1. < Depression & Anxiety

Long term effects AFTER withdrawing from Effexor

Posted by DissidentDaughter @dissidentdaughter, Aug 4, 2018

I am wondering if anyone has had any experience like this. I weaned off Effexor three years ago. After doing so I have gradually developed what is now becoming debilitating chronic pain. I am wondering if there is any way that being on Effexor for 15 years could have caused me to develop this pain now that I am not on it anymore. Thanks for your thoughts. I can’t seem to find any direct related research on this.

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adb1981 | @adb1981 | Dec 1, 2024

I was in 150 mg for 18 years. I went 150-0 in 3 months jumping off at 37.5. It’s been 22 months and I can absolutely say it’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve made tons of progress but still have a ways to go.
I wish I had have done some research and not just followed my doctors instructions to taper off.

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user0 | @user0 | Apr 12 2:10am
In reply to @abcxyz "Well, that’s reassuring as one positive from Effexor since inflammation is a major trigger for disease..." + (show)
@abcxyz

Well, that’s reassuring as one positive from Effexor since inflammation is a major trigger for disease and cancer. I’ve been fighting my primary care doctor to let me wean down efffexor XR 75mg to 37.5mg and she’s like dealing with a timid child who doesn’t know if she should turn right or left so she chooses the stand still. It’s baffling to me how some of these MDs become doctors. I told her I was on 150mg for a few years and with my previous MD I simply said I want to get off this medication so cut my dose in half and they did and I was fine. Now, dealing with a new MD who acts like I’m asking for open heart surgery from a dentist when I ask for the lower dose. Unbelievable. I’ve heard it’s extremely difficult getting off Effexor completely so any recommendations for the weaning process is much appreciated. I don’t want the emotional numbness I’ve had since getting on the Effexor. It’s made me less social, more avoidant, less motivated to do anything, almost like I developed some kind of phobia about getting ready to go somewhere causing excessive worry about being late, which leads to delaying or refusing to start the process - therefor I end up exacerbating the tardiness fears by making myself late because I wouldn’t just get in the shower or whatever- so I either end up really late or missing out completely, but most often I cancel plans & appts I make because I don’t want to deal with the stress of getting ready & out the door. I never had any issues pushing myself to do things I didn’t want to do, but had to do for whatever reason, prior to getting on this dam* medication. I also had no idea it was extremely difficult to get off of and potential to cause permanent and/or long term problems once it’s out of the system. It’s infuriating to think about these unknowns never being remotely mentioned to me prior to the prescribing. As in there is no way I would’ve consented to taking it with the known risk/reward positivities. Especially, considering my depression was induced postpartum and exacerbated from high level long term stress from my job that finally made me turn to a doctor for medication to relieve depression/anxiety. Never had depression before giving birth and stress from my job was severe prior to, but never unable to cope with it until I had my son. I feel like a more appropriate plan would’ve been to advise me to take a leave of absence from work until I was able to address the postpartum depression via treatment. Not doing so was a a recipe for disaster walking me into the lions den of antidepressants. It’s effected my life in ways I will feel for decades to come and I wish I could go back and make the decision never to get on the medication in the first place. I knew better being in the medical field, but I thought there was no other way to keep all the things in my life manageable. Has anyone been able to get off Effexor and get back to who they were before beginning the medication?

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18.5 years on Effexor XR. lost a lot of my vision in the first 6 months and where glasses which have steadily gone up in changes. Now on 2+ to be able to see things non blurry. Managed to get down from 225mg one tablet at a time from three over the last 2-3 years. Stopped the last one 3 nights ago and the zapping of the brain is horrendous. At night in the dark, the brain zaps come with blue green light, like being zapped by actual power. Tearful for nothing at times as of today. Very very confused, not knowing what I am doing at times. Disoriented. All of the withdrawals appear to be getting worse with each day as of day 3 now. I did this for me. I have no money as I am on a govt payment, 61, with a number of chronic conditions and hospitalisations including surgery for recurring abscess formations (large pus collections abutting the liver apparently in my fat and skin, which have broken through my chole incision twice now and sent me straight to surgery for drainage, following 3 months of a none healing surgical wound now). Continuous infection symptoms 4 times in the last 3 months, with chills, weakness, aches, headaches etc, making a very pusy overfull abdominal dressing each time, but with no microorgansims found when tested???? High white blood cell count in urine and blood, and CT with contrast showing extreme inflammation at the base of the wound (and probably throughout the rest of the body at that). I just don't understand how all the signs of infection are there every few weeks, extra exudate is there, yellow/green and there can be no microorganisms found each of the 4 times this has happened in the past 3 months. Is my immune system picking up the culprit before it is sent to the lab and somehow erasing it? Is this an auto immune disorder? I know 20 years ago, the doctors were checking for lupus, but somehow this didn't go any further, due to other issues at the time. Well, I also stopped my Melatonin for sleep at the same time as I stopped my last Effexor three nights ago. I have no money as my entire payment now goes to rent, which keeps rising and I have to get food from food banks. No money for GPs or medications, so I had to stop my antis. Aside from that, I am also sick of being controlled by these medications and doctors who are being backed by pharmecutical companies to push these things. I want back control of my life. I hope these withdrawal symptoms will go away and I will find out who I am after 20 years and make my own decisions about ways to manage my depression/anxiety through diet, exercise, mindfulness, relaxation etc. I am considering taking one St John's Wort to counteract the withdrawals tomorrow as I've read these Effexor withdrawals may go on for months

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looplu79 | @looplu79 | Apr 12 7:09am

Stopping melatonin at same time as Effexor is maybe not the best action

I am reducing and have less side effects as I am doing it very slowly
I have been taking 7.5 ngs twice daily for weeks but will not reduce more until the zaps cease
The last small doses has been the most difficult to stop

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simon007 | @simon007 | Apr 12 7:27am

Definitely slow down the dose level when titrating off.
As Looplu 79 says, drop down dose , (with ever smaller Pill sizes) each time, as the side effects (withdrawal) effects begin to lessen.
Anyone still getting legacy side effects after a long & careful titration off? I am still getting allergic reactions over 2 yrs after a 3 yr titration off EFFEXOR / VENLAFAXINE . Including, swollen mouth / lips every day on waking & Blood spots on head. I have read it can take 4+ years for these legacy effects to stop. Any similar experiences? I seem to be very rare with this type of prolonged side effects issue.

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1 reply
david707 | @david707 | Apr 14 12:23am
In reply to @simon007 "Definitely slow down the dose level when titrating off. As Looplu 79 says, drop down dose..." + (show)
@simon007

Definitely slow down the dose level when titrating off.
As Looplu 79 says, drop down dose , (with ever smaller Pill sizes) each time, as the side effects (withdrawal) effects begin to lessen.
Anyone still getting legacy side effects after a long & careful titration off? I am still getting allergic reactions over 2 yrs after a 3 yr titration off EFFEXOR / VENLAFAXINE . Including, swollen mouth / lips every day on waking & Blood spots on head. I have read it can take 4+ years for these legacy effects to stop. Any similar experiences? I seem to be very rare with this type of prolonged side effects issue.

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I slowly halved my Effexor from 150 to 75 w/o any side effects and stayed with that about 5 months until I had a major anxiety attack and decided to go back up. I am 79 and I just want to be comfortable in the later years. I must be very fortunate not to have these terrible side effects.

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1 reply
looplu79 | @looplu79 | 6 days ago
In reply to @david707 "I slowly halved my Effexor from 150 to 75 w/o any side effects and stayed with..." + (show)
@david707

I slowly halved my Effexor from 150 to 75 w/o any side effects and stayed with that about 5 months until I had a major anxiety attack and decided to go back up. I am 79 and I just want to be comfortable in the later years. I must be very fortunate not to have these terrible side effects.

Jump to this post

I see a difference between side effects from withdrawal and return of anxiety
I would suggest a change of drug for anxiety which does not have the same effects as Effexor
I had no side effects when dropping dose of Effexor up to 37.5 mgs slow release daily I had been on 150 mg for 17 years
However once down to
Much smaller doses I experienced some side effects so am very slowly lowering dose
If you have been on Effexor for more than 5 years withdrawal effects are more pronounced

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