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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
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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I hope it’s the meds that made me like this. After 15 years, I don’t recall how I was. I’m sure that I wasn’t feeling this bad. The reason I asked where you lived is because I’m in Canada (Toronto) and had no problem with the compounding pharmacy here.
@kbmayo Could you have your doctor re-prescribe this for the compounding pharmacy? I would think he/she might be able to do that for you, knowing that you are trying to get off of the drug.
JK
@haleysmom
I gained weight however not sure if it’s because I’m now retired and live alone or because I always feel the urge to eat something sweet. I’ve been 15 years on Effexor. I’m also tired and sleep 12 hours a night to feel good and I’m also unmotivated. I’ve been 9 days into tapering. I went to a compounding pharmacy and dropping med every 2 weeks. I was scared as hell before starting. Scared that I would sink into the deep hole that got me on this antidepressant. Hang in there.
@jakedduck1
Sorry, I meant I’m tapering bi-monthly over 4 months (as the compounding pharmacy suggested to my doctor). As of 9 days ago, I was on 112 mg over 15 years. Have dropped down to 105 mg.
Am I able to edit a reply on here?
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1 ReactionIf I'd gotten on this blog sooner, I'd have done what you suggest because I think it's a very good idea. At this point -- because I only have to measure out two more taper amounts (2 weeks' worth) -- I think I'll just go ahead and do it myself. My doctor doesn't know I'm doing this, although I don't think he'd have any problem with it. I simply decided to do it and didn't want to have to wait for an appointment with him to get started. But I'd definitely advise anyone who's starting to taper off to find out how to use a compounding pharmacy for measuring out their doses. Much simpler -- and probably more accurate, too.
@maryathome
Thanks. I've only been on this for 1 year. Hopefully I won't have too many of the symptoms. I recently got engaged so my goal is to be off of this med and be healthy and hopefully drop the weight I gained
Good luck to you.
Melissa
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1 Reaction@haleysmom
Congratulations!
That’s good you’re doing that. Being on Effexor messes up your sex life as well. That’s why my doctor also prescribed the lowest dose of Wellbutrin.
@pugmom
"Discontinuation" is PC (politically correct) for drug withdrawal effects. Antidepressant medications are not believed to be habit-forming and are not associated with drug-seeking behavior--i.e., those of us on antidepressants don't develop a craving, or feel the need to increase the dose of our medication while drug addicts do. Early reports of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome made heavy use of the term “withdrawal” to describe discontinuation symptoms.
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1 Reaction@maryathome
Hi Sabrina,
Yes, you can edit posts for 30 minutes after hitting “Post Reply.” EDIT will appear to the left of the heart you hit indicating you liked the post.
Jake
@maryathome
Hey Sabrina,
How many mg are you going down every two weeks? What was the maximum dose you were on? How long have you been on effexor?
Jake