Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Just a quick one.
Yes, weak legs.
Doctors here will say, "Go from one dose to the next. "
Works for some. My doc said, "You have to go through hell for a few months."

Hi. Did you have panic attacks. I haven't had one since 2005 and now I'm 2024 I am having a horrible one and I was taking half of 37.5. Then a third of 37.5. So stopped one day and panic was in full force. Haven't slept for 30 hours.

I am tapering off Effexor XR and am down to 18.75 mg. I remove half the beads from a 37.5 mg capsule. Earlier in the tapering process I experienced a lot of nausea. Then it was insomnia, and now anxiety. My new PCP (a family MD) suggested melatonin (very small dose!), valerian root tea, and/or a meditation app for the insomnia. So far I’ve tried the tea. I drink a cup before bed, and it seems to help. The anxiety comes in the morning but today resolved over the course of the day. I plan to taper extremely slowly from this dosage, (according to the Mark Horowitz book everyone suggests here—thank you!!!), and hope for the best. I plan to not remove more beads until symptoms are under control. Fingers crossed. I appreciate all the info on this site.

Glad you found a way to do it that works. The key seems to be a slow reduction.

I went back on it because I couldn't stand the effects of withdrawal. The good news is that I am only on 75mg and it seems to have gotten rid of all the withdrawal symptoms. I was on 150mg. So when i am back to normal I will start a slow reduction.

Yes, would like to hear more o. Your protocol for tapering off Venlafaxine with minimal side effects. Thanks

This is one of the things that keeps me up at night - protracted withdrawal, just when you think you got your life back. How do you NOT have anxiety?!

Withdrawal caused horrific anxiety, once it struck. The first time it happened, I didn't realize that it was withdrawal because my mother had died and my husband was being tested for a serious condition (which turned out not to be). I was in such a state that I called my doctor and asked for a prescription renewal because I couldn't cope (though I was put on Effexor for hot flashes). Of course, withdrawal symptoms ended and I had sought grief counseling, so that was that. Then, a few years later, I decided to get off Effexor again. I did the same thing--decreased my dosage from 75 mg to nothing over a period of months. Was fine for about two months, then BAM. Literally. Woke up in a panic that was hell for days--nightmares, if I could sleep at all, not wanting to get out of bed, too terrified to leave the house, wanting to cry, shaky, unable to eat. After some time, it struck me that I had felt this way before: after my first effort to end Effexor. When my doctor was no help, I turned to online research and found this post, as well as other valuable online resources, mostly from other patients! including Mark Horowitz's story. The evidence continues to pile up that this is a major issue for individuals who were prescribed an antidepressant without an end date, and without being warned about possible dependency and the difficulty of stopping the drug. See the December edition of Outro dot com's newsletter, Outro Health, which includes this link: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/coming-off-antidepressants.
In the meantime, I had to learn to deal with my anxiety--mostly through physical movement of any kind (because sitting and dwelling on it was detrimental), as well as strenuous exercise and deep breathing. Talking about it also helped. Withdrawal symptoms went away when I resumed Effexor up to 50mg immediate release tablets.
Now, more than a year after my second extreme withdrawal episode, I have started my third and final discontinuation of Effexor. I am optimistic because I have an independent pharmacist who is happy to help, and my doctor is willing to prescribe whatever it is I need to end my dependency on this drug. My pharmacist provided an equivalent liquid solution which I can easily decrease by 10% per month. (He used the guidance provided in The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines.) That is my plan, and if I need to adjust it, I can. I can even count beads in my leftover capsules and decrease them by 10% if that's what it takes. I know it will take time for my brain to adjust to a reduced amount of this drug, but I am ready to do whatever it takes.

NJOYS, Hi. Update & your above post. It took me 4 years to titrate down from 75mg Ven/Effexor XR, as you say , by progressively reducing down. By crushing 3 -2 - 1 capsule beads , diluting them & syringing down at small degradations, from a measuring pot.
Was on Ven / Effexor April 2017 to *Oct 2018, *when titration off started. Got 90% of side effects, titration did not reduce these in any way. 2 years after titration, I was still getting bleeding spots , headaches, anxiety, blurry vision, light sensitivity, dribbling etc, I can go on. BUT, in the past 2 months some of the more minor side effects have stopped. I gather from M. Horowitz & other Professionals / feedback , some years lie ahead before recovery . anxiety persists along with other major issues. CAUTION, weight gain from these meds can in turn, cause high levels of Glucose & possible pre-diabetes. Regards

Thank you for your post. And congratulations on your progress. The schedule I have created for myself is a three-year decrease from 50mg. If it takes longer than that, then so be it. At least I know what I'm dealing with this time around, thanks to you and others. Because I've been on Effexor for umpteen years and have failed twice to quit, my research tells me I'm in for a long haul.

Me too please.