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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stephee11 | @stephee11 | Mar 22, 2020

I’m having crazy withdrawals, or at least that’s what I’m hoping it is. Went to the hospital last night and they gave me acid reflux medicine to take for a month. I’m weaning off of Effexor evil I start my Wellbutrin. I’m at 37.5 mg of Effexor a day and 150 of Wellbutrin. I started tapering down from 150 and was fine until I went to 75 and had to stop to start my Wellbutrin. I couldn’t make it through the second day of just Wellbutrin because I thought I wasn’t going to die. After discussing it with my doctor, I am now tapering down from 37.5 for a week, then taking it every other day the next week and every third day the following week. I just want this madness to end. I just want to love my cat and my boyfriend without getting angry or crying while shaking throughout my whole body. My withdrawal symptoms are: warm sensation in middle of chest, dizziness, blurry vision and aches in my calfs.

Went to the ER last night, the doctor told me it’s not covid 19.

REPLY
3 replies
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Mar 22, 2020
In reply to @stephee11 "I’m having crazy withdrawals, or at least that’s what I’m hoping it is. Went to the..." + (show)
@stephee11

I’m having crazy withdrawals, or at least that’s what I’m hoping it is. Went to the hospital last night and they gave me acid reflux medicine to take for a month. I’m weaning off of Effexor evil I start my Wellbutrin. I’m at 37.5 mg of Effexor a day and 150 of Wellbutrin. I started tapering down from 150 and was fine until I went to 75 and had to stop to start my Wellbutrin. I couldn’t make it through the second day of just Wellbutrin because I thought I wasn’t going to die. After discussing it with my doctor, I am now tapering down from 37.5 for a week, then taking it every other day the next week and every third day the following week. I just want this madness to end. I just want to love my cat and my boyfriend without getting angry or crying while shaking throughout my whole body. My withdrawal symptoms are: warm sensation in middle of chest, dizziness, blurry vision and aches in my calfs.

Went to the ER last night, the doctor told me it’s not covid 19.

Jump to this post

@stephee11
Good afternoon,
I’m no doctor but I’m not a complete idiot like I believe your doctor is. Effexor has a very short half-life 5 to 7 hours and it wasn’t designed to be taken every other day or every third day. The best way to taper is by reducing between 5 to 10% every 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 weeks before another cut. Even the 5 to 10% method doesn’t guarantee a withdrawal free taper but it seems to work for most people. if your insurance is willing to pay for a compounding pharmacy that would be ideal.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 22, 2020
In reply to @stephee11 "I’m having crazy withdrawals, or at least that’s what I’m hoping it is. Went to the..." + (show)
@stephee11

I’m having crazy withdrawals, or at least that’s what I’m hoping it is. Went to the hospital last night and they gave me acid reflux medicine to take for a month. I’m weaning off of Effexor evil I start my Wellbutrin. I’m at 37.5 mg of Effexor a day and 150 of Wellbutrin. I started tapering down from 150 and was fine until I went to 75 and had to stop to start my Wellbutrin. I couldn’t make it through the second day of just Wellbutrin because I thought I wasn’t going to die. After discussing it with my doctor, I am now tapering down from 37.5 for a week, then taking it every other day the next week and every third day the following week. I just want this madness to end. I just want to love my cat and my boyfriend without getting angry or crying while shaking throughout my whole body. My withdrawal symptoms are: warm sensation in middle of chest, dizziness, blurry vision and aches in my calfs.

Went to the ER last night, the doctor told me it’s not covid 19.

Jump to this post

Hi @stephee11, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. That must've been scary both to have such a strong withdrawal reaction and to have to go to ER. As you'll read by scrolling through past posts, the final steps of reducing the taper can be the most challenging. @texasduchess @secretwhitepop @sears have all gone slow as well as Jake. Everyone is different. Be sure to tell your doctor how you're feeling, so your taper can be adjusted to be right for you.

REPLY
1 reply
sears | @sears | Mar 23, 2020
In reply to @suzy31 "I always thought my psych doctor would always do the right thing but not so much..." + (show)
@suzy31

I always thought my psych doctor would always do the right thing but not so much anymore they would rather do the easiest thing as I've found out through this Effexor thing. He would rather just keep me on it if he could that would be the easiest. Since I'm complaining so much he has to get me off of it now. I'm rather disappointed in him. I don't know maybe they do want to help but they truly don't see what these drugs really do.

Jump to this post

I think pretty much all of us are disappointed in our doctors. You’re not alone.

REPLY
3 replies
suzy31 | @suzy31 | Mar 23, 2020
In reply to @sears "I think pretty much all of us are disappointed in our doctors. You’re not alone." + (show)
@sears

I think pretty much all of us are disappointed in our doctors. You’re not alone.

Jump to this post

I just found out something very frustrating my doctor prescribed me 20 milligram Prozac tablets because he insisted that I only take 10 milligrams for the first 4 days and that my insurance would pay for the tablets because they were generic. Little did he know they refused and wanted a prior authorization because they were tablets. I just found that out today from the pharmacy where my doctor is at. That's why I haven't gotten them yet. I'm lucky because generics are cheap so the pharmacy let me put it on my house account and they are sending them finally. My insurance will only cover the Prozac 20 milligram capsules and not the tablets. OH, brother! So I had to call my doctor and leave a message for his nurse to tell her what happened.

REPLY
1 reply
wandasophia | @wandasophia | Mar 23, 2020
In reply to @sears "I think pretty much all of us are disappointed in our doctors. You’re not alone." + (show)
@sears

I think pretty much all of us are disappointed in our doctors. You’re not alone.

Jump to this post

I am getting where I don't trust any of them I don't like being talked down to. Very disappointed in most of the medical drs.

REPLY
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Mar 23, 2020
In reply to @stephee11 "I’m having crazy withdrawals, or at least that’s what I’m hoping it is. Went to the..." + (show)
@stephee11

I’m having crazy withdrawals, or at least that’s what I’m hoping it is. Went to the hospital last night and they gave me acid reflux medicine to take for a month. I’m weaning off of Effexor evil I start my Wellbutrin. I’m at 37.5 mg of Effexor a day and 150 of Wellbutrin. I started tapering down from 150 and was fine until I went to 75 and had to stop to start my Wellbutrin. I couldn’t make it through the second day of just Wellbutrin because I thought I wasn’t going to die. After discussing it with my doctor, I am now tapering down from 37.5 for a week, then taking it every other day the next week and every third day the following week. I just want this madness to end. I just want to love my cat and my boyfriend without getting angry or crying while shaking throughout my whole body. My withdrawal symptoms are: warm sensation in middle of chest, dizziness, blurry vision and aches in my calfs.

Went to the ER last night, the doctor told me it’s not covid 19.

Jump to this post

Hi, @stephee11 - I also wanted to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. Totally makes sense you just want to love your cat and your boyfriend and not deal with anger and crying.

I have not taken venlafaxine (Effexor) before, but came off of another antidepressant, citalopram (Celexa) years ago and switched to bupropion (Wellbutrin). The road off of my former medication was bumpy (complete with a visit to urgent care visit), as was the journey onto my new medication. However, after waiting out the buproprion about three months, it worked well for me and I've taken it since then.

I'd like to introduce you to others who also may provide some support and input as you continue your taper from 37.5 mg venlafaxine after going off completely at 75 mg didn't work well for you. Please meet @sandij @brightwings @laujenkins @ksad.

How has today gone for you?

REPLY
1 reply
stephee11 | @stephee11 | Mar 24, 2020
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @stephee11, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. That must've been scary both to have such a..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @stephee11, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. That must've been scary both to have such a strong withdrawal reaction and to have to go to ER. As you'll read by scrolling through past posts, the final steps of reducing the taper can be the most challenging. @texasduchess @secretwhitepop @sears have all gone slow as well as Jake. Everyone is different. Be sure to tell your doctor how you're feeling, so your taper can be adjusted to be right for you.

Jump to this post

After my doctor refused to take my calls, I called my local health unit and they took me off Wellbutrin and ease my way back to my previous dosage of 150. I’m going to slowly taper down after that because I need to get off of this medication. With all of this coronavirus stuff going on, my anxiety thought that I got it when my chest got tight after I started my Wellbutrin.

Hopefully I can finally beat this.

REPLY
2 replies
stephee11 | @stephee11 | Mar 24, 2020
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @stephee11 - I also wanted to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. Totally makes sense..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Hi, @stephee11 - I also wanted to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. Totally makes sense you just want to love your cat and your boyfriend and not deal with anger and crying.

I have not taken venlafaxine (Effexor) before, but came off of another antidepressant, citalopram (Celexa) years ago and switched to bupropion (Wellbutrin). The road off of my former medication was bumpy (complete with a visit to urgent care visit), as was the journey onto my new medication. However, after waiting out the buproprion about three months, it worked well for me and I've taken it since then.

I'd like to introduce you to others who also may provide some support and input as you continue your taper from 37.5 mg venlafaxine after going off completely at 75 mg didn't work well for you. Please meet @sandij @brightwings @laujenkins @ksad.

How has today gone for you?

Jump to this post

I’m still having the shakes and am extremely dizzy. My arms tingle and I just get so nervous about all of these symptoms. I’m having acid reflux problems because of this. It’s scaring the hell out of me.

REPLY
sears | @sears | Mar 24, 2020
In reply to @stephee11 "After my doctor refused to take my calls, I called my local health unit and they..." + (show)
@stephee11

After my doctor refused to take my calls, I called my local health unit and they took me off Wellbutrin and ease my way back to my previous dosage of 150. I’m going to slowly taper down after that because I need to get off of this medication. With all of this coronavirus stuff going on, my anxiety thought that I got it when my chest got tight after I started my Wellbutrin.

Hopefully I can finally beat this.

Jump to this post

These doctors are horrible! Mine quit taking my calls when I had many questions in regards to tapering Xanax.

REPLY
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