Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Welcome to Mayo Connect, @arkiegirl. We are happy that you found this discussion.

I would encourage you to talk with your doctor again about the tapering-off process. Have you considering cutting the 37.5 tabs in half or getting a script for 25 mg.? This might be a more gentle way to withdraw if you feel it is necessary to withdraw completely from the Effexor.

I would encourage you to be gentle with yourself and take your time with this process. It does not have to be accomplished on anyone's timetable but your own. Work with the process as you are comfortable doing so and keep in touch with your doctor.

Teresa

I'm so excited to have a name for "brain zaps"! As others have said, they're not painful at all, just disconcerting. It's like swoosh inside my head that I can "hear." It goes from one side to the other and back. It is what reminds me that I have forgotten a dose of Lexapro. (I have no other side effects from Lexapro--it's been a very helpful drug.) As for Effexor...I tapered off about 10 years ago. It was really difficult. I was cutting tablets into quarters to get tiny doses at the end. Nevertheless, when I finally stopped, the vomiting was so bad that ended up in the ER for severe dehydration. A psychiatrist I saw later said he would have had me go onto another antidepressant during the Effexor taper, then taper off the second antidepressant, as Effexor seems to be more difficult to taper off of than other drugs.

Hi, @lolita9 -- just wanted to check in with you and see how your taper off of Effexor is going?

Hello, @salela, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It is helpful to have the community here to help articulate things various members have all experienced--you are right. Thanks for sharing some of your own experiences with" brain zaps."

Thanks, also, for your suggestions about tapering off antidepressants.

Glad to hear your current medication, the Escitalopram Oxalate, or Lexapro, has been side effect-free for you. What improvements have you seen with your situation since you started taking it?

Hello @richyrich, I am currently taking venlafaxine and I am just curious why you are trying to get off of it, if you don't mind my asking. Are you having side effects? I've been on it now for about 8 yrs and what in reading about the withdrawal is really scary! I'm just wondering if I should ask my Dr about going off of it.

I have been thinking of weaning as well but since reading all of the negative effects, I'm scared to. Why are you looking to get off? What are your side effects when trying? Have you tried slowly? It seems people are having better luck with Wellbrutrin. I don't have any particular reason to wean except I've been taking it for 8 years and just would like to clean my body especially if it has these nasty side effects. I did feel better once one it but wanted to see if I could do without. Would love feedback as well.

I’m a 45 year old woman who has taken 375mg Effexor for 12 years. I have been tapering off Effexor for the past three weeks in response to some blood test results that show I have to stop taking the drug. I’ve gotten down to 37.5mg in three weeks with no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever. If this is still an active thread, I’d be happy to share the protocol I’ve been following. If there is a desire out there to learn the details (dosages, brands), leave a reply and I’ll post more. Thanks!

Oh please tell me how ! My doctors say it is a really bad drug to get off of
Connie

My bad test results a month ago indicated that my liver was suffering damage from medication and was triggering autoimmune hepatitis. I've been reducing my medications ever since. I take a series of supplements and vitamins to help me get off the 375mg Effexor XR I've been taking for 12 years. I would recommend that anyone following this protocol take the supplements and vitamins for a month before trying to reduce your Effexor; also, make sure you are doing so under a doctor's supervision in case there are any reactions to the supplements. Lastly, this protocol has helped me avoid any physical symptoms of withdrawal. It is important to be aware of emotional symptoms when coming off antidepressants. If you start having intense emotional symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

I have been reducing my Effexor by 75mg every 4-5days. It has always been beneficial for me to split my dose throughout the day. In other words, if I am taking 300mg, I take 150mg morning and night to keep the dose steady throughout the day. Now that I am taking 37.5mg, I am taking the dose only in the morning. I have only a few more days at 37.5mg before I come off the drug completely. I am also following the Paleo diet (recommended by my doctor for the autoimmune hepatitis) and exercise with cardio and weight training 4-5 times per week.

This is my daily medication protocol as of today:
Morning (taken first thing in the morning without food)
1 cap Vitamin D3 1000 UI
1 cap L-Tyrosine 750mg (to boost dopamine production in the brain)
2 cap probiotics (I take Dr. Tobias Deep Immune Probiotics, 4.4 billion)
1 cap Vitamin B6 100mg (to assist the L-Tyrosine)
1 cap Effexor 37.5mg

Night (taken at least one hour before bedtime)
1 cap L-Tryptophan 500mg (to boost serotonin production in the brain)
2 cap Omega 3 Fish Oil (I take Dr. Tobias Omega 3 2000mg Fish Oil w/ 1400mg Omega 3s - 800mg EPA, 600mg DHA)
2 cap Choline/Inositol 500mg/500mg (more a supplement for my Paleo diet, but I wanted to include it here as well)
1 cap Viatmin B6 100mg (to assist the L-Tryptophan)
1 cap multivitamin (I take Centrum Woman as it contains iodine for healthy thyroid support)

To assist with any anxiety, I have a prescription for 25mg Seroquel to use on an as-needed basis. I have only been needing the Seroquel rarely but when I do take it, I take it right before bedtime. I purchased all the supplements and vitamins from Amazon as they had the best selection and fastest shipping. I hope this information is helpful. I came up with this list through research into reducing Effexor and looking at supplements that can help boost neurotransmitters in the brain. If there are any questions about this series of supplements that I am taking, please message me or reply and let me know. Thanks.

After an accidental cold-turkey (ran out of pills over a long weekend) that was horrible, I decided that I wanted to try to get off Effexor so I didn't run that risk again. I talked to my therapist who referred me to an MD psych resident who agreed to oversee my tapering. I was at 150 XR for more than a year. About a month ago I went from 150 mg to 112.5 (reducing at 37.5 mg), for a week, then again to 75 mg for a week, etc., and finally down to 18.75 mg for a week. Tuesday (four days ago) was my last tablet. I felt pretty good until this morning when I woke up feeling dizzy and emotional--that sort of emotion when you want to cry at a Hallmark commercial. I have an appt with my psyche resident on Monday which is good. I really don't want to be on meds. Before I was on Effexor I had been on Prozac for like 15 years and experienced the "Prozac Poop-out." The Effexor got me through a really rough time, but the cold-turkey withdrawal freaked me out. I hope I can stay off the meds, though I acknowledge I have a a history of anxiety and that may not be possible. I hope the dizziness and emotionality are just the death-throes of coming off the Effexor. Fingers crossed. Would love to know if others had the dizziness/emotion in the final stages of their withdrawal.