entirely. Within a couple of days, I had a HORRIBLE anxiety attack while I was at an enjoyable workshop. I know now I have to take it very slowly!!!!!

By the way, when I went to the psychiatrist after the fiasco of trying to come off the Effexor, she told me that going right back on would not work. I tried, and guess what, it didn't! She told me it would take at least 6 months before I could try it again. So, in the meanwhile, I tried a couple of other meds. None of them helped. When I hit the 6 month mark of being off the Effexor, I asked to go back on it. I did. It never worked as well as it did the first time, but it did help me a lot. I has been my choice to remain on it. I just felt it was time to 'downsize' a bit.

I hope this helps you!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

REPLY
1 reply
farmboy | @farmboy | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @texasduchess "@farmboy Please remember I'm not a doctor, just another person who took Effexor and experienced difficulty..." + (show)
@texasduchess

@farmboy
Please remember I'm not a doctor, just another person who took Effexor and experienced difficulty when quitting it. All I can give you is what I learned during the process. I think the rest of us on here are/were in the same boat. My research found time and time again that someone's doctor underestimated the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms and overestimated the likely success of the tapering schedule suggested. A friend who was an elderly lady then told me 40 years ago, "Nothing is too much trouble for the person who doesn't have to do it."

Your taper has been steep and fast (225 then to 150 for 2 weeks, then to 75 for 2 weeks, then 75 every other day, then every other day, then stop).

A few days ago, I posted this in reply to you--
"When the withdrawal symptoms are too much, the usual recommendation is to go back to the dose where you didn't have those W/D effects, stay there for a while (weeks, months, etc.) before again tapering to not so big a drop. Your tapers have been pretty steep and you haven't stayed at the next lower dose for long. You may think you're losing ground by going back, but the discomfort you're experiencing is not worth it. The main advice on this site is go slow. Some suggest no more than a 5-10% drop at a time (or even less if your W/D is bad)."

Find out if there are any restrictions/interactions with the Hydroxyzine and Buspirone you're taking; then if not, you can try taking two 37.5mg Effexor to make 75mg and see if you get relief. Consider starting over and tapering off sloooowly to much smaaaaller reductions. After some weeks (or even months), you can taper to a slightly smaller dose, stay there weeks and then, try tapering again.

Jump to this post

Well I ended up in the Emergency room today again because the panic attacks wouldn't stop. In away a good thing I went. Because the Emergency room Dr. really took the time to listen to me and I also showed her alot of the post everyone has been sharing about tapering off effexor. To my surprise she said I have helped people get off of effexor and she said everyone in this group is right. I was going WAY TO FAST. So back on 75 mg of effexor I go. She got ahold of my family Dr., which she is friends with and told her (my family Dr) we need to start back on 75 mg and SLOWLY taper off. With all this being said Some of you should be Dr's. after all the knowledge you folks have shared with me. I hope I'm on the right track. Because my engine was about ready to leave my caboose behind. By the way texasduchess, I really like what your elderly friend said. Alot of truth to that.

REPLY
3 replies
farmboy | @farmboy | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @grandmar "@farmboy Hi! I'd like to add to @texasduchess I am currently tapering down, too. I have..." + (show)
@grandmar

@farmboy
Hi!
I'd like to add to @texasduchess
I am currently tapering down, too. I have no intention of coming off the Effexor 100%, just reducing my dosage to a lesser amount.
I'll tell you what I am doing.
I've been on Effexor for over 10 years. Can't tell you when I started but it has been a long time. It saved my life during very difficult times. However, at the last increase, my memory became worse than before and I felt like my head was in a cloud.
Here's the drill....
I was taking two 75 mg in the morning and at night. I've ALWAYS broken my dosages into an AM and PM, otherwise it was too much. So, that is a total of 300 mg a day.....way too much as far as I am concerned.
I have NOT touched my AM dosage, yet. Everything I tell you is what I am doing with my PM dosage only. I will follow the same pattern when I get down to 1/2 a pill in the PM, I will begin with my AM dosage.
The time frame I give myself for each decrease is 3 weeks. If I start to have withdrawal symptoms, I will go back up 1/4 and remain there for 3 more weeks or as long as needed.....
Remember, this is just my PM dosage of two 75 mg pills.

I cut 1/4 off of 1 pill. I alternated that dosage every other night for 3 weeks (2 pills, 1-3/4 pills, 2 pills, 1-3/4 pills, etc.).
I felt fine so I took the 1-3/4 pills EVERY night for 3 weeks. I felt fine.

Next, I cut off an additional 1/4 off one pill. I took 1-1/2 pills every other night for 3 weeks (1-3/4 pills, 1-1/2 pills, 1-3/4 pills, 1-1/2 pills, etc)
I felt fine so I rook 1-1/2 pills EVERY night for 3 weeks. I felt fine.

Then, I cut off another 1/4. I took 1-1/4 pills every other night for 3 weeks (1-1/2 pills, 1-1/4 pills, 1-1/2 pills, 1-1/4 pills, etc.).
I felt fine, so NOW I am taking 1-1/4 pills EVERY night for 3 weeks. So far, so good.

If I continue to feel good, my next dosage will be 1 pill every ohter night for 3 weeks (1 pill, 1-1/4 pills, 1 pill, 1-1/4 pills, etc).
After that, as low as I doing well, I'll be taking 1 pill EVERY night.

I am not sure what I will do after that. My though Is to continue with the 1 pill at night and start the same pattern with my morning dosage. Of course, everything depends on how I feel. You can see that this has been a long process, so far. I am in no hurry. I once started to come off the pills altogehter at the advice of my PCP. I believe I was at 37.5mg, at the time. She had me stop one who pill entirely. Within a couple of days, I had a HORRIBLE anxiety attack while I was at an enjoyable workshop. I know now I have to take it very slowly!!!!!

By the way, when I went to the psychiatrist after the fiasco of trying to come off the Effexor, she told me that going right back on would not work. I tried, and guess what, it didn't! She told me it would take at least 6 months before I could try it again. So, in the meanwhile, I tried a couple of other meds. None of them helped. When I hit the 6 month mark of being off the Effexor, I asked to go back on it. I did. It never worked as well as it did the first time, but it did help me a lot. I has been my choice to remain on it. I just felt it was time to 'downsize' a bit.

I hope this helps you!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

Jump to this post

If it's o.k. with you I'll show my family Dr on how you are doing the taper down. The emergency room Dr. thinks no longer than it's been since my last dose I'll do fine getting back on it. She said if it been 2 weeks or longer I might have trouble. But she seemed pretty positive since it's only been a week I'll probably be o.k..

REPLY
1 reply
texasduchess | @texasduchess | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @farmboy "Well I ended up in the Emergency room today again because the panic attacks wouldn't stop...." + (show)
@farmboy

Well I ended up in the Emergency room today again because the panic attacks wouldn't stop. In away a good thing I went. Because the Emergency room Dr. really took the time to listen to me and I also showed her alot of the post everyone has been sharing about tapering off effexor. To my surprise she said I have helped people get off of effexor and she said everyone in this group is right. I was going WAY TO FAST. So back on 75 mg of effexor I go. She got ahold of my family Dr., which she is friends with and told her (my family Dr) we need to start back on 75 mg and SLOWLY taper off. With all this being said Some of you should be Dr's. after all the knowledge you folks have shared with me. I hope I'm on the right track. Because my engine was about ready to leave my caboose behind. By the way texasduchess, I really like what your elderly friend said. Alot of truth to that.

Jump to this post

@farmboy
I've been "sweating bullets" today wondering how you are. I am so glad that you helped yourself by going to the emergency room. And that doctor being there for you today--what a lucky find! Her calling your family doctor on your behalf was wonderful--often it takes one professional to get the message across to another professional. Is she only an emergency room physician? I mean, can she be your doctor? (When I went to Care Now, the doctor who helped me was only filling in there that day; she actually had her own practice; it was about an hour's drive with heavy traffic/tolls from me, so I didn't become a patient.) Hope you are feeling a lot calmer!

REPLY
2 replies
farmboy | @farmboy | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @texasduchess "@farmboy I've been "sweating bullets" today wondering how you are. I am so glad that you..." + (show)
@texasduchess

@farmboy
I've been "sweating bullets" today wondering how you are. I am so glad that you helped yourself by going to the emergency room. And that doctor being there for you today--what a lucky find! Her calling your family doctor on your behalf was wonderful--often it takes one professional to get the message across to another professional. Is she only an emergency room physician? I mean, can she be your doctor? (When I went to Care Now, the doctor who helped me was only filling in there that day; she actually had her own practice; it was about an hour's drive with heavy traffic/tolls from me, so I didn't become a patient.) Hope you are feeling a lot calmer!

Jump to this post

I believe it was my lucky day and I think God was helping me today to. The emergency room Dr.came to our hospital to fill in for my family Dr. Our hospital isn't like Mayo or Fort Worth Texas type hospital. Our hospital is pretty small but pretty good for being in a small farm town. Its a small town called Albia, Iowa.

REPLY
sandij (Sandi James) | @sandij | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @farmboy "Well I ended up in the Emergency room today again because the panic attacks wouldn't stop...." + (show)
@farmboy

Well I ended up in the Emergency room today again because the panic attacks wouldn't stop. In away a good thing I went. Because the Emergency room Dr. really took the time to listen to me and I also showed her alot of the post everyone has been sharing about tapering off effexor. To my surprise she said I have helped people get off of effexor and she said everyone in this group is right. I was going WAY TO FAST. So back on 75 mg of effexor I go. She got ahold of my family Dr., which she is friends with and told her (my family Dr) we need to start back on 75 mg and SLOWLY taper off. With all this being said Some of you should be Dr's. after all the knowledge you folks have shared with me. I hope I'm on the right track. Because my engine was about ready to leave my caboose behind. By the way texasduchess, I really like what your elderly friend said. Alot of truth to that.

Jump to this post

this is great news, @farmboy !!

REPLY
farmboy | @farmboy | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @texasduchess "@farmboy I've been "sweating bullets" today wondering how you are. I am so glad that you..." + (show)
@texasduchess

@farmboy
I've been "sweating bullets" today wondering how you are. I am so glad that you helped yourself by going to the emergency room. And that doctor being there for you today--what a lucky find! Her calling your family doctor on your behalf was wonderful--often it takes one professional to get the message across to another professional. Is she only an emergency room physician? I mean, can she be your doctor? (When I went to Care Now, the doctor who helped me was only filling in there that day; she actually had her own practice; it was about an hour's drive with heavy traffic/tolls from me, so I didn't become a patient.) Hope you are feeling a lot calmer!

Jump to this post

Yes I am feeling somewhat calmer. But still a little bit nervous. I think it's fear of having another panic attack.

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | Mar 7, 2019
In reply to @farmboy "Well I ended up in the Emergency room today again because the panic attacks wouldn't stop...." + (show)
@farmboy

Well I ended up in the Emergency room today again because the panic attacks wouldn't stop. In away a good thing I went. Because the Emergency room Dr. really took the time to listen to me and I also showed her alot of the post everyone has been sharing about tapering off effexor. To my surprise she said I have helped people get off of effexor and she said everyone in this group is right. I was going WAY TO FAST. So back on 75 mg of effexor I go. She got ahold of my family Dr., which she is friends with and told her (my family Dr) we need to start back on 75 mg and SLOWLY taper off. With all this being said Some of you should be Dr's. after all the knowledge you folks have shared with me. I hope I'm on the right track. Because my engine was about ready to leave my caboose behind. By the way texasduchess, I really like what your elderly friend said. Alot of truth to that.

Jump to this post

I am so glad you found a doctor to listen to you and help you. Just know it might take a couple of days for your body to get back on track. You can do it!!!!!
Ronnie

REPLY
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