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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
I was only on Effexor RX for a year (last January), and titrated from 150 (which I was only on for 2 days) to 75, 37, and 18 (a week each at my doctor's recommendation). I was off completely last Saturday and still have bad side effects. Any idea how long I can expect the side effects to continue? Dramamine for the dizzies and a pain killer for the body aches had no effect. Also, is there a remedy for the paresthesia? I cannot live life whatsoever this way and sleep 12 hours a day (including naps, or else I'd never get to work on time). My so mad my doctor prescribed this without any mention of the side effects if you skip a pill or ween off. With side effects this day, I think it should be very clear before you even start about what to expect when you want to finish.
Replies to "I was only on Effexor RX for a year (last January), and titrated from 150 (which..."
@leross21
You decreased your dose way to fast. 50% reduction is seldom a wise choice. You may want to increase your dose until your symptoms go away then very slowly reduce it by small increment, 5-10 maybe 15% at most. If your in a hurry be prepared to suffer. It wouldn’t have mattered if your doctor had told you more about it. The doctors don’t know. The manufacturer never researched how to properly stop it. Doctors aren’t Gods and should never be put on a pedestal. Never take a doctors word for anything. Check out throughly what they tell you. Had I done what I was told to do on several occasions I’d be dead.
Wishing you luck,
Jake
I'm having side effects and I've been weaning for 8 months.... It takes a very long time. Read up on withdrawing. For me, every step down has caused my blood pressure to rise.... A LOT! 6 months to a year is not uncommon...
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@leross21 There's no tried and true formula for getting off Effexor. Your doctor and the rest of us (I'm not a doctor and I don't recall any doctors posting) here are just guessing. The overall recommendation on this site is to go slow ... very slow. Your schedule for tapering off is/was too fast.
Suggestion 1--Do you still have the medication? Since it has only been a week since you stopped, you may get relief by taking Effexor again at your last dose. If that doesn't get rid of the symptoms, go back to next higher dose and see if you get relief. Step back up another level until you feel relief. Then, stay there for a while (weeks) before tapering down to not so big a drop (10%, or less reduction).
To make drops in your dosage easier, get a liquid formulation of your antidepressant. If need be, demand your doctor specify a liquid prescription. Your local pharmacist can source a liquid form of almost any drug. Reduce by a comfortable amount in weekly steps. This may mean reducing as little as 1 mg per week and being prepared to stop and stabilize if things get too difficult. (Rxisk)
A compounding pharmacy may be available in your area to help with making lower dosages. You need a prescription and this service may be costly.
Suggestion 2--Can you contact your doctor and get a response quickly? If so, ask your doctor for Prozac. Some folks get relief by taking a single 20-milligram (mg) dose of Prozac. Your symptoms will likely go away within a few hours. And because of Prozac's long half-life, you won't have withdrawal symptoms after taking that one capsule. Some may need to take a second 20mg dose of Prozac.
Ben*dryl (diphenhydramine) is an over-the-counter allergy medication that may help with discontinuation symptoms; it has a sedating effect, but you said you were doing a lot of sleeping anyway (congrats on that, I and others had insomnia). Start taking fish oil--it will help your brain heal.