Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

@youngsally
Good Morning,,
I take Effexor and I also have Klonopin.
The Klonopin was given to me for breakthrough anxiety attacks of extremely anxious events such as all the surgeries I've had. For surgery, it keeps my anxiety down as well as my vitals.
I was told NOT to take it all the time, just as needed.
If I found I needed it more than a couple of days, I was to call my psychiatrist.

I suggest you talk to the prescriber of the med.

Have a good day!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

Ha. I went to see psychiatirist today. I was charged $100 and he told me not to read in bed. He was entirely not helpful. He gave me no help whatsoever.

Oh dear, I hear you. I've been on effexor for 20 years. Unfortunately, most of those years have been slept sleeping. I hear you.

@cathy615 Really glad to know that someone made a relatively smooth transition from Effexor to Pristiq because that is exactly what I am doing now. After 18 years on Effexor (and 8 years of Prozac before that), it seems to be less effective than before. Also, I had lost 30 lbs over the first several years on Effexor, and now have gained 10 lbs over one year. Dr has me tapering from 300 mg to 150 mg for first month while also taking 50 mg of Pristiq. It's been one week and I've had a headache every day, loose & frequent BMs, and extra vivid dreams but no really scary side effects. We'll see how it goes. . .

Holy crap! I tried that and had a complete emotional breakdown out of the blue in public and it came out of nowhere. Then I was so sick. I had to start taking a lower dosage. I'm so ticked off that I wasn't informed about this med when prescribed. I've been on and off of a number of antidepressants with only brain zaps to deal with but this one is a whole other category of scary to get off of. I'm down to 75 since first week of September and have gotten to where I can take it every other day but get quite sick by the 3rd day - nausea, tired, achy, headaches..

Hello @mdw123 and @revtjls- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for posting. Your thoughts and experiences add value to the other members coming to connect with the same issues. It's so good to know that we are not alone.

What is your goal for being totally tapered off?

@mdw123
Good Morning!
I've been on Effexor for many, many years.
Right now, I am on 300 mg (150 in am and pm).
After some terrible things I experiences, my Effexor dosage was upped several times.

Beyond that, my story about stopping Effexor.
I ALWAYS had this nervous feeling within my body, even when I was a very young child.
At one point in my adult life, I started to go for therapy, but the therapy did not work regarding the internal 'nervousness' I was feeling.
My therapist suggested I see a psychiatrist about meds.
I did and was put on Effexor and was diagnosed with generalized anxiety.
It worked GREAT!
I worked so well, that my primary care physician suggested I come off them SLOWLY.
I cannot remember the tapering off schedule, but I do remember that I started with the evening dosage.

It was in the summer, about a month after my doc suggested to come off the Effexor.
I don't remember at what point I was in the tapering off schedule.
I was a school principal.
I worked summers and enjoyed the quiet school a lot!
I went to a fantastic workshop.
The presentor was top notch and had us in stiches.
I was having such a good time!!!!!
I excused myself from the table to use the rest room.
Walking down the hall, I had this wavy feeling go through me.
I got to the rest room as quickly as I could because I remembered exactly what it was.
I had the start of an anxiety attack.

I got into the rest room an sat down.
I started with the self talk as my entire body started to quiver, sweat ran down my fact and my mouth became one cotton ball.
It took a few splashed of cold water and shaking before I was in good enough shape to return to my seat.

Point is, there was NOTHING to bring on the attack.
I now know, I was starting withdrawal.
When I got home I took an Effexor.
I waited but it didn't work.
I called the psychiatrist and she explained that once you get off it (any part of your dosage) you cannot go back on for another 6 months.
We tried 2 other meds (can't remember which), neither of them worked.
When I hit the 6 month period, I went back on to Effexor (my choice).
It never worked as well, but at the time, it was the only thing that did work.

Like many members, I would like to come off. I know it will be a VERY long process.
I am thinking up to 2 years.

GOOD LUCK!

Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@jamienolson I spoke with my Dr. about a possible medication switch because because Effexor has become less effective over the past year or so. Or to put it another way, my anxiety has been increasing and so have the depressive symptoms. Based on results of a Genesight test, she prescribed Pristiq. So I am tapering off Effexor while simultaneously switching to Pristiq.

This is week 2 this is horrible and it should be announced publicly that people are made to suffer because doctors do not know the side effects of the crap they prescribe god their patients.

I just went to a psychiatrist, one who is supposed to know about all medications. He was no help at all. He did prescribe neurontin to help me sleep. He said all my other symptoms from discontinuation are anxiety, not symptoms of withdrawal. wtf.