Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

You used one when you came off Effexor the first time--"The only way doctors know to soften the blow when withdrawing from short half-life drugs [Effexor is such] is to add 20mg fluoxetine (Prozac). The half-life of Effexor is 5 hours and 99% of it is out of your body in one day. Prozac's half-life is 4 to 6 days and it takes 25 days for 99% of it to be out of your body. Essentially, the Prozac cushions the effect of no Effexor and lets you "ride out" the withdrawal process.–https://natashatracy.com/treatment-issues/withdrawal/antidepressants-effexorpristiq-venlafaxinedesvenlafaxine/. See also https://www.depressionforums.org/forums/topic/107532-coming-off-of-effexor-with-prozac-bridge/

I tapered off Effexor. I did not learn about using Prozac to cushion the withdrawal from Effexor until I started researching the withdrawal symptoms that I began experiencing 6–6.5 weeks after my last dose of Effexor. I was prescribed Valium short-term by a Care Now doctor when my akathisia and anxiety became overwhelming. She had me take 5mg Valium twice a day for three days straight (I stayed home from work) to "get ahead of the anxiety."

Hi @rsmykalski, incredible job tapering! I too, just finished tapering and currently on 0mg! I tapered from 75mg and did it pretty quickly with 12mg decreases.
The day after tapering to 0mg was definitely my most difficult.
I started taking a huge dose of fish oils and b 12. There are definitely great reads in this forum from people ( recently) who have suggested more options too, you can even go back and peek through the last couple pages!
Good luck on your journey!

Hey All,

It’s been a couple weeks now that I’m on 0 mg. I was wondering how everyone who is off it now felt a couple weeks into it? Or just in general after withdrawal has minimized? (Or maybe this is still withdrawal?)
I’m feeling moody and irritable still and feel the need to be in control of a lot of things. I specifically feel snappy.
For my women friends, did you notice a huge difference in mood change during your time of the month? I’m really hoping that this could just be that!

Mainly, worried that I’m going to be a raging b*tch without my medication and it sucks because I see SO MANY good things off my medication, I’m more motivated, better in social situations, working out more, less sleeping and I feel like I care about things again.

I just don’t want to be a nasty person and I don’t want to be back on medication! 🤦🏼‍♀️🤷‍♀️😩

Thoughts? 💜

How old are you?
I used to write words about raging emotions after getting off this drug.
Red Clover Tea from the health food store stopped these feelings.
It soothed out the nasty edges.
Get it loose or in tea bags.
It works.
They will tell you how much to use.
I myself was using a loose tablespoon of the dried leaves and flowers in 1 quart hot water.
A bit of honey helped. I would put less than a tsp in the quart.
I wish you well.

I’m 32.
That sounds good! I will try that! I took your advice on a couple supplements and it helped!
I will let you know how it goes! 💜

I need the withdrawal of the Effexor Xr cushioned for me badly so adding the adding the Prozac will help that so I won't get the terrible headaches then?

The Prozac will truly help. Go easy on yourself. Incidentally, is there something about the name “Suzy” and being on Effexor? There are several of us on this forum!

When my doctor told me to cut back on the 75 milligram capsule and go down to 37.7 milligram capsule I think he thought it would be easy for me. I think it was because I had done it before but he forgot that I know before I was on Prozac too so that helped a lot. I don't know why I got back on the Effexor but I regret it to this day and now really need to get back off of it again. I've been on the Effexor XR and it's wrecked my blood pressure so need to get off it. I wonder if my doctor doesn't realize Prozac helps with the withdrawal.

I have a temper, but I knew I was experiencing Effexor withdrawal symptoms when I would go from mildly annoyed/irritated to I-want-to-throttle-you/homicidal maniac in the blink of an eye. While reducing and after getting off Effexor, it takes your brain a while to figure out how to rebalance serotonin and norepinephrine.

NOTE: If you are on birth control pills, taking red clover along with birth control pills might decrease their effectiveness.