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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (6363)
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@tonysdca

Just updating my experience with tapering from 75 mg Effexor after taking it for over 15 years. I have taken 3 months to get down to 18.5 mg every other day. I tried reducing faster but experienced more zaps, nausea, etc., so I began tapering more slowly from 75 mg to 37.5 to 18.5 daily to now 18.5 every other day. I have found that CBD oil does help. 3 drops sublingually twice daily seems to work for me. I still get occasional sharp head pains that last a few seconds, some nausea, and even constipation (not sure how much of that is related to venlafaxine). My psychiatrist did put me on 150 mg Wellbutrin XR when I started withdrawal from Effexor, and I believe that prevented me from relapsing into depression. I am trying to be very patient as the very gradual withdrawal has helped minimize the side effects of withdrawal from Effexor. Optimistically, I hope to be Effexor free within 3 months.

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Replies to "Just updating my experience with tapering from 75 mg Effexor after taking it for over 15..."
dianrib | @dianrib | Jun 17, 2018

is Wellbutrin different ??

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tonysdca | @tonysdca | Jun 17, 2018

I'm not a psychiatrist or pharmacist, but I believe Wellbutrin works differently, and going off it is not as hard as Effexor. I had to go off Effexor as it was raising my blood pressure, and just missing a single dose caused me side effects. Because I suffer from depression, my psychiatrist wants me to be on an antidepressant of some kind while I taper off Effexor. Hopefully, someday I can taper off Wellbutrin.

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swtmtngirl | @swtmtngirl | Jun 18, 2018

I was taking 225 mg a day and forgot to pick up my meds so I've been into withdrawal for bout 5 or 6 days I feel bad and think I'm getting depressed this feeling of being lost and loneliness is getting worse so I've been crying called the nurse at doctors office and she was supposed to call me back but hasn't yet. All of the different emotions and withdrawal symptoms r bad is there something that will help til I get this worked out. I drank kratom last night and it helped as long as I was still I'm afraid of getting to depressed and being stuck in a hole I can't crawl out of.

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