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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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blanfear | @blanfear | Jun 8 7:13pm

how long did it take you? I did the cross taper from Effexor to Lexapro. I am on day 60, day one of week 9. the spikes i get are better and have gone 2-3 days with none. Using hydroxyzine as a bridge on those bad spikes. There was a period of 2-3 weeks that was horrible! I keep thinking i will never get out of this. I was on Zoloft for over 20 years and went through caregiver burnout in 2017 after taking care of my mom who had Alzheimer's. then covid hit and the anxiety went through the roof. then my husband's health went south and started dialysis in April of 21, and basically watched him go down for four years. I am 64 about to turn 65. He passed away April 4 2025 and 11 months later had one of my brothers tragically killed. About two years ago i realized the zoloft was no longer working and dr put my on effexor. They never once told me how hard it was to get off or i would have never taken it. Anways...everything i read says by week 12 of the Lexapro things should get much better. I have a highly sensitive system and under stand it could linger for a couple weeks past that, but the spikes by week 12 will be much better. I pray this is true

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shelley26 | @shelley26 | Jun 9 7:41am

I cut from a dosage of 75 to 37 pretty easily but the last 37 took me a year exactly (100 beads). Taking my last bead tonight. Good riddance to a drug that really helped me through some hard times. I am seeing my doctor soon and am really going to advocate for patients getting more help when they off. There has got to better way. Liquid reduction maybe? Good luck. You’ve been through a lot. You can find your light again but it will be hard. Start small. Little bites of nature and exercise maybe? Best wishes…

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nomoreconf | @nomoreconf | Jun 10 7:32am

THAT alone is giving me hope!! I just began on my own and now realize that this will be the most difficult process of my life. I do have an appt with a psychiatrist
Who I’m hoping is as good as others have found.

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cherrycherry | @cherrycherry | Jun 17 1:14pm
In reply to @catamite "Actually, I had no good reason to go off it except that I felt 20 years..." + (show)
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Actually, I had no good reason to go off it except that I felt 20 years of a drug was surely long enough. I also believed it would be kind of nice to be able to feel something again, to cry. I was beginning to feel heartless as I had little response to almost everything. I also thought maybe the drug was causing me to sleep so much of my life away. Well, now I cannot sleep at all and that's not working either. I am a zombie. The psychiatrist says maybe I should go on BUSPAR now? What is this drug? He says it has no withdrawal effects. I don't know. I am just goiing to see if I can work this out on my own. My regular doctor is very anal. She gave me 15 lorazapams, and said it they didn't last for 3 months I should go back on effexor. These doctors. I'm just not liking any of them.

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@catamite I was told to just go back on venafaxine because of terrible withdrawal , I was even told well these symptoms show you need the drug?? And told my body wouldn’t adapt to coming off ? I don’t believe most GPS are really very knowledgeable about how to help withdrawal. And if you say you have been on the internet looking for help . Oh no!! You will get there but it’s not easy . Wishing you strength to kick theses you really are not alone but please ask for doctors help when it gets too much ,some of the withdrawal symptoms can be traumatic .

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chronos1 | @chronos1 | 1 day ago
In reply to @notaround "@merpreb I don't appreciate the tone of your message. I'm actually going into this with some..." + (show)
Profile picture for notaround @notaround

@merpreb I don't appreciate the tone of your message. I'm actually going into this with some knowledge given that I went to college for psychology (no, I can't treat anyone - sorry other people posting - only a bachelor's and I'll never be able to go to grad school let alone get my doctorate. I'm a failure and have accepted that.).

Considering how severe my depression is, how long I've been in treatment, and that I've had multiple doctors and psychiatrists give up on me, I'm doing surprisingly well - I'M STILL ALIVE. Alive despite my medical history matching almost entirely with suicide risk factors. I fight every day of my life.

I'm tapering off as slowly as I can. Unfortunately, I'm one of the millions of Americans that isn't getting adequate care. And my depression is treatment resistant.

As for plans after finishing the taper, I'm going to try to get a doctor to sign off for me to get rTMS. (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) - I got rejected for ECT due to the doctor deciding it's too risky for me and I have to get the venlafaxine out of my system before starting a different drug. At this point, pretty much only MAOIs are left to try and I'm not sure if I can tolerate those.

I've run out of safe options. I've long since run out of funds - my December rent is getting paid next week as it is. I feel guilty for having a doctor's appointment scheduled for Tuesday.

I came here for support. It isn't playing with fire - it's lighting a candle to drive back the darkness.

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@notaround Hello I just came across your comment as I'm looking at comments for rTMS and treatment resistant depression... I hope you're doing ok ? I hope you have been signed up for rTMS & this horrible illness is at least a little bit paler than what it was..
I have commenced rTMS and just wanting to read others comments about it. I'm hoping this will reallyhelp me.

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