Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

@babydoll
Failure doesn't come into it; how you respond (or don't) to a medication isn't a character flaw. Antidepressants are VERY powerful and are DESIGNED to mess with your head--of course, it's going to take some time and real effort to get off them and YES, sometimes, you find out you do need to be on them.

@sandij has a good point about ping-ponging on/off other ADs over a short period of time although I certainly understand how awful the anxiety and agitation/restlessness can be--I wanted mine to stop NOW. I did not use Prozac, but was prescribed Valium to take as needed and started taking a LOT of supplements. You can click on my name and go back and read my posts.

I was on 25mg Effexor for 18 years for hot flashes. It's only NOW--16 months after my last tapered dose--that I feel NORMAL. AND that's with me still taking supplements (L-tryptophan, GABA, ashwaganda, fish oil and L-methylfolate). I haven't been posting here for a couple of weeks because feeling normal has been so STARTLING that I keep waiting for "the other shoe to drop." My husband asked if I was going to discontinue one set of supplements because I'm doing so well--honestly, I'm afraid to mess with success right now! (Although I probably will after a few more weeks of normalcy as taking all this stuff is not cheap.)

Last year this site gave me light and hope. Of course, it still does. Haha! I went down deep into depression. It was the first time for me that I could not take
care of myself. My boyfriend jumped up to the plate and took care of me financially. I still have Chronic Pain but understand what is happening to me. I did lose 5 people in my life last year. It was all I could take. 5 jobs lost and now after several medications (Drove my MD doctor crazy)I am back on my Prozac at a stronger dose. I feel much better. I have changed my diet. My stomach is 100% better No bleeding etc. I use Celebrex at a higher dose now and Tylenol. I am gonna try to go back to the Mayo Clinic again in the future. I still have PTSD but understand myself better now too. Thanks for everyone that has kept me going. This has been a great place to grow!!!!

I would not fo back on Effexor if I was you. I WAS ON effexor for 3 years and yes it was a complete nightmare to come off of but I guess everybody's bodys are differant because most people here didnt think it was a good idea for me to just stop taking it after I tapered down to 37.5 but I did and I went threw it for sure. I hallucinated I couldn't sleep. My head hurt so badly I ached everywhere. My heart rate went up for awhile But I DID GET THREW IT with just valium a couple times a day. Took the edge off only. Any ways it took me probably 20days and now I'm done with that poison and I feel 100percent better. I still have bad days but not bad enough I would ever take effexor again...
If you need to take an anti depressant Ask the Dr about lexapro. Have u tried that before. I was on that for anxiety and depression for about year before I started effexor. When I quit taking lexapro my only side effect was extreme crying No where near the effects of effexor!!!!!!!!
I know it's hard girl. You
Will find yourself a food psychologist and get on a good regimen I JUST WOULDN'T TAKE EFFEXOR.
I take magnesium to help me sleep plus helps muscle spasms and I am on klonopin 2x a day. Maybe they will help u that way and you should just try klonopin just once a day cause I'm aware its addicting in itself or when needed. I
This is just my story
Everyone has there own story on here
Everyone's so helpful and knowledgeable and seems like always there to help.
This gave me an outlit when I was going threw my withdrawls. I would just get on here and go on and on and get my days mixed up on goodness they thought I was crazy on here. I just was so scared and confused but It was the best thing i could of ever done was to leave that effexor and move forward
Good luck your in a great chat room that's for sure
God bless
Lisa

I’m needing advice. I am off of Effexor since March. I took Prozac as a bridge for a while as the withdrawals were bad. Since then I have been on every SSRI available and have horrible side effects, restlessness, restless legs, anxiety, agitation. It seems my body is super sensitive to it. I was recently put on WellbutrinXL, this was even worse for me. I realize I need something for depression and anxiety, and I am hesitant about going back on a SNRI, but I don’t think I have a choice. Any suggestions on what I should try? I left my Psychiatrist and went to my Primary Care Provider, but I believe that was a big mistake. What medicine do you suggest that is not so mind altering as Effexor? I feel like a failure going through all I went through with Effexor and it’s withdrawal to just go back there.

I joined this group in the hopes of finding ideas to help my mom. She was on a variety of meds but after an in patient stay, weaned off of them. Thankfully the tremors went away. Unfortunately the remeron dr prescribed didn’t work. So now she’s back on Zoloft after 5 years or so. Praying it kicks in soon. We’re all exhausted. Thank you for all of your uplifting thoughts.

Sorry I typed that fast and misspelled alot of words like ....A food psychologist....lol...omg how funny and embarrassing...sorry about that

@babydoll
Have you considered tranquilizers or mood stabilizers? Either going back to your original psychiatrist or finding a new one could prove beneficial for talk therapy or talk therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is also often effective. Also s/he may have other medication suggestions. Do you know what is causing your depression/anxiety?
Jake