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

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | 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

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!

REPLY
searchgirl | @searchgirl | May 17, 2019
In reply to @canadaanj "Thank you so much for your advice! I just couldn't understand why I felt nothing for..." + (show)
@canadaanj

Thank you so much for your advice! I just couldn't understand why I felt nothing for the first 3 or so days after my last dose and then suddenly started having these symptoms on about the 4th day after stopping. Anyway, I went back to taking 37.5 mg and the depersonalization feelings have disappeared so I know they were from the withdrawal. It's a pain in the ass though, to have to divide all the little beads inside the 75 mg pill in half...lol. But I will take 37.5 mg for a month or so I guess, then go down to 85 beads. (Half of a 75 mg pill is about 97 little beads), and see how I feel then I guess.

Jump to this post

I counted mine couple days ago and got 110 beads in my 37.5 mg. I’ll need to do the same

REPLY
1 reply
secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | May 17, 2019
In reply to @sandij "If you go to youtube and type in Claire Weekes, her books and talks are available..." + (show)
@sandij

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.

Jump to this post

Going to listen to that book today. Thanks. Still teetering on wanting to go back on something. Perhaps there’s something less harsh than Effexor? I feel after all that work going off of it, coupled with the fact I’m still living and probably under the most stress I’ve had in my life, that I should stick it out. Maybe I’m just going through withdrawal. “Just”. Considering Prozac or Lexapro or something. But I’ll meditate first...

REPLY
bd1323 | @bd1323 | May 17, 2019

Thanks everyone for the replies, I've learned and great deal reading here about others experiences, and it helped verify I'm not going crazy and the symptoms are to be expected 🙂 I'm still debating whether or not to do this quickly and get away from this drug or slow down the process and try it that way. Best of luck to you all!

REPLY
1 reply
sandij (Sandi James) | @sandij | May 17, 2019

@secretwhitepop @bd1323 while it might be tempting to reinstate or to introduce another medication, give some thought to the fact that it is going to take quite a while to stabilize during and after tapering and then discontinuing all together. I am not saying that sometimes medication is not needed, but after having this experience as well as previous ones with other meds, I personally would be very hesitant about beginning a prescription medicine again. I'm not really certain that antidepressants and antianxiety medications are the answer for uncomfortable feelings. And who is to say what causes those feelings in the first place? I can only speak from my own experience. I was not in a major depressive state when I was originally placed on prozac, my problem was situational, and prozac was just what people did then. I believe that many doctors prescribe for their convenience..and why not? It is their business to prescribe medication. When therapists recommend a patient consider prescriptions, it may also be for their convenience and not necessarily what is best for the patient. The medications are there, if needed, as a last resort. If our goal is to stop feeling anxiety, depression, or any other emotion that we perceive as negative, where do we draw the line? And how do we make that determination between what emotions are acceptable and what aren't?
Case in point, the last time I was at the doctor they have begun doing some kind of "sadness questionnaire" I guess to determine if someone is suicidal or depressed. Well I would have completely failed that dumb thing if I had answered honestly, because of the circumstances in my life right now, but that doesn't mean I am suicidal or ready for the loony bin, it means I am in a bad spot that is temporary. And that I need to find my own coping mechanisms, not be put on a drug.
@bd1323 the general consensus is to taper very very slowly. My experience was that no matter how slow I went, I was still going to experience symptoms. It could also very well be that what I am experiencing are not symptoms caused by the taper but are due to other things going on in my body and in my life. I can only suggest listening closely to your own body and continuing to read about others experiences. As you said, knowing others who are in the same boat helps to verify that you are indeed not going crazy. (Or, "we are all mad here" as the Mad Hatter would say!!) Either way, we are kindred spirits trying to help one another walk home.
Have a great day,everyone!! Thanks for being here.

REPLY
2 replies
secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | May 17, 2019
In reply to @sandij "@secretwhitepop @bd1323 while it might be tempting to reinstate or to introduce another medication, give some..." + (show)
@sandij

@secretwhitepop @bd1323 while it might be tempting to reinstate or to introduce another medication, give some thought to the fact that it is going to take quite a while to stabilize during and after tapering and then discontinuing all together. I am not saying that sometimes medication is not needed, but after having this experience as well as previous ones with other meds, I personally would be very hesitant about beginning a prescription medicine again. I'm not really certain that antidepressants and antianxiety medications are the answer for uncomfortable feelings. And who is to say what causes those feelings in the first place? I can only speak from my own experience. I was not in a major depressive state when I was originally placed on prozac, my problem was situational, and prozac was just what people did then. I believe that many doctors prescribe for their convenience..and why not? It is their business to prescribe medication. When therapists recommend a patient consider prescriptions, it may also be for their convenience and not necessarily what is best for the patient. The medications are there, if needed, as a last resort. If our goal is to stop feeling anxiety, depression, or any other emotion that we perceive as negative, where do we draw the line? And how do we make that determination between what emotions are acceptable and what aren't?
Case in point, the last time I was at the doctor they have begun doing some kind of "sadness questionnaire" I guess to determine if someone is suicidal or depressed. Well I would have completely failed that dumb thing if I had answered honestly, because of the circumstances in my life right now, but that doesn't mean I am suicidal or ready for the loony bin, it means I am in a bad spot that is temporary. And that I need to find my own coping mechanisms, not be put on a drug.
@bd1323 the general consensus is to taper very very slowly. My experience was that no matter how slow I went, I was still going to experience symptoms. It could also very well be that what I am experiencing are not symptoms caused by the taper but are due to other things going on in my body and in my life. I can only suggest listening closely to your own body and continuing to read about others experiences. As you said, knowing others who are in the same boat helps to verify that you are indeed not going crazy. (Or, "we are all mad here" as the Mad Hatter would say!!) Either way, we are kindred spirits trying to help one another walk home.
Have a great day,everyone!! Thanks for being here.

Jump to this post

Thanks. Yeah, since it’s only been since February, and since I am able to cope better when not in certain environments, as always, I try and stick it out just one more day. Everyday. And when I have those glimpses of happiness, I revel in them.

REPLY
sandij (Sandi James) | @sandij | May 17, 2019

@secretwhitepop those moments are most important.
I sent you a private message, by the way!

REPLY
1 reply
secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | May 17, 2019
In reply to @sandij "@secretwhitepop those moments are most important. I sent you a private message, by the way!" + (show)
@sandij

@secretwhitepop those moments are most important.
I sent you a private message, by the way!

Jump to this post

How do I find private messages? Haha!

REPLY
1 reply
sandij (Sandi James) | @sandij | May 17, 2019
In reply to @secretwhitepop "How do I find private messages? Haha!" + (show)
@secretwhitepop

How do I find private messages? Haha!

Jump to this post

@secretwhitepop there is a little icon at the top of the page that looks like a letter. Its to the right of the notification bell.

REPLY
bd1323 | @bd1323 | May 17, 2019
In reply to @sandij "@secretwhitepop @bd1323 while it might be tempting to reinstate or to introduce another medication, give some..." + (show)
@sandij

@secretwhitepop @bd1323 while it might be tempting to reinstate or to introduce another medication, give some thought to the fact that it is going to take quite a while to stabilize during and after tapering and then discontinuing all together. I am not saying that sometimes medication is not needed, but after having this experience as well as previous ones with other meds, I personally would be very hesitant about beginning a prescription medicine again. I'm not really certain that antidepressants and antianxiety medications are the answer for uncomfortable feelings. And who is to say what causes those feelings in the first place? I can only speak from my own experience. I was not in a major depressive state when I was originally placed on prozac, my problem was situational, and prozac was just what people did then. I believe that many doctors prescribe for their convenience..and why not? It is their business to prescribe medication. When therapists recommend a patient consider prescriptions, it may also be for their convenience and not necessarily what is best for the patient. The medications are there, if needed, as a last resort. If our goal is to stop feeling anxiety, depression, or any other emotion that we perceive as negative, where do we draw the line? And how do we make that determination between what emotions are acceptable and what aren't?
Case in point, the last time I was at the doctor they have begun doing some kind of "sadness questionnaire" I guess to determine if someone is suicidal or depressed. Well I would have completely failed that dumb thing if I had answered honestly, because of the circumstances in my life right now, but that doesn't mean I am suicidal or ready for the loony bin, it means I am in a bad spot that is temporary. And that I need to find my own coping mechanisms, not be put on a drug.
@bd1323 the general consensus is to taper very very slowly. My experience was that no matter how slow I went, I was still going to experience symptoms. It could also very well be that what I am experiencing are not symptoms caused by the taper but are due to other things going on in my body and in my life. I can only suggest listening closely to your own body and continuing to read about others experiences. As you said, knowing others who are in the same boat helps to verify that you are indeed not going crazy. (Or, "we are all mad here" as the Mad Hatter would say!!) Either way, we are kindred spirits trying to help one another walk home.
Have a great day,everyone!! Thanks for being here.

Jump to this post

Hi Sandi, Thanks for the thoughtful response, and I wholeheartedly agree - SSRIs and SNRIs for anxiety seem to me to be a bad choice, as a professional specializing in risk analysis for medical devices, I am kicking myself for not further researching these drugs prior to taking them. - I researched the potential side effects, but the withdrawal/dependency aspects were all downplayed and I didn't specifically look at that side. Having now done so - I would be extremely reluctant to try this route again. For first world countries we are in a unique situation in that drug approval and marketing does not require a risk/benefit analysis vs. other existing treatments, solely a safety and efficacy analysis (in addition we are the only country that allows direct to consumer advertising). A compilation of studies done of Venlafaxine and other SS/SNRIs (references were included but the site won't allow me to post URLs, google for the NIHs pubmed database article PMC1681629 and PMC6097846) show Hedges scores for efficacy vs. placebo in the low to mid 30% range in patients with GAD without MDD, this corresponds to a Probability of Benefit of only about 13% and the NNT score (number needed to treat for one positive outcome) is 12. Given the significant side effects of these drugs not only during withdrawal but when taking them and the low probability of improvement I am surprised that these drugs are often the first course of action. However with aggressive marketing, misleading claims, and heavy industry influence in national physicians groups I shouldn't be (google venlafaxine FDA warning letter). Best of luck to you and and everyone else on this forum!

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.