Hi everyone, I am new to this group and basically am not planning to get off of my venlafaxine yet, but having been on it for about 5 years at a 75mg daily dose after a left thalamus brain hemorrhage and experiencing the immediate withdrawal affects after only 2 days scares the heck out of me.

I am Alaskan Native and have worked in rural Alaska health care for 35 years I never imagined having to suffer such withdrawals. Living in a rural location without a road system relying 100% on air transport to receive my medicines has placed me in situations where I run out and have no choice, no other options. My providers did not warn me of the withdrawals prior to starting the medication so I relied on information from the internet to help first identify then live thru those withdrawals. Honestly if I had known then what I know now, I would have asked for a different treatment medication.

But, since I now know that I get severe withdrawal sxs after only 2 days I have gained much insight from all of you on how to avoid triggers and decrease some of the worst symptoms.

The worst has been the absolute flood of emotional non stop crying, the uncomfortable random brain "glitches", the horrible nightmares, the twitching and skin itching is insane. My teens who act like teens startle me into tears accidentally, the agitation and instability in balance and coordination. My nausea and vomiting until I feel a tingling prickling sensation on my chest which I take a peek at to see what I felt only to find angry looking red itchy lines fanned out from a central location scares me so much. That's only after missing 2 days of this medication, for which my provider tells me that the medications effects outweigh the withdrawals.

Please people choose wisely when offered treatment. In retrospect I was not in any position to weigh in on my treatment options at the time of initial intervention, it was my providers decision as my psychological and physical health did not allow me to think clearly.

Since my brain Injury I have changed my employment status 7 times, I am so thankful to function as I am today and I know that the Venlafaxine has really helped but the withdrawal is the worst medical condition I have ever dealt with, even worse than the brain hemorrhage itself.

Living my entire 55 years in rural alaska depending on our subsistence lifestyle to make ends meet, providing healthcare services my whole adult life and knowing I depend on a medication like Venlafaxine is absolutely frightening.

I am blessed to read your posts, it allows me the security that I am not alone and before I ask my provider questions about this medication I like to read all of your experiences. This makes me feel like I can possibly live thru a tapering, with your ideas and recommendations. Quyana from this Inupiaq from Northwestern Alaska.