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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shaker1956 | @shaker1956 | Aug 14, 2018

In reply to @brightwings "To the new folks...Welcome, you are in the right place. My last pill was March 14...." + (show)

Hey Clever Mom. Heres what I would do. Talk to a pharmacist and see what he ir she advises. I would also speak with your Doctor even though you dont trust the person. Best be cautious here instead of having a setback later. I’m also getting off this awful crap and I will never, ever go on it again. Hang in there and try smiling too. Confuses the he k out of everyone. Enjoy your evening.

shaker1956 | @shaker1956 | Aug 14, 2018

In reply to @coloradogirl "So, I just finished this process with Zoloft (sertraline) and here are some things that worked..." + (show)

@coloradogirl

So, I just finished this process with Zoloft (sertraline) and here are some things that worked for me. Your mileage may vary, but hopefully these are low risk for you to try.

1) You may need to ask your doctor for a slower tapering program than other patients. Some people are just more sensitive to dosage changes. Be aware that symptoms will get better, then may reappear each time you taper. AAFMA (practice group of family physicians) says that the symptoms typically last 1-2 weeks and as long as 4 weeks, so I just kept reminding myself that it was temporary.
2) Be watchful for things that make your symptoms worse. For example, caffeine seems to trigger the brain zaps for me (still, even after being off for several weeks), so I cut back my caffeine intake. I didn't give it up completely (because I still need to function), but cut back on how much real coffee I was drinking, mixed decaf with regular, and switched to tea sometimes. In the end, I probably cut my daily caffeine intake in half, and it did help quite a lot.
3) Ibuprofen or other pain reliever can help with the flu-like body aches.
4) Benadryl helped with the brain zaps.
5) Exercise helped with both. Even if I wasn't up to a run, a few blocks of walking would settle down the symptoms for a while at least. (Then, when they come back, just take another walk. We took a lot of walks for a while there).
6) Get enough sleep. As I came down off the meds, my normal sleeping patterns returned, which was great, but it did mean that I needed to plan time to let my body rest.
7) Pay attention to your diet. Your brain uses carbs to make seratonin, so now is not the time to go on the Atkins diet. Eat well and make sure you're getting enough healthy carbs. You may crave sweets; I certainly did. I tried to counteract this by having bananas, graham crackers, and other healthy things I could snack on instead of sticking my head in a birthday cake like I seemed to want.

No lie - it's a painful process, but this did really help make it easier. Also, at a certain point, when I was down the below the normal starter dose, I just ripped off the bandaid and went to zero. At that point, it felt like each taper was just prolonging the suffering. Don't just go cold turkey from your current dose, though, as that can be dangerous. Also, don't add any supplements or substitutes for the SSRI without talking to your doctor first (also dangerous).

And of course, watch for the return of depression / anxiety type symptoms. For a while it was hard to tell whether I was tired because of the change in meds or because my depression was returning. I figured as long as I felt okay enough to function and wasn't thinking about being harmful to myself or anyone else, I could play it out and see. It turned out to be the meds and on the other side, I can see that I was more worried about it than I needed to be.

I wish you the best of luck and a healthy life.

Mardee

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What an ungrateful .... we buy stuff for our grandkids all the time. Some people are just plain friggin weird and you cant fix that!!!!!!!!

clevermom50 | @clevermom50 | Aug 14, 2018

In reply to @brightwings "To the new folks...Welcome, you are in the right place. My last pill was March 14...." + (show)

Wise wisdom Shaker1956, I greatly appreciate your advise!

angelo | @angelo | Aug 14, 2018

Been off ativan for5wks,stupidly cold turkey, at first I had some bad withdrawals, but little by little they are starting to go away. I try to take it day by day, try to watch my diet,exercise, think positive and pray. I know it,s a long road but I know someday I will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

shaker1956 | @shaker1956 | Aug 14, 2018

In reply to @brightwings "To the new folks...Welcome, you are in the right place. My last pill was March 14...." + (show)

Hey C-mom. I have dealt with crappy military doctors also and crappy civilian ones as well. My present doctor does not beleive in pushing pills so I exercise a ton and watch what I eat. Just got
tostick this out and get on with life I guess.....

shaker1956 | @shaker1956 | Aug 14, 2018

In reply to @angelo "Been off ativan for5wks,stupidly cold turkey, at first I had some bad withdrawals, but little by..." + (show)

Attaboy Angelo. Ya gotta think positive. Keep putting ur best foot forward and dont look back!!!!!

Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | Aug 14, 2018

In reply to @brightwings "To the new folks...Welcome, you are in the right place. My last pill was March 14...." + (show)

@cherylannm. Welcome
How long have you been reducing your dosage. 5 weeks great.
What are your next step to get off it?

cherylannm | @cherylannm | Aug 14, 2018

In reply to @brightwings "To the new folks...Welcome, you are in the right place. My last pill was March 14...." + (show)

Am on 37.5 now and starting to night taking 2 pellets out a day .. some side effects but am going to get off this ASAP

Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | Aug 14, 2018

In reply to @brightwings "To the new folks...Welcome, you are in the right place. My last pill was March 14...." + (show)

@shaker1956
Oh my gosh girl, I didn't recognize you!!!! Oh my gosh I am so happy for you. You are back in charge of the world you live in, such as that is with your husband overseas. I am thrilled.
You feel wonderful to me. (Empath) I feel strength, smarts, even some happiness. Hipp hipp horray for you.
Oh you got me all excited girl. When you first got here you felt like a kicked wet dog, dragging yourself in here. I know you sounded like you were close to the end of your rope.
That is quite a turn around since the first of June. GOOD FOR YOU!
Now remember you still got some ways to go.
I think I started weaning a year ago. Don't do what I did. Just took no med until the symptoms got TOO BAD then took another 150 mg. I think I found this site 1 month after I quit. Click on my name and read my first post. I was miserable. I am kind of chuckling cuz that is such an understatement.
So shaker, GOOD FOR YOU.

shaker1956 | @shaker1956 | Aug 14, 2018

In reply to @brightwings "To the new folks...Welcome, you are in the right place. My last pill was March 14...." + (show)

Hahahaha. You got the wrong person there Brightwings.

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