1. < Depression & Anxiety
Profile picture for melanier

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!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

Profile picture for shelleee
shelleee | @shelleee | Jul 14, 2019

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

REPLY
Profile picture for ang811
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)
Profile picture for shelleee @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

Jump to this post

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

REPLY
Profile picture for renwald
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)
Profile picture for shelleee @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!!

Jump to this post

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.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for shelleee
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)
Profile picture for renwald @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

I have all those questions and more!

REPLY
Profile picture for Chris, Alumni Mentor
Chris, Alumni 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)
Profile picture for renwald @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

REPLY
Profile picture for bmaastricht
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)
Profile picture for ang811 @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

Jump to this post

@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.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for grandmaR
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)
Profile picture for bmaastricht @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.

Jump to this post

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)

REPLY
Profile picture for ercoled57
ercoled57 | @ercoled57 | Sep 30, 2019

I started tapering down Effexor XR from 150 mg to 112.5 mg yesterday. Here it is the 2nd day and I'm already feeling the withdrawal symptoms. I feel sleepy, anxious, and it's hard to concentrate. I am practicing mindfulness meditation daily, have started to walk on my breaks, and eat a healthy diet. I also start counseling this Friday for support. Will adding CBD oil help? I have been on some form of antidepressant since 1995 (for post partum depression). I was first on Paxil and then when that did not help anymore I was switched to Effexor. This was about 2005. This will be my 3rd attempt stopping Effexor. The first attempt I tapered from 300 mg down to 0 over months yet the withdrawals were horrible and I went back on 150mg. About a year and a half ago I tried tapering down briefly and again I stopped tapering and went back on 150mg. Here it is my 3rd attempt and I want to be successful.

REPLY
6 replies
Profile picture for njp1013
njp1013 | @njp1013 | Sep 30, 2019
In reply to @ercoled57 "I started tapering down Effexor XR from 150 mg to 112.5 mg yesterday. Here it is..." + (show)
Profile picture for ercoled57 @ercoled57

I started tapering down Effexor XR from 150 mg to 112.5 mg yesterday. Here it is the 2nd day and I'm already feeling the withdrawal symptoms. I feel sleepy, anxious, and it's hard to concentrate. I am practicing mindfulness meditation daily, have started to walk on my breaks, and eat a healthy diet. I also start counseling this Friday for support. Will adding CBD oil help? I have been on some form of antidepressant since 1995 (for post partum depression). I was first on Paxil and then when that did not help anymore I was switched to Effexor. This was about 2005. This will be my 3rd attempt stopping Effexor. The first attempt I tapered from 300 mg down to 0 over months yet the withdrawals were horrible and I went back on 150mg. About a year and a half ago I tried tapering down briefly and again I stopped tapering and went back on 150mg. Here it is my 3rd attempt and I want to be successful.

Jump to this post

i used cbd oil when tapering from effexor this summer and yes it does help. it is great that you are doing counseling too, the taper is not easy as you know since youve done it before, good luck.

REPLY
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Sep 30, 2019
In reply to @ercoled57 "I started tapering down Effexor XR from 150 mg to 112.5 mg yesterday. Here it is..." + (show)
Profile picture for ercoled57 @ercoled57

I started tapering down Effexor XR from 150 mg to 112.5 mg yesterday. Here it is the 2nd day and I'm already feeling the withdrawal symptoms. I feel sleepy, anxious, and it's hard to concentrate. I am practicing mindfulness meditation daily, have started to walk on my breaks, and eat a healthy diet. I also start counseling this Friday for support. Will adding CBD oil help? I have been on some form of antidepressant since 1995 (for post partum depression). I was first on Paxil and then when that did not help anymore I was switched to Effexor. This was about 2005. This will be my 3rd attempt stopping Effexor. The first attempt I tapered from 300 mg down to 0 over months yet the withdrawals were horrible and I went back on 150mg. About a year and a half ago I tried tapering down briefly and again I stopped tapering and went back on 150mg. Here it is my 3rd attempt and I want to be successful.

Jump to this post

@brightwings @jakedduck1 and @artscaping may have some thoughts on the idea of using CBD as one tapers off venlafaxine (Effexor).

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.