1. < Depression & Anxiety

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

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

liz223 | @liz223 | Apr 27, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "Hi everyone. I have followed these posts a lot and am horrified at what you have..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Hi everyone. I have followed these posts a lot and am horrified at what you have all gone through withdrawing from effexor and other pharmaceuticals. The question has occurred to me though, if you have a condition that some of these were prescribed for, why do you want to get off of them? I know very little about all of this but I am close to someone who is on bupropion,citalopram, and lamogitrine. He was on effexor at some point but not for long, he got off of it quite rapidly. If these drugs are helping why do people want to discontinue them? If there is a real problem with them then I would want to encourage him to taper off. I know he feels he needs them though.
Please excuse my ignorance, I just care about this person a lot and am concerned, and also very confused.
Thanks.
JK

Jump to this post

I am wondering the same thing. I plan to stay with my meds my doctor has me on. It is certainly better than being on an emotional roller coaster. I have been in a deep depression and hospitalized in the past and I know I don't want to go back to that kind of horror. I will gladly stay with my meds and continue to see my doctor as scheduled.

REPLY
tshere95 | @tshere95 | Apr 27, 2018

Honestly, I don't want to have to depend on these drugs anymore to make me feel right. I think there are other ways to deal with issues. Herbal remedies along with meditation are a couple of these ways. Most doctors don't even know why they prescribe these drugs. It's all about money. It's all just trial and error and we are the ones who are reaping the side effects. It's ridiculous. I want off. If I have to go cold turkey, I will.

REPLY
12 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 27, 2018

Hello @tshere95

I see that you are a new member on Connect, welcome! I appreciate you post on this topic.

While we at Connect are not medical professionals, from the many experiences mentioned in Connect, the idea of going off of meds cold-turkey can be a dangerous one. The side-effects can be very difficult. If you want to go off a medication please contact your doctor for a plan to taper-off the drug. Talking with a pharmacist might also be a good idea.

You don't mention how long you have been taking his med or the dosage, but these are all important factors to consider as you taper off under medical supervision.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

REPLY
4 replies
tshere95 | @tshere95 | Apr 27, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @tshere95 I see that you are a new member on Connect, welcome! I appreciate you..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @tshere95

I see that you are a new member on Connect, welcome! I appreciate you post on this topic.

While we at Connect are not medical professionals, from the many experiences mentioned in Connect, the idea of going off of meds cold-turkey can be a dangerous one. The side-effects can be very difficult. If you want to go off a medication please contact your doctor for a plan to taper-off the drug. Talking with a pharmacist might also be a good idea.

You don't mention how long you have been taking his med or the dosage, but these are all important factors to consider as you taper off under medical supervision.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Jump to this post

I've been taking it for about 4 years and it's 100 mg. I can deal with it.

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Apr 27, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "Hi everyone. I have followed these posts a lot and am horrified at what you have..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Hi everyone. I have followed these posts a lot and am horrified at what you have all gone through withdrawing from effexor and other pharmaceuticals. The question has occurred to me though, if you have a condition that some of these were prescribed for, why do you want to get off of them? I know very little about all of this but I am close to someone who is on bupropion,citalopram, and lamogitrine. He was on effexor at some point but not for long, he got off of it quite rapidly. If these drugs are helping why do people want to discontinue them? If there is a real problem with them then I would want to encourage him to taper off. I know he feels he needs them though.
Please excuse my ignorance, I just care about this person a lot and am concerned, and also very confused.
Thanks.
JK

Jump to this post

@liz223 I hate the thought of taking unnecessary drugs, they ALL do have down sides, but what are the down sides if these that make people want to get off them so much?
JK

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Apr 27, 2018
In reply to @tshere95 "Honestly, I don't want to have to depend on these drugs anymore to make me feel..." + (show)
@tshere95

Honestly, I don't want to have to depend on these drugs anymore to make me feel right. I think there are other ways to deal with issues. Herbal remedies along with meditation are a couple of these ways. Most doctors don't even know why they prescribe these drugs. It's all about money. It's all just trial and error and we are the ones who are reaping the side effects. It's ridiculous. I want off. If I have to go cold turkey, I will.

Jump to this post

@tshere95 if you can discontinue them and manage to live a normal life that is definitely the thing to do, I just suspect that is not possible for some people.
JK

REPLY
tshere95 | @tshere95 | Apr 27, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "Hi everyone. I have followed these posts a lot and am horrified at what you have..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Hi everyone. I have followed these posts a lot and am horrified at what you have all gone through withdrawing from effexor and other pharmaceuticals. The question has occurred to me though, if you have a condition that some of these were prescribed for, why do you want to get off of them? I know very little about all of this but I am close to someone who is on bupropion,citalopram, and lamogitrine. He was on effexor at some point but not for long, he got off of it quite rapidly. If these drugs are helping why do people want to discontinue them? If there is a real problem with them then I would want to encourage him to taper off. I know he feels he needs them though.
Please excuse my ignorance, I just care about this person a lot and am concerned, and also very confused.
Thanks.
JK

Jump to this post

It's just like a ball and chain to me. If I miss even one dose, I'm sick and literally throwing up the whole next day. I don't want to have to deal with that for the rest of my life.

REPLY
tshere95 | @tshere95 | Apr 27, 2018

Has anyone ever used Kratom for depression?

REPLY
bb7777 | @bb7777 | Apr 27, 2018
In reply to @nanke99 "Hi! I was on Effexor XR for a few years and got off it several years..." + (show)
@nanke99

Hi! I was on Effexor XR for a few years and got off it several years ago. It was a very difficult process, so I fully sympathize. You MUST wean off
VERY SLOWLY. I don't remember what my dosage was at the time (225mg?), but it took me about 9 months. Please do not let that long time scare you, it's worth going slow, that will be your biggest help w/ withdrawal. At the time I had a very difficult time finding any doctor with experience getting people off it.
Luckily I was advised to to find one and luckily I did. It is considered harder to get off than heroine. Not trying to scare you, just want to make sure you go as slow as possible. Mostly, I was moody/angry, had headaches, and some brain "shivers". The brain shivers I already had while on the meds.
I think we went down in 25mg increments over several weeks for each reduction. Keep us posted and good luck! Just give yourself some time and it will be over before you know it!

Jump to this post

Hi, hope you don’t mind more questions. I’ve only been on Effexor for about 6 months as my depression is more seasonal. I’m only on 37.5 mg. I told my GP I wanted off so she recommended just stopping it, saying I’d be fine. I stopped that day so today is only day 3. I have been soooo nauseous and dizzy since. Is this why? How long does it last? I really feel awful but I want off the drugs more. I’m also on Bupropion 300 mg, which I’m cutting to 150 mg in 2 weeks and then off everything. Any additional tips are welcome because the nausea is awful. Thank you!

REPLY
nancy3756 | @nancy3756 | Apr 27, 2018
In reply to @nanke99 "Hi! I was on Effexor XR for a few years and got off it several years..." + (show)
@nanke99

Hi! I was on Effexor XR for a few years and got off it several years ago. It was a very difficult process, so I fully sympathize. You MUST wean off
VERY SLOWLY. I don't remember what my dosage was at the time (225mg?), but it took me about 9 months. Please do not let that long time scare you, it's worth going slow, that will be your biggest help w/ withdrawal. At the time I had a very difficult time finding any doctor with experience getting people off it.
Luckily I was advised to to find one and luckily I did. It is considered harder to get off than heroine. Not trying to scare you, just want to make sure you go as slow as possible. Mostly, I was moody/angry, had headaches, and some brain "shivers". The brain shivers I already had while on the meds.
I think we went down in 25mg increments over several weeks for each reduction. Keep us posted and good luck! Just give yourself some time and it will be over before you know it!

Jump to this post

Hey there! Number one, no matter the dosage you were on, you should always be weened off. I was only weened for a month and I’m nearing the end of the awlfulness of it. I hope. But I started with nausea, vomiting, feeling almost like out of body, nightmares, emotional/crying over nothing, tingling limbs, brain zaps—you name it, I had it. Now I rarely have the nausea but I’m still emotional. The fact I’ve had another family issue pop up for my son doesn’t help, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. You need weened off tho. Cold turkey could be counterproductive.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.