Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

@imfu I am in no way an expert but am going through the Venlafaxine withdrawals also. I read of people breaking open the capsule and weaning off by reducing the amount of ‘pellets’ inside. Perhaps that would be something you could try. After being off this med for 17 days now my biggest fear is having to go back on. I agree that this is as hard as getting off heroine (although I’ve never experienced that). All I know is I never realized how dangerous these drugs are. If I find I must go back on I will for quality of life (and my family’s) sake but praying I don’t have to. I ordered the Sam-E supplement and will start with that!

I could use some help as well please! Been on venlafaxine for 5 years. Gone between 37.5-75mg throughout the time. I have wanted to get off of it for a long time but trying to get off from 37.5 (the lowest dose that’s offered) is nearly impossible. Any suggestions? How long should I stay on 37.5 before going cold turkey? Can’t help but think our wonderful pharmaceutical companies knew exactly what they were doing when they had people taking this drug; nothing lower than 37.5mg. Appreciate any help! Thank you for starting this conversation.

Best advice I can give you is NOT to go cold turkey. Open the capsule and remove 5 pellets. If you do not feel any symptoms the next day, you can try to remove a total of 10 pellets. If you find you are experiencing some symptoms, then maintain that dosage until the symptoms lessen. When you are satisfied that you can deal with it, try to remove a total of 15 pellets and so on until the end. There are approx. 60 pellets in a 37.5 mg capsule. I started with 150 mg about 6 weeks ago. I'm down to 75 mg doing this. I have a Dr. appointment in early April so I will stay on the 75mg until I talk to him. I did have a few days where I felt sick, but the sick feeling subsided in a few hours. I have tried to get off this drug a few times and never got this far. I will use this method until I can be totally free of it. Good luck.

I caution anyone regarding the use of SAMMe. I used it in hopes that it would help with the withdrawal symptoms from venlafaxine. I took 400 mgs. daily for 5 weeks. Near the end of that time frame, I started feeling anxious. After talking to my sister regarding SAMMe, I decided to stop taking it. I checked on line for the side effects. I should have done that right away, but everything I read said that SAMMe was safe. It can cause anxiety and possible other side effects. As I was withdrawing from SAMMe, I experienced extreme anxiety, severe up and down emotional outbursts. i.e. crying uncontrollably, plus, I was having problems sleeping. If you do take this drug, start with a low dosage. Plus you are supposed to take it on an empty stomach & this can cause discomfort as well. I quit taking SAMe January 20th and I am just now starting to feel some equilibrium in my emotions.

@lilmac44 thanks for sharing this. It’s good information. What do you consider a low dose?

I guess everyone's situation and body chemistry are different as I find 400 - 800 mg of Sam-e to lift my mood. But you're the first I've heard to have a problem with getting off of it and I'm very sensitive to medication so I don't know. I guess each person has to, as you say, start low and then see how they do on it. I wouldn't want to be without it but, clearly, you are far better off without it. Puzzling - I think Sam-e is naturally produced in the body. It's in every cell, as I recall. So, some people (not me) need to stay clear of it. Thanks. Personally, never a problem with it, only positives. Maybe you had a bad interaction with it and another medication, I don't know. Feel better. The Mayo Clinic, below, says do not take Sam-e along with prescription anti-depressants. A problem is, most all M.D.s don't know about supplements and nutrition (not taught in med school, or wasn't) so your Doctor may not have a clue what Sam-e is unless you bring in an article about it from a reliable source.

Here's what the Mayo Clinic says, in part, about it but use caution if you have a problem like lilmac did.

By Mayo Clinic Staff
Overview

S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) is a compound found naturally in the body. SAMe helps produce and regulate hormones and maintain cell membranes.
A synthetic version of SAMe is available as a dietary supplement in the U.S. In Europe, SAMe is a prescription drug. (ME - IT'S OTC).
SAMe can be taken orally, intravenously or through a muscular injection. People generally use SAMe to treat osteoarthritis, liver disease and depression. However, SAMe can also interact with antidepressant medications.

Evidence

Research on SAMe use for specific conditions shows:
Depression. While research has shown that SAMe has a positive effect in treating depression, most studies weren't well-designed and included a small number of people.
Liver disease. It's not clear if SAMe is beneficial for people who have liver disease.
Osteoarthritis. Many studies comparing the use of SAMe with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs showed that each provided similar pain relief and improvement in joint function, but SAMe produced fewer side effects. A smaller number of studies haven't shown the same results.

Our take

Generally safe
SAMe appears to be safe and might be effective in treating osteoarthritis and depression. However, SAMe might interact with use of antidepressants. Don't use SAMe and prescription antidepressants together.

Yes, Sam-e is not to be taken with anti-depressants. Feel better!

Yes, I just found this and, yes, it is produced by the body in the liver. Use caution!!! Not to be taken with anti-depressants.!

Interactions and contraindications[edit]
Taking SAM-e at the same time as some drugs may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a potentially dangerous condition caused by having too much serotonin. These drugs include dextromethorphan (Robitussin), meperidine (Demerol), pentazocine (Talwin), and tramadol (Ultram). SAM may also interact with antidepressant medications increasing the potential for their side effects and reduce the effectiveness of levodopa for Parkinson's disease.[medical citation needed]
People who have bipolar disorder should not use SAM because it increases the risk of manic episodes.[21]

After withdrawing from Effexor over a 9 month period and stopping completely at the end of November, 2017, I continue to experience withdrawal symptoms. I am extremely fatigued, blood pressure is all over the place, anxiety ( has subsided somewhat) emotional outbursts and insomnia. I had a saliva test done & I have above normal insulin levels, low cortisol levels in the morning and elevated cortisol levels at night. While a naturopath cannot diagnosis a disorder, I believe I have Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome as my symptoms match that particular problem. The mainstream medical community does not recognize that as an illness. I believe that my health problem stems from the long term use of Effexor. Effexor prevents the uptake of certain hormones and now, my body has been rewired on account of this drug. Can I prove this? No I can't. But it just seems too coincidental that I'm having such extreme health problems as a result of withdrawing from Effexor. I don't know if I will ever feel normal again. There just isn't enough said about the long term effects of anti-depressants. They are not meant to be used long term. I was on Effexor for11 years.

My doc just prescribed Effexor. Wellbutrin wasn’t effective for my depression and increased anxiety (and weight, go figure). Since I discontinued wb last year I’ve had stent placement and have to take Plavix. SSRIs are out of the running so my options are limited. I’ve read multiple horror stories about withdrawals from Effexor and stories of success. I guess I’m curious as to why any of you who discontinued it, chose to do so? If it works, shouldn’t it be forever? TIA