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

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nanners012910 | @nanners012910 | Jun 16, 2019
In reply to @careth2 "Hi there! I am new to Connect, but hopefully can offer some insight. I DID go..." + (show)
@careth2

Hi there! I am new to Connect, but hopefully can offer some insight. I DID go off 150 Effexor XR (name brand) COLD TURKEY on January 2016. I survived it, but will never in my life EVER go off ANY antidepressant cold turkey. I had taken Effexor for at least 8 years, Zoloft prior to that and and Imipramine (sp?) as the first antidepressant (in all 25+ years on antidepressants.) It all started with running out of meds over a long weekend and deciding it was time to try to get off antidepressants to see how I would do. Since I had recently retired from teaching, thought this would be an ideal time to give it a go. In addition, Effexor just wasn't helping all that much anymore (I thought.) The first 3 days I felt like I was going to die! When I realized that I wasn't dying, decided to keep going to get it all over with. In addition to the symptoms you have heard about, I had deep bone/joint pain that felt like I was being pinched with clamps. Also had skin sensations and peeling, and noticed a strange smell on my skin. Each day got a little better and by the 3rd week started to function a bit more normally. I was very emotional, however, which caused my family great concern. Well, to make a long story short, the depression crept back in full and I am still trying to get my life back. I did everything I could to stay stable, including herbal supplements and took a vacation where I hiked 6 miles daily for 9 days on hilly, rocky terrain. I finally had to accept that I'm a person who will need antidepressants for the rest of my life. With the help of a PCP and counselor, I am on my 3rd antidepressant & may need to resort to going back on Effexor, because nothing seems to be working. All in all, in my opinion, the chronic depression is worse than the withdrawal symptoms that do eventually end. If you are a person with situational depression, you may be successful weaning off Effexor gradually. If I were to do it again, that's what I would do (while replacing Effexor with something else.) Here are the things that helped me with the physical withdrawal symptoms:
1. Get plenty of sleep/rest.
2. Eat a very well-balanced diet (this is not the time to worry about your weight.) Lots of soup & easy to digest foods the 1st few days.
3. Drink plenty of water, including coconut water.
4. Have a glass of wine in the evening (if advisable.)
5. Get outside and walk or other excersize (the warm sunshine will feel good!)
6. Hot yoga 3-4 times per week. Stay in class even if you feel nauseous & can only do a few postures.
7. Soak in a hot tub (with bath salts if available.)
8. Use a good moisturizer on face & body several times per day.
9. Get several professional massages.
10. Take Tylenol for muscle pain, if OK on your stomach.
11. A heating pad is also helpful at bedtime or during naps.
12. If you are single & live alone, make sure a few trusted friends/family members know what you are doing.
13. In general, be kind & gentle to yourself.
14. NEVER give up! Keep going, even when you don't feel like it (which will be often.) YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!

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Thank you for this helpful information! I’ve recently been to a specialty clinic that is offering Spravato nasal spray. I don’t believe it yet, but they are helping people off anti depressants . Will keep you posted, my insurance just approved the medication . Haven’t had my first treatment yet. Google ketamine for severe depression on 60 minutes.

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sandij (Sandi James) | @sandij | Jun 18, 2019

Popping in to say hi and happy to report that I'm two months effexor free. So glad to have chosen this path to recovery and not to be held hostage by a medication, nor by fear of a horrible aftermath by discontinuing it.
I'm still adjusting to some feelings that are very new to me, in particular, anhedonia (not being interested in much of anything) but I've read that this is temporary and normal. So instead of worrying about it or pressuring myself, I've been doing lots of light reading, hydrating, and relaxing. I'm so happy to be on the other side of this.
Hoping everyone here is continuing to do well on your journeys!

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2 replies
secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | Jun 18, 2019
In reply to @sandij "Popping in to say hi and happy to report that I'm two months effexor free. So..." + (show)
@sandij

Popping in to say hi and happy to report that I'm two months effexor free. So glad to have chosen this path to recovery and not to be held hostage by a medication, nor by fear of a horrible aftermath by discontinuing it.
I'm still adjusting to some feelings that are very new to me, in particular, anhedonia (not being interested in much of anything) but I've read that this is temporary and normal. So instead of worrying about it or pressuring myself, I've been doing lots of light reading, hydrating, and relaxing. I'm so happy to be on the other side of this.
Hoping everyone here is continuing to do well on your journeys!

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You are an inspiration!

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nanners012910 | @nanners012910 | Jun 18, 2019
In reply to @sandij "Popping in to say hi and happy to report that I'm two months effexor free. So..." + (show)
@sandij

Popping in to say hi and happy to report that I'm two months effexor free. So glad to have chosen this path to recovery and not to be held hostage by a medication, nor by fear of a horrible aftermath by discontinuing it.
I'm still adjusting to some feelings that are very new to me, in particular, anhedonia (not being interested in much of anything) but I've read that this is temporary and normal. So instead of worrying about it or pressuring myself, I've been doing lots of light reading, hydrating, and relaxing. I'm so happy to be on the other side of this.
Hoping everyone here is continuing to do well on your journeys!

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You go!!! Out of all the different meds I’ve come off -Effexor is a task I haven’t tried yet but want to. I admire you!!

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smurf | @smurf | Jun 19, 2019

My PA-C prescribed Viibryd for me after having a discussion at my physical. She said if Effexor Xr wasn’t working any more, I could try a new med that sounded promising. I few weeks later I called the nurse and left a message. Without talking to me further, she went ahead and prescribed Viibryd and my mail pharmacy filled it and charged my credit $100. They refused to take it back. I have been on Effexor for almost 20 years so I know what it feels like when you are off this med for 3-4 days because you run out and the doc is lazy getting back to you. I have also tried decreasing from 150 to 75 and I was in a total fog, I just sat and stared at my computer at work and cried. My brain could not function! I was dizzy and off balance. I even tried Prozac at the same time which did not help one bit.
I called and left a message. I got a call back stating I am to quit Effexor at once and start the starter pack of Viibryd and with the 21 days of Prozac. Really? I called back again and I tried to explain I cannot do this without having some serious issues and basically getting sick. The nurse said she had never heard of this happening! She put in another message about my concerns and that I need to go off Effexor slowly from past experience but the same reply cane back! Ugh! Why put myself through that hell and risk my job when I already know what is going to happen? I’m supposed to just go ahead and then if I have symptoms to call back….
Been there done that. No I don’t want to suffer and wait for a response. I want to be proactive and know ahead of time. I am not comfortable doing that. I literally cannot function!
I do medical coding so it’s not like I can work like that. Why are Fam Practice doctors and PAs so much in the dark about this? Anyone switch from Effexor to Viibryd after being on it many years? Did you taper or cut cold turkey?

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1 reply
secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | Jun 19, 2019
In reply to @smurf "My PA-C prescribed Viibryd for me after having a discussion at my physical. She said if..." + (show)
@smurf

My PA-C prescribed Viibryd for me after having a discussion at my physical. She said if Effexor Xr wasn’t working any more, I could try a new med that sounded promising. I few weeks later I called the nurse and left a message. Without talking to me further, she went ahead and prescribed Viibryd and my mail pharmacy filled it and charged my credit $100. They refused to take it back. I have been on Effexor for almost 20 years so I know what it feels like when you are off this med for 3-4 days because you run out and the doc is lazy getting back to you. I have also tried decreasing from 150 to 75 and I was in a total fog, I just sat and stared at my computer at work and cried. My brain could not function! I was dizzy and off balance. I even tried Prozac at the same time which did not help one bit.
I called and left a message. I got a call back stating I am to quit Effexor at once and start the starter pack of Viibryd and with the 21 days of Prozac. Really? I called back again and I tried to explain I cannot do this without having some serious issues and basically getting sick. The nurse said she had never heard of this happening! She put in another message about my concerns and that I need to go off Effexor slowly from past experience but the same reply cane back! Ugh! Why put myself through that hell and risk my job when I already know what is going to happen? I’m supposed to just go ahead and then if I have symptoms to call back….
Been there done that. No I don’t want to suffer and wait for a response. I want to be proactive and know ahead of time. I am not comfortable doing that. I literally cannot function!
I do medical coding so it’s not like I can work like that. Why are Fam Practice doctors and PAs so much in the dark about this? Anyone switch from Effexor to Viibryd after being on it many years? Did you taper or cut cold turkey?

Jump to this post

Some docs (but few and far between) understand. I wonder if, like Angie’s list, we could list doctors who understand about weening off? Perhaps that will provide some incentive? I don’t know if ANYONE who was able to successfully go cold turkey off Effexor.

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babydoll | @babydoll | Jun 19, 2019

That would be awesome if it could be on Angie’s List! Good idea! I have gone through a psych and MD who does not understand. I’m 2 months out, but have a really bad relapse with anxiety and restless legs. She upped my Prozac to 60 MG, but it’s not working! Just making it worse in my opinion.

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2 replies
smurf | @smurf | Jun 19, 2019

Testing testing is my post above showing? I need advice if I can even do this? I think my provider is clueless

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1 reply
babydoll | @babydoll | Jun 19, 2019

@smurf, you can do this, but it will not be easy! However you have to be weened off of Exeffor slowly. I was not, 1st time my phsych took me off of it and put me on lexapro, I thought I was going to die! I had no idea of the side effects of stopping Effexor, as apparently neither did he. I could not breath and was having this out of body weird experience. I saw my PCP as I thought I was having an asthma attach. She thought I had a blood clot and did all kinds of testing and found nothing. I got to thinking about stopping the effexor and did some research and found this forum. I have found so much support and information here. I started back on the effexor against my physch's orders, and started feeling better within a day. So I left the psych dr and decided I would ween myself off. I did ok in the beginning and weened off of it, (I did not take it slow), I was off of it within a month and I was taking 225MG total twice a day. As soon as I was completely off of the effexor, I had other symptoms, brain zaps, restless legs, anxiety through the roof! I went a week and suffered through it, but thought I was going to lose my mind, I even got social anxiety and did not want to leave the house, which was rough when you have a job to be at. My MD was not aware of the side effects of stopping and I asked her to do some research on it. She game me Prozac as a bridge to get through. It did not help much at all, she has upped it two times since then and it did start helping, but still had the anxiety and restless legs bad! That never went away. This week, I am having a relapse in symptoms and feel like I am going to lose my mind. I am 2 months effexor free, I called my PCP and wanted to change the Prozac and she wanted to up it to the max dose. I was not happy with this decision, but I needed something, so I started the increased dose today, of course I do not feel any different as it is the first dose. I say all of this to say, you can get though it, but it is not an easy road and definately not worth it going cold turkey! That could be life threatening! We are all here for you, my suggestion is print documentation on withdrawls and give it to you PA, go over it with her. It is not a myth, it is real. Good Luck to you!

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smurf | @smurf | Jun 19, 2019

Yikes!! That sounds scary! Sorry you had to go through that! You must’ve have been taking the tabs. I am taking the capsules 225 mg which is once a day. One good thing, at least Prozac won’t have these type of side effects if you do discontinue it.

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