Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Hi texasduchess. does this really help? i tried a glass of wine, which was areally bad idea! thanks Shoshi

I think I just deleted a very long discussion! Will my brain ever work correctly again????? anyway has any one experienced bladder problems after dropping down to a very low dose (37.5mgs on alternate days) for three weeks and three bladder accidents in that time! I do not sleep well, except for 3 to 5am & during that time is when I have had the problem. I am very distressed by this new sympton & wish to know if this is only me!!!! I look forward to a response. Shoshi

Hello @shoshi, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I moved you conversation to the already existing conversation taking place on Effexor. You will receive notifications when someone replies. You will notice that this new post regarding issues with bladder and Effexor withdrawal will also be moved to the existing thread on withdrawal symptoms from Effexor. Have you had a chance to talk with your primary care doctor about the issues you have been experiencing with tapering off your medication?

Hello Jamie. Thank you for your prompt response. I will be seeing my GP tomorrow & will discuss that with her then. This issue was not happening when I saw her last month! & is quite distressing for me; as well as all the other issues! . Kind regards
Shoshi

@revtjls
Good morning,
How is the swich over going? Are you getting withdrawal effects from the Effexor?
Best....
Ronnie (GRANDMA r)

@shoshi I was quoting someone else who found alcohol (particularly beer) helpful with his Effexor withdrawal. I personally don't drink all that much and haven't deliberately tried using it to minimize my withdrawal symptoms. Some weekends, I have had a glass of wine (I like moscatos and other light, sweet wines) and a few weekends back, a rum concoction--didn't notice any lessening, or worsening of my symptoms. If you are taking some other medication (Valium, klonopin, prozac, etc.), drinking might be contraindicated.

@catbitess Where the h*ll does he think the anxiety is coming from? These doctors don't suggest that the nausea and dizziness many experience while withdrawing is because we've all somehow now developed some type of inner ear/vertigo problem. When many, many people quitting Effexor report the same distressing symptoms no matter whether it was prescribed for mental/emotional, or physical issues, it doesn't seem that hard to connect the dots and think maybe it's withdrawal from the drug.

I have been totally off for 2 weeks now!! I got down to removing 7 of the little balls in my 37.5mg capsule and decided to power through the dizziness if I could. It never got worse through the day when I didn't take another pill. I took Benadryl to sleep at night as that was the worst time. I still had dizziness and just a couple brain zaps for about a week off and on but it has all stopped the last few days, (I hope).

@pugmom Dram*mine (or Bon*ine) works great for the dizziness. I take 1/2 to a whole pill as needed.

What I started doing then realized that it's not effective is taking a 75mg dose one day then not taking another one until a few days later but I was getting sick on day 2 without (nausea, bone aches, brain zaps) so I thought about it more and realized that it's not how you deal with addictions - so I'm back to taking the 75mg daily and will then request a lower dose after a bit. I have no specific goal as to how fast I do it but I don't want to be sick while I do as I have a job and a life that needs my presence. I'll just keep reducing getting my body used to lower and lower doses. I'm really hoping that does it.