Long term effects AFTER withdrawing from Effexor

@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

I actually metastases Effexor XR very fast and now take 450 (3 150'S) to manage when I need it - I have sometimes tried to do down with a 75 mg when feeling better -maybe after this killer virus and trump gone for good and live is back to normal. When I am at my highest my pain is at my lowest. I am taking now only one generic 200mg for Celebrex as can affect my kidneys and my arthritis/auto-immune doctor has had me on Gabapentin 300 capsules that I take one at 5pm and 3 at bedtime. I have to say with pain I am doing really well. I have had my knees replaced and one hip. I have very bad osteoartritis and damages from other diseases so I think I am doing very well. With having a higher Medicare advantage plan since went on SS I am able to see the top doctors and specialists I never got to see under my PPO or HMO plans and am doing well. They help me stay mobile and free of bad stuff from my many meds. My last complete blood tests show I am doing well and I am finally eating well and loosing weight. Just telling you PAIN has always been in my life and will always be. I run with two types of depression in my life and have been on Effexor XR for 20 + years. It definitely is a pain reliever for me. I can see why it is hard right now so look for some alternatives - I always try to use mindfulness and work toward being happy by avoiding those who bring it to you. Even cutting them out of your life. Pain comes from outside as it does from the inside.

@jeanster Withdrawal from Effexor can be an extremely difficult process but the drug does help many people, like you. You are not pain free but considering your multiple medical issues you feel that you are doing pretty well regarding pain management. Effexor is part of your pain management treatment. Did I get that right?

I'd like to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support. It sounds like you have a lot of experience with this and other topics.

It seems you have a certain degree of acceptance for the pain in your life. Do you think this is how you remain resilient despite multiple medical issues and pain or do you think it is something else?

Hi just doing researching again and saw your post from 2018, I too was on Effexor for 15 years, I weaned off it in Nov 2012 and by March 2013 was my first ER visit that started my eight year chronic pain journey that has destroyed my life, and left me a shell of a person, it has been the mystery of my lifetime, I'm a cancer survivor and fought hard in my twenty's to survive endometrial cancer, after that to a successful business owner, raised my family and enjoyed life and I did suffer from some depression and anxiety and had a few other health issues but not that took away my quality of life and now I am completely bedridden in eight years, I have been to over 30 different doctors trying to get help/answers with all the pain throughout my body, in eight years now I have been diagnosed with Lupus, Chronic Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Cervical Disc Disorder with Radiculopathy, Intercostal Neuralgia, Bilateral Occipital Neuralgia, Costochondritis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Migraines, Bile Reflux, Meningiomas in my brain, etc. it just goes on. I had none of this before except I did suffer from Migraines all my life. The Pain started in my left ribcage and spread from there, when I went off the Effexor I had gained some weight from it at 175 pounds I am 5 foot tall, my normal weight was about 130, now I only weight 85 pounds because I can't eat much of anything, I have weighed under 100 pounds for four years now, and I've had to have all my top teeth replaced because my jaw bone was shifting and cracking, I had so many procedures and two surgeries, nerve blocks, and trigger point injections 700+ in 8 years, with over 400 just in the last three years all over my body rotated biweekly and I have to be on pain medication and sleeping pills for years, I feel like I will die any day I'm 58 years old, For years Dr. would take blood tests, MRI's, CT's X-rays and tell me I was fine, bloodwork looks fine, test look fine, but I was in so much pain I couldn't stand it, I didn't know why I was loosing weight or feeling such bad pain, I was scared, most dr's made me feel it was all in my head and treated me unkindly, all I was asking for was help I was scared, until the damaged started to show up on the MRI's, labs etc. and my health begin deteriorating and now. I have brought it up many time with dr's I have seen about any connection to Effexor since I had such a hard time getting off of it, but I just get that blank stare or they can't say. I would really be interested to know if anyone else has had anything similar happened to them or someone they know.

Can anyone help this woman? This is the worst case I’ve heard.

I started anti depressants in August 1999. Started on Paxil, then Zoloft eventually changing to Effexor in about 2001 or 2002.

I stopped (after stepping down dosage) Venlafaxine (generic name) on 1/30/21. I have experienced abdominal problems ever since. Nausea, loose bowels almost daily. Has anyone had these issues? If so, how long will it last and/or what did you do for relief?

@4cat- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I used to take Effexor but never had any trouble with a very slow withdrawal. Is 1/30/21 the date of your last dosage or the beginning of your stepping down?

Have you had continued stomach problems continuously since your last pill?. Have you contacted your doctor you doctor about this? Having loose bowels for 4 months can be serious because you are losing water and might be dehydrated. Nauseousness is a common side effect and so are many others that you have mentioned. I think that but 4 months is a long time to have them.

If you haven't been in touch with your doctor I suggest that you do. You might be dehydrated and that can be dangerous in itself.

Have you taken anything to help with these symptoms? Does your doctor know?

@dquest20 and @4cat Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry to hear about both of your struggles after getting off of Effexor.
Perhaps the two of you can connect for support.

I included side effects after withdraw.

Side effects of Effexor Withdraw - https://www.verywellmind.com/brain-shivers-as-effexor-withdrawal-symptom-1065516#:~:text=When%20decreasing%20or%20stopping%20an,Headache

@dquest20 and @4cat, what has this medication done to your quality of life?

I began stepping down in September 2020 and my last dose was 1/30/21. I stepped down 37.5 at a time. The first month was like having a respiratory flu, a stomach flu and being hungover all at once.

The nausea has subsided tremendously but I still get sidetracked (2-3 days instead of 7) and follow with loose bowels. I will reach out to my dr. Thank you.