Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Can I just vent for a minute. I have finally gotten off Effexor but have been going through withdrawal, although that seems to be getting better. My issue is with well meaning friends who suggest that maybe I shouldd go back on it if I am having emotional and physical problems from withdrawal. Would they say that if I was withdrawing from heroin or alcohol addiction? Has anyone else had issues with this or am I just being over sensitive?

Hi, my name is Elana.

I've been on effexor for a few years now (150xr)

I honestly hate how it's made me feel and decided to stop a few days ago.

I feel horrible, absolutely horrible.
I have stopped other antidepressants in the past and have never felt anything like this before.

Dizzy, out of it, vertigo, heavy headed, light headed, pounding in my head, hot, cold, eyes feeling funny, can't even think straight, weepy, disconected.... just altogether awful.... can't even remember how long I've been off this nightmare med.

When does it stop????

Help please...

I would not advise every other day. As others have stated here, this is a problematic approach due to the short half life of the drug. You will constantly be throwing yourself into withdrawal. Try to keep your daily dosage consistent.

Hi Elana. I started 3 months of weaning myself off of effexor. Down to 37.5mgs. I felt and still do sometimes like you. It's absolutely hell on Earth. I had blurry eyes so bad I quit trucking. Cold then hot, flu like syptoms,high anxiety and felt unreal like, brain fog, things don't seem real (life). Fortunately it does start to get better. Say lots of prayers and just sit and cry if need be. I wish you well. Farmboy

Hi Farmboy,

Thanks for the reply.

I just stopped cold turkey, and for some reason it wasn't so bad the first few days, but today.... good grief 😦

I went off Venlafaxine 4 weeks ago after being on it for several years. I tapered down from 225 to 75 myself, it was really ok. But i couldn't get down to 37.5 without getting brain zaps, nausea, headaches, insomnia, trembling, anxiety and all the rest. I went to see a psychiatrist who booked me into hospital for a couple of days to help me get off and to monitor me. For the first 2 days he put me on 37.5, then and from day 3 nothing. From day 1 though he put me on Urbanol that helped with anxiety, Aropax SR 25 mg, pain meds and nausea meds as necessary, Biotrazadone 100mg at night, Disipal that helped with the brainzaps and shaking and Inderal. Using those meds really helped a lot, i only experienced slight brain zaps, a little bit of nausea, diarrhea and vertigo, nothing as severe as when i tried to go of Venlafaxine by myself. Im off it now and adter a month i only get slight brain zaps occasionally, feeling a little weak and tired but nothing too bad. I could stop using Disipal, Inderal, pain and nausea meds.

@saku
A friend gave me a Breast Cancer "Dammit" Doll after I was diagnosed the second time. The idea is you smack that doll and/or use it to beat against a bed, or a chair and get your feelings of anger, hopelessness and fear out. I wonder if there is an Effexor "Dammit" Doll? Those of here could use one.

The professionals have no idea how long getting back to "normal" takes--only you know how you feel (and I think it's great that you're getting better). It's not surprising that your friends don't really understand--they "know" that you were on medication that's usually prescribed for mental/emotional issues and don't know how powerful these drugs are and that most were only designed to be used for short periods of time (and their effects on people studied assuming short-term use). Unless, someone has been through this, or had a medical professional screw them up, they probably think your doctor(s) knew best.

I'd tell them that research shows PAWS–post-acute withdrawal syndrome (https://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/post-acute-withdrawal.htm; https://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/addiction-resources/drug-addiction-resources/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome-stages-symptoms/) can be as long as a couple of years, or more AND that the withdrawal effects can come and go in waves, getting worse then better, with the periods of improvement in between getting longer the further out you are from your last dose.