Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

for me I slept alot, ate saltine crackers white soda or sprite, couldn't drink coffe it me me sick to my stomach. I think everyone is different. sleep when you can good luck

It took 3 weeks of hell before I felt like myself again.  There should be laws to prevent nurse practitioners from prescribing this crap before ruling out physical causes of insomnia hmm 5 bulging discs, spondylitis, scoliosis, arthritis gee wiz I wonder why woke up in spasms!!!!  

What makes me angry is the way the newer antidepressants were marketed. I don't know if it was the fault of the pharmaceutical companies or the prescribing physicians. I remember the first time I was given Effexor, my psychiatrist said it was non-addicting. There was no mention of side effects. I trusted the guy. He was obviously getting his information from the pharmaceutical reps. All he had to do was read the package insert to see all the side effects. I partially blame myself for not doing my own research. There were reports all over the web about severe side effects and withdrawal symptoms. If physicians don't know this stuff, it's up to patients to be their own medical advocates. I was abruptly cut from 400 mg of Effexor and put on Wellbutrin as a substitute. I'm lucky I was still young. The ensuing depression, anxiety, and mood swings were terrible. When I went back to the psychiatrist, he said something like, I thought you knew to go off gradually. Amazing. These are powerful psychoactive chemicals that are still not completely understood. I have nothing against their use if there is full disclosure. The patient should be informed by the physician. And the FDA does nothing except after some disastrous situation develops. There is no such thing as a panacea. There never was and there never will be.

@time2650

From the many comments I've read here, stopping after a month at 37.5 is too fast. Many people have stayed there for a couple of months, then reduced to a lower dose for a couple of months, going down that slowly in the smallest increments your pharmacist can provide. People will spend more than a year, and still experience withdrawal. The longer you can stretch it out, the better, when it's time to stop.

This is definitely not something to be hurried. If your doctor doesn't agree, this is one time to put your foot down and insist on doing it the best way for YOU!

If they won't believe that it's way too fast, even after you've been as obnoxious about it as you can, I would most certainly seek the help of another doctor. Do you see a psychiatrist? They could help you.

Just stand up for yourself, however much that goes against your nature. SELF ADVOCATE!

Jim

I have been on Effexor XR/Venlafaxine XR for 20 years. I've been on 75 mg per day for the entire time, except for the past 5 months, when my dose was increased to 150 mg. When I was on the 75 mg dose, I tried many times to taper off of the drug. Like practically everyone else on this thread, I wasn't successful due to the bad withdrawal symptoms. I'm going to be dropping back down from 150 mg to 75 mg in the next few weeks. At some point I would really like to be off this medication completely, but I have to say that I'm not very optimistic about being able to do it. It has been very helpful to read everyone's comments. It makes me feel like I'm not alone.

How long until your symptoms disappeared? I have been without it for 1.5 weeks and it's not fun. I have flue symptoms and feel shaky. I feel off, even colors seem different. I feel edgy too. When will this stop. I was on 35 for three weeks and then stopped. My doctor is offering to give me less, but I'm wondering if I should just push through?? Any advice ?

There are many stories regarding Venlafaxine. This drug may have helped some people, but for the most part it has had a negative affect. I started on Effexor in about 2005. I started with celexa prior to that. Due to uncomfortable physical symptoms from celexa, the doctor put me on prozac. Having taken prozac for a period of time, I wanted to stop due to feeling blah and unemotional - zombie like. She put me on effexor. At that time, I still trusted and believed what big pharma said about these drugs. In between prozac & effexor, the doctor put me on wellbutrin. I ended up in the er with stroke like symptoms. I had several tests done in an attempt to discover what happened with no clear answers (I did not have a stroke). I continue to believe that I had a serious reaction to wellbutrin. In 2012, I attempted to quite effexor. My symptoms included dizziness, extreme fatigue, constant chills. I thought that I had a serious health problem. I went to the doctor and had several blood tests done, an upper GI, and a stress test. All tests were in the "normal" range. The doctor said I needed to go back on the effexor and of course I took her advice. Problem solved. In 2016, near the end, I decided that I needed to get off effexor as I was having health issues that I thought were related to using this drug. I started titrating down. I spent 10 months decreasing the dosage on a weekly basis. Fortunately, I never took a stronger dosage than 75mgs. Even so, the withdrawal symptoms hit. Not wanting to go to the doctor that recommended staying on effexor, I did this on my own. Searching for help with withdrawal, I found information about SAMe. Unfortunately, I did not do enough research. After taking 400 mgs. daily for about 3 weeks, I started having anxiety and insomnia. When I dug a little deeper, I discovered the possibility of numerous side effects from SAMe. I quit cold turkey. Now, not only was I having withdrawal from effexor, I was having it from SAMe too. Horrible withdrawal. Extreme emotions, shivering, anxiety, extreme fatigue, need for deep breathes. I didn't know where to turn as I knew with traditional medical doctors, they would just want to throw drugs at the problem instead of finding the cause of the problems. I made an appointment to see a naturopath. My appointment is tomorrow and I'm hopeful. I have felt better the past 2 days and I may soon get past this. I have relied on prayer, a good diet, taking supplements and moderate exercise. I have avoided taking any of the amino acids recommended to increase serotonin as there can by significant problems as a result.

Please let us know what the naturopath says!

I have been on only 37.5 Effexor XR for about a year, it is a wonderful fix to my bi polar mood swings and anxiety. But I am not myself... I had no highs and no lows. I am very uncaring about much of anything, I am not my fun crazy loud eccentric self anymore. My son would say 'mom youre just not fun anymore'. That made me feel horrible. My fiancé I feel takes it personal as I am just not sexually interested anymore. I cant be 'satisfied'. I'm never in the mood. I just always want to sleep. I haven't been able to get up at 5am anymore and go to the gym as I always did. I was always in the gym. I recently got engaged and have been planning our wedding. When I went dress shopping I wasn't really excited especially when I found the most perfect dress. I was like ehh. As if id rather be in bed sleeping.

Three days ago I decided to go cold turkey. I didn't think about a withdraw, at all. I just wanted to be done with the medication and be my old self even with by bi-polarness mood swings and anxiety. Today is day 3 of not being on that medication I have been having the worst body aches, head aches, dizziness, insomnia yet super fatigued, eye pain, stomach pains and just constantly in the bathroom as if I have food poisoning. I'm constantly drinking coffee, water and taking Imodium and Ibuprofen. But I am still in such a fog and I feel myself getting snappy with my fiancé. I'm praying I get through this because I just want to be myself again. But I am thinking I may have to just start taking them again 🙁

Oh boy, can I ever relate to what you have written? Most of the time, I don't feel or care about most things. I used to be a funny, happy, lovable woman, but not so much now. I really only seem to care about what happens to animals. I am vegan because I cannot bear what happens to farm animals. I have been going through withdrawal symptoms myself trying to get off of the meds. I have been doing this with my Dr's help too. It is very hard and you must do it gradually as your body is used to having this medication all the time. Don't go cold turkey, it is very dangerous and just not a good idea. Sex, what is that? It has been so long for me, I think I have forgotten it. I too do not get excited about anything anymore. I just don't care. I used to be such a happy go lucky woman who always wanted to help others, but not now. I would rather stay home. I wish you well and keep in touch.