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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6363)Comment receiving replies
I too am in the process of coming off of a 30 year hate relationship With Effexor. As some of you did, I also tried to do it cold turkey and weening myself. I kept telling my doctor(s) that I was tired all the time and just plain blah. They answer was “take 2 instead of 1”. I look back now and think “really?”. Anyway, I found a doctor willing to send me to a psychiatrist in order to evaluate my state of mind and he agreed that 30 years was way to long since my reason for going on them had ended 29 years ago. He put me on a weening plan that we both agreed upon. During my 8 weeks of weening, I had no issues at all. 2 days after my last pill, the brain zaps began along with the demonic dreams. I have watched my diet and have been drinking plenty of fluids along with a lot of rest. The bad dreams have subsided although the dreams I do have are certainly weird. The brain zaps are still pretty intense but through this message board, I am encouraged. My psychiatrist said indeed, Effexor is the worst one to come off of. Best of luck to all of us in this effort to get back to living our best healthy lives,
Replies to "I too am in the process of coming off of a 30 year hate relationship With..."
Doc said to allow about a week +-. It will be a week tomorrow since my last pill and today is the first day of no brain zaps. I’m hoping I’m getting to the edge of the woods and will be out in the next couple of days.
Please, can someone tell me what a "brain zap" is? All I feel is crummy with this withdrawal stuff: nausea, fatigue and vertigo. Today I put orange juice in my coffee, walked out the door with a piece of frozen liver in my hand (was going to leave on counter to defrost) and left my purse on a park bench. But no brain zaps.
@catamite
Oh I just laughed so hard! I totally relate! I can't tell you how many times I’ve done stuff like that.
@catamite
Just since I started the tapering.
It’s an electrical type shock that usually occurs after you stop the medication. Claim is, stopping slowly doesn’t prevent them although I’m not convinced. So many people decrease their med by 50% and sometimes even more at a time. I wonder if someone stopped slowly enough say 5-10% at a time what the end result would be. I hope your one of the few who don’t have them.
Please keep us informed.
Jake
Good explanation there Jake. My zaps arent as bad as they have been. May be some light at the end if that there tunnel. Lol
I went from 225 mg to 150 for two weeks then 75 for two weeks now Monday will be two weeks on 37.5 but on the second week of 37.5 if been taking out one pellet more then yesterday weining the 37.5 till am down to none . Very very little brain zaps , nothing to talk about.
Brain zaps are difficult to describe but if you get them, you WILL know it. I used to describe them as a kind of swooshing dead air sensation. Like I said, hard to describe.
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@lindaellenfrelk
Have your doctors indicated how long these zaps may last? Hope you’ll keep us informed.
Jake