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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mmsm | @mmsm | 12 hours ago
In reply to @larrypains "4 years? Something wrong with that. That would make it the worst drug in the world..." + (show)
@larrypains

4 years? Something wrong with that. That would make it the worst drug in the world BY FAR!! You needed something to go along with your withdrawal process.. boy I am sorry!!! That's horrible!!! Iwas taking 150 mg for 12 years. In 2 weeks I went to 75 mg no problem. Then to 37.5, that's when the problems started. Stopped there and went back to 150. I needed to take something anyway
Now I've been switched to pristique 50 mg. Switch took 3 days and no withdrawal. Now coming off the pristique I don't know. But at least it's only 50 mg. We'll see maybe.

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I know this is an old post, but could you provide an update? Did the pristiq help with anxiety? Did you ever get withdrawal from effexor? I'm cross-tapering right now, and am not sure if the pristiq is helping. It's almost been two weeks on it.

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larrypains | @larrypains | 9 hours ago
In reply to @mmsm "I know this is an old post, but could you provide an update? Did the pristiq..." + (show)
@mmsm

I know this is an old post, but could you provide an update? Did the pristiq help with anxiety? Did you ever get withdrawal from effexor? I'm cross-tapering right now, and am not sure if the pristiq is helping. It's almost been two weeks on it.

Jump to this post

I'll tell you the move from effexor to pristique was seamless. And the. Dosage is lower. 1st 2 days I took 50 MG of pristique along with my normal dosage of effexor 150 MG. 3rd day NO effexor and up to 100 MG of pristique for 3 weeks. No idea I had changed anything. 4th week I moved down to 50 MG pristique and added 2.5 MG the lowest dose of zyprexa. Week 5. No pristique only 2.5 MG of zyprexa. 3days after the last pristique was no fun!!! But 1 month I'm off effexor. I'm so sensitive to meds too. I still suffer from depression and anxiety so I stayed on the zyprexa. It wasn't a nightmare and didn't have to count beads. Pristique is a tablet. But. 1st week I questioned the move. But 22 days off effexor and do feel alot better. No more SNRI FOR ME!!

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