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Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects

Posted by gaile12 @gaile12, Aug 22, 2022

I am tapering off Effexor after being on it for over a decade. I've noticed my stomach gets queasy & I have digestion issues. Has anybody else had this problem?

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david707 | @david707 | Jun 28 1:25pm
In reply to @tisme "@david707 isn't that a bit of up and down?? how do u know how many beads..." + (show)
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@david707 isn't that a bit of up and down?? how do u know how many beads your getting?? say ( just for a number ) 100beads in one half of the capsule and 40 in the other half ??

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@tisme I think the difference is insignificant. Remember the med is in your system for a long time and I doubt you would notice a change. I've been doing this for weeks taking approximately 1/2 capsule every day. It is more important that you get the sleep you need to better deal with the stress you are going through.

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nomoreconf | @nomoreconf | Jul 15 8:19am
In reply to @trenxt "I was on 112.5mg of XR for chronic pain. I started to taper from it over..." + (show)
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I was on 112.5mg of XR for chronic pain. I started to taper from it over 20 weeks ago by cutting every 2 weeks. It was changed to IR in liquid form and I split it into 3 doses a day. Problem is I never did the math on how much the psychiatrist was cutting every time. I wasn't having issues at first as soon as I came down to around 60mg I'm getting stomach pain constantly, lost weight because can't eat due to pain, insomnia is horrible 3 4 days no sleep. I'm at 31mg and I can't keep going like this. I did the math and if I ask for an adjustment to cut 10% of the last dose every 2 weeks will take me another year or so to get off this horrendous drug. Is there a way I can ask to be given another medication that can cover effexor so I don't have to take it anymore and taper off that other one then. This is too painful.

Will I face withdrawal if I cross to another antidepressant? Please inform me.

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Thank you for sharing this!! I just began with drawl from Effexor XR 225g after 20 years. After reading posts like yours I wonder why…my MD is having me begin (2 days ago) at 180.5 mg. I’m expecting a very slow w/d. you do not deserve a loss of health like you describe!! Perhaps it’s too quick? Please get help from your MD!’

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debjg | @debjg | Jul 21 9:05am
In reply to @trenxt "I was on 112.5mg of XR for chronic pain. I started to taper from it over..." + (show)
Profile picture for trenxt @trenxt

I was on 112.5mg of XR for chronic pain. I started to taper from it over 20 weeks ago by cutting every 2 weeks. It was changed to IR in liquid form and I split it into 3 doses a day. Problem is I never did the math on how much the psychiatrist was cutting every time. I wasn't having issues at first as soon as I came down to around 60mg I'm getting stomach pain constantly, lost weight because can't eat due to pain, insomnia is horrible 3 4 days no sleep. I'm at 31mg and I can't keep going like this. I did the math and if I ask for an adjustment to cut 10% of the last dose every 2 weeks will take me another year or so to get off this horrendous drug. Is there a way I can ask to be given another medication that can cover effexor so I don't have to take it anymore and taper off that other one then. This is too painful.

Will I face withdrawal if I cross to another antidepressant? Please inform me.

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I was so worried when I decided to go off Effexor that I would experience all of the awful side effects I read about. It wasn’t as bad as I anticipated. Sleep was rough for about a week and I had these “flashes” on occasion that were weird but not intolerable - like mini electric shocks. All in all I think I was fine after about 6 weeks.

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carolah70 | @carolah70 | Sep 13 8:09am

My GP put me on Effexor 8 yrs ago for a depression from the loss of my dear sister. And only now my GP is suggesting I go off it…. Without a clear way to do this. I did try on my own but now I realize I went about it too fast and had weird withdrawal symptoms. After going to Mayo Clinic in Mn. In December, the specialist there suggested I increase my dosage as I found out that I now have a third cancer diagnosis in 10 yrs. (Which increased my anxiety level) if you can believe it ( saying this sarcastically)!!
So which do I do… increase or go off Effexor…. No mention from my dr as to how to taper down either…
Do I go back and ask dr for clear instructions as to how to taper off Effexor?

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2 replies
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rufus31 | @rufus31 | Sep 14 2:50pm
In reply to @carolah70 "My GP put me on Effexor 8 yrs ago for a depression from the loss of..." + (show)
Profile picture for carolah70 @carolah70

My GP put me on Effexor 8 yrs ago for a depression from the loss of my dear sister. And only now my GP is suggesting I go off it…. Without a clear way to do this. I did try on my own but now I realize I went about it too fast and had weird withdrawal symptoms. After going to Mayo Clinic in Mn. In December, the specialist there suggested I increase my dosage as I found out that I now have a third cancer diagnosis in 10 yrs. (Which increased my anxiety level) if you can believe it ( saying this sarcastically)!!
So which do I do… increase or go off Effexor…. No mention from my dr as to how to taper down either…
Do I go back and ask dr for clear instructions as to how to taper off Effexor?

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That is a question that anyone but you can answer.
Did your Dr. say why you should go off it? With your recent diagnoses. and the anxiety that it causes it may not be the right time...especially if being on it is not causing you any problems.
IF you do decide to go off it and your Dr. is not assisting you with the task, look on-line (there is some great info right here on this forum) on how to decrease it successfully.
It can be VERY difficult to do and you must do it very slowly.

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Sep 14 4:21pm
In reply to @carolah70 "My GP put me on Effexor 8 yrs ago for a depression from the loss of..." + (show)
Profile picture for carolah70 @carolah70

My GP put me on Effexor 8 yrs ago for a depression from the loss of my dear sister. And only now my GP is suggesting I go off it…. Without a clear way to do this. I did try on my own but now I realize I went about it too fast and had weird withdrawal symptoms. After going to Mayo Clinic in Mn. In December, the specialist there suggested I increase my dosage as I found out that I now have a third cancer diagnosis in 10 yrs. (Which increased my anxiety level) if you can believe it ( saying this sarcastically)!!
So which do I do… increase or go off Effexor…. No mention from my dr as to how to taper down either…
Do I go back and ask dr for clear instructions as to how to taper off Effexor?

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@carolah70 - just to let you know, I moved your post here to this discussion where I thought you'd meet others also talking about tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor):

- Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/effexor-tapering-off/

I'm sorry to hear about the weird withdrawal symptoms with the rate of tapering. And, wow - a third cancer diagnosis. I have only been diagnosed with a malignant tumor once (a neuroendocrine tumor removed at my first colonoscopy), and my anxiety (and random crying) definitely came out. I can't imagine going through that three times, and it seems totally normal that it would increase your anxiety.

Glad you got to connect with @rufus31. Fellow members such as @debjg @nomoreconf @david707 and others may have input on what path to follow from here.

I do think that it makes a lot of sense to go back and ask your doctor (on an online portal or through a phone call, depending on the system) and let them know what has happened in your taper and ask for instructions on where to go now.

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mtcrow | @mtcrow | 5 days ago

I've been on Effexor for about 7 years and was stable on 150 mgs/day. The lack of libido was becoming an increasingly annoying problem, and I suspect ADHD, so I asked to try Welbutrin. I started 150 mgs of Welbutrin while halving the dose of Effexor each week- week 1 - 75 mgs, week 2- 37.5 mgs, week 3- no more Effexor. The first week I felt pretty good. The doctor advised to be aware of increased anxiety and irritability. I noticed I had a *lot* less patience, but it was manageable. I am on day 5 of week 3 now and very emotional. It's close to how I felt going cold turkey off effexor. It happened accidentally once. On day 5 I realized I'd never picked up my refills and hadn't realized because I had put the rest of my meds in my pill box, intending to add the others when I picked them up. I was irrationally angry and having rapid, intense mood swings. By the time I figured it out, I had to make it through a long weekend before getting back on track.
My question is, has anyone made this transition successfully? I will keep taking the Welbutrin, as I know it could be weeks before I see real effects. I just want to know if this is a normal thing to happen because of the difficulty in stopping Effexor, or if I should be concerned. My diagnoses are CPTSD, MDD, GAD, SAD, and suspected ADHD. I feel like I've lost the ability to manage my emotions entirely. I am snappy and angry and then weepy and sad at a turn.
Is this something I just have to see through? Is it too early to ask for an increase in dose? Has anyone had experience taking both of these and did the welbutrin help sexual dysfunction?

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2 replies
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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 2 days ago
In reply to @mtcrow "I've been on Effexor for about 7 years and was stable on 150 mgs/day. The lack..." + (show)
Profile picture for mtcrow @mtcrow

I've been on Effexor for about 7 years and was stable on 150 mgs/day. The lack of libido was becoming an increasingly annoying problem, and I suspect ADHD, so I asked to try Welbutrin. I started 150 mgs of Welbutrin while halving the dose of Effexor each week- week 1 - 75 mgs, week 2- 37.5 mgs, week 3- no more Effexor. The first week I felt pretty good. The doctor advised to be aware of increased anxiety and irritability. I noticed I had a *lot* less patience, but it was manageable. I am on day 5 of week 3 now and very emotional. It's close to how I felt going cold turkey off effexor. It happened accidentally once. On day 5 I realized I'd never picked up my refills and hadn't realized because I had put the rest of my meds in my pill box, intending to add the others when I picked them up. I was irrationally angry and having rapid, intense mood swings. By the time I figured it out, I had to make it through a long weekend before getting back on track.
My question is, has anyone made this transition successfully? I will keep taking the Welbutrin, as I know it could be weeks before I see real effects. I just want to know if this is a normal thing to happen because of the difficulty in stopping Effexor, or if I should be concerned. My diagnoses are CPTSD, MDD, GAD, SAD, and suspected ADHD. I feel like I've lost the ability to manage my emotions entirely. I am snappy and angry and then weepy and sad at a turn.
Is this something I just have to see through? Is it too early to ask for an increase in dose? Has anyone had experience taking both of these and did the welbutrin help sexual dysfunction?

Jump to this post

@mtcrow - I wanted to let you know I moved your post to this discussion on tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor) so that you could connect with more patients or loved ones who have faced this experience:

- Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/effexor-tapering-off/

Interfering with libido sounds like a perfectly rational reason for asking for a switch of medications. Members here such as @rufus31 @carolah70 @debjg @nomoreconf can let you know how it went for them in a taper off or going cold turkey off venlafaxine (Effexor). They can also let you know if they have since gone on bupropion (Wellbutrin), and how that's gone, if so.

A pharmacist advised me when I went on bupropion (Wellbutrin) that I had to be very patient, even up to 5 months, till I got through all the bumps of my body getting accustomed to this medication. I did have a bumpy few months or so emotionally, so he was right. I would have quit much earlier. But, in the end, I've been on it about 15 years, and it's been great.

What has your doctor said about the effects you are noticing with your start on bupropion (Wellbutrin)?

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2 replies
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nomoreconf | @nomoreconf | 2 days ago
In reply to @lisalucier "@mtcrow - I wanted to let you know I moved your post to this discussion on..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

@mtcrow - I wanted to let you know I moved your post to this discussion on tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor) so that you could connect with more patients or loved ones who have faced this experience:

- Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/effexor-tapering-off/

Interfering with libido sounds like a perfectly rational reason for asking for a switch of medications. Members here such as @rufus31 @carolah70 @debjg @nomoreconf can let you know how it went for them in a taper off or going cold turkey off venlafaxine (Effexor). They can also let you know if they have since gone on bupropion (Wellbutrin), and how that's gone, if so.

A pharmacist advised me when I went on bupropion (Wellbutrin) that I had to be very patient, even up to 5 months, till I got through all the bumps of my body getting accustomed to this medication. I did have a bumpy few months or so emotionally, so he was right. I would have quit much earlier. But, in the end, I've been on it about 15 years, and it's been great.

What has your doctor said about the effects you are noticing with your start on bupropion (Wellbutrin)?

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THANK YOU!

Nancy

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mtcrow | @mtcrow | 2 days ago
In reply to @lisalucier "@mtcrow - I wanted to let you know I moved your post to this discussion on..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

@mtcrow - I wanted to let you know I moved your post to this discussion on tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor) so that you could connect with more patients or loved ones who have faced this experience:

- Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/effexor-tapering-off/

Interfering with libido sounds like a perfectly rational reason for asking for a switch of medications. Members here such as @rufus31 @carolah70 @debjg @nomoreconf can let you know how it went for them in a taper off or going cold turkey off venlafaxine (Effexor). They can also let you know if they have since gone on bupropion (Wellbutrin), and how that's gone, if so.

A pharmacist advised me when I went on bupropion (Wellbutrin) that I had to be very patient, even up to 5 months, till I got through all the bumps of my body getting accustomed to this medication. I did have a bumpy few months or so emotionally, so he was right. I would have quit much earlier. But, in the end, I've been on it about 15 years, and it's been great.

What has your doctor said about the effects you are noticing with your start on bupropion (Wellbutrin)?

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@lisalucier thank you. I messaged my doctor and I'm waiting for a response. I have been on and off medication since I was 12, so I understand that it will be a long time before I know for sure what is or isn't working. I'm just feeling way worse than I expected to, and I'm not sure if it is a recurrence of symptoms or the venlafaxine leaving my system. I wanted to see if anyone else maybe went through the same thing and felt significantly better after more time or maybe added a different medication or added the venlafaxine back.

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