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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6363)Comment receiving replies
I'm going through Effexor withdrawal right now, and I appreciate the accurate description of "brain zaps". When I tilt my head I almost feel like there is sand inside my skull, and I feel like I can feel and hear it moving. It's bizarre. My PCP at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan put me on Effexor four years ago after meeting me once or twice and having me complete a short multiple choice quiz on his computer. I scored "mild depression".
General practitioners really should not be giving out psychiatric medications. In retrospect, I think the PCP was a dummy. I had him for one summer before I switched. My depression was more situational in nature, and I think ADD (that I was only recently diagnosed with) was a major contributing factor to it (among other variables). The PCP didn't take the time to learn about me at all before just prescribing me drugs.
Effexor withdrawal makes me so irritable and almost constantly hungry. I hope the symptoms will go away soon.
Replies to "I'm going through Effexor withdrawal right now, and I appreciate the accurate description of "brain zaps"...."
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@favorino
Welcome. Glad you started looking at these posts from the beginning. Just so you know--@coloradogirl hasn't posted since late December 2017.
You don't say how much Effexor you were on. If a doctor is helping you get off Effexor, I hope you are tapering off slooowwwly by small increments, or using a "bridge" medication.
OTC medications and supplements can help with some of the withdrawal symptoms. Note--before taking OTC medications and supplements it is recommended that you clear them with your doctor and check to see if it will interact with other things you are taking, or worsen any conditions you may also have.
Other posters here who experienced brain zaps found relief by cutting back on caffeine and sugar, taking Ben*dryl and reducing stress. One person mentioned Disipal, an anticholinergic that prevents the activity of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Others believe omega-3s will help the brain heal. While it is unclear how omega-3s help brain zaps, many people have documented significant reductions in the frequency and number of zaps they experience during withdrawal when they supplement with omega-3s. (Fish oil is recommended over krill oil for this.)
I found taking GABA (Solg*r brand, 500mg, 3x per day) very helpful for the irritability (the PC way of describing my almost murderous rage) I felt. GABA is one of the most important brain neurotransmitters for mood regulation and boosting alpha brain waves and occurs naturally in your brain and produces feelings of calm, reduces anxiety, decreases agitation, lessens the neurological signs of nervousness and stress, increases focus and aids in falling and staying asleep. (Taking GABA with other supplements such as l-arginine may help it cross the blood-brain barrier. I take 500mg, 3x per day.)
I also take ashwagandha (470mg, 3x per day). It can reduce the stress hormone cortisol by 25%. It is very helpful at calming anxiety of all kinds. (People using diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid, anti-anxiety, or immuno-suppressant medications; sedatives; or alcohol should consult their doctor first before using ashwagandha.)