I have just gotten off of Venlafaxine. Anyone else?

Thank you!

I have read the same research. I do not want to be on venlafaxine. Resuming the medication was deemed to be need to stop the extreme discontinuation effects. I had been on 450mg and am now one 150mg. It seems to have halted some of the discontinuation effects.

My goal is to stabilize and the titrate off it. I am quite a distance from stable, however. It is interesting that you mention having good luck with lamotrigine. I have taken it before and it seemed to help.

I have to stop taking lithium because of the many side effects. Adding lamotrigine might be a good idea.

Thank you for your response. Your situation seems somewhat similar and I appreciate your input. If I have to live I want to stop suffering so.

I hope you live in peace and good health.

I really hope you're able to find some sort of balance. The despair is evident in your posts, and it's familiar to my experience. It's only been a month, so it's too early to say for certain, but I do feel getting myself off of Effexor has thus far proven to be a good move. I feel like a fog has lifted from my head. Like I'm suddenly here and present again. It's the damnedest thing. I really question that drug.

Thank you for your comments.

For what it's worth, the discontinuation effects from venlafaxine began about a month after I stopped taking it. I had also come off several other drugs at the same time, so who knows? Somewhere between starting the med reductions and stopping completely, I had two months where I felt like the man I used to be. I am not confident that I can repeat that happy accident.

I am happy for you that you are off Effexor/Venlafaxine. I too am diagnosed with bipolar depression. I'm not sure that's accurate as I've not had a manic episode in ten years. Nonetheless, venlafaxine is a dangerous drug. I suspect we'll read about a class action suit in the fairly near future.

I wish you and everyone peace and good health.

It’s because the medicine causes your cortisol levels to rise, therefore, your glucose levels are high. This makes you more hungry and feel like you can’t go a certain amount of time without eating, which is hypoglycemic tendency. This does not mean you’re hypoglycemic, it just means that you have to do things to lower your cortisol (which you can look up somatic exercises and breathing exercises for this) and lower your glucose like eating more protein, leafy greens and cutting out processed sugars. Just try and eat Whole Foods and proteins!

I’m going through the same thing!! I hope it doesn’t last long! Helps to know this is a symptom of the withdrawal though.

I wish you all only the best of the best. I do want to share that if it were not for effexor, and sertraline, I would not be alive, able to function, learn or be a parent, or almost finished completing my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. No lie. Ive been on it since 1985. Ive been hospitalized, inpatient, locked wards only, more times than I can count, and was weaned off, so other modalities could be tried, with unfortunately no success. I was 14 when I started Effexor. Im 53 June 6th, have 3, gorgeous, now young twenty-somethings children, and outside of my biological family, i adore everything about being alive. I give thanks for each sunrise, sunset, each breath and beat of my heart. I was severely abused, neglected and ritualistically tortured as the recepticle for an unmedicated schizophrenic mother and absent father. No sibs thank god. This occurred from birth through age 18. I will have Major Depressive Disorder and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder until the day I die and I hope that day is a loooooooong time off. I can say that now ... but without the 2 meds I previously stated, and the tons and tons of therapy i have had, and will continue to have, I could never have said those words. I was unable to say them years ago. I am glad that those of you who want to get off of venlafaxine are able to do so, while still able to live life without constant flashbacks, list time, or uncontrollable morbid depression. Your bodies/brains do not require it to live and have functional lives. That is awesome. Just know that there are some persons, whose brains and bodies need it to exist and contribute to life and take proper care of themselves and their loved ones too. -mary

Wow, Mary! Thank you for sharing this! I am so glad that the medicine has worked for you especially after what you have been through. I just don’t think it was the right medicine for me. So glad to know that you are here to tell your story, and thank you for sharing. You are not alone.

My doctor had prescribed venlaflexine for anxiety and menopause 75mg but I did not start. It sounds like this med can give you too much withdrawal symptoms later?

Amen to that. Knowing what I know now, I would not have taken venlafaxine for hot flashes umpteen years ago, as I have been unable to get off the drug after two attempts. A third attempt is in my future. Among side effects is a loss of interest in sex. I was warned by my pharmacist, but I never imagined I would be on the drug long-term. I would try every anxiety-lowering trick in the book before resorting to this drug. (Anxiety brings on hot flashes, which I guess is why it was prescribed.)

so glad to find other to talk with. I had been on Effexor XR off and on for over 26 yrs. been off this time for 5 months now. had to come off because it had stopped working and was causing lots of depression and anxiety of its on now. I could not get off it on my own had to go to a place in Sedona AZ ,ATMC, to do a detox program to get off, ended up counting the beads to get off without passing out constantly. now Im seeing a Neurologist that is doing neuropath work on me to help heal my receptors and help with brain zaps and ears ringing and light headedness. it messed my physical up badly trying to get cortical levels back now also. i'm praying a lot and trying to be patient so I don't have to go on a bridge drug( really don't want to do that) so many side effects, loss of desire to do most ANYTHING, every 3rd day I have lots of tears too,
and the worse is with cortisol levels off I wake up in fight or flight everytime i wake up.
Anyone else have any information on how long it may take to get receptors to heal?