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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gagelle | @gagelle | Jan 17, 2018
In reply to @lilmac44 "This drug is insidious. It has been 6 weeks since I stopped taking effexor completely. I..." + (show)
@lilmac44

This drug is insidious. It has been 6 weeks since I stopped taking effexor completely. I titrated down over a period of over 9 months. I have experienced depression, extreme emotions (crying a lot) and am now starting to experience anxiety. I'm getting frightening thoughts and its hard to get rid of these thoughts. I just read a post that said melatonin may seem to help with anxiety. I'm going to try that. I started taking 400 mgs. of SAMe about 30 days ago. I feel like it has helped. I had some problems with upset stomach, but drink a full glass of water when taking the tablet (must be taken on an empty stomach. I might need to increase the dosage. SAMe is an amino acid that is naturally produced by the body. I'm not sure that there is any prescription medication that doesn't cause side effects. Anytime something messes with the chemistry of the brain side effects are bound to occur. If someone has any recommendation about other helpful options, please reply.

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What helped me the most was daily exercise. I started with walking a half hour a day. it doesn't matter what speed. You can even break it up into two 15 minute sessions. I very gradually added light weight lifting. That was bothering my joints, so I switched to Yoga. I'm convinced the exercise mitigated the worst of my withdrawal symptoms and I was on a high dose of Pristiq, a stronger version of Effexor. Exercise causes the body to produce endorphins. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphins It also brings oxygen to the brain and nervous system. I've known heroin and methadone addicts who titrated with minimum discomfort by following an exercise regimen. The beneficial effects may take a few weeks but I noticed a feeling of relaxation and well being after my first walk. I hope this helps.

REPLY
panewdayphyl | @panewdayphyl | Jan 17, 2018
In reply to @lilmac44 "This drug is insidious. It has been 6 weeks since I stopped taking effexor completely. I..." + (show)
@lilmac44

This drug is insidious. It has been 6 weeks since I stopped taking effexor completely. I titrated down over a period of over 9 months. I have experienced depression, extreme emotions (crying a lot) and am now starting to experience anxiety. I'm getting frightening thoughts and its hard to get rid of these thoughts. I just read a post that said melatonin may seem to help with anxiety. I'm going to try that. I started taking 400 mgs. of SAMe about 30 days ago. I feel like it has helped. I had some problems with upset stomach, but drink a full glass of water when taking the tablet (must be taken on an empty stomach. I might need to increase the dosage. SAMe is an amino acid that is naturally produced by the body. I'm not sure that there is any prescription medication that doesn't cause side effects. Anytime something messes with the chemistry of the brain side effects are bound to occur. If someone has any recommendation about other helpful options, please reply.

Jump to this post

Ty

REPLY
panewdayphyl | @panewdayphyl | Jan 17, 2018
In reply to @mkmenge "I am so THANKFUL I found this blog thru Mayo Clinic! I am meeting with my..." + (show)
@mkmenge

I am so THANKFUL I found this blog thru Mayo Clinic! I am meeting with my doctor tomorrow to plan my withdrawal course from Venlafaxine, and will be showing her all these responses from this blog. No matter what, and with God's help, I will flush this drug from my body! I pray every night for all of the victims who are going through hell because of this drug. I am considering creating an online petition to gather signatures to present to the FDA and Congress (hopefully we'll get that far) to get the "Extended Release" form of this drug banded from the United States! (the "regular version has already been taken off the market according to infomation I have read online). I would greatly appreciate any feedback as to everyone's thoughts! Thank you.

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I will share my experience if you need

REPLY
gagelle | @gagelle | Jan 17, 2018
In reply to @mkmenge "I am so THANKFUL I found this blog thru Mayo Clinic! I am meeting with my..." + (show)
@mkmenge

I am so THANKFUL I found this blog thru Mayo Clinic! I am meeting with my doctor tomorrow to plan my withdrawal course from Venlafaxine, and will be showing her all these responses from this blog. No matter what, and with God's help, I will flush this drug from my body! I pray every night for all of the victims who are going through hell because of this drug. I am considering creating an online petition to gather signatures to present to the FDA and Congress (hopefully we'll get that far) to get the "Extended Release" form of this drug banded from the United States! (the "regular version has already been taken off the market according to infomation I have read online). I would greatly appreciate any feedback as to everyone's thoughts! Thank you.

Jump to this post

I agree with you completely. I think you would like Dr. Peter Breggin's site: http://www.breggin.com The fact is that a chemical imbalance theory for any mental illness has never been proven. The pharmaceutical companies played that angle for years until they were forced to change the language in their advertisements to "may be caused by a chemical imbalance." Another interesting fact is that a major side effect of all antidepressants is depression. That accounts for the elevated suicide rates for those started on an antidepressant. (It's not only young people who are affected.) Science hasn't even begun to understand the role that neurotransmitters play and how they interact with each other. You may find, as I did, that proponents of the chemical imbalance theory stick with this belief with a cult-like fervor. It is a waste of time arguing the point. Many become hostile when confronted with a different point of view.

Another good site is http://www.mindfreedom.org. This organization exposes the abuses of the psychiatric establishment.

REPLY
lukekee | @lukekee | Jan 17, 2018

Well, I have no aversion to THC but unfortunately it isn't legal where I'm at and I actually work in a toxicology lab where it is definitely frowned up and would get me fired if I tested positive on the random drug screens we have to take.

It will be 2 weeks Sunday when I took my last dose and the last 2 weeks have been really rough with the stupid crying and emotional ups and downs. I told a friend that i have felt like I am on a roller coaster that never ends BUT after realizing that it is the Effexor withdrawal symptoms that have been making me like this it has helped and I feel like I am just about off the ride (so to speak). Haven't had a crying episode in 2 days so I feel like I'm going to be okay.

This Saturday will be the true test because I am having a baby shower for my daughter and have been really emotional because the baby's fathers mother has been trying to take over my mother position and kind of been excluding me from stuff and pushing me out, so to speak and I was very emotional about it until about 2 days ago when my mind just seemed to return to me and now I am feeling more like my old self who doesn't let anyone push them out of their children's lives so if I can make it through Saturday without crying, getting emotional, or cursing someone out then I think I will be on the other side of this Effexor HELL!

Thanks all for listening to me and for any and all advice or/and tips. I appreciate it more than I can say and just being able to read about what other people are going through and what has helped them has been a godsend to me.

Thanks all,

notsowell

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 17, 2018
In reply to @mkmenge "I am so THANKFUL I found this blog thru Mayo Clinic! I am meeting with my..." + (show)
@mkmenge

I am so THANKFUL I found this blog thru Mayo Clinic! I am meeting with my doctor tomorrow to plan my withdrawal course from Venlafaxine, and will be showing her all these responses from this blog. No matter what, and with God's help, I will flush this drug from my body! I pray every night for all of the victims who are going through hell because of this drug. I am considering creating an online petition to gather signatures to present to the FDA and Congress (hopefully we'll get that far) to get the "Extended Release" form of this drug banded from the United States! (the "regular version has already been taken off the market according to infomation I have read online). I would greatly appreciate any feedback as to everyone's thoughts! Thank you.

Jump to this post

@sadiesmom I too have a bit of a problem with the pharmaceutical companies and their ethics but honestly, I don't think the doctors are looking to use the drugs to assure future patient visits. If you think your doctor is that way then you should find a new one.
JK

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 17, 2018
In reply to @lilmac44 "This drug is insidious. It has been 6 weeks since I stopped taking effexor completely. I..." + (show)
@lilmac44

This drug is insidious. It has been 6 weeks since I stopped taking effexor completely. I titrated down over a period of over 9 months. I have experienced depression, extreme emotions (crying a lot) and am now starting to experience anxiety. I'm getting frightening thoughts and its hard to get rid of these thoughts. I just read a post that said melatonin may seem to help with anxiety. I'm going to try that. I started taking 400 mgs. of SAMe about 30 days ago. I feel like it has helped. I had some problems with upset stomach, but drink a full glass of water when taking the tablet (must be taken on an empty stomach. I might need to increase the dosage. SAMe is an amino acid that is naturally produced by the body. I'm not sure that there is any prescription medication that doesn't cause side effects. Anytime something messes with the chemistry of the brain side effects are bound to occur. If someone has any recommendation about other helpful options, please reply.

Jump to this post

@gagelle What you write makes so much sense. I never would have thought of exercise as being an aid to withdrawing from a drug but it does increase your endorphins and that is sure to help. I know how difficult it is to get your butt to do some exercise but I find if I manage to conquer my resistance I am always happy that I did - that side of me does generally win too.

Today I really did not feel like going to my club to do water exercise but I managed to do it and am very happy that I did. I am doing post knee replacement exercises and my ortho recommends most highly two things that I had been doing already for quite a while -- "marching" laps in the water, and riding my recumbent bike.

Prior to my knee replacement I was doing at least an hour in the water about 5 days a week but at this point I am only up to about 35 minutes. I feel like I could do more but after that amount of time I really feel it in the evening and the next day. It's so easy to overdo but you have to get yourself to set limits and gradually increase them.
JK

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 17, 2018
In reply to @lukekee "Well, I have no aversion to THC but unfortunately it isn't legal where I'm at and..." + (show)
@lukekee

Well, I have no aversion to THC but unfortunately it isn't legal where I'm at and I actually work in a toxicology lab where it is definitely frowned up and would get me fired if I tested positive on the random drug screens we have to take.

It will be 2 weeks Sunday when I took my last dose and the last 2 weeks have been really rough with the stupid crying and emotional ups and downs. I told a friend that i have felt like I am on a roller coaster that never ends BUT after realizing that it is the Effexor withdrawal symptoms that have been making me like this it has helped and I feel like I am just about off the ride (so to speak). Haven't had a crying episode in 2 days so I feel like I'm going to be okay.

This Saturday will be the true test because I am having a baby shower for my daughter and have been really emotional because the baby's fathers mother has been trying to take over my mother position and kind of been excluding me from stuff and pushing me out, so to speak and I was very emotional about it until about 2 days ago when my mind just seemed to return to me and now I am feeling more like my old self who doesn't let anyone push them out of their children's lives so if I can make it through Saturday without crying, getting emotional, or cursing someone out then I think I will be on the other side of this Effexor HELL!

Thanks all for listening to me and for any and all advice or/and tips. I appreciate it more than I can say and just being able to read about what other people are going through and what has helped them has been a godsend to me.

Thanks all,

notsowell

Jump to this post

@lukekee It sounds like you are really making strides in getting off of this drug, congratulations.

I can relate to your emotional feelings about your daughter too. My daughter just got married. I really like her husband but he and his family do seem to expect her to be more part of their family. That's a struggle and of course ultimately what my daughter does is up to her.
JK

REPLY
lukekee | @lukekee | Jan 17, 2018

You saying that about what your daughter does is up to her made me laugh because I just told a friend of mine almost exactly the same thing.
I told my friend that once I haven’t gotten past (hopefully) the crying and emotional ups and downs it is like a light bulb has went off in my head and said “ his mom isn’t doing this; my daughter is allowing her to do this and my daughter is an adult so it is ultimately my daughters fault if she allows this woman to come between us and there’s not a lot anyone can do about that.

Thanks

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 17, 2018
In reply to @lukekee "You saying that about what your daughter does is up to her made me laugh because..." + (show)
@lukekee

You saying that about what your daughter does is up to her made me laugh because I just told a friend of mine almost exactly the same thing.
I told my friend that once I haven’t gotten past (hopefully) the crying and emotional ups and downs it is like a light bulb has went off in my head and said “ his mom isn’t doing this; my daughter is allowing her to do this and my daughter is an adult so it is ultimately my daughters fault if she allows this woman to come between us and there’s not a lot anyone can do about that.

Thanks

Jump to this post

@lukekee I think (hope) there will always be a bond between my daughter and myself but she is not a warm and fuzzy person. I haven’t spoken to her since she was home at Christmas, just a few brief texts. I would love to be closer to her but I feel like she shuts me out a lot. My son is just the opposite. It makes me very sad that I have so little contact with her.
JK

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