Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Thanks Jake, I’m in the UK so have the benefit of the NHS just seem to have a very dismissive doctor.

@mimid0506
"Dismissive doctor" is too kind--@jakedduck1 Leonard Holloway once said about a similar response by someone else's doctor, "He’s an incompetent quack. I’d run fast and far." Often doctors underestimate the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms and overestimate the likely success of the tapering schedule they suggest--but, then they aren't the ones going through the process! The main advice on this site is go slow; in this case, your doctor pretty much has you quitting "cold turkey"--which is unpleasant at best and dangerous at worst.

Going to echo Leonard here--get to an emergency room, or a walk-in health clinic and ask for a "Prozac bridge." A doctor can soften the blow when withdrawing from a short half-life drug like Effexor by giving the patient 20mg fluoxetine (Prozac); some may need to take a second 20mg dose of Prozac.–https://natashatracy.com/treatment-issues/withdrawal/antidepressants-effexorpristiq-venlafaxinedesvenlafaxine/

Why this works--the half-life of Effexor is 5 hours and 99% of it is out of your body in one day. Prozac's half-life is 4 to 6 days and it takes 25 days for 99% of it to be out of your body. Essentially, the Prozac cushions the effect of no Effexor and lets you "ride out" the withdrawal process.

Were you weaning off the time release version or the regular one? 37.5 is too large a drop. If it doesn't come in a smaller dose, switch to the regular non-time release version. I know they make a 25 mg tablet. Go down not more than 10% a month, which would be 3.75 mg. for your first drop. You would then be taking 33.8 mg. Then go down 10% of 33.8 mg. If you don't have a mg. scale, a compounding pharmacist could show you about how much to break off. The drop to nothing is the hardest. I know because I came off my final dose of Pristiq too quickly. (Pristiq doesn't come in a non-time release form.) The withdrawal wasn't terrible because I was exercising and doing yoga about 2 hours a day, but it was bad enough. I was getting painful mood swings and a weird feeling of disorientation, like when you have a fever. It lasted for about 2 months. The withdrawal symptoms you're getting could be protracted. If you decide to stick it out, keep an eye on your blood pressure, eat high-quality food and try to walk a half hour a day. (The exercise helped me tremendously.) Withdrawing too quickly stresses your body and mind. Try to be kind to yourself.

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

@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).

Not full-blown panic attacks of the kind I used to have, but definitely panic episodes and fierce anxiety, especially at night. Some of the panics were putting me almost in phobia territory. I googled, I got vitamins and minerals, I got books on anxiety and depression, I started using CBD oil twice a day, I drank kava tea (made with 2 tea bags so it would be strong enough), I tried to walk, I tried to begin meditating twice a day . . . Finally, when I told my doctor, he said ``Enough of that'' and put me on Wellbutrin, 150mg/day, and said I could go to 300mg if necessary. I've been on it for two weeks now and I can tell it's making a difference. I still use the CBD oil, the vitamins/minerals, and try to do the other things. One biggie for me is to actually do what the anxiety/depression books recommend, which I never did before, instead of expecting the medication to do all of it. I can work with my thoughts in a positive way. I read something today on FB that was perfect and I'll pass it on in an additional post. I really do recommend finding some good books to read and use. There IS relief from this stuff!!

I take vitamin D3, omega 3, CBD oil, if I remember to take it. Sometimes I feel like I spend all day taking stuff. There are so many days that I am bitter because I wish I was "normal" whatever that is, but logically I know the resentment doesn't help. I wish you all the best today and all along the journey. This forum is a great help to me, so thanks to everyone who contributes.

I understand how you feel about wanting to be normal. I have days like that wondering how I would be without meds. But I remember how I was without them to,not good. I understand how taking meds makes you feel not normal. But there is more people out here than you think that's on meds. Don't feel ashame or bad about it. It will get better!!