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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6363)Comment receiving replies
Hello. I read your post and thought I would share my experience. I finally am past the effects of Effexor withdrawal. I took this medicine for a few years after the death of my parents. The process of coming off off this drug was incredibly slow. The withdrawal symptoms that are listed are very real and intense.
It took me 6 months to finally take my last dose. Tapering off over a 6 month period seems long but it worked. I was very sick and the brain zaps were the worst.
I ate absolutely zero fattening foods. I flushed out my system with an incredible amount of water. I took vitamin C and exercised everyday.
I had to back off caffeine and get lots of sleep.
I had heard the Effexor bonds to fat so being healthy Is the key.
I also read a new book to help promote new cell growth and use creativity like drawing. It sounds ridiculous bit it worked. The brain zaps, confusion, and eye twitching were the worst for me.
I have been 3 weeks clean from this drug and would never take another antidepressant.
It was very difficult but possible. The intensity of the symptoms subsided slowing but after a week of my last dose I could see a dramatic difference in symptoms.
Please take care of yourself and know your not alone. I had great support and also stayed really calm and relaxed. Exercise was a tremendous help. Don't panic. Stay calm. Remember your brain will heal from this. It just takes patience.
I did not feel suicidal coming off the medicine. I was told replacing antidepressants is not a good idea until you completely are clean from another.
I did not replace Effexor with another. I finally feel like myself...
Good luck.
Replies to "Hello. I read your post and thought I would share my experience. I finally am past..."
I am off this drug completely and I’m mostly past the bad withdrawal symptoms like crying, horrible headaches, and being unable to control my emotions.
I do still have some symptoms that I believe are related to going g off Effexor that I hope pass soon. These are:
Overwhelming fatigue
A feeling of uselessness
Brain fog
Irritability
These are minor compared to the crying crap! I thought I was having a breakdown until I realized it was the Effexor.
I too never plan to take another anti-depressant but I would love to find something natural that would help me feel more normal. Something that really doesn’t have any side effects and really works.
Good luck to everyone.
@karenu Good luck with your withdrawal when you start. I hope it won't cause too many problems for you.
That's inexcusable that if your doctor is out for a while there is not someone else who can call in a prescription. If she does not employ an NP then she should have had another doctor to handle things of that nature. I'm glad you had enough to make it through.
JK
I took effexor over 10 years. The dosage was 75mg. I tapered down for more than 9 months. I stopped completely November 24, 2017. Than it still hit me hard. I was completely exhausted and slept all the time. I had extreme ups & downs emotionally. I burst into tears at the slightest thing. I read about the so called safety of SAMe. I started taking 400mgs daily. I have taken SAMe for the past 5 weeks. About 2 weeks ago, I started with mild anxiety attacks. They intensity increased to where it was a significant problem. My fear was that I would have to go back to using effexor. I did some online research and found that a side effect of SAMe is anxiety attacks. I had to really search to find this. Now, I'm discontinuing SAMe and hoping that I don't experience withdrawal from it. I'm about at my wits end in finding something that is truly safe and helpful. Our bodies are all different and what works for me may not work for someone else. Now, I am going to eat healthy, although I always have, try to exercise more and listen to what my body is telling me. I made an appointment with a different doctor (can't get in until March) in the hopes of better medical treatment. It's all discouraging, but reading comments on this site has been very helpful. Thanks to all who share their story.
The office staff kept telling me “ ok, we’ll call that in” then I would keep checking with the pharmacy who say “ nothing yet”, Then I would call the office again and get a different person. I am definitely taking with my doc about the whole situation. It was so ridiculous! I was pretty frustrated.
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You sound like you’re good in a good place ! Yay! I’m planning to start a withdrawal of the effexor. I’ve been taking it for about 10 years -150 mg. I’m going open the capsules and take a few grains out at a time . I’m sort of concerned about work... i’ve had the brains apps when I forgotten 2 days dose and those are horrible ! My doctor was out of her office having a baby and her staff took three weeks to call in my prescription it made me realize that I was being held hostage by a drug . I had called and advance because I knew the pharmacy needed a new prescription luckily I had enough to get me through ...just!