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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 16 hours ago | Replies (6415)Comment receiving replies
Hello. It seems this discussion will help me with getting off effexor. It was prescribed 18 yrs ago and increased over time up to 300mg. The last 2 years have been horrible and the doctor responded to my questions about trying something different with her concerns about my high blood pressure. That would be dealt with first before looking at other meds. She was following a protocol, I assume, and that was the order she felt she had to follow. Her response to my concern that the effexor was raising blood pressure was "it shouldn't". Finally she agreed to begin a taper set up to decrease 37.5 mg/week. Per week. After 2 weeks I saw her, described my symptoms and wished I could have puked, levitated, or stabbed her with something not even sharp as she said the withdrawal "shouldn't" be causing any discomfort. Carry on.
I got through the first 4 weeks, and was taking 4 instead of 8 capsules. I crashed, badly. My son described what was happening to his dr and Jan 2 I saw this new dr. for the first time. We don't know why the dr. I was seeing wasn't aware of what could happen with that fast a drop, or why the pharmacists didn't pick up on it. I had to to back up to 5 capsules and in a week will drop down to 4. The plan is to drop 37.5 every 4 weeks. Struggling with the idea of that much time being miserable but reading posts here makes me see it could take much longer than to the end of June to be off this.
I am worried about many things. Is the next drop going to cause another crash?
What supplements should I be taking, as in vitamins or fish oil or something that could make this more tolerable?? Who gives me that info? Who do I trust other than the ones selling the products?
Getting off effexor is going to make things better in itself, but the depression and anxiety will still be there. All of the other issues will still be there. How will I manage that?
I don't want to add anything else to the drug soup (also on clonidine, irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide, plus good old crestor) but am reading about adding another antidepressant as the effexor dose lowers. Can I do this without taking something else, another drug, meant to help?
I was half way there and wanted to keep going, to tough it out, but that option was not there. I have not been able to work (teach jr high) and am still coming to terms with the reality that this is happening. I went home too upset to handle the day, that one day, and it became the end of a 25 yr career. Will I be able to function again, to be who i was?
This is already a long read and I could go on for pages. I struggle with explaining this to others - most people have no clue, or assume there is something else wrong with me. I want to say its not my fault and that its unbearable. Gaining empathy for addicts who will do anything to keep this pain away, and for people who use suicide to shut it down for good, has been intense and I don't know what to do with that feeling either.
Let me know if anything happens with the class action suit, please. I think there are 2 parts at fault, or 3. The makers of the drug, the drs who are in over their heads and prescribe it, the medical system that puts us/me at the mercy of such drs, and the pharmacists who go ahead handing out drugs in amounts that hurt people. I guess they are victims of the system also in that they can't question prescriptions, or can they? I live in Canada, in a rather isolated northern community with very few drs, and often don't see the same dr more than once or twice in a row.
If you've read this far, thank you. Having a place to defend yourself and ask questions is good.
Replies to "Hello. It seems this discussion will help me with getting off effexor. It was prescribed 18..."
Hi, I'm a retired teacher who was subbing for ESS, but insomnia and other withdrawal symptoms aren't predictable enough to allow for scheduling jobs. I had to arrange to take January off and hope to be able to get back to work in February. It's iffy. I believe I know in some part how you feel - it's very frustrating not to be able to do something that you've previously done, but need to continue doing. Teaching is challenging enough without all the other miseries caused by withdrawal. You do need to slow down the process as Sandi said. I went off too quickly (doctor didn't know how to safely guide my withdrawals either) and the withdrawals were not good. Maybe you can level out to a place where you can still work and yet begin to get off slowly enough to help with your other health issues. I'm trying diet, exercise and prayer - hang in there - it will get better.
Hi, @ksad - that sounds like your taper has been very tough but not at all unbelievable, with the stories many other members have shared of their venlafaxine (Effexor) tapers and how challenging they can be with multiple side effects.
As you seem to be grieving not being able to teach junior high as usual at this point while you are feeling ill from the taper, I thought I'd introduce you to a member who likely can relate to the loss (albeit temporary, for you) of a teaching career, @retiredteacher.
Have you discussed your fears about the next 37.5 drop with your doctor?
Sadly, many on here can attest that many doctors do not know how to taper someone off Effexor and many don't know the weaning process can be extremely fraught. I am amazed you hung in there as long as you did trying to taper off while working in a high-stress job like a jr. high teacher. Back in December, @cp6401 used the term "stress fragile" to describe how so many of us are during this process of getting off/reducing Effexor and even, afterwards.
Your second tapering schedule still sounds fast and the drops too steep. Most folks find it best to stabilize at level before attempting a drop. You will know pretty quickly if it's too soon--withdrawal symptoms will occur; you'll have to decide if they're bearable. P.S. I was on Effexor for 18 years, too--be aware that it gets stored in body fat; you're not really off Effexor until that gets used up.
Re supplements--
Do not take the supplements 5-htp, or L-tryptophan while on Effexor. I also learned the hard way don't take Dextromethorphan (yes, the cough medicine!). Also, if you have surgery, anesthesia and pain drugs (such as fentanyl and hydrocodone) can interact with Effexor. The DM and surgery drugs affected me even though I was only on 25mg Effexor!
I'm not a doctor and didn't try this myself, but others have used a "Prozac bridge"--read my post 4 days ago for more info and @jsprosise wrote back on May 9, 2018, "I had almost unbearable withdrawal problems every time that I tried to quit Effexor and always went back. The solution for me and several others (after I told them of the solution) has always worked. VERY SIMPLE ... take Prozac for 7 days along with the Effexor. After 7 days, stop taking Effexor and continue Prozac for 7 days ... NO WITHDRAWALS." @sandij a few posts up says, "... once the effexor wd starts the prozac bridge isn't effective." @jsprosise found it helpful even after withdrawal symptoms began, but s/he may have been unique.
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You’re are an amazingly strong person to be able to endure the illness and teach junior high! And, your students are exceedingly lucky to have you as a teacher as your writing skills and thought processes are superb.
Agitation is a thing. Respect it like you would hair loss from chemo. Is there anyway you can take some time off while you stabilize the weaning?