Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

That sounds hopeful.

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.

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.

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

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?

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

@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.

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

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

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.