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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Sep 29 3:49am | Replies (6509)Comment receiving replies
Hi there! I am new to Connect, but hopefully can offer some insight. I DID go off 150 Effexor XR (name brand) COLD TURKEY on January 2016. I survived it, but will never in my life EVER go off ANY antidepressant cold turkey. I had taken Effexor for at least 8 years, Zoloft prior to that and and Imipramine (sp?) as the first antidepressant (in all 25+ years on antidepressants.) It all started with running out of meds over a long weekend and deciding it was time to try to get off antidepressants to see how I would do. Since I had recently retired from teaching, thought this would be an ideal time to give it a go. In addition, Effexor just wasn't helping all that much anymore (I thought.) The first 3 days I felt like I was going to die! When I realized that I wasn't dying, decided to keep going to get it all over with. In addition to the symptoms you have heard about, I had deep bone/joint pain that felt like I was being pinched with clamps. Also had skin sensations and peeling, and noticed a strange smell on my skin. Each day got a little better and by the 3rd week started to function a bit more normally. I was very emotional, however, which caused my family great concern. Well, to make a long story short, the depression crept back in full and I am still trying to get my life back. I did everything I could to stay stable, including herbal supplements and took a vacation where I hiked 6 miles daily for 9 days on hilly, rocky terrain. I finally had to accept that I'm a person who will need antidepressants for the rest of my life. With the help of a PCP and counselor, I am on my 3rd antidepressant & may need to resort to going back on Effexor, because nothing seems to be working. All in all, in my opinion, the chronic depression is worse than the withdrawal symptoms that do eventually end. If you are a person with situational depression, you may be successful weaning off Effexor gradually. If I were to do it again, that's what I would do (while replacing Effexor with something else.) Here are the things that helped me with the physical withdrawal symptoms:
1. Get plenty of sleep/rest.
2. Eat a very well-balanced diet (this is not the time to worry about your weight.) Lots of soup & easy to digest foods the 1st few days.
3. Drink plenty of water, including coconut water.
4. Have a glass of wine in the evening (if advisable.)
5. Get outside and walk or other excersize (the warm sunshine will feel good!)
6. Hot yoga 3-4 times per week. Stay in class even if you feel nauseous & can only do a few postures.
7. Soak in a hot tub (with bath salts if available.)
8. Use a good moisturizer on face & body several times per day.
9. Get several professional massages.
10. Take Tylenol for muscle pain, if OK on your stomach.
11. A heating pad is also helpful at bedtime or during naps.
12. If you are single & live alone, make sure a few trusted friends/family members know what you are doing.
13. In general, be kind & gentle to yourself.
14. NEVER give up! Keep going, even when you don't feel like it (which will be often.) YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!
Replies to "Hi there! I am new to Connect, but hopefully can offer some insight. I DID go..."
Just caught this post - thank you for your tips. In my first 3 days off Effexor —omg - hellish. I hope you are doing well and are feeling healthy. I wish to reach a goal of being to able to hike for hours.
This site has helped me so much, im so glad to hear im not alone. My doc cold turkey me off 300 mg venlafaxin, prozac brige for 3 days then started lexipro. To say the last 6 days were hell is an understatement. Im going into day 7 and starting to feel a tiny bit better, i can at least walk and eat a bit. My anxiety is pretty high sometimes(reason for being on venlafaxin to start with). But reading that it will get better is helping. My heart breaks for anyone going through this, its not fun but trying to stay positive
Thank you for such a thorough post. I haven't been able to figure out why I smell. I thought it was the heat. You are the first person to mention a similar problem. Now I can relax about it.
You sound a lot like me - so perhaps our brain chemistry is similar. Just an idea, but I used to be on 150 mg of effexor xr but it just wasn't cutting it. I read that Effexor doesn't work on the dopamine receptors, unless you get to the 300 mg daily level. Its considered off-label to do so, but my pysch wasn't concerned and put me to that level, knowing I'd gone through all the other possible SNRIs or SSRIs previously. That was 10 years ago. When I went to the 300 mg level, I became a different person. The dopamine was clearly my issue and nothing else had ever worked on it before. I have seemingly endless optimism, empathy, and humor since doing so and I can say with full certainty that it changed my life in the best way. I've reccomended the same to a few others who also had similarities to me in terms of issues with past medications effacacy and they all had the same experience I did. I know that it's not for everyone and you most certainly know yourself best, but in the off-chance that it might help, I figured it was worth sharing.
I hope you are well and thank you for sharing your tips above! (I am currently waiting for my pharmacy to refill my script and wanted to attempt to avoid the early withdrawal symtoms I'm experiencing until I am able to get it later this afternoon).
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Hi I’m on day 4 cold turkey 🙈! I went on Effexor 225mg then to 75mg over 9 mths and now cold turkey . I only went on it for a relationship break up . I’m feeling it is now time to get off it. I feel nauseous that’s all atm. I know I shouldn’t go cold turkey but I’m pushing through it. I’m hoping it will be better after a week or so! It’s not my mental emotions , I just feel rather shit atm 😂!