Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Thank you

Thank you

Hello! Ive been taking Effexor XR 150 for 4 months now. It has worked compared to Zoloft however, halfway through my treatment, I got food poisoning and stopped taking my meds for a week. Well, I did not know about withdrawal symptoms and was severly nauteaus, had join pain, stomach pain, emotional, couldn't sleep for about a week. I've also gained SO MUCH WEIGHT so my psychiatrist prescribed Topamax to help with the weight gain. I also am prescribed Adderall for ADHD and I feel like the Effexor has made the Adderall no longer effective so I no longer take it. I want to completely stop taking Effexor and get my life back but dont know what to do. Any thoughts? Obviously Im going to talk to my doctor to slowly taper off but Im reading all these horror stories and dont know how slowly to taper off. What have you done that was successful in tapering off Effexor?

It has to be a very slow tapering off. Look it up in one of the Effexor groups on Facebook. People tell their experiences. Personally I took Effexor XR for about a year. It helped with my depression and OCD but it made my anxiety worse. I tapered off in three weeks. The first day I stopped taking it I didn’t feel right. The next day I was vomiting, had physical withdrawal symptoms and had absolutely no filter. I was saying things to people that I would never have the nerve to say at any other time. It was awful. My psychiatrist suggested I go inpatient as they manage the meds much quicker but I refused to do so. I started on Zoloft immediately after I stopped Effexor but it took time to kick in. During that time I was so sick and a totally different person. My psychiatrist said I weaned off too quickly that’s why things happened the way they did. I was on a medical leave from work and was in a rush to get back. Guess what two years later due to a reduction in students I was made part time. So much for rushing to get back. Take your time, do it very slowly and you will be fine.

Hello! Ive been taking Effexor XR 150 for 4 months now. It has worked compared to Zoloft however, halfway through my treatment, I got food poisoning and stopped taking my meds for a week. Well, I did not know about withdrawal symptoms and was severly nauteaus, had join pain, stomach pain, emotional, couldn't sleep for about a week. I've also gained SO MUCH WEIGHT so my psychiatrist prescribed Topamax to help with the weight gain. I also am prescribed Adderall for ADHD and I feel like the Effexor has made the Adderall no longer effective so I no longer take it. I want to completely stop taking Effexor and get my life back but dont know what to do. Any thoughts? Obviously Im going to talk to my doctor to slowly taper off but Im reading all these horror stories and dont know how slowly to taper off. What have you done that was successful in tapering off Effexor?

Hello @califas and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will notice that I have moved your post into a very active existing discussion on Effexor and tapering. I did this so you may review previous comments and also so you an connect with members like you such as @vfrifr @sears and @sherry47 who have all recently shared about their experience.

Have you consulted with your doctor on tapering and also shared your feelings about your medications?

Hello! Ive been taking Effexor XR 150 for 4 months now. It has worked compared to Zoloft however, halfway through my treatment, I got food poisoning and stopped taking my meds for a week. Well, I did not know about withdrawal symptoms and was severly nauteaus, had join pain, stomach pain, emotional, couldn't sleep for about a week. I've also gained SO MUCH WEIGHT so my psychiatrist prescribed Topamax to help with the weight gain. I also am prescribed Adderall for ADHD and I feel like the Effexor has made the Adderall no longer effective so I no longer take it. I want to completely stop taking Effexor and get my life back but dont know what to do. Any thoughts? Obviously Im going to talk to my doctor to slowly taper off but Im reading all these horror stories and dont know how slowly to taper off. What have you done that was successful in tapering off Effexor?

It has to be a very slow tapering off. Look it up in one of the Effexor groups on Facebook. People tell their experiences. Personally I took Effexor XR for about a year. It helped with my depression and OCD but it made my anxiety worse. I tapered off in three weeks. The first day I stopped taking it I didn’t feel right. The next day I was vomiting, had physical withdrawal symptoms and had absolutely no filter. I was saying things to people that I would never have the nerve to say at any other time. It was awful. My psychiatrist suggested I go inpatient as they manage the meds much quicker but I refused to do so. I started on Zoloft immediately after I stopped Effexor but it took time to kick in. During that time I was so sick and a totally different person. My psychiatrist said I weaned off too quickly that’s why things happened the way they did. I was on a medical leave from work and was in a rush to get back. Guess what two years later due to a reduction in students I was made part time. So much for rushing to get back. Take your time, do it very slowly and you will be fine.

Hi all! I'm new to the group, but have been reading pages and pages of old postings. Here's my story and an ask for assistance.

I have been on 150 mg of Venlafaxine (generic Effexor) for many years for chronic depression and anxiety. For several reasons, I wish to quit taking this medication. I know how painful withdrawal can be, having been through it accidentally over a holiday weekend when I ran out of pills several years ago.

I am working with my psychiatrist, who lowered my dosage from 150 to 112.5 back in March. She thinks I should not discontinue use, as in her opinion it is "working." Yes, my depression and anxiety are in check, but I still do not want to be on THIS drug. (I have pretty much tried everything else though.) So she agreed reluctantly to assist me. Due to the pandemic, I have not seen her for a few months. On my own, I tapered from 112.5 to 75 mg. After a month on 75 mg, I then went down to 37.5 the last couple of weeks. I have had NO withdrawal symptoms with each reduced dosage. I now want to taper to 0. This seems to be the hardest step from what I've read. Not sure if I should first try the 37.5 mg every other day? Or remove the beads inside the capsule (seems tedious)? Since I've had no other withdrawal symptoms could I do this quickly? Or is this last step the one that needs to be dragged out the longest?

I should add, even though I've reduced my dosage from 150 to 37.5, I still feel happy with no anxiety (during this pandemic no less!), and no depression. Makes me think I've been over medicated for years. I am hopeful with the many life changes I've been through the last few years (sleep apnea treatment, retirement, and now grandchildren) my "chronic" issues won't come back. Perhaps naive, but I feel I owe it to myself to try. Thoughts? Appreciate all feedback.