Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

You might ask him to read up on what you're going through so he has a better understanding. I asked my girlfriend to read up on it and she understands fairly well now.

I have been sharing things with him. This site will probably be useful as well.

@effexor I never want to be a debbie downer or come across as cynical, but then again I'm a realist. Especially when it comes to these drugs and the tremendous effects of them. It's an insidious thing, you think you're doing great and then suddenly you are in a downward spiral again! I try to provide as much information as possible to people going through this, because for me, knowing what was going on was the only way I could and can make it through. That's why forums like this are valuable. We can't really rely on the medical professionals to be of much assistance to us but we do have each other.
You can reinstate your dosage since it's been less than 10 days since you've taken effexor and wean down more slowly. Whatever you decide, you will get support here! Good luck and keep posting your progress.

It's been more than 10 days since I have taken my last dose. I stopped 3-1 taking my pills cold turkey. 3-6 & 3-7, out of desperation, I took maybe 30 beads between the two days. I have not taken any Effexor since.

Determined to weather the storm and not take this. The brain zaps are minimal and tolerable at this point. But the emotional stuff just about did me in yesterday. I'm not much of a cryer or temperamental person. But my moods right now scream something else. I truly don't like myself at this moment... because I'm unpredictable as to whether or not I'll be sulky, withdrawn, crying or just angry at the world. Add in bouts of extreme happiness which I don't mind and well you've got a perfect picture of my frame of mind.

Uhgggg 🤦🏼‍♀️

I mentioned in a previous post I was going to research things that produced dopamine and increased endorphins. I found this link, it's very simplistic and doesn't take a nutritionists to understand, so I thought I'd share in the group.

Sucks I hate any type of seafood if avocados because reading this they help a lot. But bananas, fruits, nuts, chicken and cold showers I can handle easily. The cold shower increasing dopamine by 250%... I may take two or three a day. 😂😂

https helloendless (dot) com/10-ways-to-increase-dopamine-to-boost-your-productivity

Won't let me post the actual link.

effexor, I hope and pray that you can continue getting off of effexor. I tried a couple of weeks ago and it was not successful. Panic/anxiety attacks. My thinking has been all confusing, doesn't make sense sometimes. So I had to go back on effexor and I hope my thinking clears up. I wish you the best of luck.

Fascinating and thanks! I’ll do anything not to go back on Effexor!

None of our experimenting is a failure. We have to listen to our own bodies. Even what's worked for us in the past may not work the next time, so we try something new and keep moving. We are all going to make it.

Hi All!
I am curious about something??????????
All of us are in this group and on this thread because we are thinking of, are in the process of or finished the process of coming off Effexor.
I know regardless of where we are, we are all angry that we were not told how addicting this drug is and how awful the withdrawal is.
That being said.....
1. I am looking to reduce my dosage from 300 mg a day to what I think is more manageable, possibly 75 mg a day. Maybe less in the future.
2. I am in the process of reducing and taking my time doing it.
3. Why don't I intend to come off of it? The answer is easy for me, I don't know that the other drugs out their would be any better. I tried about 3 others and they didn't help me at all, but gave me horrible a horrible headache as my body was getting used to it. Because I went straight from one drug to another, I am not sure if withdrawal would be an issue.
4. When I tried to come off of it before (via my PCPs suggestion and her schedule), I started have horrible anxiety attacks after a couple of days, that I was not able to leave my house or go to work. As I think about it, I was on a low dosage of the Effexor because of the horrible anxiety attacks I suffered from. What made me think that removing any part of the med would not cause me to have attacks.
5. I believe with all my heart and soul that MY anxiety is genetic. My two children have it and so did my father. There could be more out there, I don't know. So yes, that away any part of the drug that was helping and yes, the attacks would come back. Is it withdrawal or just my body telling me I need this in order to keep calm.
6. Guess what I am asking, are we really having withdrawal OR is it our bodies fighting us for something we NEED, just as a diabetic's sugar will drop if his/her meds are not taken, OR a person who has another ailment that needs meds that are stopped?????
I am NOT saying we are having withdrawals, I am just asking if it just couldn't be our bodies telling us that the meds we were taking were making our chemical make-up different that satisfied our bodies.

Guess I have too much time on my hands.
Thanks for letting ramble!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

I understand what you are saying here, and it could be our brains trying to 'tell us something's when we try to get off of this drug, but in my experience, I truly think that my brain would be lying to me if that were the case. Yes, I have struggled with depression. Yes, this med has helped tremendously with that and anxiety. But I truly believe that no drug that give such EXTREME withdrawal reactions, to even a gradual taper, can be a "good" long term idea. Yes, I am grateful for the fact that depression and anxiety did not take away my life. With this drug's help, I was able to drag myself out of that place. But no, I cannot think that having to suffer these side effects is ever good, I don't deserve it at all, and if my brain thinks I "need to stay" on this drug long term, well than my brain can just go suck it