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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danalee5 | @danalee5 | Jul 18, 2018

@jakedduck1
Your advice was very clear and informative! I do have one question: You said, "If however you have been abusing it your outcome may not be as good and problems could possibly occur in the future." Could you explain what you meant by abusing it? Thank you.

REPLY
Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | Jul 18, 2018

Checking in...ok I figured out what I did. I am obviously still not thinking straight even being drug free 4 months.
I started cutting back on my CBD oil cuz I was running out. Silly me, I was thinking it was a choice. Oviously not a choice. I sent someoneme for some more but at 225 mg. Not the 600 I was taking. Its going to be a long time to payday on the 3rd.
Do you know I kept thinking yesterday was Saturday? Last Saturday no less. Its really Thursday. My respect for the CBD oil grows.

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JK | @contentandwell | Jul 18, 2018
In reply to @brightwings "Please forgive me. Yesterday was a rough day and night. Today I will follow a schedule." + (show)
@brightwings

Please forgive me. Yesterday was a rough day and night. Today I will follow a schedule.

Jump to this post

@brightwings there is nothing to forgive. If you need to vent, then vent.
JK

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cyndy76 | @cyndy76 | Jul 18, 2018
In reply to @jakedduck1 "Never stop taking it cold turkey EVER. You could be hospitalized even death can occur. I’ve..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

Never stop taking it cold turkey EVER. You could be hospitalized even death can occur. I’ve seen to many people not take the seriousness and real dangers of quitting this medication. There have been some very lucky people here, Susie for one.
Effexor has a shot half life, probably the shortest of the antidepressants. Because of this the withdrawal symptoms can occur quickly. All this is affected by your metabolism, so if metabolism is slow your withdrawal symptoms will take longer to appear since your body will take longer to get rid of the medication. With a fast metabolism the opposite will occur. Many will have some symptoms if they miss just one dose, especially with a fast metabolism.
Effexor withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person but can take anywhere from 10 days if on a low dose and taken for a short time to a month and even longer depending on strength and time you’ve been taking it. It also depends on the person. If I were stopping it I’d only decrease my dose by 10% to an absolute high of 25% and if any of the multitude of symptoms showed up I’d immediately increase it and reduce the maximum to maybe 15%. Always take a dose every day. Never skip a day/days. And take your new dose at least 7 days before taking a lower dose. Some may have or want to take it longer. The point I’m trying to make is that you shouldn’t have ANY SYMPTOMS while stopping Effexor. And when you take your last dose you’ll be Effexor free and never have another symptom. If however you have been abusing it your outcome may not be as good and problems could possibly occur in the future.
Wishing everyone the very best of luck, and please remember small doses over a longer time is the key

Jump to this post

You take tumeric for depression? Pills or powder was it prescribed by naturopath dr? Never heard of tumeric for depression

REPLY
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jul 18, 2018
In reply to @jakedduck1 "Never stop taking it cold turkey EVER. You could be hospitalized even death can occur. I’ve..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

Never stop taking it cold turkey EVER. You could be hospitalized even death can occur. I’ve seen to many people not take the seriousness and real dangers of quitting this medication. There have been some very lucky people here, Susie for one.
Effexor has a shot half life, probably the shortest of the antidepressants. Because of this the withdrawal symptoms can occur quickly. All this is affected by your metabolism, so if metabolism is slow your withdrawal symptoms will take longer to appear since your body will take longer to get rid of the medication. With a fast metabolism the opposite will occur. Many will have some symptoms if they miss just one dose, especially with a fast metabolism.
Effexor withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person but can take anywhere from 10 days if on a low dose and taken for a short time to a month and even longer depending on strength and time you’ve been taking it. It also depends on the person. If I were stopping it I’d only decrease my dose by 10% to an absolute high of 25% and if any of the multitude of symptoms showed up I’d immediately increase it and reduce the maximum to maybe 15%. Always take a dose every day. Never skip a day/days. And take your new dose at least 7 days before taking a lower dose. Some may have or want to take it longer. The point I’m trying to make is that you shouldn’t have ANY SYMPTOMS while stopping Effexor. And when you take your last dose you’ll be Effexor free and never have another symptom. If however you have been abusing it your outcome may not be as good and problems could possibly occur in the future.
Wishing everyone the very best of luck, and please remember small doses over a longer time is the key

Jump to this post

My stopping Effexor post got a bit messed up. If you don’t understand what I’m saying in a particular area ask a question please. I’m sorry I get so confused when I write. I know what I want to say but it sometimes comes out wrong, I’m sorry all.

REPLY
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jul 18, 2018
In reply to @jakedduck1 "Never stop taking it cold turkey EVER. You could be hospitalized even death can occur. I’ve..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

Never stop taking it cold turkey EVER. You could be hospitalized even death can occur. I’ve seen to many people not take the seriousness and real dangers of quitting this medication. There have been some very lucky people here, Susie for one.
Effexor has a shot half life, probably the shortest of the antidepressants. Because of this the withdrawal symptoms can occur quickly. All this is affected by your metabolism, so if metabolism is slow your withdrawal symptoms will take longer to appear since your body will take longer to get rid of the medication. With a fast metabolism the opposite will occur. Many will have some symptoms if they miss just one dose, especially with a fast metabolism.
Effexor withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person but can take anywhere from 10 days if on a low dose and taken for a short time to a month and even longer depending on strength and time you’ve been taking it. It also depends on the person. If I were stopping it I’d only decrease my dose by 10% to an absolute high of 25% and if any of the multitude of symptoms showed up I’d immediately increase it and reduce the maximum to maybe 15%. Always take a dose every day. Never skip a day/days. And take your new dose at least 7 days before taking a lower dose. Some may have or want to take it longer. The point I’m trying to make is that you shouldn’t have ANY SYMPTOMS while stopping Effexor. And when you take your last dose you’ll be Effexor free and never have another symptom. If however you have been abusing it your outcome may not be as good and problems could possibly occur in the future.
Wishing everyone the very best of luck, and please remember small doses over a longer time is the key

Jump to this post

@amalia78

Amalia, Sounds like your doing everything right. Congratulations to you!!!

REPLY
Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | Jul 18, 2018

@amalia78
Welcome. It sounds like you have been reading and paying attention here. Good for you.
Is the turmeric handling your mood and anxiety??? You have my complete attention and many others also. How did you learn about it, dosage and how it helps....share anything that comes up. Wow, I am excited.
.
Please share what brought you to be so proactive in your approach?
Girl, you are like a breathe of fresh air. Being an empath, sometimes I connect with the feelings of the person writing(not always a pleasant thing)
The feelings I receive are so light and airy. They are delightful. I look forward to hearing more from you in the future. Smiling at you. Bright Wings AKA Cute Susie

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Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | Jul 19, 2018

@amalia78
I was thinking I written your name before. I clicked on your name and read your first posts.
Wow, you have been making progress. What a change in the imprinted feelings as I read. What happened, did you win the lottery or something? I feel joy and more youth in you.
Hoping you share some of your good things here too.

REPLY
5 replies
terri672 | @terri672 | Jul 19, 2018
In reply to @jakedduck1 "Never stop taking it cold turkey EVER. You could be hospitalized even death can occur. I’ve..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

Never stop taking it cold turkey EVER. You could be hospitalized even death can occur. I’ve seen to many people not take the seriousness and real dangers of quitting this medication. There have been some very lucky people here, Susie for one.
Effexor has a shot half life, probably the shortest of the antidepressants. Because of this the withdrawal symptoms can occur quickly. All this is affected by your metabolism, so if metabolism is slow your withdrawal symptoms will take longer to appear since your body will take longer to get rid of the medication. With a fast metabolism the opposite will occur. Many will have some symptoms if they miss just one dose, especially with a fast metabolism.
Effexor withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person but can take anywhere from 10 days if on a low dose and taken for a short time to a month and even longer depending on strength and time you’ve been taking it. It also depends on the person. If I were stopping it I’d only decrease my dose by 10% to an absolute high of 25% and if any of the multitude of symptoms showed up I’d immediately increase it and reduce the maximum to maybe 15%. Always take a dose every day. Never skip a day/days. And take your new dose at least 7 days before taking a lower dose. Some may have or want to take it longer. The point I’m trying to make is that you shouldn’t have ANY SYMPTOMS while stopping Effexor. And when you take your last dose you’ll be Effexor free and never have another symptom. If however you have been abusing it your outcome may not be as good and problems could possibly occur in the future.
Wishing everyone the very best of luck, and please remember small doses over a longer time is the key

Jump to this post

How much Tumeric (and what brand) are you taking?

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