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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Apr 7 6:44pm | Replies (6460)Comment receiving replies
I am really struggling with the withdrawal off of Effexor. I had taken it for about 10 years. First subscribed after divorce of 30 year marriage and then five years later lost my son to PTSD related suicide from serving 3 tours to Iraq. The Effexor was making me physically ill. My BP was off the charts and no bp meds were helping. I was a walking sweat box. By the time I had showered, done my hair and got dressed, I was ready for another shower. At night I had to get up and change my pjs, sheets, blankets or put a dry beach towel down to get back to sleep. At my last PCP I told him I thought I had a kidney infection so he did a urine culture. He found a "considerable amount" of blood in my urine. I was retested the following three months and referred to a urologist. I began reading symptoms of long term use of Effexor and decided it was causing severe physical complications. I found a reputable psychiatrist (good luck with that!) and told her about my physical problems and my concern about the Effexor. She acted like it was a piece of cake to get off of it. She weaned me off of the Effexor (took about 4 weeks) while she started me on Prozac. The Prozac was increased as the Effexor was decreased. I immediately noticed that I didn't have that "foggy brain" that I had had for so many years and felt like my concentration definitely improved. Then BAM! After being off of the Effexor for about two months, my anxiety is off the charts. Before I even open my eyes in the morning, the anxiety is unbearable. I have a little wiener dog that I have to get up and feed and let out. I literally feel like getting in my vehicle and running it into the river. It's total hell. I eat a bit of breakfast and try to get on with my day but within an hour I am literally incapable of taking care of myself or my dog. I become paralyzed with the anxiety. Absolutely paralyzed. I cannot function. I have asked my psych to up the Xanax to 3 or 4 .25 tabs a day but she's refusing telling me I just have to tough it out. By noon or 1:00 I have already taken the 2 tabs allowed for the day and then the anxiety REALLY goes through the roof. I try to stay busy, (I'm retired) but I literally cannot function. If I can heat up a can of soup to eat for the day or load the dishwasher, I feel like I've accomplished something. It is absolutely HORRIBLE. My 60th bday was last week and I was in such horrible shape I couldn't leave the house to go to dinner with my daughter and her family. Now I am having the "flu like" symptoms of withdrawal; achy joints, nausea and diarhea (sp??) and extreme weakness. I can barely stand long enough to get from the couch or bed to the bathroom. And taking a shower doesn't happen but maybe once a week. I'm wondering if I'm going to survive this. It is such a double edged sword. I know the Efffexor was killing me, literally, with my kidney and bp problems but I'm seriously wondering if I'm going to make it through this. All I think about is killing myself because I don't see a way out of this....I know that grief plays a huge part of my anxiety and depression and the holidays are definitely a trigger, but I have never felt this badly in the six years since my son is gone....I feel like a train wreck.....
Replies to "I am really struggling with the withdrawal off of Effexor. I had taken it for about..."
Have you thought about joining a support group? Grief support groups are often available through churches and/or funeral homes. Also, if you have a NAMI chapter in your area, they have great support groups for folks who deal with anxiety and depression. This is a good way to, as you say, "start dealing with my junk." Many of these support groups have members who see mental health professionals and it is a good way to network. I agree with you that grief does get complicated when losses pile up on each other.
If you have a moment to follow up on these ideas, will you let us know what you find?
Teresa
@sadiesmom @hopeful33250 I have not had need for this so far but I know people who have gone to support groups, particularly for grief, and it's been very helpful. We have a relative who could really benefit from it but she won't go. Frankly we are all worried about her because it's been two years and she cannot move on at all.
JK
I have been to MANY grief support groups in the past five years. There is an organization called TAPS for military survivors, no matter how the loss. It helped for a while but to tell you the truth, the number of military suicides is growing so quickly, I couldn't take it. Every single day there would be new families grieving the senseless death of their warrior. I have been in a parent support group, suicide support group, women's support group and they help for a while. A couple of them were really great but ended up kind of fizzling out....I guess folks got what they needed and moved on. My problem is I'm single...divorced, retired, live alone, don't have any family support and a daughter that lives an hour away. My friends tried to support me in the beginning but unless you've lost a child by suicide, you have no idea. Nothing can comfort you.....nothing. I turned to a psychiatrist and therapist thinking I was doing the right thing but in hind sight I wish I would have NEVER taken an antidepressant. This is a living hell. I would truly encourage your friend to get into some sort of support group because they really are beneficial....I met some wonderful folks but they were scattered all over the US and I didn't have anyone locally that I could depend on. I wish her the best....she can always connect with me....
@sadiesmom,
I hear you loud and clear. Very recently I withdrew from Effexor. I tapered very slowly, like, over 2.5 months. Initially, there were the brain 'zaps', these were relatively bearable. Otherwise I felt okay. My mood was relatively balanced. I didn't cross taper with any other antidepressants. I was happy that I seemed to be doing ok.
Then, a delayed withdrawal hit me about two months after the final beads. I went through the daily hell you talk of. The same symptoms. The psychiatrist I was referred to was pretty much useless. Initially, I was put back on Effexor but it took at least 2 months before it started working again. At that point the psychiatrist decided to instruct my doctor to prescribe mirtazapine to help me sleep and deal with my other symtoms which he thought were 'situational' in terms of cause.
I hear so much from psychiatrists and Dr's about how they 'like', or prefer certain drugs without actually knowing what it is to take them or come off them. They speak of cross tapering, that getting off Effexor in 10 days (!!!!!!) While cross tapering. Sure. As if it was that simple.
Now. 15mg of Mirtazapine seems to be keeping the worst of the withdrawal symptoms at bay. But I am still about 50% of the severe level of withdrawal symptoms of Effexor. I am on one single Effexor bead a day at the moment. I ignored the ten day taper and have come down from 150 mg Effexor to this single bead.
I also wondered if I was going to survive the withdrawal. I wanted to be out of this world too. Nothing, absolutely nothing has been as hellish as the withdrawal from Effexor. I am afraid that once these final few beads are gone I may return to that hell I was in before.
I have done as much research as I can in terms of coping with the prolonged withdrawal.
Practicing mindfulness, yoga, running, giving up caffeine, drinking camomile tea, plenty of water, taking magnesium, vit B complex, Vit D, omega 3 oils, regular therapy. Keeping a gratitude journal. Keeping in touch with supportive friends.
I so hope that you have got through this time and have found peace and a sense of wholeness. Keep the faith.
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Thanks Colle3n, yes that is what I meant.