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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lukekee | @lukekee | Jan 31, 2018

Everything you have written sounds just like me. I am sitting at work right now just waiting till I can go home and lay down. I have zero interest in anything. Sex is a thing of the past, unfortunately for my husband. I am about to be a grandmother and want to be excited, I really do, but I feel I am a disappointment to my daughter because I just can't seem to be all gaga over baby stuff. I try to fake it as much as I can but I am miserable. Also, going through menopause so this is a double whammy for me. God, I just pray I get through this soon.
Weird thing is I was only on 75 mg for 3 months so I just can't see how it can still be from the Effexor but everything I read on here sounds just like me. I tapered myself for about 2 weeks then just quit and it has been a month since I just quit. How long till it is over? I am so tired I can barely sit here and type this. Also, my taste is so off; nothing tastes right.

I hope you can find a way to taper because I don't think going cold turkey is safe for your body or mind.

happyat76 | @happyat76 | Jan 31, 2018

In reply to @lukekee "Everything you have written sounds just like me. I am sitting at work right now just..." + (show)

I believe you are going through a deep depression and part of it is because of Menopause. I went through hell with my depression and anxiety when I went through Menopause. It lasts a number of years too. I did feel better for a while after it was over, but it didn't take me long to get back to feeling the way I do now. We all are in this together and we may help each other a lot just by being honest about ourselves.

lukekee | @lukekee | Jan 31, 2018

I have gotten desperate so I went to a gyno who put me on Prempro which made my moods way worse so actually got into see MY regular gyno who put me on Premarin and permetrium and I started those last night. I am praying that they will help me. I feel like crawling in a hole and not coming back out till I am through menopause but the problem with that is I am never comfortable in my own skin even when I am laying down by myself. I just have no quality of life right now and it sucks. All this on top of going off the Effexor is just almost too much.

A friend told me I need to ask for an anti-depressant and I told her going off one of those has created part of what I am going through now. I really don't want to be on anything else that is this hard to get off of. I really don't know what else I can do and quite frankly I don't have the energy to do much. At this rate, I will not being a very good grandmother and I hate that so bad. I have always looked forward to be a grandmother (an active, happy, fun granny) but that isn't what's happening and my grand daughter will be here in less than a month.

I just want to feel good again; not great; just good if that makes any sense.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jan 31, 2018

In reply to @missjill87 "I have been on only 37.5 Effexor XR for about a year, it is a wonderful..." + (show)

Hi, @missjill87. I wanted to add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sounds like you are having a challenging time in the midst of a time you'd like to feel "up" and excited. Congratulations on the upcoming wedding, by the way!

If you not gotten a chance yet to read through more of this thread on going off Effexor/venlafaxine, I would encourage you to do so. I believe you will find quite a number of members who've walked down similar paths with going cold turkey off this medication or tapering too fast.

You especially may want to take a look at this Mayo Clinic pharmacist's input on going off Effexor/venlafaxine, here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/83750/bookmark/?ajax_hook=action&_wpnonce=67744af13f

Have you considered calling your doctor to help you through a taper plan (this may involve going back on the medication at some dosage to then slowly go back down) so that going off the medication might have fewer withdrawal symptoms?

mardeis | @mardeis | Jan 31, 2018

I'm about to start the process from Pristiq, same family. After much research and talking to both of my doctors I can pass this information: DO NOT GO COLD TURKEY. Slowly is the way to go, e.g. 1/4 mg. drop every 4 to 6 weeks. There are one or two other ways it can be done. If at all possible don't do this alone, have medical supervision, tell your friends and family. If necessary find a support group as the antidepressants don't come with a 'warning, hard to withdraw from' statements. I'm a week into cutting down by a quarter, so far so good. Pristiq comes in a square so I split them in half on the diagonal then I can split that half into a quarter when needed.
Other than this eat healthy, exercise, be social when possible and stay busy.
Good luck to both of us.

missjill87 | @missjill87 | Jan 31, 2018

In reply to @missjill87 "I have been on only 37.5 Effexor XR for about a year, it is a wonderful..." + (show)

Thank you @lisalucier. I would love to feel excited as every woman should planning a wedding. But I feel everything other and maybe its just more overwhelming, the planning aspect, but that shouldn't matter. I feel the real me would be more excited, more into the planning, more into everything. I just wanted to be the real me even if i was a little bi polar and moody at times. Right now seeing as I have not taken my meds.. I feel almost out of my body, in a fog and not really wanting to do anything. I need to do something, take them again and ween myself off slowly because I feel awful. I have the extended release capsules. Can I just break them apart and empty half of the little beads inside?

missjill87 | @missjill87 | Jan 31, 2018

I also have brain delays (I ccant explain it) its like I do something and my brain cant process.. but that happened when I was on it too. I am extremely short tempered and feel like someone is sitting on my head, when I move my eyes I get a strange feeling in my head. My eyes feel like they are pushing out and when I touch them they hurt so bad and I just want to close my eyes and sleep.

seaglassgirl | @seaglassgirl | Jan 31, 2018

In reply to @mlbaier "There are very few antidepressants that do not cause dry mouth, which leads to dry eyes..." + (show)

You were so right about the dry eyes and constipation. Can anyone comment on whether these symptoms, especially dry mouth, will go away after I stop the effexor?

kzorle | @kzorle | Jan 31, 2018

I've been taking Effexor for 14 years, initially prescribed for migraines but my PCP thought there were no reasons to stop it, I had 3 boys in 3 yrs, worked full time, etc. I have inadvertently ran out and had terrible symptoms, nausea, headaches, sweating, chills. At Thanksgiving I mentioned I wanted to wean off it and a friend (psychiatrist) offered to taper me off. It's been 9 weeks and I just started having terrible vertigo. The only solution will make me sleepy. I am so frustrated and tired, I just want to be off this and feel better! I'm in Cincinnati too for the previous post!

Clearview | @clearview3 | Jan 31, 2018

In reply to @lisalucier "Hi all, There has been a lot of discussion in this thread about tapering off and..." + (show)

@lisalucier

Hi all, There has been a lot of discussion in this thread about tapering off and stopping Effexor and other antidepressants. We sought the input of a Mayo Clinic pharmacist and here what she had to say:

"Most antidepressants should be tapered before discontinuing. Patients should check with their healthcare provider for discontinuation recommendations. Taper directions can depend on the reason for discontinuation, the particular antidepressant being discontinued, the current dose and other patient-specific factors. Abrupt discontinuation of venlafaxine is more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms and relapse than many other antidepressants because of its short half-life. Likewise, strategies for switching between antidepressants require similar consideration from a care provider. Here at Mayo Clinic, we pharmacists work together with physicians to help determine the best strategies for each patient.

Patients may decide to discontinue their antidepressants for a variety of reasons. Some people feel better after taking an antidepressant and may feel they don’t need it anymore. The course of antidepressant therapy varies. Some people have lifelong mood symptoms that can be alleviated with antidepressants. Others may have difficult times in their lives where treatment is required while they work through the situation and/or find other mechanisms to alleviate symptoms. A clinician can help patients determine the appropriate treatment course based on patient history, symptom severity and other patient-specific factors.

Some patients may experience side effects. Management of side effects depends on their severity, expected duration, other options and patient-specific factors. For example, many patients experience stomach upset when starting antidepressants, but this is usually short-lived, and the benefits of continuing treatment usually outweigh the risk of stopping the antidepressant or having the same effects with another anti-depressant.

“Cold turkey” discontinuation of venlafaxine can cause agitation, sweating, fatigue, nausea, restlessness, tremor and relapse of depression. A slow taper is recommended, and tapering may need to be adjusted based on patient-specific factors listed above and for patient response to the taper.

Genetics play a major role in our response to venlafaxine. People with poor 2D6 metabolizer status may not respond to venlafaxine and thus may not be subject to the same withdrawal symptoms as those who were metabolizing the drug properly. Routine genotype testing is not routinely recommended but could explain lack of response to venlafaxine and certain other medications. Mayo Clinic offers this type of pharmacogenetics testing that can be ordered by our providers. For more information see: http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/center-for-individualized-medicine/

The most important thing to remember is that each patient is different and may respond differently to the same treatment. We have to communicate openly with our healthcare providers to get the most from our medications. Sometimes this entails some trial and error, but it is worth getting the right therapy in the end.

You can read more about Pharmacogenomics in this article https://www.seattletimes.com/life/wellness/depressed-genetics-affect-how-drugs-work/."

Has anyone had genetic testing that altered their treatment plan or improved their condition?

Jump to this post

I am new to commenting on this site and tomorrow I have an appointment with my GP and hope to go off of Effexor XR 150 mg. I have been on Effexor for 15 years so I am really afraid of starting to taper down. I have GAD and my anxiety and depression seem to be getting worse the older I become, but I don't want to be on this medication for financial reasons and I don't want to be on a medication that is so severe if you suddenly don't have access to it. I have experienced the withdrawal a few times when I didn't get my refill in time (kicks in after 2 days) and it is severe. So, I am worried. I have read about the individual treatment program recently in an article, and am wondering if it would be more helpful because I also am taking PPI for Barretts Esophagus, and have been told my system has trouble absorbing certain vitamins, so I am not sure what effect the PPI is having with the Effexor being on it and going off of it.

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