1. < Depression & Anxiety

Weaning off Effexor with CBD Oil

Posted by melanier @melanier, Dec 27, 2018

After having my son last year, I had really bad postpartum. I talked to my doctor and she prescribed me Effexor. I started out with 75mg, it wasn't enough, so the doctor prescribed me 150mg. I was on that for awhile, but the side effects were interfering with my libido, so the doctor suggested I wean off of Effexor and start Wellbutrin. As I was weaning, I had the worst withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms were too much, so I quit trying to wean completely off of the Effexor, and was taking the 75mg of that and 150mg of Wellbutrin. It helped, a little, but my goal was to get completely off of Effexor so I'm trying again. And now my goal is to get off of the Effexor and Wellbutrin completely and try something natural like CBD oil. It's so hard dealing with the withdrawal symptoms, I'm trying to tell myself that this is a temporary thing and it'll be worth it in the end. Any advice for the symptoms? And has anyone had success with CBD oil for helping to wean, and using that for depression and anxiety?

Thanks!

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shelleee | @shelleee | Jul 14, 2019

Thanks for replying. How long has it taken you to get down to 6.5mg.?

REPLY
ang811 | @ang811 | Jul 14, 2019
In reply to @shelleee "I just tead this post and is almost the same as my story. I have taken..." + (show)
@shelleee

I just tead this post and is almost the same as my story. I have taken effexor many many years. I am now at 300mg . Last week I was introdeced to Cbd oil. So, I stopped taking 150mg(I know that is alot at once) I put a few drops of cbd oil under my tongue in the morning and same at night and guess what
...NO withdrawel symptoms at ALL!!! I have tryed getting off effexor many times so I know how bad it feels. I am totally amazed. If this CBD oil is what it takes not to feel sick then I will continue it. How are you doing now?
Shelley

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If you have Facebook check out the group called effexor (venlafaxine) tapering, discontinuation syndrome and protracted w/d

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renwald | @renwald | Jul 14, 2019
In reply to @shelleee "I am weaning myself off of Effexor with CBD oil and so far so good. I..." + (show)
@shelleee

I am weaning myself off of Effexor with CBD oil and so far so good. I was on 300mg of effexor, cut the dose in half and using a couple drops of cbd oil in the morning and have had zero of the nasty withdrawel. I am amazed!!

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Any idea of the chemistry involved? I’m quite interested to understand that. I think Effexor alters, among other things, norepinephrine and dopamine but I’m not certain. I’m even less certain about the reasons for the harsh withdrawal symptoms biochemically. How the psychoactive agents in CBD oil bind or block receptors is quite important along with what happens if one stops CBD.

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2 replies
shelleee | @shelleee | Jul 14, 2019
In reply to @renwald "Any idea of the chemistry involved? I’m quite interested to understand that. I think Effexor alters,..." + (show)
@renwald

Any idea of the chemistry involved? I’m quite interested to understand that. I think Effexor alters, among other things, norepinephrine and dopamine but I’m not certain. I’m even less certain about the reasons for the harsh withdrawal symptoms biochemically. How the psychoactive agents in CBD oil bind or block receptors is quite important along with what happens if one stops CBD.

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I have all those questions and more!

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Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Jul 15, 2019
In reply to @renwald "Any idea of the chemistry involved? I’m quite interested to understand that. I think Effexor alters,..." + (show)
@renwald

Any idea of the chemistry involved? I’m quite interested to understand that. I think Effexor alters, among other things, norepinephrine and dopamine but I’m not certain. I’m even less certain about the reasons for the harsh withdrawal symptoms biochemically. How the psychoactive agents in CBD oil bind or block receptors is quite important along with what happens if one stops CBD.

Jump to this post

@shelleee, @renwald Good evening. I have no medical background and am not familiar with your withdrawal process. It appears that you have chosen to use CBD as a replacement. I am a worry wort and so I have to tell you that to my knowledge, CBD products at 100% have no psychoactive agents.

CBD products must have .03% or less of THC, the psychoactive component, an amount that may not "bind or block receptors".
There is a federal law prohibiting the products with THC greater than.03% from crossing state lines. I wish I could be of more help. I also do not think that stopping CBD creates withdrawal issues. Be free of suffering and sleep well tonight. Chris

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bmaastricht | @bmaastricht | Jul 26, 2019
In reply to @ang811 "I am happy I found this forum. I am on Effexor 150 mg. I’ve been on..." + (show)
@ang811

I am happy I found this forum. I am on Effexor 150 mg. I’ve been on it for two years. My goal is to get off of it completely. I’ve tried doing it before slowly and was taking one pill every three days. I’m back to taking it every day now because the withdrawals became to much and with the job I have I need to be vigilant and alert. I’m doing this without a doctor bc right now I don’t have one. She quit her practice and moved. She did give me a few months of refills. The reason I want off of it is because I don’t feel I’m living my life like I used to. I’m hoping to find support and guidance and maybe someone who can share their experience with me. Thank you

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@ang811 You are not alone. I am going through the exact same thing and I even believe it may have caused weight gain. I've been considering tapering off the drug for a couple weeks now; however, the withdrawals (as you mentioned) are too much.

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1 reply
grandmaR | @grandmar | Jul 26, 2019
In reply to @bmaastricht "@ang811 You are not alone. I am going through the exact same thing and I even..." + (show)
@bmaastricht

@ang811 You are not alone. I am going through the exact same thing and I even believe it may have caused weight gain. I've been considering tapering off the drug for a couple weeks now; however, the withdrawals (as you mentioned) are too much.

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Hi!
I COULD be POSSIBLE to taper off Effexor without horrible withdrawals IF you do it VERY, VERY, VERY SLOWLY!!!!!!
I was taking 300 mg. a day.
It took me about 5 months to taper down 25%.
I am now staying on that dosage for a few months before I begin to taper down another 25%.
Did I mention VERY, VERY, VERY SLOWLY?

Effexor WILL contribute to weight gain and/or difficulty taking off weight.

Good luck!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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lindeyt01 | @lindeyt01 | Jan 31, 2021

Hello everyone,

I see that this is an older thread, but I hope someone can provide insight into Effexor and CBD or Hemp oils. I have been on Effexor for about a year (3 time since starting anti-depressants 5 years ago). I want to get off this medication and have tried in the past. The withdraws have been so bad that I went up going back on it. We hope to get pregnant within the year and I do not want to be on this while with child. My doctor has suggested switching to Celexa (also have been on) but I am wondering if I will still experience withdraws when immediately stopping Effexor and starting Celexa. Ideally, I would like to be on no medication and go a more natural route. I have been looking into CBD/Hemp oils. Does anyone have experience with this? Thank you.

Lindey

REPLY
3 replies
pankaj | @pankaj | Jan 31, 2021
In reply to @lindeyt01 "Hello everyone, I see that this is an older thread, but I hope someone can provide..." + (show)
@lindeyt01

Hello everyone,

I see that this is an older thread, but I hope someone can provide insight into Effexor and CBD or Hemp oils. I have been on Effexor for about a year (3 time since starting anti-depressants 5 years ago). I want to get off this medication and have tried in the past. The withdraws have been so bad that I went up going back on it. We hope to get pregnant within the year and I do not want to be on this while with child. My doctor has suggested switching to Celexa (also have been on) but I am wondering if I will still experience withdraws when immediately stopping Effexor and starting Celexa. Ideally, I would like to be on no medication and go a more natural route. I have been looking into CBD/Hemp oils. Does anyone have experience with this? Thank you.

Lindey

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@pankaj: @LLndeyt01, I have taken Effexor [and several other anti-depreaasants] in the past and then discontinued it, so I understand your concern about withdrawal symptoms. In case you suddenly stop Effexor [as I did] and immediately start Celexa, there is a high probability that you will experience severe withdrawal symptoms. You haven't written what dose of Effexor you are taking. CBD/Hemp oil is not an anti-depressant but an anti-anxiety substance, so it may be advisable not to substitute it for an anti-depressant.

REPLY
2 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 31, 2021
In reply to @lindeyt01 "Hello everyone, I see that this is an older thread, but I hope someone can provide..." + (show)
@lindeyt01

Hello everyone,

I see that this is an older thread, but I hope someone can provide insight into Effexor and CBD or Hemp oils. I have been on Effexor for about a year (3 time since starting anti-depressants 5 years ago). I want to get off this medication and have tried in the past. The withdraws have been so bad that I went up going back on it. We hope to get pregnant within the year and I do not want to be on this while with child. My doctor has suggested switching to Celexa (also have been on) but I am wondering if I will still experience withdraws when immediately stopping Effexor and starting Celexa. Ideally, I would like to be on no medication and go a more natural route. I have been looking into CBD/Hemp oils. Does anyone have experience with this? Thank you.

Lindey

Jump to this post

@lindeyt01- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You came to the right place. When I withdrew from Effexor I did it over a long period of time. antidepressants change your brain's chemistry and when you suddenly stop taking them your brain goes nuts.

By withdrawing Effexor (I took it for postmenopausal depression and it had helped with hot flashes and worked for quite a few years for me.) many people go to another antidepressant immediately. I'd like to ask @jakedduck1 to help here.

Why do you want to withdraw? Has your doctor given you any advice on how to withdraw? Or even a pharmacist?

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