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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6363)Comment receiving replies
Hello, this is my first time here. I am Pat in Maryland. I will be speaking to my doctor this week and plan to tell her I want to get off Venlafaxine. I believe I am on 150mg. I also take 50 mg imipramine which I have been on for so long it has probably become part of my DNA. I may have to stay on it. Has anyone here read Kelly Brogan MD’s book on withdrawal from antidepressant drugs?
Replies to "Hello, this is my first time here. I am Pat in Maryland. I will be speaking..."
Hi there! And welcome! I have not read the book you’re talking about, but I did a lot of reading before I went off Effexor (venlafaxine). It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about it and go very very VERY slowly. Give yourself lots of time so that you have minimal (if any) withdrawal symptoms. No need to put yourself through unnecessary hell! But, that being said, it is very possible to wean off :). I did it but I am not off antidepressants completely. (I was, but apparently I’m bipolar and am back on Seroquel and zoloft). But all is well.
It’s not a contest. Be good to yourself and stay in contact with your doc and us 🙂
Thanks for joining!
Suzi
There's a lot of good information on this discussion board; I hope you'll start at the beginning and work your way through up to the present.
If your doctor suggests a tapering plan for you, please keep in mind that only you know how you feel. Many times doctors are more optimistic than their patients find comfortable regarding how quickly you drop and how steep the drops should be (based on the experiences related here and elsewhere on the web). Withdrawal symptoms are the big tip off that you are tapering too fast.
You don't mention how long you've been on venlafaxine—I was on it for 18 years for hot flashes (25mg regular-release, once-a-day) and found that it took about six weeks for me to use up the Effexor stored in my body tissues AFTER I tapered off; you really aren't off the drug until the stores are gone.
Let us hear from you and what your plan is. Much success.
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@pattpooh Hey, welcome Patty Pooh. You must of liked Winnie the Pooh. Glad you are with us. I never had too many problems getting off of medicine. Now I am on Lexapro 20 mg, Lamictal 200 mg and Klonipin, which I only take at night to help me sleep with melatonin and sometimes Ambiem. Sometimes I do take Klonipin in the morning. I'm allowed 3 a day. One in the morning and 2 at night, but I only take one, because I'm on a muscle relaxant too. I haven't heard of Kelly Brogan MD"S book on withdrawal from antidepressants.
I'm not familiar with Venafaxine, that's probably the generic name. Good luck getting off of it. I really like Lexapro. Rexalta was my favorite, but I started having side effect from it with my mouth quivering. Oh darn I thought, found one that really worked and it that to me. I wish you the best and let me know how it comes out getting off of it. I'll remember patpooh.