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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@cp6401

perhaps it's the emotions due WD, but i teared up when i read you had a sudden bout of happiness.. oh how i long for that.. i'm also completely off venlafaxine now, it's been 7-8 days.. of hell.. i will locate my previous posts and update. thanks for Sharing

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@cp6401 have you been off 7-8 days of Venlafaxine? I’m on day 3 and it’s manageable!
I definitely have started crying too! Mostly in the evening and yes, over sad posts and such!
Keep strong my friend! We’ve got this! 💕

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Hi All,

Day 3 of 0mg and it’s not as awful as I expected. Definitely need to fight through things, but it’s not crippling me.

Yesterday I puttered around house and took my time with things, it’s all cerebral as @flind felt as well! Sensory overload is DEFINITELY a thing! Especially in the evening. My husband came home from an Expo for our business and was so excited to tell me everything and I just started crying and was like “I can’t talk right now”.

Brain zaps are still there, nausea comes and goes, headaches aren’t bad. Overall, I feel like I can get through this is I just take my time with my daily routines.

So incredibly grateful for this forum! Definitely, would feel alone if I didn’t have everyone here! 💜

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@laujenkins

Hi All,

Day 3 of 0mg and it’s not as awful as I expected. Definitely need to fight through things, but it’s not crippling me.

Yesterday I puttered around house and took my time with things, it’s all cerebral as @flind felt as well! Sensory overload is DEFINITELY a thing! Especially in the evening. My husband came home from an Expo for our business and was so excited to tell me everything and I just started crying and was like “I can’t talk right now”.

Brain zaps are still there, nausea comes and goes, headaches aren’t bad. Overall, I feel like I can get through this is I just take my time with my daily routines.

So incredibly grateful for this forum! Definitely, would feel alone if I didn’t have everyone here! 💜

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Did you taper or cold turkey?

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@flind

I did share a bit about what I am taking in my post but it won't be relevant to anyone else's needs because each of us has a completely unique physio-chemical makeup. I have heard that a few of the supplements are fairly common, so these are probably beneficial to many people. The pretty 'standard' ones are the Essential Fatty Acids - like Fish, Flax, Evening Primrose, Vitamin B-12 - make sure it's methylcobalamin (unless you feel your body can handle the extra molecule of cyanide in cyanocobalamin - personally I avoid cyanocobalamin), and then D-3 & A (especially important on cloudy days). A good multi is probably helpful for most people - I personally use Source Naturals "Life Force Multiple" with no iron and no cyanocobalamin. The brands I have come to trust are Source Naturals, Pure Encapsulations & (most) Jarrow Formulas. I take Jarrow's "Bone-up" which is a decent source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and more.

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Hi thanks for the info about B12 - and the brands. : )

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@sears

Did you taper or cold turkey?

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I tapered! I was on 75mg and went right to 37.5mg because I was taking 37.5mg before and knew my body would be ok doing such a large jump. Then tapered 12.5mg per week until I hit zero. I know it was quick then usually recommended, however I know my body very well and what it can tolerate. Today was pretty much the same as yesterday in regards to withdrawal, maybe less nausea and brain zaps this evening. I did go out for dinner and that was definitely enough my senses could take. 💜

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My husband was on veniz xr 75+ 75 for 4 years, for tremor etc he has decided to off the med, his doctor first made the dose into 75,. Brain zap, heaviness on head, and very much vomiting happen for two weeks, mood change also occur, doctor has prescribed revortril .25 for 15 days. After two weeks vomiting stopped,then she made the dose 37.5 for one month. Then she said to stop. After stopping the med my husband tremendously vomited, for three weeks, nothing he can eat, cannot sleep, finally his GP advice to start veniz 37.5 again . Vomiting stopped totally. Now again his dose is 75. No more vomiting, but he has motion sickness tremendously which was not before.anyonne can help?

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@flind

Hi @cp6401 I hope you can read my response to @lisalucier . Genetic testing in and of itself isn't helpful, I think what is important is having a skilled geneticist who can explain the implications of the findings. I had a medical and an 'ancestral' genetic workup/readout - 2 different sets of genetic markers/variables were assessed. Then the psychiatrist I saw did the interpretation from those findings. I wasn't sure it was going to help at all, but now that I have followed the recommendations for supplements to alter my own brain chemistry (by supplying what had been lacking) I KNOW that it has helped me.

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Thanks, feedback appreciated.

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@flind

I hear you. Venlafaxine withdrawal wreaks havoc on brain chemistry including the emotions. The emotional responses I've had to others stories though are I think genuine and quite 'rational'. From a profound sense of relief knowing it's not 'just me', to deep empathy for the pain and suffering of others, I've cried many times reading this thread. That someone's little burst of sunshine can illicit pangs of longing makes sense too... it's a very 'raw' state we are in. I hope you're touched by your own sunbeam soon. And please know that it lasted only a moment - but even a 'glimpse' of a brighter future is enough to keep me pushing on on towards a better day... wish you all the best!

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Thanks and yes, I would like that for us all. I thought I saw a glimmer of light this morning.. of hope..usually the severe anxiety kicks in all day, and the light disappears but so far it’s minor..I remember feeling this as a kid.. in my teens.. terrified, no knowing or understanding what was going on...but now as an adult, I feel like maybe I’ve got a chance to beat this.. just maybe. I slept without any klonopin or otherwise aids (other than a hot ass bath) which I now know I can use as a tool..Day 10 for me

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@flind

I did share a bit about what I am taking in my post but it won't be relevant to anyone else's needs because each of us has a completely unique physio-chemical makeup. I have heard that a few of the supplements are fairly common, so these are probably beneficial to many people. The pretty 'standard' ones are the Essential Fatty Acids - like Fish, Flax, Evening Primrose, Vitamin B-12 - make sure it's methylcobalamin (unless you feel your body can handle the extra molecule of cyanide in cyanocobalamin - personally I avoid cyanocobalamin), and then D-3 & A (especially important on cloudy days). A good multi is probably helpful for most people - I personally use Source Naturals "Life Force Multiple" with no iron and no cyanocobalamin. The brands I have come to trust are Source Naturals, Pure Encapsulations & (most) Jarrow Formulas. I take Jarrow's "Bone-up" which is a decent source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and more.

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Thanks very much, I do take some of those too..

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@cp6401

Thanks and yes, I would like that for us all. I thought I saw a glimmer of light this morning.. of hope..usually the severe anxiety kicks in all day, and the light disappears but so far it’s minor..I remember feeling this as a kid.. in my teens.. terrified, no knowing or understanding what was going on...but now as an adult, I feel like maybe I’ve got a chance to beat this.. just maybe. I slept without any klonopin or otherwise aids (other than a hot ass bath) which I now know I can use as a tool..Day 10 for me

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Keep fighting my friend! 💜

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