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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
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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I weaned off 2 years ago and I'm still confused, lack concentration, have no patience with activities that require attention to detail, etc. I have never been like this in my life!
I went thru a year of the "brain zaps". Now I just have zero power of concentration. My life is ruined.
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1 ReactionI don’t believe your life is ruined. What dose were you, how many months/years did you take Effexor and how long did you take it?
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2 ReactionsYes correct.
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1 Reaction6 years on Effexor. I felt fine, then started getting extremely pessimistic and cynical. 150mg, I think. My brain can't even remember, and I'm a PhD! My brain is totally fried.
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1 Reaction@linamend
As @sears says your life isn’t ruined although that's a choice you'll have to make.
If you don't want to be bothered with the taper process you can get a prescription from your doctor, preferably a 10% cut every 14-21 days. Then take it to a compounding pharmacy and they will do all the detail work for you.
Jake
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1 ReactionWhat???? I've been off it over 2 years! Why in the world would I want to go back when I had bad side effects while ON it?
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1 Reaction@linamend
Obviously I forgot that fact. What does your doctor say to do? Did you ask them
Jake
Of course I asked my primary care physician, my internist, my neurologist, and my psychiatrist. It was an hysterical round-robin of: "That's not my expertise, ask so & so". Losers. All of them. After a bunch of "Tsk, tsk, never heard of that happening to anyone before..." I presented all 4 of them w PubMed literature from NIH (where I worked in 1980s w Anthony Fauci).
That got me nowhere, except for offers to change my Rx....have I mentioned they're LOSERS?!
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1 ReactionYou’re correct. Most are MAJOR losers. You’re certainly not alone in this battle.
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1 ReactionIt's no longer a choice if our lives are ruined! The chemistry in our brains have been altered. One cannot chose to stop feeling rage at every little damn thing or chose to stop forgetting everything! Your arrogant comments are too much for me Jake.