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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (6321)Comment receiving replies
@sandij
Can you expand more on what you were told about it being dangerous? It's a tricky process weaning someone off one drug and onto another--you would definitely want an experienced and knowledgeable doctor.
@secretwhitepop
GrandmaR mentioned that Effexor didn't work for her as well when reinstated some months/years (?) as it did the first time she was on it.
By the time I realized that I was experiencing Effexor withdrawal effects, I had been off for over 6 weeks. I didn't reinstate Effexor because I read that doing so that far out was unlikely to quickly mitigate my very distressing withdrawal symptoms (1-2 weeks for sleep, energy or appetite to improve and 6-8 weeks for depressed mood and lack of interest in activities to fully improve) and I hoped those 1-8 weeks were better served moving further away from my Effexor use (I no longer needed it for hot flashes).
Could your doctor prescribe a short course of a faster-acting medication (Valium, clonazepam, or Xanax for example) for the anxiety to take along with the Zoloft until the Zoloft fully kicks in?
Replies to "@sandij Can you expand more on what you were told about it being dangerous? It's a..."
@texasduchess
Happy Sunday!
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said "you would definitely want an experienced and knowledgeable doctor".
As far as PCP goes, I don't think they work enought with psychotropic drugs.
They may re-new prescriptions and give something mild to 'take off the edge', but I don't think they really KNOW.
There are 2 professionals who SHOULD know very well how the drugs work; it is their job to know.
A psychiatrist, who should manage the medication(s) and a pharmacist who should be able to answer questions (especially with the data they have available via internet).
For me, it was ages ago and it was my PCP who was 'taking me off Effexor because I was doing so well."
Sure I was doing well, I was on the correct medication for ME.
She did not 'wean' me off slowly at all!
I only got to the first part when I went into withdrawals!!!!!!
The therapist I was going to suggested I see a psychiatrist to manage my medication(s).
I did, and she said it would take (I think) somewhere around 6 months before I would be able to go back on.
I waited and tried a couple of other meds the psychiatrist suggested, even one that was suppose to be similar to the Effexor.
NONE of the meds worked for ME!
At the 6 month point, I asked to go back onto the Effexor since it had worked so well.
The doctor agreed.
Although the Effexor helped me, it did not make me 'feel' the way I did before.
The HORRIBLE anxiety was gone, but still, just not the same.
I really don't know if I can explain it well other than I no longer 'felt like myself."
I felt like I was outside looking in.
It did not last, but again, I still just didn't feel the same.
However, I was SO very happy that all the anxiety attacks ended and I was able to get back to my life.
That was probably over 15 years ago.
Hope this helps...
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
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Well, it’s not nearly as bad as the anxiety I experienced on Lexapro, so, so far it’s manageable. And truly, we are having an extraordinary heat wave here in Delaware. It should break in Tuesday, and the heat really bothers me.
My husband reminded me to meditate. I’ve been slacking and depending on Zoloft. So, it’s been two weeks. I’ll be at three weeks then I’ll see the doctor and go from there.
I actually have some Xanax, but I’m taking things one day at a time. Hoping little by little things come around.