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Long term effects AFTER withdrawing from Effexor
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Dec 1 11:46am | Replies (201)Comment receiving replies
I was only Effexor for 2-3 years and it is now 16 years after weaned off and I suffer with strange lack of motivation, fatigue, anxiety and insomnia which all leads to pain since. It all started after I came off the Effexor and I’d NEVER experienced anything like it before. The Effexor has no doubt permanently damaged me in some way. There are books written by experts that discuss the long term and permanent damage of antidepressant use and Effexor is one of them.
Replies to "I was only Effexor for 2-3 years and it is now 16 years after weaned off..."
@jojo5 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support.
You feel that your lack of motivation, fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia which leads to pain, started after you weened off of Effexor.]
I'm wondering if you have utilized mental health treatment for these residual symptoms?
@jojo5
Do you think you could be suffering from depression? Is that a possibility?
Take care,
Jake
Hi Jo Jo , I am having even worse issues with Effexor (venlafaxine here in UK). Can you list the books you state (titles / authors). I was on 75mg for 5 yrs hyper slow taper. Got 95% of side effects. Stopped Oct 2022. STILL get extreme lethargy, mental slowness , memory issues, sweating, giddy, rashes, leg weakness, it goes on & on. I am looking for ANY assurance symptoms will fade away. DR's here have no clue. I was told drug gets into body cells & fats & seeps out over time ! THIS is what causes the problems as it is STILL in your system, until it eventually flushes out. I have heard side effects going away & returning YEARS after stopping effexor.
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Wow! I hate to think that Effexor can cause permanent damage. I was on it for about 18 years and have been dealing with PAWS (extended withdrawal symptoms) since I tapered off 4/14/18. I took supplements to minimize the withdrawal symptoms and still take some of them (but now once a day, down from five times a day). I am DEFINITELY much improved, so I am hopeful that post-Effexor I am not permanently damaged.