Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

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?

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.

Usually when withdrawal effects are too much, the advice is to go back on the dose of Effexor where you weren't having symptoms and stay there awhile before trying to taper again. In this case, you said you need to get off Effexor because it's detrimental to your blood pressure. I'm not a doctor, never experienced the headaches you're having and didn't know about using Prozac until I was well off Effexor, but I'd go back to your doctor and bring this up--if Prozac worked for you before, it might help. Also, folks who were experiencing "brain zaps" found relief by taking fish oil capsules.

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.

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.

Reading the comments on this forum and out on the great wide web, the NORM is most doctors don't know how to get folks off drugs.

So I should hold off trying to get off the Effexor XR for a bit? Just stay on 75 milligrams for awhile? The stuff has messed with my blood pressure, blood sugar, even my liver enzymes. I truly hate the stuff.

So I should hold off trying to get off the Effexor XR for a bit? Just stay on 75 milligrams for awhile? The stuff has messed with my blood pressure, blood sugar, even my liver enzymes. I truly hate the stuff.

Usually when withdrawal effects are too much, the advice is to go back on the dose of Effexor where you weren't having symptoms and stay there awhile before trying to taper again. In this case, you said you need to get off Effexor because it's detrimental to your blood pressure. I'm not a doctor, never experienced the headaches you're having and didn't know about using Prozac until I was well off Effexor, but I'd go back to your doctor and bring this up--if Prozac worked for you before, it might help. Also, folks who were experiencing "brain zaps" found relief by taking fish oil capsules.

The Effexor headaches started creeping up on me slowly they weren't so bad at first and the longer I just stayed on just the 37.5 milligrams of the Effexor XR they got worse and the last headache I had I just couldn't stand so I went back up to 75 milligrams.