1. < Depression & Anxiety

Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

I have been taking Effexor/Venlafaxine for years and tried to get off it a few times but each time I try to give up the chemical withdrawal symptoms are a horror story and I give up giving up. Anyone got any tips or tried and tested strategies? Thank you

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secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | Jan 29, 2020
In reply to @rainer "Spoiler alert - this is a downer. Here's my experience. I went off effexor about 20..." + (show)
@rainer

Spoiler alert - this is a downer. Here's my experience. I went off effexor about 20 years ago - (too quickly) withdrawal was the pits and it included tinnitus (ringing.) Went to PCP and ENT docs trying to get some relief. Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus - I didn't know that at the time. So grasping at straws - went on xanax but hated it. So, long story short. I still have tinnitus and really had gotten used to the continuous, low level ringing. (Avoided as much stress and caffeine as possible.) However, about 2 years ago I started coming off lamotrigine (again too quickly) and now have a 4-alarm bell ringing in my left ear and pulsitile tinnitus in the right ear (only intermittent.) This is in addition to the lower frequency ringing. Now have insomnia from seroquel withdrawals (did titration on that one correctly.) So, I'm pretty miserable unless I stay busy - so I stay busy. The insomnia is getting better - I have a fitbit watch that helps me track the amount and quality of sleep. I have an appointment with an ENT next week (but not looking for much hope there.) Just as an aside - PC found an irregular heartbeat last year while I was on seroquel and referred me to a cardiologist who also found an irregular heart beat - my EKG yesterday was totally normal. I told the Doc he wouldn't like the obvious - but I wasn't on seroquel anymore. Thank goodness for this website and the resources. Started reading "Anatomy of an Epidemic" and listening to Mad In America podcasts - finally some answers. I'm currently slowly titrating off 5 mg Trintellix and 12.5 mg of lorazepam. I'm encouraged about sleeping at least 5 hrs a night - that's better than 2 or 3. So at least there is some hope there. : )

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I, too, developed pulsatile tinnitus. I had no friggin idea what that even was until I started hearing my heart beat in my ears! This is just too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence. Tell me, did you ever experience any phantom smells? Bad smells like cigarette smoke when no one around is smoking? It’s like these pills are hallucinogens or something!

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1 reply
brownikl1 | @brownikl1 | Jan 29, 2020

No smells but I have heard that a lot in this thread so believe it's not uncommon. Its shocking how many people with these crazy withdrawals and so many MD's don't know about this.

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rainer | @rainer | Jan 29, 2020

Hi - no haven't noticed smells - but everyone is unique. Our brains are still pretty mysterious and no doubt years from now - science is going to find a connection between these drugs and the myriad of side effects we're experiencing. : )

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seekingpeace | @seekingpeace | Jan 29, 2020
In reply to @secretwhitepop "Docs can be flippant about prescribing meds. And some docs think the only reason you’re seeing..." + (show)
@secretwhitepop

Docs can be flippant about prescribing meds. And some docs think the only reason you’re seeing them is to get a prescription! It’s so scary because, those of us who have NOT gone to med school, we put our faith in them and their knowledge. And while I do t think all docs have a nefarious nature, I DO think that the pressure of having to see so many patients in order to stay afloat plays a big part in their care. Plus the fact that drug companies push their products and offer “incentives”. It sickens me. While writing this my head “whirled” twice. I don’t know what it is, after extensive testing I apparently have some vestibular nerve damage. After more testing the ENT I’m seeing stated there’s nothing she can do for me. So now what? I’ve been off Effexor for almost one year... but BACK on zoloft and seroquel (labeled as an antipsychotic). I feel, as many people appear to feel, completely and utterly at the mercy of these meds. Damned if we do and damned if we don’t.

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This is disheartening my fellow venlafaxine warriors. I think we soldier on, tapering off this terrible stuff with caution and care. I'm on day three complete withdrawal , not lots of fun, minor brain zapping, but a bit dizzy - i feel overwhelmed a lot, I can't seem to un-chaos my life. Do you guys experience what I am calling 'noise pollution'? Noise is bothering me a lot, and light............not a jolly picture am I?

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2 replies
Sherman | @shermananski | Jan 29, 2020

Day 4 75 to 37.5. Feeling good. I went to yoga when I had a very excuse not to go so that’s a good sign as I have been loath to go the past months, another reason I had to get off this stuff. It gave me huge appetite and a disinterest in exercise at the same time. I felt so horrible when I started this medicine that it was worth it I guess. It felt like it helped. it was better than nothing. I guess.

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secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | Jan 29, 2020
In reply to @seekingpeace "This is disheartening my fellow venlafaxine warriors. I think we soldier on, tapering off this terrible..." + (show)
@seekingpeace

This is disheartening my fellow venlafaxine warriors. I think we soldier on, tapering off this terrible stuff with caution and care. I'm on day three complete withdrawal , not lots of fun, minor brain zapping, but a bit dizzy - i feel overwhelmed a lot, I can't seem to un-chaos my life. Do you guys experience what I am calling 'noise pollution'? Noise is bothering me a lot, and light............not a jolly picture am I?

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Yep. I don’t go anywhere without my earplugs. It makes all the difference. I can still hear, it just takes the edge off. Makes me immediately feel happier and back in control. Weird, right?

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rainer | @rainer | Jan 30, 2020
In reply to @secretwhitepop "I, too, developed pulsatile tinnitus. I had no friggin idea what that even was until I..." + (show)
@secretwhitepop

I, too, developed pulsatile tinnitus. I had no friggin idea what that even was until I started hearing my heart beat in my ears! This is just too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence. Tell me, did you ever experience any phantom smells? Bad smells like cigarette smoke when no one around is smoking? It’s like these pills are hallucinogens or something!

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Hi again, I found a website called survivingantidepressants.org and it has a wealth of information regarding tapering, etc. One of the folks mentioned phantom smells, so it must be one of the frequently mentioned withdrawal side effects. Sheesh.

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secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | Jan 30, 2020

Thank you! I feel vindicated!

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Sherman | @shermananski | Jan 30, 2020

Day 5 of 75 to 37.5 mg taper. It started out well. I felt very good this morning. Then I came across a very stressful trigger today and I felt it throughout my body. And my brain! It's a personal business situation at the tail end of a long and arduous and traumatic journey. I started to fight, but it's so painful without my numbing shields fully activated. On my way home from work I was a wreck. By the time the bus ride ended, however, I felt better. Just breath. Focus on a novel (no social media). I got home, got the soup going, and did a little yoga and meditation. Really perked me up. My ears are buzzing, but I'm doing well.

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1 reply
ksad | @ksad | Jan 31, 2020
In reply to @seekingpeace "This is disheartening my fellow venlafaxine warriors. I think we soldier on, tapering off this terrible..." + (show)
@seekingpeace

This is disheartening my fellow venlafaxine warriors. I think we soldier on, tapering off this terrible stuff with caution and care. I'm on day three complete withdrawal , not lots of fun, minor brain zapping, but a bit dizzy - i feel overwhelmed a lot, I can't seem to un-chaos my life. Do you guys experience what I am calling 'noise pollution'? Noise is bothering me a lot, and light............not a jolly picture am I?

Jump to this post

Instead of hearing becoming less sensitive, it seems like sounds are louder as I get older. Is hearing changing or is tolerance for sound changing? Very annoying. People chewing, swallowing (forcefully!), crunching, banging food against teeth, burping, fans blowing, things plugged in, loud tv or music or movies - horrible. Maybe part of over-prescription and withdrawal. Is this permanent??

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