Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

I have been Effexor for maybe a year, following a previous two-year depression relapse from hell. Before the relapse I had been on Paxil very succesfully for probably eight years. I sucessfully weaned off of Paxil (boy I wish I had never done that) for maybe four months when the depression came back with a vengence. I could not tolerate Paxil anymore and after two years of hell and I managed to tolerate Effexor. But, it was never a happy relationship. I've been in therapy and the psychiatrist encouraged me to wean off Effexor. Some severe stress triggers are gone now. The doc simply advised me to take it "slowly." I can't even remember what doses I took when... I was at ... 225? I reduced in 37.5 increments over the past several months with no problems. If anything I just felt better. Last night I went down to 37.5 and I felt fine today. Perhaps a little lucid! I stopped for dinner with friends (despite the recent excessive holiday season) and drank wine. I really shouldn't have done that. When I got home this evening I found that my cat pooped on my bed (rnot an unknown, but rather random act) and barfed (I guess he's not feeling well) and I just became super agitated. I mean really agitated, for me anyways. This is how my last relapse started. Agitation. So, I'm scared. I hate Effexor. I want off, but I'm so afraid of a relapse. I'm single and I don't think I can endure that again. I have gained a ton of weight on Effexor. More than I've ever weighed. I drink more. I have stopped going to the gym. Arghhhhhh. I'm so frustrated. I see the doctor Friday, but I'm venting. I want my life back.

I have been Effexor for maybe a year, following a previous two-year depression relapse from hell. Before the relapse I had been on Paxil very succesfully for probably eight years. I sucessfully weaned off of Paxil (boy I wish I had never done that) for maybe four months when the depression came back with a vengence. I could not tolerate Paxil anymore and after two years of hell and I managed to tolerate Effexor. But, it was never a happy relationship. I've been in therapy and the psychiatrist encouraged me to wean off Effexor. Some severe stress triggers are gone now. The doc simply advised me to take it "slowly." I can't even remember what doses I took when... I was at ... 225? I reduced in 37.5 increments over the past several months with no problems. If anything I just felt better. Last night I went down to 37.5 and I felt fine today. Perhaps a little lucid! I stopped for dinner with friends (despite the recent excessive holiday season) and drank wine. I really shouldn't have done that. When I got home this evening I found that my cat pooped on my bed (rnot an unknown, but rather random act) and barfed (I guess he's not feeling well) and I just became super agitated. I mean really agitated, for me anyways. This is how my last relapse started. Agitation. So, I'm scared. I hate Effexor. I want off, but I'm so afraid of a relapse. I'm single and I don't think I can endure that again. I have gained a ton of weight on Effexor. More than I've ever weighed. I drink more. I have stopped going to the gym. Arghhhhhh. I'm so frustrated. I see the doctor Friday, but I'm venting. I want my life back.

I tried Tintellix after a long relationship with Paxil, among others. Trintillix was a completely horrible experience for me. After a few frightening months, my psychiatrist changed me over to Prozac, a completely different generation from Trintillix, and that was 10 months ago. I also take Clonazepam, and have taken a therapeutic dose of 1mg twice daily. I have dysthymia, so depression is a constant background, but I function normally, or at least more normally. Sadly, medication is a roll of the dice. Make eye contact with your doctor. Put your cards face up on the table. Your doctor is on your payroll..

@shermananski
Having to clean up cat poop and barf upon arrival home last night would have upset most of us. @cp6401 used "stress fragile" in the post above yours--that's how so many of us are during this process of getting off/reducing Effexor and even, afterwards.

To go from 225 to 37.5 "over the past several months" is pretty fast. Many here have found that going sloooowww works best, especially as you get down to lower dosages. Dropping to just 37.5 already might be too soon. If your agitation persists and/or increases, consider reinstating to your previous dosage, stabilize there and wait weeks, or even months before reducing again (but reduce by only 5-10%, or less). Rushing the process may mean you ultimately can't get off Effexor because the withdrawals are too awful.

Eighteen months out, I am still mindful of what I watch (nothing frenetic, violent, or disturbing), read (cozy mysteries, or romances are okay), or listen to (no atonal, or dissonant music)–some things are just too agitating. However, life doesn't always cooperate; I have cats, too and that homecoming would have set me off as well. I find it helpful to distract myself when I become agitated--I take a walk, put on a comedy, or look at YouTube videos (I like the TooCute cat/dog shows and the English Heritage How to Victorian Cooking shows--Mrs. Crocombe is wonderful and the comments crack me up).

Can I ask what you mean by lucid?

Good question. Lucid: expressed clearly; easy to understand. I usually get so bogged down in brain fog. Everything seems so heavy and hard. I'm constantly looking for distracting, simple tasks to take me away from more demanding work. When I'm lucid I jump right in and take charge.

I was stomping around the house, shouting, slamming doors, throwing a ball point pen at the wall (see you in hell ballpoint pen). Wow. Then I feel bad, guilty, etc. My doctor will say feel it and own it. I stuff feelings deep. Cats are a pain in the arse. Just saying. I've bent over backwards over the years appeasing and caring for very difficult cats. This one is 25 pounds and has PTSD (I assume). Cheap cat litter. Seriously. I think it makes him sick to his stomach. The poop? I was out of town for a few days and then was gone all day at work. He misses me. Poor baby. My head is spinning.

Anyways, you're right about finding alternative outlets. I was tired, so I turned on a Headspace sleep story, The Laundromat, and got my head in a different place and fell asleep. It's damaging, I think, to get so worked up and angry. Maybe not. Maybe it's feeling so guilty and bad about feeling angry. That's the theory I'm working on...

I am actually a meaner, more irritatable person when I am on effexor. When i went tgrough withdrawal i felt terrible but my mood was better somehow, if that makes any sense. But the symptoms were so bad I reinstated and now im back to my hateful self, lol. So I'm wondering if this is due to the medication and not my true personality. All i know is that something needs to change and I'm running out of what little patience i have. I started my taper in sept 2018 and so its been over a year now that I'm dealing with it.