Oh my word, that is horrible. You were on that stuff a long time so when you try to come off of it, it takes a really long time. Up your dose a little until the side effects subside and take a much longer time to taper down. Please take care.

Oh my! I'm so sorry that you have been through this. I am currently withdrawing from Effexor, with little to no problems. My doctor referred me to a pharmacist, who follows up with me frequently. Definitely consult with your doctor and/or pharmacist!

Hello, thank you so much for your message. I was fine for months as I came down. The withdrawals started when I reached 75 mgs slow release every other day. I’ve now been on 37.5 mgs slow release for a bit less than four weeks. I am in contact with my doctor, and have an appointment booked with the surgery pharmacist on 24/6, (the earliest possible apparently). I don’t feel that I can wait that long, so my husband took a letter in yesterday; hopefully I’ll be able to speak to someone soon. How about you? Have you been on effexor for long? I do hope that your experience carries on as it has so far! Thank you again.
Zainah-Elizabeth Lovel

I was on Effexor XR for about 12 yrs or so, never attributing the horrid nightmares, night terrors, and hallucinations to the drug. Also a sense of "disconnect" and a slew of other daily issues, but never an improvement with depression...I've explained in detail in other sections here so I'll just cut to the chase: I wanted relief from all of these major disturbances that gripped my life, and made the decision to rid my system of this drug. But I did NOT go cold turkey nor did I devise my own plan or take advice from someone on the same medication. I turned to a trusted neurologist to have her create a tapering off schedule. Dose was slowly dwindled over a period of many months, and I was under her supervision. It was still a bit of hell, but manageable compared to what the demon drug had wrought. One thing for sure: Increasing the dose at any point along the journey was NOT ever considered. I wanted to MOVE FORWARD, not backward nor prolong the journey. With her compassionate care, I reached the last day and breathed a sigh of relief. It was still possible to have lingering effects but within a year I was totally released from the grips of any of the mental, psychological, and emotional remnants. I was convinced several years later to try generic Zoloft when I lost both my brother and my mother (I spun into another major depressive period in my life). Another huge mistake since that drug did nothing but to again blast my mind, emotions, and body with such painfully draining effects. And that drug was also tapered and finally eliminated with the guidance of the professional who had prescribed it. Zoloft inflicted auditory issues in its final weeks, requiring that the doctor arrange with my pharmacy for carefully measured drops spread out and also tapered over about 4 weeks before finally the sounds disappeared. Again lingering physical after effects but finally I was free of that drug also. Funny thing about those antidepressants: Neither actually addressed my depression...absolutamente nada.

I've posted on this site before and will reiterate: Please obtain PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE FOR TAPERING OFF AND ULTIMATELY CEASING ANY PRESCRIPTION DRUG.
Effexor is an especially potent antidepressant which carries many potentially devastating side effects, including cardiac issues. I did extensive research, obtaining info from medical institutions and medical journals, not Web MD etc. It is disturbing to still read about members within this site resorting to self-tapering or taking the advice of others who have done the same. Not everyone responds/reacts the same within given situations, so it's imperative to have PROFESSIONAL guidance.

My comments are not to be considered criticism, but rather strong recommendation based on my personal experiences. My journey through ridding my body of Effexor (and later Zoloft) was arduous, and I vowed to never put myself through that again.
For anyone who (like me) is especially sensitive to medications, please plan on having professional guidance. This is imperative if you have cardiac issues and are on other prescribed meds. Following the self-directed plans of what works for someone else is a scary thought to me. You are UNIQUELY YOU. You will not obtain release immediately, but step by step you WILL get to your goal. And I can tell you that it is so well worth it!

I wish you the best, and am including you in my prayers, that you may find relief and peace.💖🙏🏽

Delia 74 & Zainah
Hi, I live in UK. Like Delia, I have expended the past few years researching about the withdrawal , (& in my case persisting legacy effects), of Venlafaxine. I have spoken to every Senior Professor Academic & Medical UK involved in this field. Only last week a Berlin based Professor has released a report into the extent of the issues with Anti Deps. Public enemy nr 2 is Venlafaxine. Report says , (I think a conservative estimate) , 2/3 % of patients get severe withdrawal issues. In my case, I was on 75Mg VEN from April 2017. Titration off started Oct 2018. Tried over 6 weeks . Impossible = horrendous vertigo. So went back to 75mg . With Dr & Pharmacist help, it took me till Oct 2023 to titrate off , (from November 2018). And ending up, by taking beads out of 37.5 mg capsule & then crushing beads up. THEN, diluting into a pot , & syringing down @ ML degradations. You would think I was out of the woods.
NO, we are @ June 2024. STILL I get 95% of side effects.
Principally, as Delia says , **Hallucinations, nightmares, extreme tiredness, cardiac issues, breathing problems. Delia , if **these ceased after a year with you, you have done well. An official UK Bristol Uni Medical journal paper of 2022, said a two fold risk of Cardiac issues occurs with VEN, if taken over 5 yrs. I could not have titrated off slower.
It seems, from scant internet case evidence. That in extreme sensitivity cases like mine, it can take 4/5 or more years AFTER such protracted titration as mine for side / withdrawal effects to end. How you can get this after such a slow & exacting titration ?
See You Tube on Internet by the UK's (late) Ian Singleton Interview. He had personal experience of this and went on to head up the (NHS Funding for removed in Sept 2023) "Bristol Tranquiliser Project ". They had helped 1,000's of people , despirate for help, since 1985. Despite their "Bristol tranquiliser label", over 50% of there help was for NATIONWIDE UK people, with Anti-depressant withdrawal issues. There are NO dedicated such help Organisations left in the UK. All such £ resource is directed at Cat A etc Drug addiction clinics.
If anyone has had such experience as mine (& a prognosis) I am all ears.
All the best.

I recommend reading: "The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids and Z-drugs" by Mark Horowitz and David Taylor, published February 2024.
I gave copies to my doctor and pharmacist.

Thank you for your message! I saw my doctor a few days ago; she thinks that all my problems are too much, and that I should go back on the venlafaxine. I was originally on 300mgs daily, managed to get down to 37.5 mgs, and at the moment I’m on 112.5 mgs daily. I’m still having all the withdrawal symptoms although they seem better. I just hope I don’t have to keep putting the dose up, until I’m back where I started.

I was prescribed Effexor, an initial dose of 37.5 mg. The physician assured me that he had never had difficulty weaning patients off if the medication proved not to be beneficial. Being a strong proponent of starting at the lowest dose possible I took 1/2 of the 37.5 mg for seven days. Lo and behold- side effects started with blurred vision, constipation, asthenia (loss of muscle strength), loss of coordination, headache, light stool. So........for the next two days took 1/2 of the 1/2 for three days......no withdrawal. I wonder if physicians would even prescribe this medication if they read all the threads that have been posted of the horrors of withdrawal. I have always been very sensitive to medications and their side effects so starting at the very very lowest dose has been my practice for many years.....perhaps its my metabolism, weight (93lb) and now age.

see below