Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

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

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.

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....

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.

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.

@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)

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)

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

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.

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.