Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Checking in. My three month freedom from effexor. I took 20 mg of prozac on Tuesday, 10 mg Wednesday and today and will probably continue at that dose. Feeling much better. Started therapy on Wednesday. Hope everyone here is well!

@sandij I took Prozac as a bridge as well and had horrible anxiety and restless legs, my dr kept increasing it and it made my symptoms worse. I quit taking it and my symptoms eased, I realized now it was side effects from the medicine. She switched me to Zoloft and it is doing the same thing. Apparently I can not tolerate SSRI meds. She is wanting to try trilacilic meds, may have spelled that wrong, has anyone tried these types of meds before?

I have no plans to increase the dosage if things get worse, I'll know it's the prozac making it worse. And I'm taking it a day at a time regarding if I'll be on it long term, I'm only looking at my symptoms now as withdrawal symptoms, but if I need to be on medication long term, at least I'll be more educated prior to starting it.
The only thing I've had to cope with the last few days was a pretty severe reaction to bactrim, as a result of an asymptomatic UTI, but that was prior to beginning the Prozac, and those symptoms (itching, muscle pain) have fortunately subsided.
I dont have any info about other meds.

I have not tried tricyclics but my doc put me in seroquel at night and Zoloft in the morning. Seroquel is a mood stabilizer and keeps the anxiety at bay as you start an SSRI. It’s working much better than the few days I tried Lexapro. I couldn’t take the anxiety! And while I still have anxiety in the morning , it’s very doable. I’m at day 15 and am hoping this anxiety ceases. Ask you doc for a mood stabilizer. It may help. Good luck.

I suppose the vistaril is to take the edge of, and the prozac makes me feel somewhat normal again

This week's member spotlight is for one of our most active members @jakedduck1. He's always willing to offer his support and share some laughs.

Transforming stigma to acceptance: Meet @jakedduck1
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed-post/transforming-stigma-to-acceptance-meet-jakedduck1/

How is everyone here doing? I'm hanging in there, taking vistaril, 10 mg prozac, omega 3, I have a wave almost every day like clockwork between 11 and 3-4 pm. Grateful it's only those few hours, and doesn't interfere with my work. I've been able to return to almost a full schedule of teaching (for me that's 2 to 3 hours early am), which was something I was completely unable to do in June. Also I'm going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week with my neighbor and seeing a therapist. Although I spend lots of time trying to explain to the therapist that I've had and managed anxiety all my life, no thanks to effexor, and I'm needing support for the WITHDRAWAL. The techniques she has given me are helpful. It's just frustrating to have to educate these professionals, lol. I'm sure between all of us here we have boatloads of valuable information for them!!! Grateful today for recovery from this drug, my husband for his patience and my God.

@sandij I agree 100%!

That’s such good news! Keep up the good work.

I am on the lowest dose of seroquel (generic) and Zoloft (generic) and am doing well. Kind of blah, but loads better than the anxiety ridden self I was a month ago!

Life is still a roller coaster but I’m handling things much better.

Let’s hope this all keeps!

That's great news! Yes, we stay positive these changes will move us forward!!