Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Good Morning,
You are right!
We all react to meds differently and we are NOT failures if we have bad reactions or the meds don't work for us.
Finding meds that are good for us can be a process.

Have a great day!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

what a blessing for that follow up phone call!!!

@texasduchess I stopped taking ambien May 1 after asking for something different, since ambien is a hypnotic and I was doing crazy things like shopping online of I couldn't fall asleep after taking it. She prescribed belsombra but after reading about it, I decided to not fill the rx. Started taking melatonin, and was also taking benadryl to hold any effexor wd symptoms. After just a few nights without ambien i was doing fine without it for over a month, when the insomnia started again only this time with worse racing thoughts etc that wouldn't allow me to sleep, and almost a fear of going to sleep, and some physical symptoms like I've described, horrible stomach pain like emptiness or a gripping sensation, and couldn't stand up straight, struggling to take a shower etc, that must have been due to effexor withdrawal. But the good news is that a few doses of vistaril seem to have solved that. I think you're right about the fat stores. I read somewhere online that this surge of withdrawal symptoms happens to people who have a higher BMI. Which I do. My question is, after your experience at around 2 months out, did your symptoms then dissipate or did they continue to go away and come back in waves, if so, for how long?

@sandij
Yes, I have a higher BMI ... sigh.

My withdrawal symptoms started with insomnia ... with racing, circling thoughts about stupid stuff that I generally wouldn't spend a lot of time on and YES, the fear--of going to sleep, of taking a shower, of nothing and everything. I realized pretty quickly that these were Effexor withdrawal symptoms and through trial-and-error came up with a regimen of supplements that helped me tremendously. I also saw my doctor and got a limited prescription for 10mg Valium to use as needed.

Getting over something as powerful as Effexor takes time; I was on it for 18 years. It's been a year since the WD symptoms began; I see improvement--they are less intense, but I still experience them ... especially, if I am under stress. I am still taking supplements (down to three times a day) and only feel the need (rising anxiety) for half of a Valium once, or twice about every 5–6 weeks.

I'm also taking a lot of supplements, so many I get sick and tired of them and who knows how much they help, really. What works one day may not work the next. On top of it all, I actually forget that I do have fibromyalgia and that sometimes physical and mental fatigue, pain, exercise intolerance, can be the result of a flare. It's usually my husband who brings that to my attention. Lol. But I do get so carried away with figuring out the reason for every little thing that happens inside of me I'm sure it borders on hypochondria or obsession. It comes from the need to control. If I could just figure out why something happens I could take steps to prevent it from happening in the first place, or at least fix it. Well, that's not always the case, I'm learning the hard way, the older I get. Thanks for being here to share your story!

I agree on the cautionary note. The big caliber sedatives are almost like choosing arsenic over ricin. That may be unfair to those who truly need them but they are definitely sledgehammers of a different sort. One of the biggest risks is accidental death. Accidental poisoning, especially via Rx is the leading cause of accidental death, prob when washed down with alcohol.

Psychotropics and alcohol are ill advised anyway but acute stress and the understandable need to make symptoms vanish as fast as possible makes the judgement factor shaky. When I had symptoms of acute and severe anxiety once, I wanted something but had nothing. I talk to MD who agreed with my later more thoughtful and collected reflection that with Xanax, it would take a bit of time to hit. The natural temptation would be to tide over the stress with a couple shots of alcohol that could be quick fixes. Fortunately, I don’t really drink much and I never had such acute stress induced symptoms reoccur.

Glad you’re on top of this with caution.

@sandij
I agree that there is a definite tyranny to having to take supplements on a schedule, but I don't expect to take them forever. I started out taking my supplements five times a day and am now down to three.

By the way, one of the supplements I take is L-methylfolate--a rather expensive prescription B vitamin that can help with anxiety. I think you take this as well. Just thought I'd share that I found a coupon on Good Rx that saves major $s.

@texasduchess I don't take that, if its rx, but I do take a methylated b vitamin due to mthfr.

I don't drink alcohol at all and I won't take benzos, I'm very careful.

Ooo! B vitamins. I forgot how well they work. So, I just started back on Lexapro. Actually, I’ve never taken that before, I took Zoloft for about two years then switched to Effexor for about 20 years. Both worked and neither had horrible side effects except finished libido. Anyway, terrible anxiety and depression after weening off (slow ween with minimal repercussions) and I lasted about 5 months. My life is still hard and I’m mourning the loss of my dad and mourning the loss of the mom my mom used to be and I moved and I’m switching jobs and, well, life is too much right now so I made the voice to ask doc for help. She prescribed Lexapro and after the 10 then 5mg were too much, I went down to 1/4 tablet. After 5 days I just couldn’t handle the anxiety and rapid heart beat and hand tingling and diarrhea! Called doc. I have an appointment Monday and nurse said to skip a day and take 1/4 pill tomorrow in case withdrawal.

I hope so much that Zoloft works again! I jogged just now which helps. And again, yes, I have a lot going on (plus an 8 year old to keep busy!) but this is unprecedented!

Anyway, going to take some B vitamins and a multi now. (It’s organic and good)

I have CBD but I’m finding it actually doesn’t work for me 🙁

Hugs to all. Wish me luck. This is so hard!