Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Hi there... did you slowly ween yourself off? I was completely med free for 6 months after taking 18 months to ween off the last 37.5 mgs. (You read that correctly. 18 months. A few beads at a time). Even those last few beads, daily, seemed to work and then, when I was totally off I had symptoms of withdrawal. Not so much physical, but mental. Emotional. I literally cried every single day. Now, my father passed away during all this. Don’t ask me why on earth I would even attempt such a feat during this time, but I did. I also moved my family out of state. You could say I was going through major crisis mode.

But, when I couldn’t take it any longer, doc put me back on an SSRI. Turns out, a mood stabilizer was needed, too. I almost think the SSRI and the antipsychotic (scary name, right?) together make up the active ingredients in Effexor! (I’m going to google that now!)

Anyway, during the 6 mo this of no meds, meditation worked quite well for me. There are lots of free you tube videos and I downloaded an app, too. It can’t hurt.

Also, scroll through this forum for some ideas for supplements to take. And/or CBD oil.

Take it easy and I wish you well. Keep taking to us. There will be answers for you. Don’t give up.

I did end up in the hospital for a couple of weeks, and don't remember much of the first week except staff constantly reminding me how sick I was. Didn't understand, at the time, what was happening. Escitalopram is taking the edge off now, along with Seroquel. Curious to hear about issues with those? The end goal is no meds at all.

Hi there... did you slowly ween yourself off? I was completely med free for 6 months after taking 18 months to ween off the last 37.5 mgs. (You read that correctly. 18 months. A few beads at a time). Even those last few beads, daily, seemed to work and then, when I was totally off I had symptoms of withdrawal. Not so much physical, but mental. Emotional. I literally cried every single day. Now, my father passed away during all this. Don’t ask me why on earth I would even attempt such a feat during this time, but I did. I also moved my family out of state. You could say I was going through major crisis mode.

But, when I couldn’t take it any longer, doc put me back on an SSRI. Turns out, a mood stabilizer was needed, too. I almost think the SSRI and the antipsychotic (scary name, right?) together make up the active ingredients in Effexor! (I’m going to google that now!)

Anyway, during the 6 mo this of no meds, meditation worked quite well for me. There are lots of free you tube videos and I downloaded an app, too. It can’t hurt.

Also, scroll through this forum for some ideas for supplements to take. And/or CBD oil.

Take it easy and I wish you well. Keep taking to us. There will be answers for you. Don’t give up.

My experience with a bad withdrawal sounds much the same, especially brain not being able to find balance. It is getting better, lighter, brighter. Still a very long way from emotionally stable and it seems once the pile of issues hiding in the back corners of my brain came busting out that they wont go back in. But, and its a big but, no more pukey, head spinny feeling. No more dreams that made me afraid to sleep. No more sugar craving. Certainly not as much anger and wanting to crush people. All I keep hearing is to be patient.
No choice but patience as nothing will speed up this re-adjusting time.
2 big challenges/frustrations - 1 is explaining to others and dealing with the wanting to explain, 2 is to feel vindicated as this was not self- directed, it was done to me. To us.

@chicago1211 I FEEL THE EXACT SAME! It’s been I think a little over 2 weeks and I’m having the worst mood swings and I’m ANGRY! I’ve been taking supplements and exercising daily and it’s just awful! I had to take 12 mg tonight of Venlafaxine. I feel like a complete failure. I’m scared to fall back into feeling the brain fog and useless, but now I feel angry and miserable, that’s awful too. The withdrawal I could handle, I can’t handle being irritated all the time, ESPECIALLY, that I’m raising my daughter!

I’m so frustrated! 🥺

I know. I felt out of control and all I could do was jog and meditate. I’m not one for too many supplements but know they work for some folks. Sunshine, regular sleep, meditation and normalcy (which is what this entire world does not have now) all helps. However, in my case, it turned out I do actually do much better back on an SSRI (zoloft) Augmented by Seroquel. A very low dose of each so that encourages me, but still.

There are some success stories! Those folks aren’t on this forum (why would they?) and, I suppose technically, despite being back on an ssri, I have successfully gotten off Effexor. But go slowly. You will be fine and then, if your symptoms reappear, you’ll catch it soon.

If you have to go back on an ssri it’s ok. It is in no way a testament of weakness or anything other than you wanting to be the best YOU you can be. (Ok, I’m talking to myself here...)

Please keep on reaching out and letting us know how you’re doing and especially if/when you have moments of clarity or even, dare I say, happiness 🙂

We’re here.

I was so easily irritable and couldn’t control my anger for 12 days after quitting the meds. From the day 13 I’ve began feeling more depressed than angry. Either way a sad story.

May I ask you for how long you’ve been sober now?
I’ve also noticed less nightmares after about a week on dose 0.