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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 19 hours ago | Replies (6411)Comment receiving replies
@texasduchess Thank you so much for your response 🙂 I woke up today feeling much better after taking that 1/2 dose yesterday. Yes...will continue on this dose for a while and then attempt to taper again...in Australia the 37.5mg dose is only available with an authority prescription which gives you one mth's supply...it is a capsule and not a tablet...so it is necessary to visit the GP each mth for a new script...I feel that halving the beads in the capsules a better solution...no, I am not doing this with medical supervision...mainly because I have not met a doctor or physician locally who really understands SNRI withdrawal syndrome...I have an elevated BP and have been on anti hypertensives for quite a few years and also developed inappropriate sinus tachycardia which I control with Coralan...my cholesterol is also elevated and I am very resistive to taking a Statin...I am watching my diet currently....am abstaining from alcohol and trying to exercise daily...I had success with reducing my Cholesterol in the past with Bergamet...don't want to take another drug considered poison to rectify a condition that the Effexor may be responsible for....The Corolan was initially prescribed by a cardiologist some yrs ago when I developed the tachycardia...I have mentioned on numerous occasions to specialists and GP's re the possible connection to the Effexor and my hypertension and tachycardia...they just look at me blankly...they have no idea re the possible connection with my symptoms and don't really appear too interested in investigating the connection....yes..I have spoken to my dentist re the occlusal splints and will pursue this 🙂 I had invisalign treatment so already have a retainer for my top teeth which I pop in when the symptoms become too much...you should see the wear and tear on this little number !! gives me an indication of the punishment it receives whilst I sleep....I have read about the Prozac bridge technique and will consider it if I am unsuccessful with tapering...thank you so much for your advice...so, tell me....are you now off this drug completely and how do you feel...I really need to hear a success story as I haven't found one on the internet currently 🙂 Kindest regards...Pat
Replies to "@texasduchess Thank you so much for your response :-) I woke up today feeling much better..."
@patjen With so many health conditions, I can see why you are interested in reducing the number of medications you're taking--especially if they are interacting, or even causing, or worsening your health problems.
If you click on my name, you can read in one of my earlier posts where I describe how you can dissolve your Effexor in juice to make it easier to reduce your dosage--counting out the beads can be incredibly tedious and others have pointed out that there's quite a variation in the number of beads in capsules of the same dosage and that the beads are different sizes within each capsule.
The blank stare ... oh, yes, I've gotten that. I love my oncologist, but even he looked at me like my head zipped up the back when I told him I was losing my fingerprints during chemo treatment. Two weeks later, I read a story on the web where another woman lost her fingerprints after undergoing chemo and now carries an official letter with her to explain this condition! For a while there, I considered a new career in safecracking, but the prints've returned somewhat--although, it is still difficult to use touchscreens.
Hello, @patjen - I wanted to add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. A few things you mentioned made me think of the following to recommend:
-You may want to check out and consider posting in our Healthy Living group, as you are working on diet, exercise and the like https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/healthy-living/
- You might want to take a look at and perhaps join in a discussion in the Connect Heart & Blood Health group, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/heart-blood-vessel-conditions/
Are the clear aligners (Invisalign) working okay with the chronic teeth grinding from the medication, then? I have taken bupropion (Wellbutrin) and learned about the possible teeth grinding side effect for the first time last winter when my dentist noted some hairline cracks in a couple of teeth and put together what might be happening. I am using a mouthguard from the dentist, and though it took awhile to get used to, it has helped very much. I no longer want to sleep without it.
You mentioned with your withdrawal, you sometimes deal with suicidal ideation. Do you have a doctor's office, suicide hotline or somewhere to turn to if that ever gets too bad?
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Hi texasduchess. I feel sympathy for your situation, and especially that you haven't found a doctor that understands the problems with antidepressant withdrawal. Please consider going through the taperingstrip org website. It has a host of information specific to reducing or getting off venlafaxin and other antidepressants. It's a charity organization. I have found information on the issue I haven't found anywhere else. It may help you get through this easier. Note that they do ship to Australia if you want to try a tapering strip.