I have just gotten off of Venlafaxine. Anyone else?

I am back on. Thank you 🙏🏻 for your note. After years of investigation I found I was never diagnosed when I was placed on ZOLOFT in the mid 80s. I was going through a very difficult time in my life and I needed help. I am confident the doctor who prescribed ZOLOFT believed he was doing the right thing. We are simply fortunate medicine has advanced and will continue to advance as more and more tools become available.

My experience with doctors is, “they want to do the right thing” Facing them is the pharmaceutical industry, attorneys, hospital owners and the administration of the hospitals. Liability is a dirty word and every step will be taken to minimize exposure.

The roots of medical problems began from conception through my birth. Since my retirement in 2006 at 59 I have spent a good part of time researching my life. My purpose was to answer who am I am and what factors impacted why I behaved as I did. My research is largely complete.

I wanted any readers to have my background information so they can understand why I carry no hard feelings.

I do my best to keep my eye on what’s immediately before me. The Dali Lamas said, There Are Only Two Days In the Year That Nothing Can be Done. One Is Called Yesterday and the Other Is Called Tomorrow.

I recently came off 450mg of Effexor/Venlafaxine that I had been on for fifteen years. Effexor can and does cause just about anything you can come up with. I have avoided most of the discontinuation effects except sleep disturbances. The medication causes sleep disturbances when on it and when discontinuing it. I only sleep two hours at a time.

As for the other discontinuation effects, yeah Effexor causes them. Google it when you get a chance.

I avoided most of the worst effects by dramatically changing my diet and exercising everyday. My doctors have confirmed that good nutrition and regular exercise are the best things anyone can do for their mental health. I of course wonder why no one, during the fifteen years I've been prescribed toxic medication, ever mentioned to me that I should change what I eat and get some exercise. From my point of view not informing me of the importance of these two interventions was negligence bordering on malpractice.

All my docs tell me how important nutrition and exercise are now that I have made these changes myself. During my recent crisis they told me how happy they are that I am off Effexor. Why did no one suggest getting rid of this poison before?

I believe if I wasn't sick before, Effexor has so changed my biology, that I am sick now.

The changes I made are simple; no refined sugar or fast foods. More protein. More complex carbohydrates and good fats. I eat pretty much as much as I want to eat, generally around two thousands calories a day. I exercise two hours a day, though that is more than I need to. As little as thirty minutes is probably enough.

I've lost thirty five pounds. My blood sugar is great. My blood pressure is terrific and I am much stronger.

There is no pill I can take that has as much effect on my biology as what I eat and how much I do or do not move. If I am unwilling to do what I can to get better than how can I expect some magic pill to make me better. If I had taken responsibility for my physical and mental health fifteen years ago I might not have lost everyone and everything that mattered to me.

If one wants to avoid the discontinuation effects of any medication, good nutrition and exercise is a must.

I know it is not alway easy but it beats the hell out of the alternative; at least for me.

May you live in peace and good health.

My doctor is tapering me off Effexor and putting me on pristiq. Anyone out there doing this

May I ask why?

I’ve been on Effexor for at least 20 years with really no change. I changed psychiatrists and she felt I might do better with pristiq

I am coming off Effexor xr 150 that I took for 15 years. My dr. Put me on 50 of pristiq as I come off Effexor. I’m angry, impatient, depressed, anxious and crying. I guess I have to wait until the crossover is done to make a final judgement. But I absolutely hate how I feel and who I am now. I hope these symptoms are temporary

At what rate are you decreasing the Effexor? Sounds to me like you are suffering from withdrawal symptoms which would indicate that you are decreasing by too much too fast. There is a more detailed and lengthy discussion on here under the heading of "Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)" which you should check out.

I can’t seem to find it. Any suggestions?

I forgot to give you my titration schedule. Approximately 37.5 every 2 weeks with the addition of pristiq 50 every 2 weeks. Up to 100