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.

babydoll | @babydoll | May 30, 2019
In reply to @sandij "After 43 days effexor free I can report continued success and minimal discomfort from withdrawing." + (show)
@sandij

After 43 days effexor free I can report continued success and minimal discomfort from withdrawing.

Jump to this post

77 days Effexor Free! Still have bouts of anxiety and restless legs. But I’m finally rid of the Effexor!

REPLY
2 replies
lisa0878 | @lisa0878 | May 30, 2019

I have been off effexor for 13days and it was the worst 13 days ever. I feel like I'm coming out on the other side finally but still have such bad headaches and I'm just very restless.

REPLY
lisa0878 | @lisa0878 | May 30, 2019
In reply to @babydoll "77 days Effexor Free! Still have bouts of anxiety and restless legs. But I’m finally rid..." + (show)
@babydoll

77 days Effexor Free! Still have bouts of anxiety and restless legs. But I’m finally rid of the Effexor!

Jump to this post

I'm 13 days off and think I'm starting to feel better but my head hurts so bad. I ended up in the ER the other day because my heart rate and blood pressure was so high and my head just hurt. I just can't believe how hard these withdrawls are. I can't wait until I feel better.

REPLY
3 replies
texasduchess | @texasduchess | May 30, 2019
In reply to @grandmar "Hi All! I started with a new psychiatrist today. My appointment wasn't supposed to be until..." + (show)
@grandmar

Hi All!
I started with a new psychiatrist today. My appointment wasn't supposed to be until the end of July but they called yesterday with a cancellation.
Anyway, he wasn't all that pleased that I started a reduction without the guidance of a doctor. But he did understand I didn't have one.
He said that when I am ready to begin the reduction again, I should first discuss it eith him.
Just as a refresher, I was takin 2-75 mg of Effexor in the morning and evening. I am now taking 2-75 mg in the morning and 1-75 mg in the evening.
My next goal is to get to 75 mg in the morning, too.
He is suggesting a 37.5 cut from my morning dose, everyday, for 3 weeks. I am not sure that is the pattern I want to follow. I told him we'd talk about it when the time came. Have a nice evening!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

Jump to this post

@grandmar
You have a process in place that's been working for you ... I'm with you; why mess with success?

REPLY
texasduchess | @texasduchess | May 30, 2019
In reply to @lisa0878 "I'm 13 days off and think I'm starting to feel better but my head hurts so..." + (show)
@lisa0878

I'm 13 days off and think I'm starting to feel better but my head hurts so bad. I ended up in the ER the other day because my heart rate and blood pressure was so high and my head just hurt. I just can't believe how hard these withdrawls are. I can't wait until I feel better.

Jump to this post

@lisa0878
Last we heard you were going to drop from 37.5mg to zero, rather than taper down to zero. Tapering may not eliminate withdrawal symptoms, but it sure can minimize them. You don't say what the ER did for you. Did the doc put you on a "bridging" medication, or at least suggest OTC stuff? Reinstating Effexor is also an option--you go back to the dose where you didn’t have withdrawal symptoms, stay there for some weeks before tapering again by much smaller increments (reduce only 5–10%, or even less) and allowing 2–6 weeks before tapering again. It may seem like you're going backwards, but you're able to function AND you're still heading toward that goal of getting off Effexor.

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | May 30, 2019
In reply to @brightwings "@Grandmar Nice, good for you. You already know what you can tolerate in realationship to reducing..." + (show)
@brightwings

@grandmar
Nice, good for you. You already know what you can tolerate in realationship to reducing the med.
My suggestion is to go that route again.
Bright Wings

Jump to this post

Thx
That's what I suggested to the doc.

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | May 30, 2019
In reply to @babydoll "77 days Effexor Free! Still have bouts of anxiety and restless legs. But I’m finally rid..." + (show)
@babydoll

77 days Effexor Free! Still have bouts of anxiety and restless legs. But I’m finally rid of the Effexor!

Jump to this post

CONGRATULATIONS!

REPLY
grandmaR | @grandmar | May 30, 2019
In reply to @lisa0878 "I'm 13 days off and think I'm starting to feel better but my head hurts so..." + (show)
@lisa0878

I'm 13 days off and think I'm starting to feel better but my head hurts so bad. I ended up in the ER the other day because my heart rate and blood pressure was so high and my head just hurt. I just can't believe how hard these withdrawls are. I can't wait until I feel better.

Jump to this post

Hopefully you'll be better soomn!!

REPLY
bd1323 | @bd1323 | May 30, 2019
In reply to @lisa0878 "I'm 13 days off and think I'm starting to feel better but my head hurts so..." + (show)
@lisa0878

I'm 13 days off and think I'm starting to feel better but my head hurts so bad. I ended up in the ER the other day because my heart rate and blood pressure was so high and my head just hurt. I just can't believe how hard these withdrawls are. I can't wait until I feel better.

Jump to this post

First off, best of luck to you keep in mind how nice it will be to not be beholden to this junk! Second, interesting to hear you mention the BP and heart rate issues, same thing has been happening to me after trying to go to 75 from 150 a few weeks ago - so far symptoms are only piling on vs. getting better and latest has been a small 20%ish increase in diastolic BP and a huge jump in resting heart rate (64 normally, climbing over the last week, now 115-130 as of tonight) . trying to decide at what point I should head to the doctor - 140? 150? went from depressed the first several weeks to somewhat manic the last week - and that is not an issue I ever had prior to Effexor - just hoping the damage this stuff has done isn't permanent. Best of luck to you al and hang in there!

REPLY
2 replies
lisa0878 | @lisa0878 | May 30, 2019
In reply to @bd1323 "First off, best of luck to you keep in mind how nice it will be to..." + (show)
@bd1323

First off, best of luck to you keep in mind how nice it will be to not be beholden to this junk! Second, interesting to hear you mention the BP and heart rate issues, same thing has been happening to me after trying to go to 75 from 150 a few weeks ago - so far symptoms are only piling on vs. getting better and latest has been a small 20%ish increase in diastolic BP and a huge jump in resting heart rate (64 normally, climbing over the last week, now 115-130 as of tonight) . trying to decide at what point I should head to the doctor - 140? 150? went from depressed the first several weeks to somewhat manic the last week - and that is not an issue I ever had prior to Effexor - just hoping the damage this stuff has done isn't permanent. Best of luck to you al and hang in there!

Jump to this post

I was put on heart meds called metoprolol to bring my heart rate down. If I was you I would go to the Er so they can bring it down. Our heart rate should never be over 100 or it starts doing damage to our heart I believe. I'm not a dr but that is what they told me. Especially when we r resting doing nothing anything over 100 is alarming to me. When I went to the Er they gave me ativan threw my iv which should normally bring it down but it was not helping me so they then put me on the metoporal which brought it down but now it's going back up so I'm going to the cardiologist on the 6th and he is probably gonna up my dose. Sweet jesus I never thought it would of been this hard to come off of effexor. I hope you do go get checked out. Please keep me informed. Today I was suffering all day with my head and its actually feeling better now but I had to take a xanax and motrin just to slow my mind down. I wish u luck and God bless

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