Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

@bubbles, girl you certainly have given this a great try.
I hear you asking for advice as to wether you should go back on antidepressants...You are the only one who can answer that.
Remember, I call you bubbles cuz that's the goal....
Back in the day, I called myself Sparkling Susie...why? Cuz I was anything but!!! I was so depressed, many of my parts were depressed.
Fake it till you make it got me a long way...look at me now.
When I introduce myself to folks in this new town, I use Cute Susie...why? Cuz there are lots of Susies but only one me. It helps folks remember my name and makes them smile. Its a win win situation...
No, girl friend, you have to make this decision about medication yourself. We can and will support you what ever you decide.
I hear you about the dizzyness and wonder if it will leave even if you go back on the meds.
Please be sure to address this with Accupuncture. Like ASAP address it with Accupuncture.
Smiling at you, BW

@sandij
Now if I say, "Straighten up and fly right right", does that ring a bell? Folks, this is a private joke, she is doing great.
Honey you have been part of the bestie club since May 16th...you just never took advantage of it...BW

Lost another long post...darn it...BW

@secretwhitepop
Hey, this blog isn't about not taking medication you need--it's just about minimizing withdrawal symptoms when quitting Effexor. Stress while reducing Effexor, or withdrawn from Effexor can definitely worsen your withdrawal symptoms (and these can last a looonnng time--I'm a year+ off Effexor and when my supplements aren't enough, I take my prescribed Valium). Only you know how you feel. There's no point in being miserable.

Haha @brightwings yes!! Well I had never been told to straighten up, not even by my dad, I guess he knows me well enough to know better! @secretwhitepop I hear you loud and clear on the question of whether to go on another medication. I think it's just human nature to want everything fixed so that every day will be a good day. But we're old enough now to know that's not reality, not for anybody, no matter how much the world tries to make us think the majority of people walk around with rainbows and unicorns. We set up such high expectations, don't we? It hasn't been that long for you since these drugs have been affecting your body and brain. It's going to take time, and only time, for a lot of the physical and mental mechanisms to relearn what to do. Kind of like people who have had injuries or surgeries, or other major life changes like death of a loved one, getting sober, etc, the healing begins at the point of intervention (be it surgery, abstinence from a drugs or alcohol, casting a broken bone), but also that is only one point in time that can be measured from. The point of the beginning is not the end point. It's the start of a process, like the shot that begins a marathon. Those runners have a long journey ahead of them, sometimes they can't even see the finish line! But they have to keep the faith that it's there. And to cross it...wow! Worth all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears along the way. Many times during this marathon I've wanted to turn back, seems I'm closer to the starting line than the finish because I can still see it if I turn my head, can still hear the people back there cheering, can also still hear the people jeering! What would it hurt to go back from where I came and say the whole thing was just a huge mistake, that I never should have entered in the first place, what was I thinking, that I could accomplish something like this? Who needs it, anyway? Lots of people never run marathons and are perfectly happy not to! I could be one of those people! Unfortunately, that's not my truth. Yes, it's always a temptation to return to the comfort of being a bystander while others run, or better yet, just get back in my car and drive home. But, was it really comfortable there? It certainly wasn't comfortable enough to keep me there, so something inside of me wanted to enter this race, crazy as it may seem! I don't know if you've ever been in or seen a marathon, but I have. Yes, I walked a half marathon and it liked to have killed me, lol, or so I thought. I dont remember too much about it this many years later but I do remember all the little way stations that were set up along the way. Some had water, some, sports drinks, there were massage tables and oranges, just enough incentives and nourishment to keep us tired people going. But there weren't any pills at those tables. Just stuff to prop us up long enough to get to the next stop, and the next, and the next. Until finally the accomplishment of crossing the finish line, and the medal to go with it. I've still got that medal and I look at it often. It's a good reminder of the perseverance and determination I found inside of me that's not up for taking! No person, disease, drug, circumstance, will take that away from me, even if I'm laying half dead in the street begging for a stretcher to carry me away, I know it's just a temporary pause, just a glitch in my healing matrix, and eventually I'll right myself and keep headed toward that finish line. So, whatever you need at your way stations, find it! Acupuncture, massage, meditation, screaming!, sleeping, CBD, supplements, etc etc etc...and us! Cheering you, NOT jeering you! Telling you what you already know deep down inside even if you have lost the ability to hear it right now, that you CAN do it! Please give yourself time and space to complete this journey, no matter how long it takes, in spite of every obstacle that's thrown your way. We will help clear the path for you.

Just my opinion, but I suggest you try Lexapro. I take generic Celexa, which is very similar -- my doc explained the difference between them -- and it has definitely helped a lot.

I am doing pretty good. I've been off effexor since may 16 and ues It was horrible but I'm doing fine now. I weened down to 37.5mg and I took that for a month then just stopped!!! I'm not at all saying it was easy it was like I said horrible but I got threw it. Why would you recommend lexapro or paxil or whatever antidepressant when your trying to come off them. It's just a vicious cycle.
All I take now is a klonopin for my anxiety and that helped me with my complications from comming off of effexor as well and like on day 4 and 5 when I thought I couldn't come off it cause I felt so bad I went and got an IV and they gave me a steroid and benadryl and something else for my headache. After the ER getting me straightened out I felt better. I mean i still take motrin for this headache that won't go away but I feel that if you wanna get off You can do it!!! Just get it over with and do it. Its gonna be uncomfortable for awhile but I def wouldn't be trying to take more depression meds to just have to end up having to come off those eventually.. I dont know this is just how I feel. IT is possible to come off effexor I did it and I feel alot better. I still take my klonopin and motrin but I've been on anxiety meds for over 10years and will probably never come off those. I dont want too either because I do need them. I have bad panic attacks and anxiety. Effexor should be banned it should be a scheduled drug like pain pills and heroin. I can't believe we all had to go threw this to come off. Its crazy but it can be done and if you are ready just Do it!!!! If I can do it anyone can.

Ok, I just realized I have chosen to NOT take my CBD today AND yesterday....
And yesterday I got up out of my chair and started doing things I couldn't do before...tasks just sitting there waiting for me to have energy....I thought I did not have energy cuz of my multiple sclerosis.....
However, I believe I was blaming my MS but it just maybe something else.
Now pay close attention.
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2 days ago I was given another Gemstone...
Shungite. It's a simple oval of black stone. It is mined in Russia. I wear it on a simple black string, no metal for this pendant...
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What does it do??? It blocks electro magnetic pulses, like the kind you get from your smart phones and also it protects from radiation...Google it...Shungite...
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I can't believe how good I feel. No CBD for 2 days...I can't believe it...no tears, no anxiety either.
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My kitchen is clean, old financial records burned in a beautiful bonfire yesterday afternoon, oh I could go on and on...
And the only difference is wearing this piece of shungite...
Just saying....
You can probably find some at your local gem shop in town or order it from the internet....
One of the children of my heart is a Gem hunter, his grandfather found a gold mine in Oregon in his 20s. 2 generations later, James is called to a mountain...he goes there and asks the mountain where he should sit...he goes there and quietly sits in the woods...somehow, he "hears" where to dig AND the crystals calling him are always 1 to 2 inches under the surface...always...
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I trust him to give me quality stones for a good price. If anyone wants his contact info, message me.
I am so excited. I have been trapped on this chair for years....I am finally getting up and doing something....Bright Wings

Oh, and I am smiling so big as I read this...

@lisa0878
Good for you girl...I am so proud of you.
And please remember we each get a personal choice to use an antidepressant if necessary.
Bright Wings