Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

I didnt know I was on an extremely high dosage which was 400mg per day until my psychiatrist retired and I had to get a new one. The scary thing is that I was at 500mg before that for awhile. I've been taking this medicine for about 10 years. My new psychiatrist told me that 400mg was an extremely too high of dosage and it could hurt my heart. He tapered me down to 225mg within in a month. He had me take 20mg of xanxax with it to help with the withdrawal symptoms. Everything seemed fine and I was doing really well at first. But then when I got down to 225mg, he had me stop taking the xanax. I started struggling with feeling depressed and having anxiety. My head hurt all the time and I had no patience. I couldn't sleep and I felt like I needed to move my legs all the time while laying down. Then I received some bad news that turned my world upside down and I couldn't stop crying and could barely get out of bed. I didn't go to work and I stopped taking care of myself. I will admitt, it was the scariest and hardest time of my life. I became so lost in the pain and feeling like I would never be happy again. I was seeing a therapist during this time. I had to continue to advocate for myself, even when I felt like giving up. I told my psychiatrist and he switched me to the extended release venlafaxine ,which did nothing. I had been on the extended release before and it didnt work. I had to continue to to keep on him and telling him this isn't working, even when I felt like there was no hope. He said I could start taking the Xanax again and weeks went by and I was still not getting better. I was exhausted and tired of fighting for help. I finally got them him to do something different and he put me on 40 MG of xanxax. This seemed to work and I started to feel like my oldself again. But I have to say, during the times I was on my period, it felt like I was on no medicine at all. I tried to tell my psychiatrist and he acted like it was no big deal. Each time I was on my period, the depression was 100 times worse. I'm looking for a new psychiatrist, because I believe mine was very careless and doesn't know the power of this medication or the seriousness of the side effects. I've also have had memory problems while on this medication, I can see in my head what I want to say, but I can't think of the word. I forget things very easily and also have severe constipation which I have to take other medication for. Both of these symptoms were dismissed as being unrelated to the medication. But I didnt have them, before I was on the medication and I've recently read about others who have them too. I really am hoping to find a psychiatrist who knows more about this drug, I know it can be hard to advocate for yourself, but keep trying!

Hi nonnie!

Wow that's a short amount of time! It could be withdrawal symptoms as you're body's trying to adjust to being without it.

When experiencing these symptoms, it could be a sign from your body that you may have tapered too quickly. I've read that in order to minimise these symptoms, it's suggested to taper more slowly and in smaller steps. That way your body has more time to adjust to it.

Right now I'm experiencing headaches (with a buzzing drum in my head almost?) and flu like symptoms. I am tapering Venlafaxine as well. Reading more and more about it, right now I'm preeettty sure these symptoms are withdrawal symptoms.
Also thank you @keppraeffect for making me think that it is probably good to taper down more slowly!

Can you talk about these symptoms with your doctor? I hope they can help you at least lessen the symptoms since you're already off the venlafaxine.

All the best!

I went off Venlafaxine 4 weeks ago after being on it for several years. I tapered down from 225 to 75 myself, it was really ok. But i couldn't get down to 37.5 without getting brain zaps, nausea, headaches, insomnia, trembling, anxiety and all the rest. I went to see a psychiatrist who booked me into hospital for a couple of days to help me get off and to monitor me. For the first 2 days he put me on 37.5, then and from day 3 nothing. From day 1 though he put me on Urbanol that helped with anxiety, Aropax SR 25 mg, pain meds and nausea meds as necessary, Biotrazadone 100mg at night, Disipal that helped with the brainzaps and shaking and Inderal. Using those meds really helped a lot, i only experienced slight brain zaps, a little bit of nausea, diarrhea and vertigo, nothing as severe as when i tried to go of Venlafaxine by myself. Im off it now and adter a month i only get slight brain zaps occasionally, feeling a little weak and tired but nothing too bad. I could stop using Disipal, Inderal, pain and nausea meds.

May I ask what you replaced it with ?

My goodness~ your taper is by far the quickest I have read about.
I am 63 - been on anti depressants for about 30 years. Initially started after a difficult child birth, a big company move shortly after. . I started off with Prozac - it saved me. I had developed agoraphobia . I thought I must have a brain tumor! Not much was written about it back in the day. But I was handed the book (by a stranger in a library ) (“Peace from nervous suffering” written by Claire Weeks. This was a Godsend. It was like it was written personally for me! I was not going crazy - !!! I have a chance. Eventually Prozac stopped working and went to a few different ones after that. Since 2021 I have been tapering off of Effexor. It stopped working for me once I was in full menopause. (2 years ago) I had no joy. I’ve been slowly eliminating it out of my system over a year and a half. 225mg- 150 (hardest taper..struggled..my darkest time). I felt like I was dying. Darkest thoughts. Paralyzing fear. With all the strength I had, I put my self into a 36 day TMS regiment. Just getting out of bed everyday and showing up an huge achievement. I started to feeling a positive shift after my 17th appt. - I was showering every day and running occasional errands. For a full month after - I felt normal. Energized, calm, participating in life, patient, engaging…best feeling in life. Is this what life is suppose to be like? After 40 days- the magic left me. I was devastated. One month passed and I decided to put my self back in to TMS but for only 3 days a week. I just started- so I will keep you posted. I am now on 75+37 1/2 mg …feel nauseous and have a lot of brushing sounds in my head. .. . I will eventually go to 75mg —anxiety is so debilitating to me.
They are not recommending Xanax..because the new studies are they are linked now to Alzheimer’s (besides being addictive) My pcp won’t prescribe them anymore. Paxil is out of the question because like Effexor…it’s another drug that’s a struggle to get off of. If I miss just 1 dose of Effexor, I can’t even walk without holding on to a wall! I can’t turn my head with out electrical shocks. Some shocks are so explosive and loud that it’s frightening. It’s like someone shutting off the power grid for a whole skyscraper. . I often feel like In have the flu. The sweeping and zaps are ridiculous. Big Pharma took their first Effexor pill off the market for a reason. I’ll never understand why this XR is even on the market. To me it’s a poison. I’ve been in anti-depressants for at least 30 years.
Anytime I mentioned i was feeling blue or having anxiety - my pcp’s just assumed my meds stopped working and changed them. It’s very frustrating.
Now I am experiencing restless leg/body syndrome- my body just jolts off the bed while trying to sleep. I am for medication if it works and has little side effects. Effexor is the devil. I’m sorry to all of you in this struggle. I will keep you in my thoughts. I’m rooting for all- N

May I ask what you replaced it with ?

What is brain zaps?