1. < Depression & Anxiety

Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

I have been taking Effexor/Venlafaxine for years and tried to get off it a few times but each time I try to give up the chemical withdrawal symptoms are a horror story and I give up giving up. Anyone got any tips or tried and tested strategies? Thank you

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Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | May 16, 2019
In reply to @sandij "I was always tired before, too. But I think a lot of that was not living..." + (show)
@sandij

I was always tired before, too. But I think a lot of that was not living by my design I would burn myself out.

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@sandij
Yes, we have to learn to pace ourselves. That's the trick to getting to play another hour or day or what ever...
.
Deal with the body and emotional temperment you have.
.
Its a done deal, you have already tried to change it.
.
I have been so successful in dealing with my MS because I learned when I put my MS right next to me, as my friend and did what was good for him (I get to call it...he is a him...Mr MS.) I got to play another day. If I didn't take care of him, well, HE messed up my life but good.
.
Its our lives and our choice...take care of the body or not...
.
Let me ask you, has what you have been trying working??? If not, take another action. It works!
Bright Wings

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Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | May 16, 2019
In reply to @sandij "Yes, it's working." + (show)
@sandij

Yes, it's working.

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Great...I am proud of you. BW

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texasduchess | @texasduchess | May 16, 2019
In reply to @nathan5 "Hi everyone, I said I'd update after going to my doctor. He's put me back on..." + (show)
@nathan5

Hi everyone, I said I'd update after going to my doctor. He's put me back on 75mg of Effexor. He said not to feel bad about failing to get off them and to look at it as a test (a failed one) that the fact that my anxiety had got so bad, shows I still need it. He also gave me some Lorazepam, but I'm hesitant to take that.. He also referred me to an anxiety counselling service.
I've been back on Effexor since Monday, so far I still feel terrible. Last two days I feel like my chest and stomach are full of bees. Couldn't sleep last night so took a zopiclone which knocked me out. Took day off work today and snuggled up on couch (with the bees lol). It's 9.30 in evening now, pouring with rain outside and freezing. Just put electric blanket on my bed, so I'll have a nice warm shower, hop into bed and hope for best tomorrow!

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@nathan5
Hey, you tried! A lot of people on here have tried more than once. Nothing says you can't try again (in a year, or two). You learned a lot with this attempt and who knows? Maybe the manufacturer, or someone else will come up with a good way to get off Effexor. Hoping the anxiety counselling works and that you get back to feeling you can cope.

I understand that Effexor needs to "ramp up" before you feel better. "Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first 1-2 weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood and lack of interest in activities may need up to 6-8 weeks to fully improve."--https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Mental-Health-Medications/Venlafaxine-(Effexor)

Nice to read that you're being gentle with yourself. A day off, a warm shower and a cozy electric blanket sound good no matter what ails you.

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canadaanj | @canadaanj | May 16, 2019
In reply to @sheffieldsmith "Thank you for posting the number of beads in a Venlafaxine 75mg capsule. I may be..." + (show)
@sheffieldsmith

Thank you for posting the number of beads in a Venlafaxine 75mg capsule. I may be using “Count the beads out” if my weaning plan ending over the next two weeks doesn’t yield the desired results.

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You're welcome! 🙂

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canadaanj | @canadaanj | May 16, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@canadaanj Hi, Be sure to take it SLOW, very SLOW don’t get impatient. Your chance for..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@canadaanj
Hi,
Be sure to take it SLOW, very SLOW don’t get impatient. Your chance for withdrawal are reduced the slower you go.
Good luck,
Jake

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Thank you so much! I will. 🙂

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1 reply
bd1323 | @bd1323 | May 16, 2019

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.

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3 replies
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | May 16, 2019
In reply to @canadaanj "Thank you so much! I will. :-)" + (show)
@canadaanj

Thank you so much! I will. 🙂

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@canadaanj
Now remember, we’re not just talking slow here, we’re talking slooooooow.
Small percentages!!!
Good luck,
Jake

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1 reply
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | May 16, 2019
In reply to @bd1323 "Hi I am new to this forum, I found it trying to investigate what was happening..." + (show)
@bd1323

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.

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@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

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texasduchess | @texasduchess | May 16, 2019
In reply to @bd1323 "Hi I am new to this forum, I found it trying to investigate what was happening..." + (show)
@bd1323

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.

Jump to this post

@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.

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