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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6363)Comment receiving replies
My daughter is trying to stop taking Effexor. She went to an "urgent" care doctor for the prescription - then again to get off (not same urgent care). The doctor told her to start taking every other day for a week and then stop taking all together. She is a MESS - dizzy, depressed, lack of energy, etc. I'm not sure if she should go back on the meds and then start taking the weaning process again. Also - not sure what qualified doctor we can get into soon to help oversee the process.
BTW - what is CBD oil?
Replies to "My daughter is trying to stop taking Effexor. She went to an "urgent" care doctor for..."
I am alarmed that the doctor told her to withdraw from Effexor so quickly. Some comments on here say it can take a year to get off the medication. I recommend that she return to taking the medication, and find a doctor to oversee her slow withdrawal. I am not a medical professional, so I can't diagnose and my recommendations are based on my own and other's experiences. Please read through the posts on here to learn how others have gotten off Effexor. Most have taken a very slow and long time to get off the drug. It sounds as if 1 year is a good time frame.
To answer about CBD, it's a derivative of Marijuana/Cannabis that has no "high" associated with it. It relaxes and calms people and is legal in most states now. CBD has helped people withdraw from opioids and other addictions. It is not addictive and is very benign in your body with no known side effects. I used CBD to help me withdraw from Tramadol and used marijuana to help me quit smoking. I also use CBD to help my occasional anxiety.
I hope your daughter finds a physician to help her get off Effexor. Another alternative is to contact your pharmacist as they are very knowledgeable about how drugs act and how we react when we are withdrawing from a drug. My pharmacist was very helpful for my withdrawal from Gabapentin when my doctor wouldn't help me. Please keep us informed about your daughter's progress. Best wishes for a healthy withdrawal.
Gail
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@gailb or anyone else with experience, would you feel the need to consult with your doctor before taking CBD? Also, does anyone know if this is something that people on immunosuppressants can take? I have a tiny prescription for lorazepam (my doctor gave me an Rx for 10 over a year ago and I still have a couple left) that I use when I have anxieties at bedtime, which due to some family situations has been somewhat frequent recently, but I have tried to go without the lorazepam. Perhaps the CBD would help with that.
JK
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Hi, @cmacy66 -- welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am so sorry to hear your daughter is a mess right now with such a tough withdrawal process from the venlafaxine (Effexor). Sounds very hard. I'm glad she has you to check on her and advocate for her.
That sounds unique that an urgent care doctor put her on the medication and then another put her on a tapering plan. Does she have a primary care provider who might offer advice for how to proceed at this point with the taper, since the process has been so challenging?