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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (6299)Comment receiving replies
On February 1, 2019, I finally completely weened off Effexor XR. It took me about 18 months to ween off 37.5 Mg. I opened the capsule and took out about ten little balls every three weeks or so. Increasing each time. It is March 10 and I still feel quite despondent, but I do have good ... not days exactly, but moments. Sadly, I blame it on my life at the moment. I’m morning the loss of my dad who died almost exactly a year ago, I am not satisfied with my job, I recently moved, and the weather is the pits. I was doing well with exercise but then injured my back and am still recovering. I just feel like if someone so much as looks at me sideways I’ll burst into tears. My doctor (new, because I moved) can’t believe I weened off, since I’ve been on them for almost 20 years. I am not fully in the throes of menopause and hope that the change in hormones kick starts a lesser need for Effexor.
I used to be such a happy person. I want her back.
Doc wants to re-evaluate this June.
Susan
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@secretwhitepop
You were very wise to taper off very slowly. Not surprised you're feeling down; things have piled up for you. My condolences on the loss of your father.
Effexor messes with your brain chemistry and it can take a long time to get it back to functioning normally. I was on Effexor for 18 years. After some trial-and-error, I am taking the following supplements (l-tryptophan, GABA and the l-methylfolate are the most helpful) to get back to "normal".
I am taking 3 times per day (about 7 hours apart):
• 2 1,000 mg fish oil capsules (EPA 650 mg) (I started with 3 capsules)
• 1 1,000 mg vitamin C helps the l-tryptophan
• 1 500 mg L*dtke brand l-tryptophan (cannot be taken while on Effexor)
• 2 500 mg Solg*r brand GABA
• 1 500 mg l-arginine
• 1 470 mg ashwagandha root extract capsule (have now eliminated the evening dose of this)
Once per day: 1 15 mg l-methylfolate (a prescription-needed version of B vitamin)
Occasionally, but use of these is way down now that I've been using supplements for nine months:
• Dram*mine for vertigo
• Ben*dryl as needed as a sleep aid
• 2.5 mg diazepam (prescription aka Valium) as needed when akathisia/anxiety gets too bad
I intend to taper off these supplements (I started out taking them 5 times per day) as the other most important aspect to recovery is the time being off Effexor.
What also helps–
Avoid frenetic, or over-stimulating tv shows/movies; don't listen to atonal, off-key, or minor key music (woo, did this set me off); and find distraction in reading, working, hobbies, etc. Try to be with other people–go out to dinner, play cards/board games, find a walking buddy to go around the block, etc. Also, very important–exposure to sunlight helped (not sunbathing, just making sure my eyes got natural light).