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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (6363)Comment receiving replies
Welcome to Connect @asil1021 and @dhoward1. Thank you for reaching out and sharing your information; as @AgentDarien said, "We all can learn from it!"
You may notice that I moved your discussions and combined it with this existing discussion on Effexor. I did this because I thought it would be beneficial for you to be introduced to the many members who have discussed much of what you are experiencing.
If you are replying by email, I suggest clicking on VIEW & REPLY so that you can read through some of the earlier messages and meet some of our other members talking about their or their or their loved ones' experiences.
Here's another discussion you might also wish to view:
– venlafaxine xr withdrawal Please help https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/venlafaxine-xr-withdrawal-please-help/
@asil1021, nausea and queasiness seems to be one of the early signs of abruptly stopping the drug, and I'm glad to know you are aware and taking steps to hopefully minimize the effects. As with any medication, it is always best to consult with your physician about weaning or tapering off.
@dhoward1, it is a bit surprising that your doctor advised you to stop taking Effexor without a tapering protocol! Did he/she give an explanation? Even if you are on another medication, as you stated, it is not advisable to completely stop taking this drug. May I ask for how long you've been taking Effexor?
Replies to "Welcome to Connect @asil1021 and @dhoward1. Thank you for reaching out and sharing your information; as..."
I was taking the Effexor for more than 1 1/2 years. I was actually in a mental health facility when the stoppage happened so I was monitored 24/7. It’s truly perplexing. Especially after I’ve read everything on this thread. I go see my psych on Jan 15th. I guess I’ll find out more about why the abrupt stop then.
@lukekee I agree that the combination of withdrawing from one drug and starting another could be a problem - it is hard to know which is causing the side-effects. Taking Pempro can be a difficult adjustment.
Teresa
@hopeful33250 I don't know a lot about Prempro; I just know I am desperate to get back to a somewhat normal, functioning human being. Do you have any information or personal experience with Prempro that you wouldn't care to share with me? I would appreciate any information I can get.
Thank you
I'm post-menopausal now, so it has been many, many years since I took Pempro. As I recall, the Pempro made me feel like I had PMS every day of the month, rather than just a few days a month as a previous hormone replacement pill had done.
Like I said it has been a long time since I took that particular med, but I only stayed on it for a couple of months.
Teresa
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I have only been taking it for about 3 months and to be honest, I don’t think my gyno knows a lot about this med.
I have been tapering myself by taking 37.5 mg. I’ll do that for a week and if I feel ok I’m going to go to every other day.
I have just started on Prempro 3 days ago and have felt lousy all weekend so it’s like a double whammy.
I believe my symptoms are more from starting the HRT than from tapering the Effexor because they feel like PMS from hell which I used to experience every month.
Thanks for asking