I don't know how helpful my comments will be, but I do really feel for you. To me, it sounds like a very fast taper, but whatever -- what's done is done. You've had 5 hellacious days BUT each one has gotten you closer to being rid of the withdrawal symptoms. I suggest googling something to the effect of ``vitamins and minerals that help in venlafaxine withdrawal'' because there's some good information online in this area. Force yourself to eat yogurt -- non the heavily sweetened kind -- or drink kefir (I like Lifeway brand because of the different flavors -- anything to get some sort of healthy food in your body. Drink tumeric tea or add turmeric, cinnamon, vanilla and some ginger to warm almond milk. I mix 8 oz. of club soda with 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar and 1 tbsp of honey as a detox drink to help flush out my body. Do anything that nourishes you in a healthy way -- physically, mentally, spiritually; in other words, be very kind and gentle with yourself and to yourself. If you can walk around the block, try to do it. If not, walk down your street, then turn around and come back home. Watch comedies on TV and rent comedies from the library, Netflix, whatever your source is. This feels like the end of the world, but it isn't. It's the beginning of a new one. If you're a mom, remember the pain of labor and how it was all worthwhile because of the gift it gave you. (This is relatively easy for me to say, BTW, because I've never had a baby!! But I have been with two different friends when they gave birth, so at least I've seen the agony.) And I know this also feels like it will last forever -- but it won't. It has an END!! And the end will be worth the pain of getting there, plus the knowledge you're gaining which you'll be able to use on your own behalf in any tough situation from now on. Scream, wail, pull the covers over your head, do whatever you need to do and keep telling yourself this, too, shall pass!

@dixie66
The best advice on this site is to slowly taper off. You are going very fast. When a taper is too much (unpleasant symptoms ensue), the recommendation is to go back to the dose where you didn't experience withdrawal symptoms and stay there for a while before attempting another taper–usually to not such a drastic drop. If it's only been five days since your last dose, it may still be possible to get relief by reinitiating Effexor, then tapering more slowly.

If you don't want to reinitiate and taper, then you can treat the withdrawal symptoms with OTC products such as Ben*dryl, Dram*mine, fish oil, etc. You can click on my name and see the supplements I am taking (including l-tryptophan and GABA) which help tremendously. For the akathisia I've developed, I take Valium (prescribed for this) when it occurs. I intend to taper off these supplements as the other most important aspect to recovery is the time being off Effexor.

Yuck! Most of us have been there...or still are there. I will say that my taper was actually somewhat faster but more gradual: 1 week at 112.5, 1 week at 75, 1 week at 37.5....although I hung at 37.5 for about 3 weeks because it is where I started to have withdrawal symptoms. They are awful, but as some note, they will also pass (that's what my psychiatrist said after I had a particularly bad day and my therapist suggested I call the psychiatrist). It passes. Some days are worse than others - but 18 days off the stuff completely and I am down mostly to facial numbness, some irritability, and sleeping that is kind of erratic...along with the occasional hot flash. You'll get through it, but you may be miserable. It never hurts to call the doctor to say that you are miserable - if only to get acknowledgment that you are not making things up.

I based my response to your post on your statement that you didn't want to do what your PCP suggested -- go back on it and then taper again. I hear that loud and clear. Having come this far, why go back? But the other posters who've responded to you have said to go back on it and then try to taper again at a slower rate. I apologize for not including that as an option, and never mind all my ``feel good'' stuff.