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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@catamite

Yes, youngsally. Flush is exactly how I feel coming off te effexor. Perfect description. The nausea is a weird one in that I cannot tell if I need to eat or vomit. It's a very unusual feeling.

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I've been in the same place - usually after surgery....sometimes you need to do both...:)

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@cherylannm

Thought of pepto but as a kid that made me throw up more ... am just DONE with all this . What a nightmare.

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The tablets are easier if you can't take the minty slime texture...but yes - it is an acquired mouthfeel....like the stuff I had to take when I had a GI series.

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@haleysmom

I'm home from surgery. The great news is I haven't felt sick to my stomach yet today

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Excellent. When you described the surgery my guess was that you got twilight or just a heavy sedative at most...but more likely a regional and light sedation (where you are still pretty much out)....I didn't get nauseous with that....

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@jamiejames

Hi Everyone, not sure how to do a new post so I"m just replying to the original. I'm tapering off Effexor XR 375mg and am on week 2 of the process. I've only gone down 37.5 and havent had any physical side effects, thank god. For the emotional part - I have had anxiety almost every day of the taper. It's very rare that get anxiety any more. My concern is...is the anxiety from the withdrawal/taper or maybe I really do need the medication to help with the anxiety (i've been on it for many years, so didnt know if it was even working any more) and once the medicine is gone i will be back to where I was - symptom wise?? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!!!! PS- i'm under the care of an experienced psychiatrist, but just wanted to hear thoughts from the people 🙂

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Do you get psychotherapy or just a med consult from the psychiatrist? If the psychiatrist knows you well (through psychotherapy) - they will be in a much better position to tell you what their thinking is about the anxiety and where you might be once the taper is over. If you have a therapist that you work with, they will consult with the psychiatrist. I have both - but I've worked with the same therapist for many years - and the psychiatrist is a med consult - but they happen to share an office and the psychiatrist does a fair amount of psychotherapy as well - not all do. If you've just been taking meds and haven't done psychotherapy (currently or in the past for a period of time) - it might be worth asking the psychiatrist what they recommend.

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@jamiejames

Ooh, good idea! I don’t think I can get a prescription in NY. Is there another way I can buy it?

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CBD doesn't contain THC - so you can buy it in NY....In the City there's even a truck that sells CBD-laced goodies.

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@youngsally

Do you get psychotherapy or just a med consult from the psychiatrist? If the psychiatrist knows you well (through psychotherapy) - they will be in a much better position to tell you what their thinking is about the anxiety and where you might be once the taper is over. If you have a therapist that you work with, they will consult with the psychiatrist. I have both - but I've worked with the same therapist for many years - and the psychiatrist is a med consult - but they happen to share an office and the psychiatrist does a fair amount of psychotherapy as well - not all do. If you've just been taking meds and haven't done psychotherapy (currently or in the past for a period of time) - it might be worth asking the psychiatrist what they recommend.

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@youngsally
Good Morning,
Thanks for your post. My story is a bit similar as far as the psychiatrist and therapist.
When I first began this drug about 15 or 20 years ago, it began with me seeing a therapist.
My therapist suggested I see a psychiatrist to help get me on meds.
For the convenience, I used the one who had an office in the same building as the therapist.
She didn't have much of a personality. She'd ask me questions while her back was facing me and typed everything I said.
The way I felt at the time, is that I just wanted her to give me something for the horrible anxiety.
Since then, I have moved and I had to find a new psychiatrist and therapist.
I found the psychiatrist. She seems to know me pretty well since I see her every 6 months to have my prescription refilled.
I found a great therapist, but he is far away. I origanally started with him as part of my pain management, but it bacme much more.
He is almost 2 hours away so I've stopped seeing him.
I might start to look for someone closer to home since I am no longer going for the pain managment.
I do know for sure, I am looking for a new psychiatrist since mine is leaving.
This time, someone closer to home who can help me when I start to come off the Effexor.

Have a great day!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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Good Morning All!!!

I know that this site is for those who have gone off Effexor, in the process of going off or thinking about going off.
I fall into the category of thinking about going off...……….
The reason I went onto Effexor is because of anxiety that I have suffered with since I was a very young child. Over the last 4 1/2 years, my dosage has doubled. I had a couple of very stressful events in my life that put me into a tail spin.
Anyway, I am now at the max.
I am always tired, my memory is gone (from minute to minute), even with weight loss surgery, I have hit a brick wall and can't seem to lose much more, there is very little that interests me, I see a difference in my affect, etc.
My concern is once I get off the meds. I am terrified of having the anxiety attacks again (like before I even started the Effexor).
Have any of you started on a new and safer anti-anxiety medication? If so, when did you start it? Has it helped?

Thanks for all your sharing,
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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@youngsally

I've been in the same place - usually after surgery....sometimes you need to do both...:)

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Good morning. No withdrawal symptoms yet this morning. Just pain from surgery. I'm sipping on Ginger ale and saltines because I just took a pain pill

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@youngsally

Excellent. When you described the surgery my guess was that you got twilight or just a heavy sedative at most...but more likely a regional and light sedation (where you are still pretty much out)....I didn't get nauseous with that....

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No, I was completely understand. It was major surgery on both sides. Originally, it was going to be simple and a local but after more testing it was more serious. 4 surgeries on each side.

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Thank you! I didn't realize I was on such a horrible drug. I wish I had known the side effects and withdrawal symptoms before hand. I probably wouldn't have start this drug unless it was absolutely necessary.

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