Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

@gailb Were you on tramadol and gabapentin for long and with a large dose? I used both of these following my knee replacement, the tramadol for a little over two months and the gabapentin for a little over three months, just one a day before bed for the gabapentin. I had no problem at all just stopping them. Had I known at the time what you are saying I would have been far more reluctant to take them but they did help, especially the tramadol. I was far more worried about taking oxycodone so I got off of that very quickly. My ortho seemed to be most concerned about that one also.
JK

Hi, @tshere95 -- here is a link to a previous Mayo Clinic Connect discussion of kratom in which you may be interested: https://mayocl.in/2HZ9wSa.

@efexnot I am interested in your information about Citalopram. While I was researching it, I discovered how dangerous it was for me to be taking Tramadol 50 mg 4 times a day while I have been taking Citalopram. I am shocked that neither my pain doctor nor my pharmacist told me about the dangers of this combination of drugs!

I will talk with my docs about the possibility of changing from Citalopram to Escitalopram, for my liver. Thank you for the information.

Gail
Volunteer Mentor

@contentandwell I was on Gabapentin 350, 2 times a day and trying to up it to 3 times a day, for about 3+ months. I took Tramadol 50 mg 4 times a day for over a year. The Gabapentin wasn't too bad to quit. Tramadol was not easy! I used CBD and THC to help me get through withdrawal. Now I'm reading that studies show that both help people withdraw from opioids. I'm also hearing that Marijuana is effective for pain relief. Dr. Sanjay Gupta will have a special report on CNN on Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. about Marijuana as a real medication.

Gail
Volunteer Mentor

The Gabapentin was still hard to withdraw from. I think it's the worst medication I've ever taken. Tramadol was hard to withdraw from in a different way. Just to be clear.
Gail
Volunteer Mentor

@gailb my husband has never smoked marijuana in his life but even he thinks it's about time. I was never a marijuana smoker either but did try it once when I was in my early 20s -- I do not like feeling like I am not in control though.
It does not kill like opioids do and it really does help some people. We knew a woman in her late 80s with advanced cancer and her family had to buy it illegally because it helped her so much. Of course that meant it was very expensive too.
Reading your problems with tramadol makes me realize why my doctor was very reluctant to prescribe it more. It did help with the knee replacement pain and for me that was important because being a post-transplant patient the only OTC pain reliever I can take is Tylenol, which is not much help. I really like my ortho and he is a very cautious doctor, which I like a lot.
JK

I have taken Gabapentin for years and never worried about trying to come off since I have never had side effects that I'm aware of. My doctor assured me it is not addictive. I take it for Neuropathy. It helps tremendously.

@liz223

Hello Liz:

My doctor has offered to prescribe Gabapentin for neuropathy symptoms but I have hesitated. Could you tell me a bit more about how it has helped you? Does it help with the tingling, the pain or the numbness? My neuropathy seems to involve an inflamed root in the lumbar spine.

Teresa

I have found the discussions here very helpful. I am tapering from Venlafaxine 75 mg. after taking it for over 18 years. I tried once before cold turkey but the withdrawal was so difficult I went back on it. Fortunately a new psychiatrist is helping me taper and she put me on Wellbutrin 150 mg XR to help with the transition. I have begun by halving the Venlafaxine tablets (I am not on the XR med). I am going to try to taper over 3 weeks, but if it is too difficult I will take longer. I hope to then go to 18.5 (one quarter of my current tablet) for another 3 weeks before stopping. I am in week 2, and I have had some issues but no brain zaps yet. After reading a lot of medical literature about this drug, I really regret that my GP put me on this years ago. It has probably contributed to my hypertension and a few other health issues over the years. My heart goes out to all of you who are having a lot of trouble discontinuing. It is hard enough to deal with depression and anxiety without the added problems of discontinuation syndrome. Best to all of you

I got started on Wellbutrin 150mg XR at the same time as when I started weening as well. It probably helped some but I think I came off the Effexor too quickly. Anyway. Glad you’re here. It’s helped me to know I’m not alone!