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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secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | May 22, 2019
In reply to @elaine0 "I am so sorry as I am new to this and not sure how to ask..." + (show)
@elaine0

I am so sorry as I am new to this and not sure how to ask a question. I am just after coming off Venlafaxine after 6 years of using it because I felt it was no longer effective and it was either increase it or finally get off it. i was not in anyway prepared for what has been happening over the pst three days. I reduced slowly to 37.5 and managed without any issues provided I took it at the same time daily. I feel it just prolonged the inevitable. I would give up smoking 10 times over again than face another day like this. I am bed bound today as talking or moving creates some sort of disconnection between my sight and my brain and senses. Hearing this shot in my ears and shock in my head but not painful? Anxiety out of control to the fact that yesterday I couldn't breath so took a few days off work to calm. I will never take one again and face going through this again so there is no going back but all I want to and need to know is how long this is going to last? My face is burning, cheeks raw red, and vertigo. I know this is not all in my head and very much a physical response and I'm honestly shocked that this was never on my radar of what might happen nor did my doctors. She has just said drink plenty of water. I am so sorry to hear all your stories as I know im not alone but how can I make this easier without being willing to take another tablet and how long should it feel like this?
Thanks so much to all you very brave people

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First of all you are going to be fine. You will. Second of all, it sounds like withdrawal and, although you said you don’t want to take another tablet, how about 5/6 of a tablet? Just for a month. And then 3/4 for a month. An extremely slow weening is what is necessary for this very potent, brain-changing drug. Please go easy on yourself and ween slowly. You’re still heading toward your goal of being Effexor free, just more gently. There will be more responses to your inquiry. We’ve all been there and are still going through it. I hear different things about how long it takes. But please don’t suffer and take at least part of a pill. I’m so sorry for your suffering.

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Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | May 22, 2019

@elaine0
Welcome, you are in the right place. It sounds like you have been reading. Good for you.
BTW, none of us want to be here. And we have banded together to assist cuz all of us helpers here went thru it also.
The most important thing you can do to help us help you is to give us a detailed history of your use of the venlafaxine. When you started, dosages, etc.
I was on it for 33 years. It is the drug from he'll to get off of. We are with you. Keep coming back.
If you choose never to take another tablet, you will be doing it the worst way possible. I know cuz I did it that way and ended up having a stroke over my choice.
So, go take the same dose you took yesterday as soon as you read this. Or prepare to decend into the H ell of your own making......
BW

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elaine0 | @elaine0 | May 22, 2019

really? I think I would feel like a failure to put one in my mouth again and I literally hate the things and the doctor who prescribed them. I felt so normal while taking them I think I thought they were doing nothing and a waste of time. Clearly I underestimated how strong and controlling a drug it is and the effects it was having on me. over the past year I have just been becoming a little boring, didn't want to do anything and not my usual bubbly self so I thought maybe the medication was having this adverse effect and I have to say when reducing it I did feel more like my old self and then I stopped and I have been hit by a bus. I was never depressed a day in my life until now and yes I have had physical effects of anxiety for years, never depressed. Thanks so much for your quick reply and I am so relieved to find this post. information on line is only about symptoms but not a lot on how to help over come them.

REPLY
2 replies
elaine0 | @elaine0 | May 22, 2019

My history,
Started taking them 6 years ago after I started suffering from anxiety when my son nearly died. Tried therapy but nothing helped. Doctor started these and I did without question as I was tired of feeling anxious. Since then they have been increased twice only because they no longer worked. They never really took the anxiety away fully but definitely made me calmer in my day to day life and I liked that because I run several companies and have a large busy family life too.
I spoke to the doctor a few times about them causing funny feelings if I miss a dose and I said that I felt addicted to them because of the effects I would have if I missed one. I would often call my husband in a panic to drop them in to me because of the dizziness and nausea if one was missed. He said they were not addictive and that I could come off them whoever I liked. I also questioned my lack of physical intimacy abilities and he said it only happened to men. I questioned my weight gain and he said it was most likely because I was eating more from feeling better. I have since changed doctors and while she is a lot more sensitive and caring, she did not share anything only drink water and it should only take a few days when I met her yesterday.
I want my sex life back and control over myself. I have always been a hyper and bubbly person and I want to feel like me again even if that means living with anxiety for the rest of my life. Its better that feeling like a prisoner now and giving into a medication clearly had no idea my body relied on so much.
Why does your body react this way?

REPLY
3 replies
Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | May 22, 2019
In reply to @brightwings "My friends, rejoice with me. . I am recovering. I see a future in front of..." + (show)
@brightwings

My friends, rejoice with me.
.
I am recovering. I see a future in front of me.
.
I have learned to wash my bone pain in a wash of gold speckled love. If dark shows thru, I throw another bucket of Love on myself. It covers my pain and it shrinks to non detectable. Healing is happening.
.
I also learned anger increases the pain unbelievably. I have been a warrior since I was 10. .
.
Time to learn Love as a way of life. I have fought long enough.
.
I would feel honored if you accept this bucket of Sparkly Love from me. It will Help heal what hurts you.
.
I give you the gift of a never ending bucket of Shimmering Love...you will have all you need. Share it as you will and watch miracles unfold before you.
.
I used to be Bright Wings. I am changing...evolving....

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Good morning family
Gosh, I sound like a kook in that post....
.
Where I am today is many places at once....confused, empty, fresh, renewed but raw.
.
Pondering all the life events that have come to me in the last three days.
.
One of many, many blessings that came out of this was my brother, Gene, who commuted suicide because of the depth of his pain, came to me and filled me with his sweet pure love. I weep at the memory of feeling untarnished, pure love, free of pain or any ulterior motives.
It filled every cell of my body and it felt like I glowed.
.
He helped me live...I am so grateful.
.
And Pissed, and confused, and raw and....I could go on and on...the emotions overwhelm me. The confusion also.
.
I have so much new knowledge, a different purpose in life but don't have details yet.
.
And I still sound like a kook...BW

REPLY
1 reply
farm_mom | @farm_mom | May 22, 2019
In reply to @elaine0 "My history, Started taking them 6 years ago after I started suffering from anxiety when my..." + (show)
@elaine0

My history,
Started taking them 6 years ago after I started suffering from anxiety when my son nearly died. Tried therapy but nothing helped. Doctor started these and I did without question as I was tired of feeling anxious. Since then they have been increased twice only because they no longer worked. They never really took the anxiety away fully but definitely made me calmer in my day to day life and I liked that because I run several companies and have a large busy family life too.
I spoke to the doctor a few times about them causing funny feelings if I miss a dose and I said that I felt addicted to them because of the effects I would have if I missed one. I would often call my husband in a panic to drop them in to me because of the dizziness and nausea if one was missed. He said they were not addictive and that I could come off them whoever I liked. I also questioned my lack of physical intimacy abilities and he said it only happened to men. I questioned my weight gain and he said it was most likely because I was eating more from feeling better. I have since changed doctors and while she is a lot more sensitive and caring, she did not share anything only drink water and it should only take a few days when I met her yesterday.
I want my sex life back and control over myself. I have always been a hyper and bubbly person and I want to feel like me again even if that means living with anxiety for the rest of my life. Its better that feeling like a prisoner now and giving into a medication clearly had no idea my body relied on so much.
Why does your body react this way?

Jump to this post

Hi there. Our experiences are so similar. No libido, weight gain, withdraw symptoms coming on within hours of a missed dose. I also developed elevated BP. I began to taper off 150mg 1 x a day by reducing by about 20% in February of this year. I have been staying at the same dosage for about 1 month and then decreasing again. I slowed to closer to 15% reduction this past month, just to get myself in check a little.
So far, I've not experienced withdrawal symptoms - I have even gotten a little of my pep back. Venlafaxine made me NUMB to everything--happy things-sad things-EVERYTHING. I'm so happy to start to FEEL again.
Best wishes--and my advice, stay on it at last dose you were at and then start to taper S-L-O-W-L-Y. Also, read through all these pages of posts.

REPLY
Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | May 22, 2019
In reply to @elaine0 "really? I think I would feel like a failure to put one in my mouth again..." + (show)
@elaine0

really? I think I would feel like a failure to put one in my mouth again and I literally hate the things and the doctor who prescribed them. I felt so normal while taking them I think I thought they were doing nothing and a waste of time. Clearly I underestimated how strong and controlling a drug it is and the effects it was having on me. over the past year I have just been becoming a little boring, didn't want to do anything and not my usual bubbly self so I thought maybe the medication was having this adverse effect and I have to say when reducing it I did feel more like my old self and then I stopped and I have been hit by a bus. I was never depressed a day in my life until now and yes I have had physical effects of anxiety for years, never depressed. Thanks so much for your quick reply and I am so relieved to find this post. information on line is only about symptoms but not a lot on how to help over come them.

Jump to this post

Yes, really @elaine0
Look up the withdrawal effects...nightmares are one of them...I had a full on, drag your foot to the door, drooling, left arm and hand locked tight. That was Nov, 2017
So go read the withdrawal effects right now and you decide how big the next drop in your roller coaster ride you want.
.
Now I hear you, you run multiple companies and are used to being the boss. I respect what you have accomplished.
.
Now please respect what we have accomplished and listen to us...or not...its your choice.
BW

REPLY
secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | May 22, 2019
In reply to @elaine0 "really? I think I would feel like a failure to put one in my mouth again..." + (show)
@elaine0

really? I think I would feel like a failure to put one in my mouth again and I literally hate the things and the doctor who prescribed them. I felt so normal while taking them I think I thought they were doing nothing and a waste of time. Clearly I underestimated how strong and controlling a drug it is and the effects it was having on me. over the past year I have just been becoming a little boring, didn't want to do anything and not my usual bubbly self so I thought maybe the medication was having this adverse effect and I have to say when reducing it I did feel more like my old self and then I stopped and I have been hit by a bus. I was never depressed a day in my life until now and yes I have had physical effects of anxiety for years, never depressed. Thanks so much for your quick reply and I am so relieved to find this post. information on line is only about symptoms but not a lot on how to help over come them.

Jump to this post

It’s like looking in a mirror! (What I mean is, I have those same feelings. ). The anxiety and total lack of enjoyment in anything is what sucks. Also, I was on the pills for 22 years (give or take) and I just wanted my old self back! Warts and all. And if you read my posts, I have days of threatening to go back on something, ANYTHING, to feel better.

But you’ll get through this. I can tell. But do NOT go cold turkey off the stuff. Especially the lower doses. I’m serious. Doctors don’t know about the horrible withdrawal. Nor do they particularly want to deal with it, so they prescribe more! I was very very lucky to have a doctor and an acupuncturist who supported my endeavors.

Don’t suffer. There are still many other parts of your life you need to enjoy and take care of. You will succeed. Just don’t rush it.

REPLY
1 reply
Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | May 22, 2019
In reply to @elaine0 "My history, Started taking them 6 years ago after I started suffering from anxiety when my..." + (show)
@elaine0

My history,
Started taking them 6 years ago after I started suffering from anxiety when my son nearly died. Tried therapy but nothing helped. Doctor started these and I did without question as I was tired of feeling anxious. Since then they have been increased twice only because they no longer worked. They never really took the anxiety away fully but definitely made me calmer in my day to day life and I liked that because I run several companies and have a large busy family life too.
I spoke to the doctor a few times about them causing funny feelings if I miss a dose and I said that I felt addicted to them because of the effects I would have if I missed one. I would often call my husband in a panic to drop them in to me because of the dizziness and nausea if one was missed. He said they were not addictive and that I could come off them whoever I liked. I also questioned my lack of physical intimacy abilities and he said it only happened to men. I questioned my weight gain and he said it was most likely because I was eating more from feeling better. I have since changed doctors and while she is a lot more sensitive and caring, she did not share anything only drink water and it should only take a few days when I met her yesterday.
I want my sex life back and control over myself. I have always been a hyper and bubbly person and I want to feel like me again even if that means living with anxiety for the rest of my life. Its better that feeling like a prisoner now and giving into a medication clearly had no idea my body relied on so much.
Why does your body react this way?

Jump to this post

@elaine0
Venlafaxine is a mind altering drug. It changes your cells... The brain heals slowly, sooo very slowly.
The kindest thing you can do for your brain and life is to 1. Go get CBD. There is a group for that here...CBD changes the anxiety to calm. I myself use 25 mg 3 x a day. Anxiety gone!!!! As long as I take it...
PS...docs don't know crap about withdrawing from this drug...just saying...BW
When I got here in what, March of 2018. Something like that...there were 141 pages...look at the count now. That's how many folks you join getting off this drug...

REPLY
elaine0 | @elaine0 | May 22, 2019
In reply to @secretwhitepop "It’s like looking in a mirror! (What I mean is, I have those same feelings. )...." + (show)
@secretwhitepop

It’s like looking in a mirror! (What I mean is, I have those same feelings. ). The anxiety and total lack of enjoyment in anything is what sucks. Also, I was on the pills for 22 years (give or take) and I just wanted my old self back! Warts and all. And if you read my posts, I have days of threatening to go back on something, ANYTHING, to feel better.

But you’ll get through this. I can tell. But do NOT go cold turkey off the stuff. Especially the lower doses. I’m serious. Doctors don’t know about the horrible withdrawal. Nor do they particularly want to deal with it, so they prescribe more! I was very very lucky to have a doctor and an acupuncturist who supported my endeavors.

Don’t suffer. There are still many other parts of your life you need to enjoy and take care of. You will succeed. Just don’t rush it.

Jump to this post

Thank you, its so nice to know that this is normal to feel like this. (I use the word normal with the knowledge that this is totally not normal)I may have to consider taking the low dosa again but will I not just face this agin then next month or the month after when I come off it again. is 37.5 (the lowest I was down to) before I came off them not the lowest I can take?
Thanks again

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