Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

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,

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,

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,

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,

@shaker1956

So Shaker how are you getting along? Sounds like your symptoms are subsiding ? I hope so, I bet you feel like you’ve been dragged through a knothole backwards if not worse over the last 10 or so weeks. You must be a very strong person.
Please keep us informed as to how your progress.
Jake

I've been taking venlafaxine since November 2015 and I take 2 tablets 150mg each total 300mg a day. Mine are slow release. I take the 2 tablets together in the morning, as I found taking one tablet in the evenings would keep me awake. Towards the end of each day, I have started to get the brain zaps as people describe, even though I have taken the tablets. However, things that had driven me to the depression and suicidal thoughts have now thankfully settled down. I feel I should now start to come off the drug. I have tried previously but even just reducing by 25mg every other day (so taking 275mg and not the 300mg) was enough to make me feel so ill. I am not looking forward to the experience, but determined to do it. So any advice you can give me to keep me going I would really appreciate it.

My suggestion to the Dr wasn't taken seriously and he just laughed at me. I said, can't he put me in a deep sleep for 3 weeks, and not to be given the venlafaxine whilst asleep, then when woken up after the 3 weeks, I would hope to be over the worse. I thought that sound reasonable, but he just laughed at me. In a nice way not a mocking way.

I've been taking venlafaxine since November 2015 and I take 2 tablets 150mg each total 300mg a day. Mine are slow release. I take the 2 tablets together in the morning, as I found taking one tablet in the evenings would keep me awake. Towards the end of each day, I have started to get the brain zaps as people describe, even though I have taken the tablets. However, things that had driven me to the depression and suicidal thoughts have now thankfully settled down. I feel I should now start to come off the drug. I have tried previously but even just reducing by 25mg every other day (so taking 275mg and not the 300mg) was enough to make me feel so ill. I am not looking forward to the experience, but determined to do it. So any advice you can give me to keep me going I would really appreciate it.

My suggestion to the Dr wasn't taken seriously and he just laughed at me. I said, can't he put me in a deep sleep for 3 weeks, and not to be given the venlafaxine whilst asleep, then when woken up after the 3 weeks, I would hope to be over the worse. I thought that sound reasonable, but he just laughed at me. In a nice way not a mocking way.