Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Hi all! I posted on another forum but I didn’t want to ditch this group because I don’t want to lose you all! So, Lexapro made my anxiety so much worse! (And here I was gearing up to feel good again!) so, given my personality and impulsiveness (can’t deny it) doc asked me today if it was ever discussed that I am bipolar. And yes. It was. About 20 years ago.

Sigh. As far as mental health goes, I was fine! Fine! For the best part of 20 years taking 75 mgs of Effexor I did great. Then, I weened off super slowly post menopause with very few side effects. Success! But then, anxiety and depression crept back in. And, after 5 months, I went to seek pharmaceutical help.

So the Lexapro was a no go. Made things worse. Anyone use seroquel? Doc said it’s a mood stabilizer. Then she wants to add Zoloft later.

Sigh. At the moment, I feel great! No anxiety, no depression. I kind of feel in control. Just hate to take anything! But I will if I need it. And well, perhaps some folks need it?

I love your replies if anyone has any feedback 🙂

Hi all! I posted on another forum but I didn’t want to ditch this group because I don’t want to lose you all! So, Lexapro made my anxiety so much worse! (And here I was gearing up to feel good again!) so, given my personality and impulsiveness (can’t deny it) doc asked me today if it was ever discussed that I am bipolar. And yes. It was. About 20 years ago.

Sigh. As far as mental health goes, I was fine! Fine! For the best part of 20 years taking 75 mgs of Effexor I did great. Then, I weened off super slowly post menopause with very few side effects. Success! But then, anxiety and depression crept back in. And, after 5 months, I went to seek pharmaceutical help.

So the Lexapro was a no go. Made things worse. Anyone use seroquel? Doc said it’s a mood stabilizer. Then she wants to add Zoloft later.

Sigh. At the moment, I feel great! No anxiety, no depression. I kind of feel in control. Just hate to take anything! But I will if I need it. And well, perhaps some folks need it?

I love your replies if anyone has any feedback 🙂

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!!!

Thanks Nankee99. Reassuring to know that it's not just me who finds getting off the stuff a horrendous experience. Feedback on this blog is reassuring to the extent that it makes you realise that an exit from the drug is possible, albeit very difficult. What about stopping without tapering and going cold turkey. Quicker but more painful?

I don’t understand why doc would prescribe Effexor for hot flashes? But evidently it happens. If you’d like to try to go off again, I weened ridiculously slowly and successfully. But again, sometimes at a certain point in life, it’s just easier.

This morning (after my first dose of seroquel last night) I was tired and groggy but (believe it or not) that’s all. No tummy jingles of anxiety. Which is a beautiful thing.

I had a close friend who was so anxious she drank like a fish and threw up every morning. She never sought help from a doctor. She was smart and successful and never made it to her 39th birthday. Turns out she had an undiagnosed heart problem.

Maybe had she been to the doc more often the doc would have found it. Who knows and it doesn’t matter now.

And the operative word is what matters NOW because that’s all we have.

Hugs and gratitude.

Don't go cold turkey. I honestly believe it could kill you. It took me 8 months. I've been off 4 1/2 months now. You can do it, but go slowly!