Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

I have been on several different SSRI over the last 20 years, for my fibromyalgia. I have recently stopped venlafaxine, 5 days since last dose, and was on it for 3 years, 10 years on Prozac before that, had to change to ven because insurance quit paying for Pro. My PCP gave me 2 weeks of 75 mg and then 2 weeks of 37.5 for two weeks, with my actual starting dose of 150 mg. I did not have any problems taking the lowering doses, but the day after the last dose, my withdrawal symptoms started in. I want to be off of it because of the huge amount of weight I put on while taking it. IF i MAKE IT THROUGH THE WITHDRAWALS, I AM NEVER, EVER GOING BACK ON ANYTHING. My advice to anyone wanting or thinking about taking any type of anti-depressant, DONT DO IT!! I have begged my PCP to give me something to help me through this nightmare but her only advice was to go back on it at a lower dose and then taper off again, but I refuse to be a prisoner to these medications. My symptoms are brain zaps, fog, hot flashes, like fire, sleepy all the time, no appetite, diarrhea, aching, hard to concentrate, very grouchy, bouts of sobbing. Need I say more. PLEASE can anyone offer any decent advice, other than crawling in bed and never coming out. I need some really great, helpful advice. PLEASE!!

I have been on several different SSRI over the last 20 years, for my fibromyalgia. I have recently stopped venlafaxine, 5 days since last dose, and was on it for 3 years, 10 years on Prozac before that, had to change to ven because insurance quit paying for Pro. My PCP gave me 2 weeks of 75 mg and then 2 weeks of 37.5 for two weeks, with my actual starting dose of 150 mg. I did not have any problems taking the lowering doses, but the day after the last dose, my withdrawal symptoms started in. I want to be off of it because of the huge amount of weight I put on while taking it. IF i MAKE IT THROUGH THE WITHDRAWALS, I AM NEVER, EVER GOING BACK ON ANYTHING. My advice to anyone wanting or thinking about taking any type of anti-depressant, DONT DO IT!! I have begged my PCP to give me something to help me through this nightmare but her only advice was to go back on it at a lower dose and then taper off again, but I refuse to be a prisoner to these medications. My symptoms are brain zaps, fog, hot flashes, like fire, sleepy all the time, no appetite, diarrhea, aching, hard to concentrate, very grouchy, bouts of sobbing. Need I say more. PLEASE can anyone offer any decent advice, other than crawling in bed and never coming out. I need some really great, helpful advice. PLEASE!!

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.

4 weeks off. I did it fast and furious. I rid myself of this evil , horrific drug... good luck to you

@dixie66
I have to agree with some of the other responses, that your moving too fast. It’s taken me over 7 months to finally get off of it. For 5 years I was taking 150mg of Venlafaxine daily along with 250mg of Lamictal. I started decreasing it with the help of my psychiatrist lowering it from 150 to 112.5mg for two months, 75mg for two months, then 37.5 for almost three months. Now that I’m at the lowest dosage, she has me taking the 37.5 every other day for two weeks, and then stopping it. If I notice a lot of withdrawal symptoms, she recommends that I take it every third day for three weeks and then trying to stop it.
So far I’ve been taking it every other day for 5 days, and I’m definitely a bit foggy and light headed but I’m hopeful that it won’t get too bad because I am taking it slowly.
One of the major positives that I’ve noticed since lowering my dosage is an improved quality of sleep. Ever since I started taking antidepressants, I’ve constantly been exhausted. To the point where I would sleep 20 hours a day, essentially only waking up for classes and then going back to sleep. I had originally just associated it with my depression. Well the depression became more manageable, but I was still exhausted. I was taking both Adderall and Ritalin (prescribed by a neurologist) just to function throughout the work day and was still having problems with staying awake and didn’t trust myself to drive more than 10 minutes. After doing a sleep study and almost being diagnosed with narcolepsy, they determined that the test was inconclusive because my antidepressants were REM inhibitors. This was something that I never realized. So long story short, after decreasing the Effexor to 37.5 I noticed that I was starting to dream again (I hadn’t remembered dreaming since before my depression). I’m also noticing that I’m no where near as tired during the day and have even been able to get off the Ritalin. I’m hoping to stop the Adderall as well because I don’t think it’s doing much for me.
I hope this helps anyone who is trying to come off their Effexor and/or is having problems with exhaustion while taking it.

I’m in the same boat, or rather a similar leaky canoe. I took 75mg for nine years and have been tapering off for the past two months, soon down to 37.5mg. The side effects can be terrifying. I woke up today with my usual cardiac arrythmias drumming loudly and inconsistently, but that usually stops after an hour or two. But now, seven hours later, the bad music is still holding me hostage, so I’m weak and dizzy whether lying down, sitting up, or walking about. Have others faced this side effect? I’m 77 years old and taking Xyrem for narcolepsy, so perhaps those issues are also at play.

Cardiac arythmia is a new one on me.

Just shy of three weeks for me. Starting to feel so much better. Congratulations Cherylannm.