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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caityduck | @caityduck | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @maryfrances "I have been taking Effexor for hot flashes, I ran out for a few days last..." + (show)
@maryfrances

I have been taking Effexor for hot flashes, I ran out for a few days last winter, wow! I couldn't figure out what was going on. I saw someone say brain zaps such a good description! I hate this stuff, I was never told by my now retired dr the withdrawal effects. It sucks and I warn people all the time. I am nos taking HRT for menopause symptoms, and slowly being weaned off this crap! It sucks to be blunt, I feel for all of you! Let's be here for each other!

Jump to this post

@maryfrances you and are in the same boat! That is why my dr prescribed Effexor too. It was supposed to stop hot flashes, which by the way. It NEVER did!! I always save the patient information sheets that I get with my meds and it doesn’t say anything about these symptoms of brain zaps or dizziness or confusion. I’m on day 5 with out and it has been a rough road.
I have an appointment with my PCM on Tuesday to discuss the symptoms. We are military and hopefully by including the commander, I can at least have them start looking into it. This drug came out in 1993. It seems it maybe they need to at the very least, revise the information sheets to Include these symptoms.

REPLY
1 reply
haleysmom | @haleysmom | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @adimswife "Hi Everyone. Newbie here! This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of..." + (show)
@adimswife

Hi Everyone. Newbie here!
This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of Venlafaxine with the hope of coming off it all together. I have been taking the meds since 2011 beginning with 150 mg but reduced to 75 mg in the last few years. I decided to come off it as I felt as if it was taking over my life and I hated renewing my prescription for it. I tried cold turkey a few years ago and that was a massive mistake as we all know.

This time, I spoke to my doctor who referred me to the pharmacist (I'm in the UK) and between them they decided that I should go as slowly as possible. My normal dose of 75 mg would be taken once a day as it was slow releasing. For my first week, I was put on 37.5 mg twice a day. My 2nd week was one tablet in the morning and half in the evening. Now that I'm on my 3rd week, I take half a tablet in the morning and half in the evening. My 4th week will be one tablet once a day for a week then stop. I was advised to return to the previous dose if my withdrawal symptoms became unbearable.

As it is now, I have not experienced any withdrawal symtoms but I know, from research, that this may not be the case when I stop taking them altogether but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. I feel excited about being Venlafaxine free in the future and hopefully I will lose some of the weight I have put on whilst being on it too.

Thanks everyone who has written about their experiences and given advice. I'm so glad I found this group.
We can do this!

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Hello. You have found the right place. I also am on my 3rd week of weening off of this drug. I was taking 150 a day in the morning for a year. I also gained weight even though I go to the gym and have always eaten healthy. I'm normally 125 and I'm now 144. I hate this. I'm praying this weight comes off after this drug is out of my system!! Good luck.

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stlouisgmajenn | @stlouisgmajenn | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @adimswife "Hi Everyone. Newbie here! This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of..." + (show)
@adimswife

Hi Everyone. Newbie here!
This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of Venlafaxine with the hope of coming off it all together. I have been taking the meds since 2011 beginning with 150 mg but reduced to 75 mg in the last few years. I decided to come off it as I felt as if it was taking over my life and I hated renewing my prescription for it. I tried cold turkey a few years ago and that was a massive mistake as we all know.

This time, I spoke to my doctor who referred me to the pharmacist (I'm in the UK) and between them they decided that I should go as slowly as possible. My normal dose of 75 mg would be taken once a day as it was slow releasing. For my first week, I was put on 37.5 mg twice a day. My 2nd week was one tablet in the morning and half in the evening. Now that I'm on my 3rd week, I take half a tablet in the morning and half in the evening. My 4th week will be one tablet once a day for a week then stop. I was advised to return to the previous dose if my withdrawal symptoms became unbearable.

As it is now, I have not experienced any withdrawal symtoms but I know, from research, that this may not be the case when I stop taking them altogether but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. I feel excited about being Venlafaxine free in the future and hopefully I will lose some of the weight I have put on whilst being on it too.

Thanks everyone who has written about their experiences and given advice. I'm so glad I found this group.
We can do this!

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I was re-reading your stepdown schedule. On the 4th week, do I take a WHOLE tablet or a HALF tablet? How many mgs? Please advise, thanks.

REPLY
shaker1956 | @shaker1956 | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@shaker1956 You’ve been delt a stressful blow buddy. I think your insomnia was inevitable. How about..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@shaker1956

You’ve been delt a stressful blow buddy. I think your insomnia was inevitable.
How about some over the counter sleep meds.
Hang in there.
Jake

Jump to this post

Hi Content. I did sleep well last night. I even managed tosqueeze in 2 extra 2 hrs sleep. Sure need it!!!! Enjoy your day...

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georgie250 | @georgie250 | Aug 26, 2018

Talk to your doctor. You have to be slowly weened off of that crap.

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JK | @contentandwell | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@shaker1956 You’ve been delt a stressful blow buddy. I think your insomnia was inevitable. How about..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@shaker1956

You’ve been delt a stressful blow buddy. I think your insomnia was inevitable.
How about some over the counter sleep meds.
Hang in there.
Jake

Jump to this post

@shaker1956 Great! I am sure you are enjoying your day, after having a good night's sleep.
JK

REPLY
GailBL, Alumni Mentor | @gailb | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @adimswife "Hi Everyone. Newbie here! This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of..." + (show)
@adimswife

Hi Everyone. Newbie here!
This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of Venlafaxine with the hope of coming off it all together. I have been taking the meds since 2011 beginning with 150 mg but reduced to 75 mg in the last few years. I decided to come off it as I felt as if it was taking over my life and I hated renewing my prescription for it. I tried cold turkey a few years ago and that was a massive mistake as we all know.

This time, I spoke to my doctor who referred me to the pharmacist (I'm in the UK) and between them they decided that I should go as slowly as possible. My normal dose of 75 mg would be taken once a day as it was slow releasing. For my first week, I was put on 37.5 mg twice a day. My 2nd week was one tablet in the morning and half in the evening. Now that I'm on my 3rd week, I take half a tablet in the morning and half in the evening. My 4th week will be one tablet once a day for a week then stop. I was advised to return to the previous dose if my withdrawal symptoms became unbearable.

As it is now, I have not experienced any withdrawal symtoms but I know, from research, that this may not be the case when I stop taking them altogether but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. I feel excited about being Venlafaxine free in the future and hopefully I will lose some of the weight I have put on whilst being on it too.

Thanks everyone who has written about their experiences and given advice. I'm so glad I found this group.
We can do this!

Jump to this post

@adimswife

Hi, and welcome to the Mayo Connect community. I'm a volunteer here and not a medical professional. I can't give medical advice or medical diagnoses, although I do offer my experience, knowledge, and support.

Can you share with us what brought you to the Mayo Connect group? Since you are in the UK, it would be great if you would be willing to share how you work with pharmacists rather than physicians for issues with prescribed drugs. We welcome all input to this thread and other threads. Helping each other deal with withdrawal symptoms gives everyone the opportunity to find ways to withdraw that will work for them.

REPLY
adimswife | @adimswife | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @adimswife "Hi Everyone. Newbie here! This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of..." + (show)
@adimswife

Hi Everyone. Newbie here!
This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of Venlafaxine with the hope of coming off it all together. I have been taking the meds since 2011 beginning with 150 mg but reduced to 75 mg in the last few years. I decided to come off it as I felt as if it was taking over my life and I hated renewing my prescription for it. I tried cold turkey a few years ago and that was a massive mistake as we all know.

This time, I spoke to my doctor who referred me to the pharmacist (I'm in the UK) and between them they decided that I should go as slowly as possible. My normal dose of 75 mg would be taken once a day as it was slow releasing. For my first week, I was put on 37.5 mg twice a day. My 2nd week was one tablet in the morning and half in the evening. Now that I'm on my 3rd week, I take half a tablet in the morning and half in the evening. My 4th week will be one tablet once a day for a week then stop. I was advised to return to the previous dose if my withdrawal symptoms became unbearable.

As it is now, I have not experienced any withdrawal symtoms but I know, from research, that this may not be the case when I stop taking them altogether but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. I feel excited about being Venlafaxine free in the future and hopefully I will lose some of the weight I have put on whilst being on it too.

Thanks everyone who has written about their experiences and given advice. I'm so glad I found this group.
We can do this!

Jump to this post

I was told to take a whole tablet which sounds the same as week 3 but I think as they are not slow release it must be that it's making my body used to not having the drug in my system all day if that makes sense. What I may do, if I get too 'wobbly' is to take half a tablet in the morning for week 5 and see how that feels.

I hope it works. I can't wait to get this poison out of my body!

REPLY
adimswife | @adimswife | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @adimswife "Hi Everyone. Newbie here! This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of..." + (show)
@adimswife

Hi Everyone. Newbie here!
This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of Venlafaxine with the hope of coming off it all together. I have been taking the meds since 2011 beginning with 150 mg but reduced to 75 mg in the last few years. I decided to come off it as I felt as if it was taking over my life and I hated renewing my prescription for it. I tried cold turkey a few years ago and that was a massive mistake as we all know.

This time, I spoke to my doctor who referred me to the pharmacist (I'm in the UK) and between them they decided that I should go as slowly as possible. My normal dose of 75 mg would be taken once a day as it was slow releasing. For my first week, I was put on 37.5 mg twice a day. My 2nd week was one tablet in the morning and half in the evening. Now that I'm on my 3rd week, I take half a tablet in the morning and half in the evening. My 4th week will be one tablet once a day for a week then stop. I was advised to return to the previous dose if my withdrawal symptoms became unbearable.

As it is now, I have not experienced any withdrawal symtoms but I know, from research, that this may not be the case when I stop taking them altogether but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. I feel excited about being Venlafaxine free in the future and hopefully I will lose some of the weight I have put on whilst being on it too.

Thanks everyone who has written about their experiences and given advice. I'm so glad I found this group.
We can do this!

Jump to this post

and that would be 18.75 mg. My tablets come in 37.5 mg which is apparently the lowest dose available, and I cut them in half with a tablet cutter that I bought from Amazon for £5

REPLY
adimswife | @adimswife | Aug 26, 2018
In reply to @adimswife "Hi Everyone. Newbie here! This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of..." + (show)
@adimswife

Hi Everyone. Newbie here!
This is the beginning of my 3rd week reducing my dose of Venlafaxine with the hope of coming off it all together. I have been taking the meds since 2011 beginning with 150 mg but reduced to 75 mg in the last few years. I decided to come off it as I felt as if it was taking over my life and I hated renewing my prescription for it. I tried cold turkey a few years ago and that was a massive mistake as we all know.

This time, I spoke to my doctor who referred me to the pharmacist (I'm in the UK) and between them they decided that I should go as slowly as possible. My normal dose of 75 mg would be taken once a day as it was slow releasing. For my first week, I was put on 37.5 mg twice a day. My 2nd week was one tablet in the morning and half in the evening. Now that I'm on my 3rd week, I take half a tablet in the morning and half in the evening. My 4th week will be one tablet once a day for a week then stop. I was advised to return to the previous dose if my withdrawal symptoms became unbearable.

As it is now, I have not experienced any withdrawal symtoms but I know, from research, that this may not be the case when I stop taking them altogether but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. I feel excited about being Venlafaxine free in the future and hopefully I will lose some of the weight I have put on whilst being on it too.

Thanks everyone who has written about their experiences and given advice. I'm so glad I found this group.
We can do this!

Jump to this post

it's really annoying as doctors and even my husband don't believe that these meds make you gain weight.

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