Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Just wanted to say I've been venlafaxine free for about 2 months now. Prozac bridge worked for me: I started 20mg of Prozac while still on 37.5mg of venlafaxine, and after two weeks of both, stopped venlafaxine. And the first couple of days were rough but not nearly as bad as trying it before. I stayed on the Prozac for a month but couldn't stand the diarrhea it caused, so talked to my doctor and switched to Cymbalta. It seems to work...slightly. Had a dose increase starting a week ago and it might be helping. No noticeable side effects - yay.

I'm still very depressed but I have a tiny bit more energy when I'm not getting sucked into a depression vortex. So my bad days are just as bad, but my not-bad days are almost okay. It's an improvement, even if it isn't enough.

I think a big obstacle is my allergies. (synthetic scents, and as severe as people think of peanut allergies) The isolation (and almost daily getting pummeled by my immune system) hits me hard. I just got rejected for two jobs explicitly because of it. I have a lot of times I think I can't stand living like this. I'm still here though and haven't made an attempt in a year or so now.

Thank you for recognizing that there are barriers to treatment. That's something that I get blamed for a lot - not doing everything possible. But I'm contemplating taking out a loan to get treatment from a doctor who isn't covered by insurance, and apparently that is also bad. Can't win.

No one should have to contemplate financial ruin to save themselves from wanting to die.

"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.)."

@ Ainsleigh
Hello, I agree with you on that...Depression is NOT A CHOICE.
And it can be controlled after withdrawal with adequate amounts of CBD.
I myself use 2400 mg a month. It keeps my anxiety at bay and helps with residual depression.
Bright Wings...who is back

@jadedduck1
I sigh as I read this....I am not CRITIZING you my friend...and as I read that I wonder if you have ever been abused badly in your life....
Many of us have been. We were never allowed to grow up with love and light in our lives...
And the result IS DEPRESSION....
Bright Wings

@brightwings
No, I was never abused. I had an idyllic childhood, at least that’s what my brother says. I have no memory of it. I couldn’t ask for a better family.
Jake

@jakedduck1
I am so happy for you Jake. I truly am. I understand you can't remember because of your many seizures...
And I do remember your story about that ocean swim that almost took your life...you shared the story because I asked you if you liked kayaking...
That brought up the swim and your hesitation to be in water again...And your feelings about it...
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Now what if you already went on that swim and it ended the same way, almost taking you out....AND IT WAS REPEATED DAY AND NIGHT FOR YEARS. How do you think you would be feeling then.
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That's what it is like for us, both men and women who were Consistantly hurt by the ones who were supposed to love and nurture us...
We never got the base of love you enjoyed, what every child in the world should enjoy.
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Without that love, depression fills the spaces love should have...
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I hope this explains it...
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I told you I was back! Grin
Bright Wings

Oh my goodness yes! So, I took my time weening off and truly had minimal symptoms. (And it helped that, when they hit, like head spins etc, I knew exactly why it was happening. ). After over a YEAR of weening off 37.5 mg, I have been Effexor Free since 2/1/19. My dizzy spells are worse. Vertigo. I’ve been treated for something called “benign proximal ... something “. Where the treatment is simple and it’s to move a crystal that got stuck in a wrong place in the inner ear. Seems reasonable enough and treatment is non invasive. But didn’t work in my situation :(. I haven’t been posting lately because of the nausea. Reading etc makes me want to puke. (And incidentally, so does boating! Haha). So now I’m worried I have meniere’s disease Like my dear dad had.

I am hopeful that it’s metely more symptoms of withdrawal and hope so. But when will it stop? It’s been four months!!!

@secretwhitepop
Not bubbling now...I am so sorry.
I hear you how hard this is....I do hear you...
Now lets see if we can find an action that will help. Question, are you on CBD.
Keeping it short for you...
Bright Wings

Hello BrightWings! Yes, I have CBD from when my dad was sick. I used it to quell anxiety. For me, mom and my dad. I do like it. Matter of fact, went to buy some more today for my brother who is taking most of the responsibility for my mom :). (But I need to buy it online because they’re a bit touchy around here!)

So this bout with vertigo is passing but boy is it debilitating! I wonder/hope that since it came on while I was tapering and continues, I’m hoping it’s due to the brain chemistry and will, eventually, pass.

Things are going pretty ok for me otherwise. For me, meditation is the trick! Truly life changing. (And I hear it’s brain changing too!)

Hoping to be bubble blowing soon!

@bubbles
As I was reading your post yesterday my brain kept binging in that place that says its trying to remember something. Meineires or however you spell that, was one of my symptoms of withdrawal also.
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So hang on, things will change.
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My last dose was Jan 2018. Cold turkey.
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DON'T ANYONE DO COLD TURKEY. ITS DANGEROUS.
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I took it for 33 years. Last month I started withdrawal symptoms again. They stopped after a week or so. And now I have some head buzzing going on.
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I know, the best thing I can do is take my CBD. If I"m getting symptoms I up the dose to help what ever is going on. Then I go back to my 25 mg three times a day.
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Slow and steady gets us there.
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Remember, I'm an empath...you look and feel so much better today. Our girl is coming back, even if it doesn't feel like it some time. You ARE much Brighter today. I am happy for you.
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Keep coming back cuz we care.
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Bright Wings