Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

I have been taking Effexor/Venlafaxine for years and tried to get off it a few times but each time I try to give up the chemical withdrawal symptoms are a horror story and I give up giving up. Anyone got any tips or tried and tested strategies? Thank you

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sears | @sears | Jun 19, 2021

Wow! Neither of those meds give you ant relief? I tapered Paxil. Effexor and Paxil are the worst by far to taper. I had to start taking low dose Prozac to help with the Paxil taper. It helps but just another med to taper. A lot of docs do a switch over to Prozac to get you through the excruciating taper process.

nat31 | @nat31 | Jun 20, 2021

No I'm taking 20mg 3 x a day and 2mg valium twice a day....been 5 days on the increased prozac and a week off effexor. I don't want this to be my new normal 😕

linamend | @linamend | Jun 20, 2021

In reply to @happy2bhear "Yay! That’s great news!" + (show)

Trust me. If you read the literature, it can take up to 2 YEARS!

sears | @sears | Jun 20, 2021

In reply to @nat31 "No I'm taking 20mg 3 x a day and 2mg valium twice a day....been 5 days..." + (show)

Maybe your doc will up the Valium. 2 mgs. won’t help. You shouldn’t have to be this miserable.

sears | @sears | Jun 20, 2021

In reply to @linamend "Trust me. If you read the literature, it can take up to 2 YEARS!" + (show)

Unfortunately this is true. It takes some even longer. Effexor and Paxil are miserable drugs and should be banned. My opinion.

nat31 | @nat31 | Jun 20, 2021

In reply to @sears "Maybe your doc will up the Valium. 2 mgs. won’t help. You shouldn’t have to be..." + (show)

It's beyond miserable its torturous, I had 5mg but it's never touched me, they've lowered it because it's addictive.

sears | @sears | Jun 21, 2021

Benzos are no worse than any antidepressant on the market. They both have the potential to ruin ones life.

rmj5 | @rmj5 | Jun 23, 2021

In reply to @rmj5 "After 10 days, I'm slowly getting better. My doctor said could take up to 2 weeks." + (show)

Same with me. 3 weeks out and feeling better. Energy is returning, however, feeling A LITTLE depressed. Hoping to not have to go back on.

isaacpime | @isaacpime | Jun 24, 2021

Hello, as I know with my experience if you suffer from depression you can’t stop taking your medication without talking to your psychiatrist, I been taking sertraline and clonazepam for 25 year and I can’t stop taking it. Hope this helps you.