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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6299)Comment receiving replies
@maryathome
Good Morning!
One of the reasons we wean so slowly is to try to have as few side affects as possible.
It is just my OPINION that you need to read your own body.
Doctors can give you suggestions based on the history of others and what works.
If you are having such horrible withdrawal, I SUGGEST either upping it back to where you were fine (although you may NOT get the same impact) and staying on that dosage for longer, or staying on the dosage you are on now for longer.
Remember, the doctor gave you guidelines. Read your body and do what works best.
I am also weaning very slowly, 1/4 of a tablet taken away every other day for 3 weeks and then every day for 3 weeks. However, if I start to get any withdrawal symptoms that are bothersome, I will stay on the dosage or add to the dosage for as long as necessary. I do not care if it takes me a year or more. I take 150 mg in the am and 150 mg in the pm. Not looking to come off all together but looking to come down substantially.
Please remember that I am NOT in the medical field. I am basing answers on my own experiences.
Feel good!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
Replies to "@maryathome Good Morning! One of the reasons we wean so slowly is to try to have..."
Hi. I just joined and don't know where to ask, so I'm jumping in right here.
Four months ago, doc put me on Effexor. Started with 75 mg for 10 days, then upped it to 150 mg per day. I've been on 150 mg for 3 months. Side effects are not tolerable (shakiness, et al), so 10 days ago I decided to taper off. For 10 days now I've only taken 75 mg per day. When can I stop it completely? Doc doesn't know. Pharmacist suggested taking it every other day. But for how long? My headaches are back, brain fog, night sweats, weird dreams, nausea. Reading comments here, my symptoms can be caused by the medicine, but also caused by withdrawal from it. I'm totally confused and want off of the effexor. I've also been on alprazolam since 2005 for anxiety. Now because of the "opioid crisis", my doc says the DEA requires a plan of care to get me off the xanax and office visits every 3 months. Doc has told me all along to come in every 6 months for refills. The nurse is the one who has to do the paperwork for the DEA and she refused to refill my meds. I cannot cold turkey the xanax, and when I told her it would be on them if something happened to me, she called in a 1 month refill and discharged me as a patient. This doc is the same doc who started me on the xanax, and I do not abuse it. But I digress... my question is regarding the effexor. Since I've only been taking it for 3 months, and I have already decreased by half for the past 10 days, when can I stop from here? Thank you. Hope this makes sense.
Back story: my husband died recently after being on hospice. I was his caregiver. Also, my daughter and I both have Crohn's disease. She is in a flare. I'm her caregiver.
No, I don't eat well.
No, I do not exercise.
I've lost 25+ pounds since June.
I stay in bed all day because I can't sleep at night.
My head ALWAYS hurts.
I'm NOT suicidal.
Thank you!
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@grandma @sabrina- I totally agree with you grandma. Although doctors know more than we do they can not get into our minds nor know how things really feel. Sometimes we have to listen to ourselves, read our selves, study up on our illnesses and know when something is working or not. Phew, long sentence.
I go by intuition- if I "feel" or "sense" that something is not right I call for help. I don't wait, but that's me. I don't care if it turns out to be nothing.
I weaned very slowly off of effexor too. This is very very important. You have altered the chemicals that dictate how your brain works. Now you have to let it slowly go back to it's most normal state. It might be a bit different but it will hopefully will be better.