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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 started to taper about 2 months ago. I was on 150 for about 5 years, then 75 for 5 weeks, then 37.5 for 7 days. I went to see my primary and he first told me to just stop completely. I asked about the brain zaps, he said I would get them. He then gave me 20 mg for 10 days. Take for 3 days then every other until they run out. He acted surprised I wanted to d/c the drug. Asked if I was sure I was ready? Really? This wasn't supposed to be a permanent fix. I was put on them for anxiety 4 years ago after my husband died to help me get through..I think 4 years is long enough.
Brain zaps are already horrible along with dizziness and feeling off balance. My boyfriend is no support at all. He doesn't believe in "brain" pills to begin with. He came from a family of mental illness and thinks he is the expert on it all. I could just scream!! Actually I do at him constantly, I want to slap the crap out of him. Our relationship is rocky to begin with so this is just the icing on the cake. He needs to be the next thing to get rid of along with his 3 spoiled needy kids...(only 1 lives with us, the rest we taxi everywhere because mom is no good) that is a totally separate discussion needed...LOL
I am going to continue with the taper. I w/o to help with the anger issues and try to stay busy all the time. The menopause symptoms don't really help, but I refuse to go on any type of meds after this ordeal. I don't get why I have read these are prescribed for night sweats? I have had night sweats do to menopause, this crap never helped with them ever. I was hoping they would get better once I stopped. I am hopeful. I am glad I found this site. I didn't realize how many people were suffering from the same nor did I realize stopping would be this difficult.. Best wishes to all of you out there. I look forward to reading on for suggestions. I will be getting benadryl this evening.
Replies to "I started to taper about 2 months ago. I was on 150 for about 5 years,..."
I’m sorry for your loss regarding your late husband. Well, one of the things that tends to help is removing sources of stress from your daily life. It’s rather tough to find stability and peace in a endless cloud of stinging bees especially when those around you don’t think that bees and their stings are a problem.
Toxic relationships comes to mind but in all fairness, removing ourselves from situations is not always possible. So it may be that forcing your own peace and quiet time at home or else by leaving for a long therapeutic walk or hobby might help as a start.
The doctors reaction puzzles me a bit as it seems there might have been a missed meeting of the minds on why you were there and objective of treatment. Be that as it may, a secondary line of thinking might be a licensed clinical social worker to go over where you are in life, the scope of your stress and concerns and what non-medical help you can learn to cope. It would be advisable, I think, to tell the social worker of the reasons you began taking meds and re-evaluate whether you feel meds will help or hinder getting to a good place of daily life.
The non-cooperative spouse or significant other is unfortunate and draining. You might have to plan a strategy that simply factors out him since no help and only resistance will be forthcoming. No matter how you slice it, opposition to taking care of your mental health and level of stress is not of benefit.
It would be illuminating to understand what he feels would help and be of benefit when you describe the full scope of what you cope with. I have a feeling the answers would be less than convincing or therapeutic.
@mjsmimi
This is a very fast taper from the get go. Then, ping/ponging off and on the 20mg every other day and then quitting from 20mg as well as having no support from your doctor, or your "family" is a pretty rocky program.
Re Effexor for menopausal hot flashes--That's why I was put on Effexor and it worked GREAT. But, generally, when given for this off-label use, the dosage that works is minimal; I was only ever on 25mg. It's paradoxical that the effects of this drug can be totally opposite depending on how much you take.
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My XXBF (who may soon be my XXXBF given my mood) is so vehemently against anything that involves psychoactive drugs -- thinks everything can be addressed with gumption and vitamins....this for a guy who smoked a lot of weed in the 70s.
Do what you can with the taper. I held at 37.5mg for three weeks because of the unpleasant feelings....I am off entirely for 2 weeks...still sweaty and really irritable...but it's done....on to something new (if my therapist and psychiatrist can decide between them which combination will give me support going forward and what it is that really needs to be treated).