Connect
← Return to Effexor Withdrawal Side Effects
Discussion
Effexor Withdrawal Side Effects
Mental Health | Last Active: Oct 31 12:11pm | Replies (32)Comment receiving replies
@mmsm, I know this is an old post, but I’m going through the Effexor withdrawal process now—and this forum seems very helpful to hear others have a hard time with this too. If anyone out there is still getting notifications from this thread—I’d love some more insight.
I’ve been on Effexor on & off for over 16 years. I have tried several other psych meds, and Effexor always worked the best for me with the most tolerable side effect trade-offs, so I kept getting put back on it. I was hospitalized a few years ago when my depression hit a scary low. I expressed while there that environment would’ve been a good setting to finally come off of Effexor (since the weaning process is SO challenging) & try something else, but my psych MD chose to increase my dose & add Buspar instead (the latter didn’t help, but the increased dose stabilized me enough to be discharged a week later). Fast-forward to 2025: I have since been on 225mg Effexor since, and recently encountered a huge shift in depression & anxiety following my gyno taking me off of birth control when I started experiencing perimenopause symptoms a few months ago. The change in hormones did not resolve my hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, or weight gain (all that’s still there)—but it did shatter my mental health. I found a new PCP who has decided to wean me off of Effexor while simultaneously introducing Prozac and I’m feeling pretty awful. It’s a slow taper: I’m taking 187.5 mg this week while adding 10mg of Prozac, then am supposed to reduce to 150mg next week +prozac, then eventually go up to 20mg on Prozac while I keep lowering Effexor. I feel truly awful, despite this gradual change. I haven’t had the brain zaps yet (maybe bc of the Prozac offset)-but my mood swings, near-constant crying, severe headaches, and generally feeling like I have the flu every day has made it too challenging to keep one of my jobs. I am hoping to avoid hospitalization again because it will be pretty costly under my current insurance, but I also can’t just remain out of work for several more weeks or more—-I’m reading some of you say it took months to feel better/baseline again, and that scares me. Any tips for what I can do to keep from losing my mind and fully falling apart? Has anyone gone on disability to accommodate this very difficult medication change? I know I’m not alone here, and that’s somewhat comforting—but I don’t want to feel this way for several more months…I don’t think
I will make it without a higher level of support. Would super appreciate a response from anyone else who’s been through this. Sending hugs to you all. ❤️
Replies to "@mmsm, I know this is an old post, but I’m going through the Effexor withdrawal process..."
@kikinc I agree with mialucy123's comment. The general consensus is that Effexor should be decreased by no more than ten percent over time. That is, for someone taking 225mg, the first step down would be 225 minus 10%, or to 202.5 mg per day for however long it takes your body to adapt to that amount without feeling the effects of withdrawal. The next step would be to decrease 10% of 202.5 mg, or to 182.25 mg per day for however long it takes your body to adjust. In other words, your experience thus far has NOT been a "gradual change." Over time, you might have to decrease by smaller percentages. Mark Horowitz explains it better in his book, The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines.
I know nothing about adding Prozac, but the book discusses that, as well. You can also find webinars about the process on YouTube.
Hormones are a third factor to be considered. Effexor has been prescribed in the past to deal with hot flashes (that's why I started taking it), but hot flashes are also a potential side effect. (I know--makes one want to swear.)
Take comfort in knowing that there is a wealth of information and support available online now which was lacking just a few years ago. You may need to make a slight increase in your Effexor to stabilize yourself--and give yourself time to learn how to do this the right way--then proceed accordingly. It can be done. Others on this website have done it; Mark Horowitz himself has done it! I'm still in the process. Please feel encouraged; you can do it, too.
@kikinc Hello. I am so sorry to hear how much you are struggling. I totally get it! As an update, I am currently at 7mg of effexor, and experiencing some awful withdrawal symptoms. Something about this last drop has hit me very hard. My anxiety is very high, almost to the point of panic. I am waking up at 4am with terrible waves of adrenaline and sweating. I feel like my nerves are on fire. Nausea and lack of appetite have returned. I cry all the time, and just feel like everything is a struggle. It's so hard to believe that this is temporary.
I have been watching YouTube videos by Angie Peacock, Dan Landauer, and Anders Sorenson. Getting info and hearing some positive stories can be helpful.
If anyone has any encouragement or positive stories of hope, I would love to hear them!
Connect
@kikinc
I highly suggest you investigate the tapering “movement” that has been gaining momentum these past few years. Go to “angiepeacock.com or google Mark Horowitz or Outro.
I think you will find the help you will need there.
Main point is you must micro taper Effexor; your doctors are taking you down too quickly causing your withdrawal symptoms.