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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (6363)
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@lisa0878

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.

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Replies to "I am doing pretty good. I've been off effexor since may 16 and ues It was..."
Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | Jun 21, 2019

@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

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secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | Jun 21, 2019

I understand your perspective and appreciate it. I have been completely Effexor and all medication free since February 1. And while I’ve had good and bad days, things just seem to be experienced through a filter. I’m sick of not enjoying my life - which ain’t half bad but that’s the half I always see. And the bad half is really stressful.

Just knowing the Rx is waiting for me helps. Kind of like having Xanax in the cabinet. It works, but I’d prefer something a bit less addictive!

Perhaps at a later time I’ll try again 🙂 but I plan on picking up my Lexipro this afternoon. And once it starts working, I’ll probably wonder why I was ever stressed about going back on an SSRI!

Ha!

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kbmayo | @kbmayo | Jun 21, 2019

I'm glad it worked well for you, but for each of us the experience was different. For me, anxiety and panic were making me housebound and robbing me of quality of life. I've been able to go anywhere and do anything for years, and I wasn't about to accept having to spend the rest of my life with such limitations. I tried all kinds of things, which I've detailed on here before, and was not getting any relief, so my decision was to go on a different antidepressant to see if it would help, which it did. Again, for each of us it's different; we each have our own path.

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jun 21, 2019

@lisa0878
Hi Lisa,
You mentioned “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.“
First, I disagree that Effexor should be banned. It has been a beneficial medication for many. However doctors need to be more responsible when prescribing it and be more upfront with information on Effexor.
Patients also have a responsibility to know what they are being prescribed and why. According to studies 20-30% of prescriptions are never filled and 50% of patients don’t take medication as prescribed.
The withdrawals you suffered are most likely due stopping to quickly or taking to large of cuts etc.
If you ever decide to discontinue Klonopin it may be just as hard to stop as Effexor. Small titration schedules and patience are essential if you want a withdrawal free or virtually withdrawal free experience.
Jake

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