Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

I am down to the end of my taper and have realized that the effexor may have been the cause of several issues and may have masked others. Since I started tapering off (350 mg for many years) I have had bad headaches and increased blood pressure. I was always hot and sweating before and that seems to be reducing in severity. The bad part of getting off has been that I have had increasing symptoms of really bad joint pain all over my body. I read that effexor can mask pain and it is hitting me full force. It can also be hard on kidneys and liver. My kidneys are now scarred and I had fatty liver. I've never had kidney stones and a bladder infection a few times in my life. I'm 59 years old. I've also read that some people may have permanent increased blood pressure after getting off of effexor. My dr. asked me if I wanted to get back on the effexor for the increase in pain. I said NO! I'm wondering if my blood pressure and headaches may return to normal after I complete my taper? My rheumatologist thinks I may have drug induced lupus!

@terri672-. I'm somewhat familiar with Lupus. My twin had it. It's doubtful that Effexor caused Lupus.There are specific types of drugs that have a lot in common:
https://www.lupus.org/resources/medications-that-can-cause-drug-induced-lupus
Maybe he can do some blood work to see if you have a lot of inflammatory issues.
How long did you take to taper off of Effexor? There always seems to be some side effects that are left over.

@merpreb Is Vertigo related to migraines? My daughter has migraines and she has had bouts of vertigo.
JK

@jk. Well I have it when I get a had case!

Thank you Jake. Feeling so much better. Not a bad transition. Prescriber said same class of drugs, cymbalta & effexor, so maybe that's why. Just dont like the weight gain with cymbalta, but no severe hot flashes anymore.

I've been reading with interest about people's experiences. I am finding that omega 3 is helping me considerably. I also take CBD oil, mostly for the pain from fibromyalgia, but there is another CBD oil with orange blossom that I find useful for the anxiety that I experience some days. Mostly my taper is going well but I've found that about a month after I have decrease my dosage is when the withdrawal symptoms happen, for a few days, manageable especially when I can be mentally prepared for what is coming. I am very fortunate not to have the brain zaps that many people talk about and I count my blessings every time I take the one capsule I am down to now. Have a great day everyone!

I slept over 16 hours yesterday so still not any better. But I'm still alive so that's something I guess. Can't say I'm terribly happy.

The sleepiness isn't immediately dangerous, but putting me in danger of losing my job.

Hopefully once I'm finally off venlafaxine I can get on something else that works and doesn't give me a seizure if I miss a dose.

As for asking my doctor, My former doctor simply didn't give a damn. I got an appointment with a new one who was really nice and might have actually cared. But they left for another state right after my first visit. So don't have a doctor currently. I have almost zero options for doctors so for now I'm on my own.

@notaround- That's a lot of sleep. I'm confused about your saying that you have zer options for finding another doctor. Can you explain that to me?

I feel your response to ask my doctor is assuming a lot. I don't know why there's still the myth of the caring family doctor. But it needs to stop being assumed. I can see the appeal but it just isn't in touch with reality. If I could make an appointment with a doctor and they actually helped, I wouldn't be here.

The real experience of medical care for not-wealthy people is a stressed out doctor who double books appointments, spends most of their five minutes in the room looking at a chart because they can't remember who you are, and demands only one issue be addressed per visit but never listens to all the symptoms so they know what is related and what isn't. And gets annoyed if you make more than 3 visits a year. So nothing ever gets solved if you have anything more complicated than the flu.

Also there are some other doctors at the same health center but my old doctor is in charge of them so that's very suspect - doctors do share unofficial info on patients and I worry I've been labeled as 'difficult' based on how they talk to me. I have had my faith in the medical system broken repeatedly. But I don't have a reasonable choice. It's medicine or falling into snake oil sellers. I'm close to giving up on all treatment and haven't only because I made a promise to try everything I could.

Besides, I never have a full selection of doctors since I'm FtM. And it's early January so booked for the next few months since people have insurance for the new year.

@notaround- I hear your anger and frustration. I really do. The medical profession has really turned on us. They say that healthcare is a commodity but it isn't. With a commodity you have choices. Doctors are often shoveling patients through their offices before they are finished asking questions.
But we can't give medical advice. I can't make any further recommendations because other than the fact that you feel overly sedated and are slowly weaning yourself off of Effexor I have no idea what else could be causing your sedated feeling. Depression can cause this. I knew someone that was so depressed that she'd fall asleep sitting in a chair during therapy sessions!
But I'm not hearing what you think that your next step should be. So, putting my assumptions aside, what do you think is causing all the sleepiness? Other than depression do you have any other symptoms or are you taking any other medicines?