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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db1 | @db1 | Sep 14, 2021

In reply to @sherry47 "May 19th 2021 I went to zero. Not human yet. Its better than it was for..." + (show)

I'm so sorry 🙁 Did you taper or quit cold turkey? Has your doctor got any advice? The most frustrating thing for me is that the medical community seems to know so little about any of this. When I ask my doctor if she thinks this is still withdrawal or if this is my "new normal," she is noncommittal. When I ask if she has any idea how much longer this might last if it IS withdrawal, she can't even hazard a guess.... It seems crazy to put people ON these medications if so little is known about the effects of coming OFF them 🙁 If the doctor who first prescribed me this medication had told me about ANY of this, I never would have taken it!

db1 | @db1 | Sep 14, 2021

In reply to @dcclowdus "I, too, have been on Effexor for over twelve years. My question to you, did you..." + (show)

This describes EXACTLY how I have felt on Effexor. I kept thinking it was the depression, and doctors would add other medications, or switch me to different ones, but nothing changed. I kept thinking back to before I was on anything (I was originally prescribed Paxil at 19 years old for social anxiety) and realized that even though it made me anxious, I was at least able to get things done and previously, and remember things. I'm still struggling with the depression and anxiety of withdrawal, but it's so nice to read that I'm not the only one who feels as though the medication sapped their zest for life!

sherry47 | @sherry47 | Sep 14, 2021

In reply to @db1 "I'm so sorry :( Did you taper or quit cold turkey? Has your doctor got any..." + (show)

I tapered from November to that May 19th date. Ended up in the ER twice. I didn't know what the brain zaps were. I thought I was having mini strokes. My doctor had me taper from 225 to nothing in 3 weeks. Not good.
Her suggestion was to either stay on the low dose indefinitely or to check myself into an mental health institution. The doctor that prescribed the Effexor would not return my call or the calls from my doctor. Very frustrating.
I 100% agree with you, if I had any idea that the hell I have been through was even the smallest possibility, I would have never switched over to Effexor. The kicker for me is that I had put myself into an alcohol rehab and that is where they prescribed the most addictive pill I have ever had.

db1 | @db1 | Sep 14, 2021

In reply to @sherry47 "I tapered from November to that May 19th date. Ended up in the ER twice. I..." + (show)

That is so disheartening. I hope you have since found a doctor/psychiatrist who is more helpful! I'm sorry to hear that you still have the cloud, but I'm glad that things have improved. It makes you wonder why there aren't doctors who specialize in helping patients wean off these drugs. Though when you try to search the internet for information about withdrawal from them or search for "discontinuation syndrome," the first few links that come up are ads for rehab centers, so it's not as if it's a secret that these issues exist.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Sep 15, 2021

In reply to @brightwings "@lilypaws Another tip SING SING AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS. You will recieve huge amounts..." + (show)

Hello @brightwings,

I hope all is going well for you. It has been a while since you last posted on Connect and I was wondering how you are doing.

Will you post an update?

sears | @sears | Sep 15, 2021

In reply to @db1 "I'm so sorry :( Did you taper or quit cold turkey? Has your doctor got any..." + (show)

Amen!

vfrifr | @vfrifr | Sep 16, 2021

In reply to @sherry47 "I tapered from November to that May 19th date. Ended up in the ER twice. I..." + (show)

May I suggest reading the book "The Anti-Depressant Solution" by Dr. JosephGlenmullen. Dr. Glenmullen has 30+ years experience helping people discontinue Effexor and other medication in that group. He is also an expert witness against the drug companies. The book is helping me discontinue Zoloft. I am in that special 4% of people highly sensitive to Zoloft. Doctor suggested tapers had me in complete misery. One taper had me in the hospital because I was so weak and tired. Thanks to the book I have learned that I can only taper 0.4mg at a time. From the book I learned that slow tapering is important. Brain zaps are a signal that too much is being tapered. Good luck!