Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

I found this website to be very helpful and informative about the positive effects of Omega 3 for Effexor withdrawals http://www.theroadback.org/effexor.aspx

This is a MUST read for anyone contemplating weening off of Effexor. I am going to share it with my psychiatrist in hopes that she better understand how truly difficult this drug is to escape from. Thank you for the valuable information.

@lilmac44

I never realized how fortunate I was that Effexor didn't work for me. I hope that doctors are beginning to realize how terrible withdrawal is and that they're becoming less inclined to prescribe it.

While it's true that antidepressants carry risks, many of us are alive and functioning because of them. I hope that the opioid scare doesn't morph into an antidepressant scare, and people who are greatly benefitted by them will have unreasonably limited access to them. I hope that, as long as Wellbutrin works for me, I won't be forced by politics or public paranoia to cut back on my dosage. The same thing is true for the other psychotropics I take. As is true for opiates, we need to maintain a balanced approach to their use.

Jim

Hi, I have been slowly withdrawing from effexor for months. I went from 200 down to 37.5 over three months. I was at 37.5 for a month and now I went completely off four days ago. I'm shaky, sweaty or cold and can't sleep. How long will this last??

Side effects are unique to each individual in what you experience, the intensity and duration.

Agreed Jim. My body needs whatever chemical is in the antidepressant to keep a chemical balance.

Were you weaning off the time release version or the regular one? 37.5 is too large a drop. If it doesn't come in a smaller dose, switch to the regular non-time release version. I know they make a 25 mg tablet. Go down not more than 10% a month, which would be 3.75 mg. for your first drop. You would then be taking 33.8 mg. Then go down 10% of 33.8 mg. If you don't have a mg. scale, a compounding pharmacist could show you about how much to break off. The drop to nothing is the hardest. I know because I came off my final dose of Pristiq too quickly. (Pristiq doesn't come in a non-time release form.) The withdrawal wasn't terrible because I was exercising and doing yoga about 2 hours a day, but it was bad enough. I was getting painful mood swings and a weird feeling of disorientation, like when you have a fever. It lasted for about 2 months. The withdrawal symptoms you're getting could be protracted. If you decide to stick it out, keep an eye on your blood pressure, eat high-quality food and try to walk a half hour a day. (The exercise helped me tremendously.) Withdrawing too quickly stresses your body and mind. Try to be kind to yourself.

I have been completely off Effexor for over 3 weeks but also started an HRT at same time so I’m not sure what is causing all my issues but the latest one is that I’ve lost my sense of taste. Everything taste awful and I know I need to lose weight but this is not the way I wanted to do it.

I would look up the side effects of your HRT.

Thanks and I just did and unbelievably loss of taste is a rare side effect of my HRT. Who would have thought.
I’m calling my doctor tomorrow