Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

please I need your help I was on Effexor for almost 9 years and get out of it 3 months ago now everything I suffered of 9 years ago return stronger with horrible thought I am hopeless, I am now back on Effexor I really need to ask you many things please I need answer is this gonna work again??
I am fighting now almost two weeks back on 75mg and I feel days getting better and days get worse can anyone share experience of relapse and if am taking the right decision back on Effexor because it worked for me perfect and cured me last years, I am afraid am going back from square one sense I started the medicine 9 years ago
I really need your experience people

@drtrust84
Several years ago, I started to wean of the Effexor on the advice of my PCP. I wasn't long into the weaning process when my symptoms came back full force. I tried to get back on them without success.
I went to a psychiatrist to manage my meds (other than my PCP). She told me that once you get off or wean to a degree, you cannot go back on for 6 months. It's been a while so I cannot tell you the reason why. The psychiatrist tried a couple of different of meds but non worked as well as the Effexor.
After 6 months I asked to go back onto the Effexor. I did. Although the Effexor worked better than any oth the others, it never worked as well as it did before.
I am now starting to wean myself off of it again. This time, I am doing it VERY, VERY slowly (no matter how long it takes). I am not looking to come off, I am looking to reduce a lot.
Good luck!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@drtrust84 you probably have a good reason to have gotten off of it but have you tried other antidepressants? And at the end of the day, if it works and doesn't have some horrible side effects, it might be worth staying on, even if you don't like the idea of being on medication.

For me, I'm tapering off after this being my second time on venlafaxine. First time around I didn't have much withdrawal on being switched to another med but I was put on another med at the exact same time as quitting venlafaxine. No gap. Unfortunately I have no idea which of the dozen or so meds that was. It was almost ten years ago. So it's possible to get back on and switch meds.

Having one day be okay and the next bad is normal. I hope you have more good days starting today. Do you have any friends or family who you can lean on? Even if it's having a buddy over for a movie, try not to spend a long time alone. Having company really makes a difference. Also try a hot bath - it helps with the muscle tension/soreness if you get that too.

@drtrust84
Several years ago, I started to wean of the Effexor on the advice of my PCP. I wasn't long into the weaning process when my symptoms came back full force. I tried to get back on them without success.
I went to a psychiatrist to manage my meds (other than my PCP). She told me that once you get off or wean to a degree, you cannot go back on for 6 months. It's been a while so I cannot tell you the reason why. The psychiatrist tried a couple of different of meds but non worked as well as the Effexor.
After 6 months I asked to go back onto the Effexor. I did. Although the Effexor worked better than any oth the others, it never worked as well as it did before.
I am now starting to wean myself off of it again. This time, I am doing it VERY, VERY slowly (no matter how long it takes). I am not looking to come off, I am looking to reduce a lot.
Good luck!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

I never ben on any other medication its the only medicine I ever tried and now am back on it after 3 months of being off it
am now wondering is this gonna work as it had before now am on my second week on 75mg
I feel unstable one day good and next bad am really so so worried and afraid if this not gonna work as before
I think its the only medicine work perfectly for me I believe on it it had cured me last couple years
and I believe if it will work again I will be on it for the rest of my life without hesitating
I need your experience
do you think if I don't feel better for next weeks I should increase the dose?

one bad side effect am experiencing for the first time now can't sleep
I sleep couple of days at beginning smoothly and in the past 3 days couldn't fall a sleep deeply
is this normal and how long this gonna stay until I get back to sleep as before

@drtrust84 What you are describing is uncomfortable. If I knew of a way to help make things easier I would as this is a battle. I know keeping busy worked the best for me. Distraction has helped many and there is a thread about things that can help with difficult times. Help from someone knowing where please.
Many here are helpful in so many ways. Try not to denigrate yourself for being in a hard place. We are here.

@drtrust84 you probably have a good reason to have gotten off of it but have you tried other antidepressants? And at the end of the day, if it works and doesn't have some horrible side effects, it might be worth staying on, even if you don't like the idea of being on medication.

For me, I'm tapering off after this being my second time on venlafaxine. First time around I didn't have much withdrawal on being switched to another med but I was put on another med at the exact same time as quitting venlafaxine. No gap. Unfortunately I have no idea which of the dozen or so meds that was. It was almost ten years ago. So it's possible to get back on and switch meds.

Having one day be okay and the next bad is normal. I hope you have more good days starting today. Do you have any friends or family who you can lean on? Even if it's having a buddy over for a movie, try not to spend a long time alone. Having company really makes a difference. Also try a hot bath - it helps with the muscle tension/soreness if you get that too.

please tell me how long have you stayed on Effexor when you returned back to it first time when you got back on them without success

@drttrust84
I was on the Effexor for about a year, maybe 2.
ronnie