Long term effects AFTER withdrawing from Effexor

I just read through all the comments in this thread. I started my search today online for long term, or permanent side effects from Effexor/Venlafaxine. I started taking this medication in 2016, and after experiencing bad withdrawal symptoms from missing just one dose, I was scared and decided I wanted to wean off it. I was only on it for about a year, prescribed to me for my chronic pain and depression. I can't remember which dosage I was on, I want to say I went up to 150mg over the course of a year, but I honestly can't remember due to my severe memory issues.

I started weaning off in the spring of 2017, and by September of 2017 I had to quit my job and stop working because the withdrawal symptoms were so severe. Some days I couldn't get out of bed, because I would become so dizzy I would get hit with severe nausea. Like extreme vertigo symptoms. It took me over a year to wean off the medication completely, but I still wasn't able to work.

I already had health issues before starting this medication, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in April of 2015, and have suffered from depression and anxiety since I was a young teenager. I was in a car accident in September of 2016 where I was rear-ended, and a couple weeks after the accident I started having some problems. I was already on Venlafaxine for almost a year at that point. I went to see a Neurologist, and was diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome in February of 2017. A couple months after that, is when I started weaning off Venlafaxine. I always suspected I had POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) after the accident, but after being diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome, I gave up on that diagnosis for a short while. My symptoms only seem to have worsened since being off Venlafaxine, and I started to wonder if I really did have POTS and was misdiagnosed, or if it could possible be permanent damage from Venlafaxine. I have seen many doctors, most of which wouldn't listen to me, and just dismissed me since the heart monitors they attached me to didn't show anything strange.

I started seeing a new doctor recently, and she was a breath of fresh air. She listened to me, and immediately gave me a referral to Neurology for a tilt table test (a test I was previously refused). So, once I get that done I can finally rule out POTS. If I don't have it, then I'm really thinking I could have some permanent damage from Venlafaxine. I can't go back on that medication, my memory problems are too bad and I too easily miss medication dosages. Not sure what my next step will be, but reading this entire thread has been incredibly informative.

My daughter has been diagnosed with POTS. She's seeing a doctor at Johns Hopkins whom she likes very much. She's lives in N. VA so the trip up is hard for her but not impossible. If by some miracle you live close, Hopkins might be worth a try. I realize that with POTS the distance you're able to travel is limited.
Good luck!

Hi Mary Lucifer . I have undertaken years of research into the VENLAFAXINE / EFFEXOR issue. I have, over time, managed to garner a good overall knowledge of the raft of problems the drug can cause. I have consulted heads of peer groups - who have amassed considerable patient feedback. My own Ven issues cross references to all of this patient data. It took me nearly 4 yrs to titrate off (with my Pharmacist & Dr close monitoring of), down from Ven 75mg. I am still getting many types of side / withdrawal effects, + 1 year after this hyper slow titration regime.
Not considering any issues arising from your Car accident , from my perspective, I had severe memory & cognition issues with Venlafaxine while, on it. ( This is a reported back issue). Despite titration, this did not get immediately better, pro - rata, to the dose reductions I was making. Now, One Year after stopping completely, I have some improvement ref memory. Ref dizzy / vertigo, I was originally told to get off the drug 75mg to zero dose over only 3 months, by a Dr = BIG MISTAKE . As per you , the dizzyness & vertigo was terrible.
So, I re-introduced Ven @ original 75mg dose & started titration again as per above. This practice DID , (very slowly) , then stop the Diz / Vertigo problems. BUT, I still get them , to a lesser degree. From what you say 150mg to zero in 1 year is , from the feedback I have read here, too fast = to combat severe dizzyness & vertigo that will arise. You could ask your Dr to get pre-made up titration down doses and take these each day. As for permanent damage. A peer group representative recently told me things can take a very long time to settle and everyone is different here. But, as you will have picked up on this Site, hyper slow titration off (with on-going Medical professional monitoring of), is the key factor in mitigating against ALL of the side effects. This is what all prescribing Dr's need to be aware of AND that every patient reaction to VEN/EFFEXOR is different.

Yes, absolutely! Titration/withdrawal from long-term venlafaxine with supportive psychiatric partnership over 4-5 years can help you beat this medically prescribed chemical dependency! However, the price of healing/recovery is daily vigilance & maintenance of body, mind, spirit. Self-care of all three components of life takes work, especially for us women who tend to put our lives on hold to focus on others. Nothing like prayer, meditation, and a relationship with a Higher Power to bring us to wellness, one day at a time. No one drug or formula of drugs can do for us what we need to do for ourselves in synch with our Creator!

Dear friend. My story is different but basically have suffered withdrawal symptoms from Effexor myself. I went from 150 mg 5-6 years ago to 75 then to 37.5 for over a year before I weened myself off over a 3 -4 week period. I have felt drained physically and have fought depression for up to four months. I’m six months into the withdrawals and finally realize the fatigue and physical weakness is subsiding. BTW, I also fought the dizziness for several months. It hasn’t been any fun but I’m finally realizing my quality of life is improving. I have other physical maladies which have hindered me from being as active as I like to be, which added to my plight, but I’m also getting a better understanding of how to deal with them at the same time. I had quadruple bypass surgery in April of 2022. Very successful surgery with fast overal recovery time. I blew through the cardio rehab. But at my post op visit after surgery the attending told me my right lung was not working as a result of phrenic nerve damage resulting in my diaphragm not working. I feel it was by Gods grace that I didn’t kill my self by the way I worked prior to the operation. I’m seeking “ His “ wisdom now on what to do about this. I just started physical therapy which offers me hope of improving my lung capacity. In the process I’m beginning to have “ brighter” days. I’m trying now to see a thoracic surgeon to get an evaluation to see what options I have. I’m thankful I quit the Effexor and believe you will “ come out the woods” even as I have. Jesus said He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly John 10:10
I believe He still heals and Luke 1:37 says with God, all things are possible. I feel like I’m on the right road and believe you are too. Psalm 55:22 says cast thy burdens on the Lord and He shall sustain thee. My prayer for you in 2024 is this. Above all things that you will prosper, and be in health, even as your soul prospers. That’s 3 John vs2 in the KJV Bible. “ I also use the New Living Translation Bible.
Just hang in there. Psalm 121 keep looking up. 😀

I was on 150 mg for 17 years. I went from 150-0 in 3 months. It was fine until I’d been at 0 for about a month. I’m just over a year off and am starting to feel much better. Still ups and downs but getting there.
For me, I experience physical and emotional withdrawal. My body hurts like it never has. I’m trying to be more active. I get massages and see a chiropractor regularly. I believe this is helping but for me, time is the biggest healer. I wish I’d have tapered off much slower but I just followed my doctor’s instructions. I wish you luck 🍀

Hi Jeffrey. Thank you for sharing your story. Can you please tell me how long you have been off Effexor completely? Also, do you have any long term side effects?

I believe Effexor and seroquel have truly ruined the past 20 years of my life. Before these medication, I was successful, in my job, and I had close relationships with my nieces and nephews. That has changed because they don’t understand why I changed, and why I made decisions that are different than the Aunt they have known from birth would have made. I feel sad and discouraged. I am in the process of tapering off (I have gone from 300mg to 50mg, but I fear the damage is already done.

I believe Effexor should be banned in the United States, and Seroquel should ONLY be used with schizophrenics.

I had a really great life. The medications took that from me, and there’s not much I can do because Big Pharma is Big Pharma.

Thank you for your encouragement and positivity. It means a lot to me. I wish you the best always. Toni

Great story and great advice. Your progress is an inspiration for me. Looking to the Bible for support has also been very helpful in my journey toward freedom from SNRIs.

I was on 450mg for fifteen years. I titrated over four months to zero and ended up in the hospital.

I now have unremitting suicidal depression and anxiety ( never had anxiety before) and I can only sleep two hours at a time.

My provider is giving me drugs to address the symptoms /discontinuation effects.

I was mildly depressed fifteen years ago when I was put on psychiatric medication. I was also loved and respected.

Now I am suffering from all sorts of aliments and have lost everyone and everything that ever mattered to me.

In hindsight I didn’t need the insane level of medication that was prescribed to me. Now I despair I can’t function without some amount of psychiatric interventions.

Medicine has screwed up before, bloodletting and oxytocin for instance. We are just starting to learn how badly they’ve gotten mental health treatment messed up.

All I am left with is the daily struggle to be relevant.

May we all live in good health and peace.

Dear friend. I have been off Effexor completely for about 6 months. I’ve had continual times of weakness and fatigue. Mine in part is due to recovering from a quadruple bypass surgery in late April of 22. Then it was in late May I found out my right lung was not working due to a phrenic nerve that was somehow damaged and caused my right lung to be paralyzed. I recently had a bad cold, and my breathing was really terrible. I was short of breath, and my oxygen level was very low, which has actually caused me to seek out professional advice from a thoracic surgeon at the Cleveland clinic since I’m an Ohio native. I really can’t quantify and say for sure how much of my fatigue and weakness has been caused by lack of oxygen, and how much has been caused from long-term side effects from the Effexor, although I believe most of my weakness and problems that I’ve had other than the shortness of breath are being caused by the side effects from being off of Effexor. I am supposed to call Cleveland Clinic tomorrow, Tuesday, February 20 and hopefully I’ll be getting an appointment there for an evaluation of my lung situation. In the meantime, you keep looking up and try to stay positive, try to be a faith filled person, because with God all things are possible.!!!