Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Thank you for this!

Definitely the words of encouragement I needed!

This is the plan I would use. AND STILL use.
While you are detoxing from this medication, just be WATER, it WILL come.
Picture yourself just flowing. If something is too hard, just gently bump around that rock, big or little, just bump around it until you are free of the challenge.
Then flow until you find another challenge and bump around that one also.
Now, again, enjoy that food you want to eat right now. Cuz it's getting you thru this hard time.
Oh did I mention yet another side effect of withdrawing from this medication????
Weight loss!!!! A couple of months down the road, it will suddenly drop off you.
Wait for it.
Smiling at you, Bright Wings

Thank you! Can’t wait for the weight loss! I’ve been fighting it for years with this dang medication!

Hopefully it does come off! I’ve been working so hard and it’s just frustrating not losing the weight I want!

Fingers crossed 🤞

Thank you! Can’t wait for the weight loss! I’ve been fighting it for years with this dang medication!

Hopefully it does come off! I’ve been working so hard and it’s just frustrating not losing the weight I want!

Fingers crossed 🤞

I dont know if anyone can help me, been on 150 mg for 2 yrs and 4 months the last 2 months was 300 mg. Well i have gained almost 50 lbs since being on this medicine. And for the last 2 yrs i have been sweating profusely especially at night. Never under my armpits but around my neck face chest legs. I would wake up from a very strange dream n find myself soaked from sweat i would have to take a quick shower n hope to go back to sleep. I still sweat alot i really hate going outside. My bf says i freeze him with the ac im always hot. I have ptsd so the dr prescribes prozasin for my "nightmares" i have been taking it almost a month and my "nightmares/night sweats" have not decreased. I hurt my back recently and found out i have a bulging disc my primary care wants me to get off the effexor because she believes thats why i have gained so much weight. Plus i really dont think it helps my depression tbh. Gaining all this weight has made me even more depressed than before. I went into my psychs office n was crying because ive gained so much and i cant sleep. He prescribed adderall like wth. I want off the effexor and If i loose some weight itll help my back pain im trying to avoid back surgery i have small children to take care of. Is 300 mg hard to get off of? Is there anything i can do for the nausea. And vertigo. Any information or tips will help.

Just be kind to yourself, no matter what you are feeling.
You are on a roller coaster right now. You can get off by taking another Effexor or hang on till the ride ends.
The weight will drop off.
I think I had 10 to 15 pounds drop off my frame, months down the road. It's been a few years since I got off it but I do remember, the weight suddenly letting go.
I wish you well. Bright Wings

I know this is really old... I've been off of my effexor (that I took for 3 years) for 7 months now... I gained 50 pounds on it. I started out with a Presidents honor roll in college and ended up not even being able to make D's.. I couldn't remember ANYTHING. At first it was just losing my keys, not being able to remember what someone just told me a few days ago.. then I literally couldn't even study because I wasn't soaking up any information, and I was getting fat and I'd already been on antidepressants for 8 years (starting when i was ONLY 12). I stopped them cold turkey back in July. Its February and i will say I feel my old self coming back.. but it's so slow and I'm still so fucking exhausted. I dont experience the awful brain zaps anymore. I do still have lots of really bad agitation. I cry every day still. I was 180 when I stopped the medication, I am down to 120... I refuse to get back on them. They ruined my adolescence and my ability to make friends and act like a normal teen. I cant believe they give these to people... I am still recovering, almost a year later... and I though I feel depression, it's better than nothing at all

I know this is really old... I've been off of my effexor (that I took for 3 years) for 7 months now... I gained 50 pounds on it. I started out with a Presidents honor roll in college and ended up not even being able to make D's.. I couldn't remember ANYTHING. At first it was just losing my keys, not being able to remember what someone just told me a few days ago.. then I literally couldn't even study because I wasn't soaking up any information, and I was getting fat and I'd already been on antidepressants for 8 years (starting when i was ONLY 12). I stopped them cold turkey back in July. Its February and i will say I feel my old self coming back.. but it's so slow and I'm still so fucking exhausted. I dont experience the awful brain zaps anymore. I do still have lots of really bad agitation. I cry every day still. I was 180 when I stopped the medication, I am down to 120... I refuse to get back on them. They ruined my adolescence and my ability to make friends and act like a normal teen. I cant believe they give these to people... I am still recovering, almost a year later... and I though I feel depression, it's better than nothing at all

Wow, well, first of all welcome. You have not had an easy time of it have you.
I took antidepressants for 33 years. I needed them too.
I had a tough childhood too.
My last dose of effexor 150mg was January, 2018.
I worked long and hard to give myself endorphins to make up for the medications.
Crying, yes I know it.
Age???
Have you called your local health food store and gone in there to try natural teas like chamomile or others?
Age of your child?

The only thing worse than Effexor is depression. I'm down to 37.5 mg and feeling MUCH better. I tried 0 mg a few weeks ago and the darkness came over me, so I'm back to 37.5 mg. Several very stressful situations have been resolved and so my depression is in general much better. But, clearly I'm still depressed. I work with a psychiatrist in therapy and if you're still struggling without medicine, you should get into therapy. I've been going for months and I have months to go. I had thought my childhood traumas were way behind me, but like my general practitioner warned me 20 years ago, those traumas do not just go away. I've got me some learnin' to do. Find a good psychiatrist for medication management to get you through it and a therapist to help with your depression. Easier said then done, I know. Good luck.