Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

I have been taking Effexor/Venlafaxine for years and tried to get off it a few times but each time I try to give up the chemical withdrawal symptoms are a horror story and I give up giving up. Anyone got any tips or tried and tested strategies? Thank you

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@pugmom

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).

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That sounds hopeful.

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@jamienolson

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?

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Oh, sorry - I guess I didn't understand the different thread thing....I've tried to see my primary care doc but I had an appointment booked back in June but it was cancelled due to office being flooded and doc closing the office until September - by the time I got through the phone lines which were swamped for the first week the first appointment I could get was in January 2019. My pharmacist requested a lower dose for me - I've seen this doc for 30 years now so she'd trust my decision. The problem is that I don't think she actually knew what she was getting me into with this drug. I'll see her when I can.

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@nseidel

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.

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I TOTALLY AGREE!!!! I assume some sales guy comes to the office with this great new med which sounds great so it gets prescribed. I read that this was banned in France because of the difficulty with withdrawl.

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Sounds like he should take it for a while and try to get off of it.

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After reading through some of these posts, I am extremely nervous about trying to go off my venlafaxine. I want off and very discouraged about the withdrawal concerns. I tried to taper off slowly a couple of years ago and felt totally crazy and out of control!! It is sad to want to stay on a drug just so I don't have to deal with the withdrawal. I take a 75MG capsule, where do I start?

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I've been off almost 8 weeks now. I just don't know. Not sure I will make it.

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@catamite

I've been off almost 8 weeks now. I just don't know. Not sure I will make it.

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@catamite
What side effects are you still having? I’m 2 weeks off and am having serious depression, dizziness, irritability, rage and confusion. Benadryl seems to help a little.

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@coloradogirl

Hi @hopeful33250 and @linxy. Teresa, it's hard to know what the brain zaps are unless you have had them, but for anyone who has gone off of one of these anti-depressants, it's a common side effect. It feels like a slight electrical current that runs through your brain. They are usually not painful but they are very strange and disconcerting. (Some people also get them as a side effect of the meds or when increasing their dosage). In my case, I got them anytime I moved my head too sharply. The good news is that once you're fully off the meds, they usually go away within a few weeks. Mine did at least.

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I find brain zaps as coins jingling in my head. My head would feel like the coins were rolling around all areas of my brain. I would then get like head spasms. I would put my hands on my head as to try to stop the jingling. My daughter would know I did not take my antidepressant when I told her what was happening. Currently on am taking 37.5 Effexor and 50mg of Elavil at night to help with fibromyalgia and sleep. Has anyone been on 2 antidepressants at the same time? Summertime

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GOOD MORNING EVERYONE ...... well I'm off "to be evaluated once again" by one of the LSW's at the Psychiatrist's office I WAS hoping to go to. I think he misunderstood what I was asking for ..... I'm in therapy, and I merely want him for medication monitoring. If he won't do that, then I'll just have to make the trek back to Frederick. First I was "evaluated" by an LSW, now today yet another LSW, and depending on what they think depends on whether I can use him or not .... sounds like he's a king! Well, I'll let you all know how it goes. I would think 15 years of therapy should have helped me at least a little! I also want to get back to you all and perhaps you can give me some insight into a situation from this weekend. I am SO glad I have you folks to be totally honest with me and talk to me straight. I should have told the other LSW that both my girls are LSW's and couldn't they do this??? I'm sure that would have gone over really well. hehehehe
abby

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@danalee5

@catamite
What side effects are you still having? I’m 2 weeks off and am having serious depression, dizziness, irritability, rage and confusion. Benadryl seems to help a little.

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Most all withdrawal side effects are gone now. The last to go was the nausea. But I am having unbelievable sleep problems. I cannot figure out what my new normal is and I am just not sleeping the way I used to. The dr. prescribed nuerontin to help me sleep, and one of those knocked me off my keister. I won't take another. I slept a good 12 hours a night on effexor.

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