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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sears | @sears | Mar 4, 2020

Yes! Sad for the patients. The docs are leaving us hanging. Trade one so called dangerous drug for another or you’re on your own.

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1 reply
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Mar 4, 2020
In reply to @sl144er "I’ve been taking EffexorXR 75mg for 6 or 7 years now and recently spoke with my..." + (show)
@sl144er

I’ve been taking EffexorXR 75mg for 6 or 7 years now and recently spoke with my PCP about discontinuing the drug. He said it was up to me and said the safest way would be to just stop. He said trying to discontinue by taking a pill every other day or decreasing the dosage could create more problems and actually be dangerous. He advised that if I did decide to discontinue, it would be best to pick a timeframe when I didn’t have a lot going on (or something to that effect). I didn’t ask how long it would take...dumb me...had no idea that withdrawal would be this miserable. I thought it might take 3 or 4 days before the effects wore off. I’m now on day 5 of “cold turkey” and not seeing a light at the end of the tunnel yet. Headache, queasiness, itching, brain fog, weepy spells, vertigo, digestive upsets, etc...

I was beginning to think I had the flu but decided to research Effexor withdrawal first to see if there was any information available. OMG. In some ways it’s reassuring to know what’s going on, but in other ways, I’m really worried about what I’ve learned and am wondering how long this horrible feeling might last. A lot of what I’ve read says it could take months to completely get through it.

Any others going the cold turkey route? Would love to hear from you.

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Hi, @sl144er - I believe that @brightwings had experience with going cold turkey off venlafaxine (Effexor) and may have some input to share from her experiences.

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1 reply
Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | Mar 4, 2020
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @sl144er - I believe that @brightwings had experience with going cold turkey off venlafaxine (Effexor)..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Hi, @sl144er - I believe that @brightwings had experience with going cold turkey off venlafaxine (Effexor) and may have some input to share from her experiences.

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Bright Wings here,
Oh yes, I was getting off this last drug.

And I'm an RN.

I started getting off in September of 2017. I took my dosage, 150 mg, then decided that was my last medication.
I did not do any homework, or read the cautions.
Long story short, I had such a bad nightmare, and as a result, I had a full on STROKE
I found this fantastic website in january, 2018.
DO NOT DO WHAT I DID.
I have since completely recovered.
It's been a long road back.
Taper, please taper, but it's your choice, how much you want to suffer.
Its doable, just take your time.
Smiling at you, Bright Wings

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Brightwings AKA Cute Susie | @brightwings | Mar 4, 2020
In reply to @sears "Yes! Sad for the patients. The docs are leaving us hanging. Trade one so called dangerous..." + (show)
@sears

Yes! Sad for the patients. The docs are leaving us hanging. Trade one so called dangerous drug for another or you’re on your own.

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Many docs dont know it's so tough to get off of.
Or in my case, I didnt ask.
Bright Wings

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2 replies
ksad | @ksad | Mar 4, 2020
In reply to @brightwings "Many docs dont know it's so tough to get off of. Or in my case, I..." + (show)
@brightwings

Many docs dont know it's so tough to get off of.
Or in my case, I didnt ask.
Bright Wings

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Doctors don't know and get little class-time about these drugs and how they work. They go by their computer screens, while you sit in their office.

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sears | @sears | Mar 5, 2020
In reply to @brightwings "Many docs dont know it's so tough to get off of. Or in my case, I..." + (show)
@brightwings

Many docs dont know it's so tough to get off of.
Or in my case, I didnt ask.
Bright Wings

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They better start getting educated! FAST! Too many people in sheer misery trying to deal with the yanking of their opioids or Benzos. It’s inhumane.

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clg | @clg | Mar 8, 2020
In reply to @lolita9 "Just joined the conversation. I've only been on effexor for less than a year that my..." + (show)
@lolita9

Just joined the conversation. I've only been on effexor for less than a year that my doctor and I decided to take me off. Side effects coming off when I do not take the 75 mg is horrendous. I haven't told anyone in my family that I'm on this and now am alone in coming off. I'm so scared but I can only trust my doctor to help me through this. It help to read I'm not alone. I wish I never taken it.

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Not sure if you still on here, but your situation is me current day. Only been on low dose for past 4 months, and weaning off. Dr. has me starting with going it off it for the weekends for the first month, and then down to taking it M/W/F for a month.... Today was day 2 and just horrible. Please tell me it gets easier

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4 replies
texasduchess | @texasduchess | Mar 8, 2020
In reply to @clg "Not sure if you still on here, but your situation is me current day. Only been..." + (show)
@clg

Not sure if you still on here, but your situation is me current day. Only been on low dose for past 4 months, and weaning off. Dr. has me starting with going it off it for the weekends for the first month, and then down to taking it M/W/F for a month.... Today was day 2 and just horrible. Please tell me it gets easier

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Sadly, many on here can attest that many doctors do not know how to taper someone off Effexor. Trying to taper by skipping days means that the levels of Effexor in your body will yo yo dramatically; this drug has a very short half-life already which makes it hard to get off of. You'd do better to reduce the amount of drug you take at each dosing. You reduce by a small amount, stay there for weeks, or months until you aren't experiencing withdrawal effects and then make another small step down.

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1 reply
clg | @clg | Mar 8, 2020
In reply to @texasduchess "Sadly, many on here can attest that many doctors do not know how to taper someone..." + (show)
@texasduchess

Sadly, many on here can attest that many doctors do not know how to taper someone off Effexor. Trying to taper by skipping days means that the levels of Effexor in your body will yo yo dramatically; this drug has a very short half-life already which makes it hard to get off of. You'd do better to reduce the amount of drug you take at each dosing. You reduce by a small amount, stay there for weeks, or months until you aren't experiencing withdrawal effects and then make another small step down.

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I take 75 mg capsules so not sure how I would do that

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1 reply
secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | Mar 8, 2020
In reply to @clg "Not sure if you still on here, but your situation is me current day. Only been..." + (show)
@clg

Not sure if you still on here, but your situation is me current day. Only been on low dose for past 4 months, and weaning off. Dr. has me starting with going it off it for the weekends for the first month, and then down to taking it M/W/F for a month.... Today was day 2 and just horrible. Please tell me it gets easier

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I’m not a doctor, but going off Effexor on the weekends? That sounds like a recipe for misery! Just ween. Ween slowly. If you get to a point where you feel bad, you’ve gone too fast. Consider talking with another medical professional or an accessible pharmacist. This is a really big deal that your doctor should be taking very seriously.

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