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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
I have been taking venlafaxine HCL ER Cap 37.5 mg since 2017. recently I felt they were making me nausea. I have decided to get off of them. I take capsules therefore, I would break them open and count the little pebbles and took like this,. The first week I took 1/2 of capsule pebbles daily, next week 1/3 capsule pebbles daily, then this last week 1/4 of capsule pebbles. Today is friday 3-5 and I am now off the pills totally. I don't feel depressed at all. Symptoms are bad nausea, sweats, feeling cold, vivid dreams. The nausea is the worse, I ve tried everything to help rid me of the nausea, nothing works. I am in hopes that I am doing the weaning the proper way. My dr. suggested for two weeks take1 pill every other day. I didn't feel that would be good so I did not follow her instructions. Is there someone at Mayo Clinic Connect who can suggest something for the nausea. Thank you
Replies to "I have been taking venlafaxine HCL ER Cap 37.5 mg since 2017. recently I felt they..."
@marylcamp67 ,
I too have had lots of nausea related to tapering. There are lots of meds of which I've tried many. OTC remedies have at times worked just about as well as Rx meds. Ginger chews, ginger tea, or ginger liquid dissolved in water all work pretty well. Another is Nauzene, which is a chewable tab and you can use up to 24 tabs/24hours, if needed, hopefully not. If you need names of Rx meds, I've got lots you could choose from, but that's just adding another medicine. I would try the ORTs first. I feel your frustration. Stay in touch.
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Have you and your doctor explored and ruled out other causes for your nausea (pregnancy, inner ear/balance issues, etc.)?
Your taper was pretty fast, but your doctor's every-other-day suggestion would have put you into withdrawal every other day. Withdrawal symptoms (headache, anxiety, digestive issues, brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, etc.) are the big tipoff that a taper is being done too aggressively. Often, folks get relief from withdrawal symptoms by reinstating the Effexor: going back to a dose where they didn't have any WD symptoms (sometimes, even upping the dose a bit) and staying there for some weeks to stabilize before attempting ANY more tapering. When they began tapering again, they only reduced 5–10% (or even less) and waited weeks before reducing again.
OTC medications and supplements can help with some of the withdrawal symptoms. I didn't have nausea very often, but when I did, I found sucking on Pepto Bism*l lozenges and eating dry saltine crackers helpful. You may be experiencing dizziness/vertigo; Ben*dryl, Bon*ine, or other seasickness remedies (wrist bands) can reduce/minimize those symptoms.