Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

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.

Try to be kind to yourself. The main thing is you valiantly tried and just because you need to go back on, it’s all about the quality of your life. I also may need to make that decision so big pat on the back, could not have been easy for you.

Hi .... I've been taking Effexor for about 2 years now, and I'm usually very conscientious about taking all my meds. daily. Well, last Saturday I ran out, and because of the date of the month, I had only $1.00. I have not had any since last Saturday. Today was the first day I noticed anything at all ..... I felt dizzy and didn't feel I should be driving anywhere. My dear daughter went and picked them up for me, so about an hour ago I took one. I'm wondering why I didn't notice anything sooner ..... I sure expected to.
abby

I’ve been on Effexor for ten years and it was for short term memory problems which it helped... but now I feel lazy and uninspired...I’ve tried to quit but always go back and start when the withdrawal symptoms begin, which include confusion...but it seems like when I’m in the throws of withdrawal symptoms and take a pill, relief is not immediate... that scares me

My take on going back on when feeling WD symptoms are the same as you guys! Its not going to take effect immediately and make the symptoms go away so why bother doing it? Unless I find that I absolutely have to have a medication in order to not kill myself, there is no good reason for me to take it. My ups and downs have always been there anyway, its just part of who I am. I know this new doctor looked at me strangely when she asked "have your moods ever been stable?" and I said, no, but that's just me. Like there was something wrong with me for accepting that. People are way too quick to try and find a quick fix...myself included! I WISH I had never started taking prozac when the psychiatrist told me that research was showing most depression was caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and that they were finding that talk therapy was passe, better living through chemistry was the future of psychiatry. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was SO desperate to find out what was "wrong" with me. I never considered the possibility that I was not the problem and thus needed to find the solution.
@secretwhitepop yes, if I could turn back the clock.
I cannot change the past but I can damn sure try to warn other people of the consequences, I am living proof, I'm sure we all are, of falling for all the lies.
LOL a bit angry today, but I was pretty triggered this weekend..my husband's oldest son wanted us to "meet" his girlfriend...meeting to me would be having dinner, not an entire weekend of company. He already has one child who is 7, with a "baby momma" and lo and behold, they walk in the door and she is obviously very pregnant. And neither one of them says a word about it. I mean, what do you even say? LOL. Finally my husband just came out and asked his son "is she pregnant?" I mean, bizarre. Why would you even put someone in the position to have to ask that question? I felt like I was in the twilight zone all weekend. Just weird.
Anyway, today I am feeling good. I still have some shaking. Has anyone heard of TRE? Its a therapy based on the premise that shaking is a way to discharge energy, particularly trauma. I had heard of it years ago and tried it, but I didn't like it. I am wondering though if its our bodies response. My acupuncturist seems to think there is a lot of validity in it. I know that after sessions of therapy/bodywork/acupuncture sometimes my body shakes. So I am looking at the WD shaking as being a positive thing. Just the body releasing stuff. Sorry for rambling on. Have a great day, everyone!!

Wanted to check in so people know I'm still alive. Still venlafaxine free. I don't think I'm getting any withdrawal symptoms. Prozac bridge worked for me. Didn't help the depression but it stopped the withdrawal.

I'm not really reading this forum regularly anymore so sorry if I worried anyone.

Maybe someday I'll find a treatment that works. Next step is a prescription stimulant under the idea that if I have more energy I'll actually be able to do the self care stuff. Still angling for a clinical trial for ketamine.

First of all, no, I do believe you will feel better eventually, but that was an extremely fast taper. As folks already know, I was on a comparatively very low dose of 75 mg. When I tried to ween off the way my doc said, it was too fast, but she didn’t think there’d be a problem since I was on a “pediatric dose.” Anyway, for the next ten years or so, I took 37.5 mg. When I decided to ween off for good, I counted the little beads inside and tapered over a period of 18 months. And, strangely, after my last done in February of this year, I’m still having some withdrawal symptoms. Dizziness, odd smells, vertigo, anxiety and crying jags. All of which are getting better, but they’re still there. Mostly the anxiety.

Effexor is a weird drug. It changes your brain from what I’ve read. I don’t know what to recommend you do since I’m not a doctor, but maybe if you can get yourself back to a tolerable dose where your withdrawal is at bay, then go ridiculously slowly, that might help.

Good news is there is a light at the end of this Effexor tunnel!

@canadaanj
Hello!
First, let me say how sorry I am for how you are feeling.
When your head feels all the things you describe, that feeling of depersonalization could be a part of that.

I hate to break this to you, but you did NOT taper off slowly.
As a matter of fact, you did it very quickly, which is why you are having the withdrawal symptoms.
I started at 300 mg, too.
I started to taper down in November.
About 3 weeks ago, I got down to my first goal.
I tapered down ONLY 25%.
That's right, only 24% since November.

I am NOT a medical person, but I am a person dealing with Effexor.
I am sure all you are feeling is the withdrawal.
For some, it is immediate, others within weeks and yet others within months.
You may need to add back some of the Effexor for a while then wean back down MUCH, MUCH SLOWER!

Good luck!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)