Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Oh my gosh, I just got the BEST Blessing. You remember, I almost died from cold inside my rental house around Valentines day.
I have been looking for a new place to live but because I have been disabled since age 42, (68 now) my social disability income while high for the Ozarks, doesn't provide enough to come up with the high deposits necessary to move.
The lady that runs the senior center in this new town, told me about a government program for seniors or disabled folks who rent to get a portion of the taxes the owner pays on their property to be returned to the renter.
So for 2018, I am getting $682 back for 1 year alone. She can file 3 years for me...
Oh my gosh, this is such a huge blessing for me. And I was only paying $350 a month for my 2 bedroom place.
Oh, my gosh, this is going to relieve so much worry and stress. I am so grateful.
Bright Wings

Oh my gosh, I just got the BEST Blessing. You remember, I almost died from cold inside my rental house around Valentines day.
I have been looking for a new place to live but because I have been disabled since age 42, (68 now) my social disability income while high for the Ozarks, doesn't provide enough to come up with the high deposits necessary to move.
The lady that runs the senior center in this new town, told me about a government program for seniors or disabled folks who rent to get a portion of the taxes the owner pays on their property to be returned to the renter.
So for 2018, I am getting $682 back for 1 year alone. She can file 3 years for me...
Oh my gosh, this is such a huge blessing for me. And I was only paying $350 a month for my 2 bedroom place.
Oh, my gosh, this is going to relieve so much worry and stress. I am so grateful.
Bright Wings

@texasduchess
As I have been sitting here saving energy, I have been going back and reading starting posts.
Wow, I knew you had good stuff to recommend, but I didn't know the half of it till I went back and skimmed most of your posts.
Let me say, I am impressed with your incredible journey and the knowledge you have and share in 7 different group.
I thought hoof and mouth disease was for animals, not people. I am going to have to Google that one. I have a brain that needs to be fed everyday.
My hat is off to you. Bright Wings

@texasduchess
A huge deep bell just went off in my head.
Yup, Itchy, like on the palm of my hand. A little skin peels off and it stops after it smooth,....... until it starts again?
Oh, I want to laugh out loud but not in the best way...oh, this is hilarious, but its not. Hoof and hand disease??? Nothing related to mouth....!
Nope, I didn't see this one coming. I remember the skin doc telling me I would never get rid of it...but I did....and it keeps coming back. But its only on my left hand and foot.
Hey, I just wanted to look you up and find the Source of your wisdom...cancer, tough stuff. I only had abuse as a kid...
Healin Hollers, an Arkansas company makes stuff for this.
Google "Healing Hollers, salves" or
the Healin' Holler.com
and you will find the savles I found years ago in a health food shop in mountain home, Arkansas.
I thought I was just looking to see what made you so wise. My brain must of made me do all that reading cuz it connected my itchy palm. Maybe those missing brain cells are still there....
Oh well, its relatively benign. Gee, this sure was a surprise.
Bright Wings, who thought it was morning and was getting up to make coffee...only its 1030 pm or so...
Still surprised.....

I am really struggling with the withdrawal off of Effexor. I had taken it for about 10 years. First subscribed after divorce of 30 year marriage and then five years later lost my son to PTSD related suicide from serving 3 tours to Iraq. The Effexor was making me physically ill. My BP was off the charts and no bp meds were helping. I was a walking sweat box. By the time I had showered, done my hair and got dressed, I was ready for another shower. At night I had to get up and change my pjs, sheets, blankets or put a dry beach towel down to get back to sleep. At my last PCP I told him I thought I had a kidney infection so he did a urine culture. He found a "considerable amount" of blood in my urine. I was retested the following three months and referred to a urologist. I began reading symptoms of long term use of Effexor and decided it was causing severe physical complications. I found a reputable psychiatrist (good luck with that!) and told her about my physical problems and my concern about the Effexor. She acted like it was a piece of cake to get off of it. She weaned me off of the Effexor (took about 4 weeks) while she started me on Prozac. The Prozac was increased as the Effexor was decreased. I immediately noticed that I didn't have that "foggy brain" that I had had for so many years and felt like my concentration definitely improved. Then BAM! After being off of the Effexor for about two months, my anxiety is off the charts. Before I even open my eyes in the morning, the anxiety is unbearable. I have a little wiener dog that I have to get up and feed and let out. I literally feel like getting in my vehicle and running it into the river. It's total hell. I eat a bit of breakfast and try to get on with my day but within an hour I am literally incapable of taking care of myself or my dog. I become paralyzed with the anxiety. Absolutely paralyzed. I cannot function. I have asked my psych to up the Xanax to 3 or 4 .25 tabs a day but she's refusing telling me I just have to tough it out. By noon or 1:00 I have already taken the 2 tabs allowed for the day and then the anxiety REALLY goes through the roof. I try to stay busy, (I'm retired) but I literally cannot function. If I can heat up a can of soup to eat for the day or load the dishwasher, I feel like I've accomplished something. It is absolutely HORRIBLE. My 60th bday was last week and I was in such horrible shape I couldn't leave the house to go to dinner with my daughter and her family. Now I am having the "flu like" symptoms of withdrawal; achy joints, nausea and diarhea (sp??) and extreme weakness. I can barely stand long enough to get from the couch or bed to the bathroom. And taking a shower doesn't happen but maybe once a week. I'm wondering if I'm going to survive this. It is such a double edged sword. I know the Efffexor was killing me, literally, with my kidney and bp problems but I'm seriously wondering if I'm going to make it through this. All I think about is killing myself because I don't see a way out of this....I know that grief plays a huge part of my anxiety and depression and the holidays are definitely a trigger, but I have never felt this badly in the six years since my son is gone....I feel like a train wreck.....

@sadiesmom,
I hear you loud and clear. Very recently I withdrew from Effexor. I tapered very slowly, like, over 2.5 months. Initially, there were the brain 'zaps', these were relatively bearable. Otherwise I felt okay. My mood was relatively balanced. I didn't cross taper with any other antidepressants. I was happy that I seemed to be doing ok.
Then, a delayed withdrawal hit me about two months after the final beads. I went through the daily hell you talk of. The same symptoms. The psychiatrist I was referred to was pretty much useless. Initially, I was put back on Effexor but it took at least 2 months before it started working again. At that point the psychiatrist decided to instruct my doctor to prescribe mirtazapine to help me sleep and deal with my other symtoms which he thought were 'situational' in terms of cause.
I hear so much from psychiatrists and Dr's about how they 'like', or prefer certain drugs without actually knowing what it is to take them or come off them. They speak of cross tapering, that getting off Effexor in 10 days (!!!!!!) While cross tapering. Sure. As if it was that simple.
Now. 15mg of Mirtazapine seems to be keeping the worst of the withdrawal symptoms at bay. But I am still about 50% of the severe level of withdrawal symptoms of Effexor. I am on one single Effexor bead a day at the moment. I ignored the ten day taper and have come down from 150 mg Effexor to this single bead.
I also wondered if I was going to survive the withdrawal. I wanted to be out of this world too. Nothing, absolutely nothing has been as hellish as the withdrawal from Effexor. I am afraid that once these final few beads are gone I may return to that hell I was in before.

I have done as much research as I can in terms of coping with the prolonged withdrawal.
Practicing mindfulness, yoga, running, giving up caffeine, drinking camomile tea, plenty of water, taking magnesium, vit B complex, Vit D, omega 3 oils, regular therapy. Keeping a gratitude journal. Keeping in touch with supportive friends.
I so hope that you have got through this time and have found peace and a sense of wholeness. Keep the faith.