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

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tshere95 | @tshere95 | Apr 30, 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.

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drowsiness, dizziness, feeling nervous;
strange dreams;
increased sweating;
blurred vision;
dry mouth;
changes in appetite or weight;
mild nausea, constipation

These are listed as possible side effects of Effexor. I have ALL of these!! I stay sleepy and feel like a zombie most of the time. It's just not worth it. I've dealt with it because I thought I needed this drug but I've finally realized there are other ways to deal with my depression and anxiety.

REPLY
tshere95 | @tshere95 | Apr 30, 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

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Thanks for the post. I have been cutting my 100mg tablets in half for a few days. Other than feeling really out of it, I'm ok. I've also used Kratom for those days as well. That may be curbing the withdrawal symptoms. I will continue this until I run out of pills which will be a few weeks. I'm not refilling my script.

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JK | @contentandwell | Apr 30, 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

@tshere95 I hope all goes well for you and that you will be off of pills with few of the difficult side-effects that some have mentioned.
JK

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Apr 30, 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 Oh my goodness, with all of those side-effects it's no wonder you want to get off of effexor. It really is not worth it at all. You sound like a very determined person so I am sure you will find other ways to help you with your depression and anxiety. I will be looking forward to hearing how it's going for you.
JK

REPLY
arachel | @arachel | Apr 30, 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

Everyone's experience is different. I'm sure you understand that. For me, I have had enough with being dependent on a drug for my mental well being. I have gone through long periods of my life where I did not take any anti-depressants and got along just fine. After my husband died in 2001, I went into a deep depression for 2 years. It was horrible. Effexor helped me tremendously, but I feel that now that my life has stability, I want to do it on my own. I let the Effexor run my life for way too long. I also know how difficult it is to get off this drug and I want to do it now while I have the presence of mind to make my own decisions. Not to be gross, but my chronic constipation is a huge reason to get off this drug. Having to be dependent on laxatives is no way to live. Also, I was experiencing extreme dry mouth to the degree that I could not fall asleep without a cough drop in my mouth to ease the choking sensation. I gained 15 pounds while on Effexor and now after 4 months of weaning off, I'm down 10 of those pounds. My mind feels clearer and although I do deal with occasional panic attacks, I am able to talk myself down. Hopefully, things will level off in time and I'm willing to wait. I do hope my thoughts are helpful.

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blssed81 | @blssed81 | Apr 30, 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 I am experiencing the same symptoms. Effexor is by far the worse medication I have ever taken. I am currently tapering off of it and the withdraws are not comfortable at all. I made the decision to come off it because I am in a better place in my life than I was when I allowed my doctor to talk me into this medication. I understand the “ zombie “ feeling! I feel that way everyday and just really have NO energy. I am currently taking 37.5mg. I was on 75mg and recently just decreased it and toughed it out. I am on day 3 of the decrease and I’m actually doing better than I expected. I have been taking Effexor for a little over a year and I truly wish I would have never started. I know there is light at the end of the tunnel so I am pushing forward and asking God for healing! I am a woman of God so I know this too shall pass.

REPLY
exeffex | @efexnot | May 1, 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

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@contentandwell - You ask a very important question. I can’t answer for everyone, but I can answer for me. I started therapy about a decade ago to help me cope with some situational issues that caused me some very severe depression. Venlafaxine had its place and I might even go so far as to say that it saved my life.

I am in a much different place in my life now, and no longer need the strict emotional stability that venlafaxine has provided. Now, I find that venlafaxine has actually provided *too much* emotional stability - to the point of stagnation, or emotional blunting. Sure, I don’t feel the low-lows that I once did, but more importantly at this time, I also don’t feel the high-highs either. These are part of what make life so precious.

I’m starting to get some of that back, and I’m realizing more and more each day what I’ve been missing.

I hope that makes sense ...(?)

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 1, 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

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, @blssed81. Thanks for your encouraging words for @tshere95 and also sharing some of your story.

Wondering how it's going today with having decreased your venlafaxine (Effexor)? Are you still seeing side effects?

REPLY
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 1, 2018
In reply to @megannicole "This discussion has really helped me realize that I’m not crazy and it’s not normal to..." + (show)
@megannicole

This discussion has really helped me realize that I’m not crazy and it’s not normal to feel this way. I’ve been taking Effexor for a couple years and talked to my dr about lowering the dosage because I have no appetite on it!

I went from 225mg extended release to 150mg. Day one and two we’re ok, but by day three I had horrible vertigo, stomach and back pains and puked for almost 12 hours. I can’t believe how miserable I feel. I messaged my doctor about it and am hoping she can give me something to curb these horrible withdraws.

I’m a tiny adult female, weigh about 100 pounds. I think we cut the dosage too much too quickly and now I’m paying the price. I am so tired and physically unconmfortable idk what to do.

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Hello, @megannicole, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad the posts on this thread have helped you feel normal in your tapering off of venlafaxine (Effexor). Yes, many members have commented it's been very tough.

I applaud your decision to contact your doctor to talk about how your taper is going. How are you feeling this morning?

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | May 1, 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

@efexnot Thank you so much for your response, I really appreciate it and I understand perfectly. I think the person I am concerned about has convinced himself that he absolutely needs these medications. Sometimes I feel like he wants to need them, as odd as that may sound.
I realize that depression is a real illness but when I consider this person, his depressions seem to me to all be situational, and with very good cause. He is convinced he is bipolar, but that is misdiagnosed something like 60+ percent of the time because the diagnosis is made based on what the patient says.
Thank you again. This really is such a difficult thing to deal with, both for the person who is suffering from it and for the people who care deeply about that person.
JK

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