1. < Depression & Anxiety

Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

I have been taking Effexor/Venlafaxine for years and tried to get off it a few times but each time I try to give up the chemical withdrawal symptoms are a horror story and I give up giving up. Anyone got any tips or tried and tested strategies? Thank you

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yanksterdoofus | @yanksterdoofus | Nov 22, 2017

Attached is a PDF file which details my plan for weaning off this terrible drug over a 20-week period, starting today when i reduced from 225mg ER to 150mg. After going down to 75mg daily, I will switch from Venlafaxine ER to regular Venlafaxine. I will also be taking Omega 3, fish oil, B6, D3, a probiotic, L-tryptophan and a multi-vitamin

My doctor also agreed to a Prozac bridge but advised that I wait until going down below 150mg and further suggested that I not take L-tyrosine.

Thoughts?

Shared files

wean (wean.pdf)

REPLY
1 reply
wendyw | @wendyw | Nov 22, 2017
In reply to @sadiesmom "I encourage you to go to the FDA website and read the history about Effexor XR...." + (show)
@sadiesmom

I encourage you to go to the FDA website and read the history about Effexor XR. It took 14 years for it to be approved by the FDA. FOURTEEN! It was "invented" to alleviate taking multiple pills daily but I think it would have been better to take take lower doses than to get hooked on this stuff. It is HELL and I mean HELL getting off of this stuff. I have been through horrible life trials (divorce and loss of my son) and I have NEVER had anxiety like I'm having right now. The physical affects are like the worst case of the flu you've ever had in your life. Chills, nausea, diarrhea (and I MEAN diarrhea to the point you can't leave your house). I have absolutely NO appetite which isn't a bad thing since this shit made me gain 50 lbs. but nothing sounds good and I have to force myself to eat. I can barely even get a glass of ice water down. Soup broth is about all I can tolerate. I am about six weeks into this so I'm not turning back. I'm going to ride it out (I hope I survive) and get off of this poison. It should be criminal to produce a drug this potent without giving explicit WARNINGS about the withdrawal symptoms. I had no intention of staying on it long term but a divorce after 30 years of marriage and the suicide of my son five years later made my depression unbearable. I think I have slept most of the last five years. But the Effexor only exacerbated the brain fog, total lack of any kind of motivation, poor personal hygiene and the inability to really take care of myself. I know that grief played a big part of my fatigue and always will but if I can get a handle on this anxiety, I'm NEVER going on any kind of antidepressant again. EVER. My case may be one out of the norm, and I hope that is the case. My advice is to get off of it as soon as you can....trust your body and how you feel....especially your mind. I have been hospitalized SIX times for overdosing in the past five years after my son passed away. I truly wonder if it was the drugs.....as they all come with a "may cause suicidal ideation" label. I truly wanted to die after I lost my son and still some days the urge is hard to resist but I think with the proper care from a physician, better support (grief support is almost non existent), and a true friend that would have been by my side through the worst, I don't think I would be where I am now. Being single and alone was almost unbearable.....I had no idea I would get the kind of response I have from my posts.....I only hope that no one has to endure what I have in these past six weeks. It's a hell on earth, that's for sure....

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Be kind to yourself Sadiesmom. Most of us here cannot possibly feel the pain you have from losing your son. He must have been a wonderful man to want to save his country and bless all in the services.
I hope for you to have peace soon to be able to reflect on and enjoy the memories of him you have as a baby, little boy, teenager, grown man that are yours alone to savour.
I hope he can look down on his mom and see her at peace and being able to honour the memories.
By seeking help here and sharing your story and pain is a positive step for you.
You have lost your beloved Curt. I will light a candle for him today and send love and peace to both of you. I’m sure he wishes that for you xxx

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yanksterdoofus | @yanksterdoofus | Nov 22, 2017
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @yanksterdoofus, I take a high amount of omega 3 and did some research after my..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @yanksterdoofus, I take a high amount of omega 3 and did some research after my doctor thought it was too high according to the Mayo pharmacist she checked with. I had to do my own research and found a couple of relevant sites. I think you have to be careful with Vitamin B6 amounts because it's a little different than the other B vitamins and can cause some toxicity problems for the body.

Mayo Clinic research recommendations for omega 3 oils:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil-alpha-linolenic-acid/dosing/hrb-20059372
Vitamin B6 Toxicity:
http://www.easy-immune-health.com/vitamin-b6-toxicity.html
John

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Thanks, John. On what dosage of Omega did you settle?

REPLY
Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Nov 22, 2017
In reply to @sadiesmom "I encourage you to go to the FDA website and read the history about Effexor XR...." + (show)
@sadiesmom

I encourage you to go to the FDA website and read the history about Effexor XR. It took 14 years for it to be approved by the FDA. FOURTEEN! It was "invented" to alleviate taking multiple pills daily but I think it would have been better to take take lower doses than to get hooked on this stuff. It is HELL and I mean HELL getting off of this stuff. I have been through horrible life trials (divorce and loss of my son) and I have NEVER had anxiety like I'm having right now. The physical affects are like the worst case of the flu you've ever had in your life. Chills, nausea, diarrhea (and I MEAN diarrhea to the point you can't leave your house). I have absolutely NO appetite which isn't a bad thing since this shit made me gain 50 lbs. but nothing sounds good and I have to force myself to eat. I can barely even get a glass of ice water down. Soup broth is about all I can tolerate. I am about six weeks into this so I'm not turning back. I'm going to ride it out (I hope I survive) and get off of this poison. It should be criminal to produce a drug this potent without giving explicit WARNINGS about the withdrawal symptoms. I had no intention of staying on it long term but a divorce after 30 years of marriage and the suicide of my son five years later made my depression unbearable. I think I have slept most of the last five years. But the Effexor only exacerbated the brain fog, total lack of any kind of motivation, poor personal hygiene and the inability to really take care of myself. I know that grief played a big part of my fatigue and always will but if I can get a handle on this anxiety, I'm NEVER going on any kind of antidepressant again. EVER. My case may be one out of the norm, and I hope that is the case. My advice is to get off of it as soon as you can....trust your body and how you feel....especially your mind. I have been hospitalized SIX times for overdosing in the past five years after my son passed away. I truly wonder if it was the drugs.....as they all come with a "may cause suicidal ideation" label. I truly wanted to die after I lost my son and still some days the urge is hard to resist but I think with the proper care from a physician, better support (grief support is almost non existent), and a true friend that would have been by my side through the worst, I don't think I would be where I am now. Being single and alone was almost unbearable.....I had no idea I would get the kind of response I have from my posts.....I only hope that no one has to endure what I have in these past six weeks. It's a hell on earth, that's for sure....

Jump to this post

@sadiesmom

My first reaction, reading your story, is to go into counselor mode, which means listening mode. The greatest thing my current therapist has given me is the gift of listening. We all have a real need to be heard. No advice, judgment, assessment, or even commentary.

A good therapist shouldn't have the deer/headlights look. I went to my first session in March with a list of mental issues to address, with suicidal ideation at the top of the list. After that first session, I told him that he had saved my life.

I'm disappointed and surprised that Chris couldn't get the help he needed for PTSD. The VA would surely have been treating many, many veterans for it by 2012. I have a service dog, partly for PTSD, and for depression and anxiety, as well. Have you considered getting a dog who could be part of your treatment plan? There are certain breeds which are particularly adaptive for therapy and comfort, and there are, as a rule, many such kinds of dogs looking for a home. For me, part of my own therapy is loving my dog, Sadie. She helps mitigate anxiety and suicidal ideation, and is a comfort when I'm sad.

You verbalize your feelings and experiences so well, I wonder if you could save your writings in a folder, whether it's a print folder or digital. I keep a little diary on my nightstand, and when I feel like it, I write a sentence or two. Sometimes it's just about an activity, other times it's a way to vent, or express a frustration. I write, too, about how I've been treated - whatever is most on my mind. I don't see the diary as a job I'm required to do, or I probably wouldn't do it. Requirements are overwhelming. Even the simple ones.

Many people here have the same frustration about not being understood. I'm at the place right now when I just stuff my feelings and thoughts, and save it for the therapist. I'm intentional these days not to say anything to my wife about my pain, feelings or opinions, avoiding any conflict. I feel much worse when those things are minimized or dismissed. We need just to be heard and validated, don't we.

We're at our daughter's home for a few more days, and the Domino's delivery person just brought us our lunch. We can chat again.

Jim

REPLY
wendyw | @wendyw | Nov 22, 2017
In reply to @yanksterdoofus "I have been reading with some encouragement of great success achieved by implementing a Effexor/Prozak tapering..." + (show)
@yanksterdoofus

I have been reading with some encouragement of great success achieved by implementing a Effexor/Prozak tapering bridge in conjunction with mega doses of Omega3 and B vitamin. Have any of you tried such a method? I also am coming to the conclusion that this cannot be rushed and, if you've been on this crap for years, to not be surprised if it takes as much as six months or more to wean off. I'd rather have it take some time than rush things and experience the hell I read about.

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My sons pharmacist explained to him that what’s happening when you take drugs like Effexor is it replaces the lack of chemicals in your brain that are causing your depression in the first place. Over time your brain stops producing any of them temporarily. So when you stop or significantly lower your dose the brain has to wake up and start working by itself. This varies enormously.
And if your brain was not producing enough in the first place then becoming medication free may not be in your best interests.
And that’s Ok. What we all aim for is quality of life so we can live with peace and contentment and whatever is our normal.
I don’t ever feel hate or resentment to drugs prescribed for my son. I try to always help him accept and appreciate that at least he can have medical care, even if at times he needs to go through some tough times and try new ones. Igive thanks we live in counties where there are options to treat depression and mental illness.
This is just my experience and attitude which has developed over the years, and visiting a developing country where their only option to keep the seriously mentally ill safe from themselves is to lock them in cages!
Once started on medication I see them released, accepted and becoming part of their village life again.
This isn’t to minimise anyone’s pain or experiences, but medication for anxiety and depression is a blessing for the many who find it helps them live in peace.

REPLY
Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Nov 22, 2017
In reply to @travy "Been trying to get off Effexor XL for a few weeks now. I was up to..." + (show)
@travy

Been trying to get off Effexor XL for a few weeks now. I was up to over 300 mgs. The brain zaps are terrible. The reason I want off so bad is the sweating. I’m constantly wiping my face all the time, and take showers to cool off. I weaned down to 75mgs, and then every other day. I just can’t do it. My ears ring, zaps all the time in my brain Daily, almost constant. I just took a 150mg to help me calm down. This is nuts!

Jump to this post

@travy

It sounds to me like you're tapering off the Effexor way too fast. There are many people in this discussion who have shared their horror stories about this, some of them having bad things begin weeks and months after stopping. The concensus seems to be that the tapering off process for most people should be done extremely slowly, in very small increments, over the course of several months. I recommend that you have a talk with your doctor and/or pharmacist about this. You really don't want to go through the hell that numerous others in this discussion have. Be patient with this.

Let us know how things go over the coming weeks.

Jim

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Nov 22, 2017
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @yanksterdoofus, I take a high amount of omega 3 and did some research after my..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @yanksterdoofus, I take a high amount of omega 3 and did some research after my doctor thought it was too high according to the Mayo pharmacist she checked with. I had to do my own research and found a couple of relevant sites. I think you have to be careful with Vitamin B6 amounts because it's a little different than the other B vitamins and can cause some toxicity problems for the body.

Mayo Clinic research recommendations for omega 3 oils:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil-alpha-linolenic-acid/dosing/hrb-20059372
Vitamin B6 Toxicity:
http://www.easy-immune-health.com/vitamin-b6-toxicity.html
John

Jump to this post

Hi @yanksterdoofus, I take 1.5 oz of Manitoba Harvest Hemp Oil daily in the morning which is approximately 6000 mg of Omega 3 and 24000 mg Omega 6. Plus, I take 2 tsp of Carlsen's Fish Oil every morning and every evening which gives 1600 mg Omega 3 fatty acids twice daily. This is part of the vitamins/mineral supplements I take for my small fiber peripheral neuropathy.

John

REPLY
Bek | @bekinprogress | Nov 22, 2017
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @newberry--Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad you've found the posts on this discussion helpful. That..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Hi, @newberry--Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad you've found the posts on this discussion helpful.

That is not fun at all that each day after halving your Venlafaxine has seemed to get worse.

@wendyw, @hopeful33250, @coloradogirl, @parus, @jenapower, @jimhd, @bekinprogress, @cathy615, @lcamino, @ricktrout, @nanke99 -- would any of you have any tips on dealing with or calming the night sweats, or words of encouragement as @newberry tapers back on Venlafaxine (Effexor)?

If you don't mind me asking, @newberry, what is your full taper plan? Does it seem to be going too fast, or at the right pace?

Jump to this post

That's very encouraging. Thank you for sharing.

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JK | @contentandwell | Nov 22, 2017

@sadiesmom I am so very sorry for what you have had to endure. Please try to muster up some will to live and rejoin life. I know how impossible that must sound and I suspect those first moves forward are the hardest. I have a relative who is going through some similar grief but thankfully she does have the support of her four loving children and their children.
If you can get yourself out at all to do some things I know it will help, but I also know how difficult it is to make those moves forward. I am sure it is worth it though. You don’t say your age but I suspect you stil have some good years left if you can make those moves.
Thinking of you, and praying for you.
JK

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Parus | @parus | Nov 23, 2017

@sadiesmom So sorry to hear about how difficult this is for you. Shrinks fail to mention just how addictive some of these meds are and many are worse than controlled substances and/or street drugs. I have been down this road and go at your own pace as we are all different...you can do this. Hugs

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