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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 17 hours ago | Replies (6411)
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@notaround

Oh I know I'm tapering too fast. Been calling between my insurance and the pharmacy and the medical center to get my rx refilled. They got it refilled for 150mg ;-;. Shenanigans have been ongoing for almost two weeks. That's too high for me now. I'm just feeling really hopeless and learning that it will probably still take multiple years just broke me down.

I'm a little better currently since my best friend came over tonight despite me being a complete wreck. He's a blessing - I answered the door clearly having been crying and with snot dripping out of my nose. He didn't make some stupid comment about how men shouldn't cry. Just took the time to listen to me and catch up. I only have one real friend but he's been there for me for years and has talked me out of quite a few attempts.

Out of curiosity, what supplements help? I'm taking a multivitamin, fish oil, B mix, and vitamin D. And chamomile tea or smelling essential oil at night if you want to count that. (the EO makes me feel very sleepy almost instantly).

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Replies to "Oh I know I'm tapering too fast. Been calling between my insurance and the pharmacy and..."
notaround | @notaround | Nov 17, 2018

Gotta love the rapid mood swings. Sobbing to slightly okay with facing tomorrow

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texasduchess | @texasduchess | Nov 18, 2018

@notaround It's ridiculous when insurance companies play fast and loose with someone's health by not getting an Effexor prescription authorized; it's well known this is a drug you don't just stop.

You can click on my name, see my previous posts and find the ones where I talk about supplements. I didn't start these until 6.5 weeks after my last tapered dose of Effexor. From what I'd read, it was now too late to get relief by restarting Effexor at this point. Supplements (particularly L-tryptophan) helped and when the akathisia got intense, half of a 5mg prescribed Valium as needed.

L-tryptophan cannot be taken with Effexor as it can cause a rare, but serious condition called serotonin syndrome. You shouldn't take dextromethorphan (cough suppressant), or hydrocodone either, but my PCP and a surgeon both prescribed these knowing I was on Effexor and I definitely developed serotonin syndrome (on just 25mg of Effexor!). Drug interactions are reported by a few people who take Effexor and GABA together.

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