Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Hi I have been on Venlor 125mg daily for 20 years and I want to get off them. Would I need to go to the doctor to do this or would I be able to do this on my own? Thanks

Wanted to be one of the few posting positive results going off Effexor. I started taking Effexor XR 75 mg 10 months ago strictly for horrible hot flashes caused by a complete hysterectomy including ovaries. I’m not a candidate for taking hormones at all. Had positive results with 75% reduction in hot flashes until January when they started to come back especially at night. My doctor cautioned me about increasing but since a good friend had doubled her Effexor and had great results with hot flashes I urged the doctor to do it and she did. Was on 150 mg XR from January until May. Again my body got too used to the drug and hot flashes returned (but no where near like the premed ones). I also was experiencing nightmares and the worst dry mouth which triggered a tic in my mouth. So with my doctor I decided to go off as did my friend. We have different doctors. So our doctors took different approaches but we both had positive withdrawals. I reduced mine at first in 25 mg increments weekly with a non-XR pill. My friend went from 150 mg to 75 then to 37.5 all in 3 weeks. She did have crying jags, lots of night sweats & brain fog for about 4 days but is doing fine now and said she feels so good despite some hot flashes. I started mine a few weeks ago. I went from 150 to 125 on April 30 then on May 7 went down to 75 then on May 14 down to 50 and stopped completely this past Monday May 21. Other than some brain fog and hot flashes I have had no issues. Sadly the dry mouth/tic is still there but I have tons of energy & dropped 5 lbs immediately. I was scared to death based on all the horror stories so wanted to list some good news for 2 ladies who were successful. I’m taking a break from meds and will deal with those wretched hot flashes. We did not take the meds for anxiety or depression and were only on them about 10 months so that may make a big difference.

I began my withdrawal journey on May 15, 2017. I was taking 225 mg daily.
Here’s what I’m doing:
I open a capsule and remove 1 “bead”; next day, 2 beads; next day, 3 beads, and so on. By August 28, 2017, I had cut one capsule and was down to 150 mg daily. I continued to remove beads until I got down to 1 capsule. Now I am down to about 20 beads left and am still going forward. Once or twice I felt uncomfortable, with brain shivers and tinnitus. I would stay at that dosage for a week and then continue. At today’s dosage, I am experiencing some discomfort, but if I stay busy, I can deal with it.
It is a slow and tedious process, but so worth it! My memory is much better, for one thing! The support of my family and friends helps, too. Feel free to reply to me here for friendly support, questions, or comments. I would like to see everyone get off this “medicine “.
Good luck, best wishes, and I’m praying for each of you.

Hi, @congolia -- welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thanks for sharing your journey so far with withdrawing from venlafaxine (Effexor). Tinnitus and brain shivers don't sound fun.

Please do update here with how it's going as you continue.

I wanted you to meet @jmanon @cmacy66 @fsumom6 @efexfreeforever and @efexnot so that they and others can share their experiences with coming off this medication.

Will you be transitioning to another medication instead, @congolia?

@cmacy66

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
Volunteer Mentor

After taking Venlafaxine for 8 years( up to 350mgs per day) I am now in the process of weaning from it. With the help of an amazing acupuncture practitioner I am down to 100mg every second day and will soon be reducing this. I also have some amazing friends who are available should I need them. I have been on and off of antidepressants for 50 years but have never felt as supported as I do now. To those who also walk this path I wish you well for now and your future.

It's now May, 2018. I keep re-reading your post dated Nov. 2016. I don't know if you will ever read this, but I just wanted you to know that it is helping me through my withdrawal. I've been reducing from 150 mg since January 2018. I'm down to approx. 15 mg. I should just go ahead and as you say "rip off the band aid" but I'm a bit afraid to cut the cord. The last time I tried this, I got down this far and had a huge set back. I couldn't deal with it and went back on the drug. I'm not going to do it this time. The side effects of being on Effexor for 15 plus years have been debilitating. I'm done. Thanks for your encouragement.

Hi, Lisa. Thanks for your kind welcome. I will connect with the members you noted.
I am not planning to transition to any other medication.

Hello All,

I am on day 21 off Effexor and life is going really well. The first 7 to 10 days were the worst. Then the withdrawal symptoms began to taper off. It feels like I won the superbowl so I should head to Walt Disney World. In fact I might just do that. 🙂

I don't expect to share more on there as my journey off the medication is complete. Now it's time to build on all the positive changes and silver linings that happened over the past three weeks. If you need me please feel free to reach out. I wish you all the best on your journey. The experiences people have shared are filled with excellent insights and recommendations. Work with a doctor your trust who understands you and this medication. All the best.

Congratulations, @jmanon. Thank you for your testimony- it's helpful for other community members to see that there is a light at the end of the Effexor tunnel!