Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

@secretwhitepop allow yourself lots of grace, you are having major stressors that would affect anybody..you are probably doing much better than you think you are. Hugs to you today and always

@sandij- Thank you. What dosages do you use for your different oils?

@merpreb they have a myriad of products. I do what's on the label. Like I said, I ask other customers what products work best for what and go from there. Matt and Jessica are both great to work with on the FB group AON Mother Nature.

So after 3 months of hell trying to get off Effexor I just took a pill now. My anxiety has been off the scale like I've never experienced before. I believe most of that is actually my actual anxiety returning and not the Effexor withdrawal.
Last night I woke just after falling asleep with the most dreaded terror feeling I've ever felt. It only lasted 10 mins and I can't now describe it but it was very scary.
No one can say I didn't try extremely hard to stay drug free, but I think it's obvious I need them. Off to my doctor tomorrow anyway, so we'll see what he says.

@nathan5
From your first post, you mentioned having a lot of anxiety as well as other troubling withdrawal symptoms. I'm glad you're seeing your doctor tomorrow. You never said why you quit Effexor; if it was because of side effects, you might ask about a "Prozac bridge" to help you stay off Effexor.

Hi @texasduchess I had been on them for near 20 years so I wanted to try get off them before my 40th birthday. No, no major side effects. I'll update here what my Dr says tomorrow. Thank you to you all here. Its a massive help to be able to chat to others who know what it's like. Xx.

@nathan5
Good morning!
So sorry you have been having such a difficult time!
I believe that it is important to remember WHY you were put on meds in the first place.
If you were experiencing anxiety then (and that is why you were put on the meds), it is reasonable to expect that when you got off your meds, you would experience anxiety, again.
As you know, the meds don't "cure" the anxiety.
I am not suggesting that you should go back on Effexor, but you might be able to try another med or some of the 'compounds' others in this group are using.
You certainly don't want to suffer with attacks.
Just remember that many of the meds and/or 'compounds' require time for them to help.

Good luck!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

I hear you, loud and clear. My anxiety and panic returned full force, and I've gotten great relief from Celexa. I started with 10mg citalopram -- generic Celexa -- for a week to try it out; when it seemed to be helping, I went up to 20mg daily. I've been there for a couple of weeks now with no side effects except some initial diarrhea. I also take 25mg daily of a generic beta blocker. When I went on Effexor, I'd been taking Buspar for anxiety and panic, but in the 25 yrs I was on venlafaxine, I forgot that it was taking care of anxiety/panic as well as depression!! The return of anxiety/panic was making my life a living hell, but I was determined not to go back on Effexor, so I was more than willing to try some other drugs to get relief. Best of luck to you and please keep us posted! FYI I have a couple of friends who've been on Celexa/citalopram for anxiety for years and they've had great results, too. One word of warning: Before I tried Celexa, my doctor wanted me to try Wellbutrin, but warned that it could increase anxiety, which it did, so it definitely wasn't for me.

One more suggestion from me: I've gotten great help from books and CDs by Claire Weekes (now deceased), an Australian physician who wrote about anxiety and panic. I used them way back when I was on Buspar and got them out again when anxiety/panic returned this time. I used the books I already had and ordered her others as well as two CDs by her (I think she has three of them). They're every bit as helpful and meaningful now, maybe even more. Also, there's an article in either yesterday's or today's Washington Post about panic attacks that I thought was good. (I don't know how to provide a link or I would!)

If you go to youtube and type in Claire Weekes, her books and talks are available through many channels there. She has an excellent program and a soothing voice. Theres also a wonderful guy, aptly named "wonderbro", who draws heavily upon her works. He has livestreams and lots of videos. His emphasis is not on withdrawal but I have found it very valuable.
I also stumbled upon an audio book available for free on youtube called "an untethered soul" by Michael Singer. I've listened to a few chapters and wow, does it resonate with me!
Happy mothers day to all, be grateful for mothers today and everyday, without them we would not exist.