Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

@kgoller
Mercy gracious, you couldn’t have done any worse if you tried.
So what are you planning to do now? No telling how long the withdrawal will last. I was in the process of replying when this post came through.
Jake

@kgoller
When I read "at the advice of my psychiatrist," I thought you had been tapering off with your doctor's help gradually and just decided to jump off at 37.5mg. I agree with @jakedduck1 that this was/is waaayyy tooo faaaast. If reducing from 225 to zero in a little over a month was your doctor's plan, he needs to keep up with what has been found out about how to get off this drug and other antidepressants–you taper off gradually by small increments and/or you use "bridging" drugs to soften the blow when withdrawing from a short half-life drug like Effexor.

@kgoller
“I don't know if I can stick it out any longer.”
You shouldn’t try and out last the withdrawals. Go back on Effexor to where your not having symptoms or ask dr for a bridging drug. If you discontinue your medication slowly your body will probably never miss it and you’ll probably never have any withdrawal symptoms but it will take time. It’s hard to say how long, 2 years for some 1 year for others. Some decrease their dose every 2, 4 or 6 weeks. You could try cutting your dose by 20% and cut the time down but you’ll increase your chance of withdrawal symptoms too. Also decrease your dose every 2 or 4 weeks instead of 6 week intervals. Even a 25% taper will take close to a year depending on what mg you eventually stop at and personally I wouldn’t try a 25% taper but some people can do it. Tapering is a very individual thing.
Good luck,
Jake

Hello there. Boat Head!!! Excellent description! I echo what everyone else has offered. But also, add B12 and Omega 3 supplements--they help heal the brain.

@jakeduck1- Hi there Jake- Just want to say I think your quest to get people to understand the importance of slooooooooow withdrawals is so great! Keep up the good work! On another note I'm not sure that I agree with you that depression is a choice. What do our other friends on Connect have to say on that subject?
Best wishes
Ainsleigh

@ainsleigh
“On another note I’m not sure I agree with you that depression is a choice.”
Perhaps your right. Maybe I am one of the lucky ones. It was definitely a choice in my case. I believe life is a series of choices. I believe these choices define who we are. Graham Brown said,
“Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we’re proud of. Some will haunt us forever. The message: we are what we chose to be.” I couldn’t stand the person I became. I wanted to be better than I was. I needed to be happier. I believe the most important thing is to love and accept yourself. We’re great at blaming others for our problems. Take another look and I think if we are honest with ourselves we will see we are to blame for our problems. People go to the doctor and get antidepressants, that’s a choice and they don’t cure. People could make other choices that do cure or at least cause remission. Many people refuse to think of how good they are and how valuable they are. You can’t always depend on others to make you feel good. We need to endure and persevere and enjoy life.
I have been severely criticized here for my beliefs and may be again. I look forward to reading others perspectives.
Jake

@jakeduck1-Thanks for your response Jake-you have given me lots to think about and I appreciate that! You are a great contributor to our forum! Keeping an open mind I think is important if we want to learn and grow!
Best wishes
Ainsleigh

@kgoller
I was on 225 mg of Effexor for a long time, years actually and I felt it wasn’t working as well anymore so I asked my Psychiatrist and he said to quit taking it and would put me on something else. Oh my! The withdrawal was horrible! I couldn’t breathe and I would have anger episodes instantly for no reason. I put my self back on it and quit going to the Psychiatrist. I started just going to my family doctor for refills and explained that I had no emotions with Effexor and wanted to taper off. She was agreeable to this, but has never tapered anyone off of it before. I told her about my last attempt and knew I to taper slowly. I tapered slowly down in about 8 months. Then I just stopped. It was probably still too soon to stop, but by day 3 Effexor free, I thought I was going to die! Brain zaps, flu symptoms, dizzy, anger spells, anxiety, and so on. I managed to go a week, then asked my doctor for bridge to get me through. She gave me Prozac. It helped a bit, but had to up it 3 times. I am now 75 days Effexor free and starting to feel normal again. I still have anxiety and restless legs, but it is getting better every day. So hang in there, you can do it! This was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but worth it now that I’m on the other side. Praying for you! Take care and good luck on your journey.

@jakedduck1
Good morning!
Wow! This is an interesting conversation!
I think what you said was very powerful!
Our life IS full of choices, some good and some bad!!!!
Yes, it IS much easier to blame others for our problems and to look to others for our own happiness.
However, I respecfully disagree when it comes to TRUE mental illness.
For many of us, it is something genetic, in our DNA, that makes us the way we are.
We don't have a choice!
Of course, what we do about it, is a choice (that is if what needs to be done is within our reach medically, financially, etc.).
We can sit and cry about woe is me, or we can try to do something about it.
I do not believe that asking for medication, although technically IS a choice, is a bad thing.
Sadly, most of us here have been given a medication that can be harsh.
Sometimes, medication IS the only answer.
If, however, we don't want to take that route, then it is our choice to look for something else.
Anyway, nicely said, Jake.

Have a day of wonderful choices!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

It's been 5 days and still have boat head, but not nausea or anything else. Remember I only took 37.5 mg/l for hot flashes for past year. BUUUUT...I have had a number of what I thought were slightly dizzy episodes from time to time last 3 or 4 months before stopping. DID ANYONE ELSE GET THIS WHILE TAKING IT (just not as bad)?