Connect
← Return to Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Discussion
Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6363)Comment receiving replies
Hi I am new to this forum, I found it trying to investigate what was happening to me as I wean off of Effexor, I was on 225 for only about 6 months and dropped to 150 over 4 weeks on my own and now at 75 per doctors reccomendation for weaning off. The effects are indeed terrible, however one I am experiencing that I haven't read about yet is strong auditory hallucinations (mostly people randomly talking in the distance) - has anyone else experienced this in particular? Good luck to everyone going through the withdrawls from this drug - I wish I had known more about this prior to ever taking it, I can't believe this is prescribed for general anxiety when it seems to me it ends up creating a dependence and higher anxiety levels than ever when you stop - great for the drug manufacturer's but not so much for us patients.
Replies to "Hi I am new to this forum, I found it trying to investigate what was happening..."
@bd1323
Yes, Effexor can cause auditory hallucinations--even while on the drug, not just when reducing the drug. A lot of anti-depressants can.
Your tapering schedule from 225 to 150 to 75 is very fast. A lot of us posting here have found out the hard way that you should taper off Effexor slooowwwly. When a taper is too fast (i.e., you experience withdrawal symptoms), the recommendation is to go back to the dose where you did NOT have the WD symptoms, stay there for weeks/months before attempting to taper again and when you do taper, to reduce your dose by a very small amount and take your time before reducing again.
Ask your doctor about a "Prozac bridge–"The only way doctors know to soften the blow when withdrawing from short half-life drugs [Effexor is such] is to add fluoxetine (Prozac)."–https://natashatracy.com/treatment-issues/withdrawal/antidepressants-effexorpristiq-venlafaxinedesvenlafaxine/
I agree the anxiety is awful. I never even had it until 6.5 weeks after I tapered off Effexor.
I whole heartedly agree. These past few weeks I’ve been considering going back on because my life is bleh. However, I have a tremendous amount of stressors at the moment. Unreal for me since I lead a pretty boring life (well, until I went on venlafaxine in the first place, over 20 years ago!). But you’ve helped me want to stick it out further. Then, once my situation changes, THEN I’ll see how it goes.
I don’t think the “prescribers” truly realize the implications. But who knows. For me, the stuff works. I just thought 20 years was too much. (Remember, I took a full 18 months to ween off 37.5 mg). Go slowly!
Connect
@bd1323
Hello,
I bet you are indeed miserable.
So since you started your taper you have reduced your dose by nearly 85% in what 4,5,6 weeks. Your brain must be in shock big time.
Read the last 283 pages and 4200+ posts and see how successful people have been reducing quickly. I doubt you will find any. I wouldn’t reduce my dose by more than 10% but reduce it more if you want but but the faster your reduction the greater your chance for withdrawal symptoms. A lot of doctors say cut it in half and in half again. Read back and see how successful that has been. I mention this quite often, a psychiatrist in Europe tapered off at the 50% rate and was unsuccessful and now a fan of the 5-10% taper rate.
Good luck with your taper,
Jake