1. < Depression & Anxiety

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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vfrifr | @vfrifr | Sep 17, 2021
In reply to @sherry47 "Thank you" + (show)
@sherry47

Thank you

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You are welcome! Please let us know if the book helps you.

REPLY
vfrifr | @vfrifr | Sep 18, 2021
In reply to @sherry47 "Thank you" + (show)
@sherry47

Thank you

Jump to this post

You are welcome! Please let us know if the book helps you. Good luck!

REPLY
califas | @califas | Oct 2, 2021

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?

REPLY
3 replies
dianecostella | @dianecostella | Oct 3, 2021
In reply to @califas "Hello! Ive been taking Effexor XR 150 for 4 months now. It has worked compared to..." + (show)
@califas

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?

Jump to this post

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.

REPLY
2 replies
vfrifr | @vfrifr | Oct 3, 2021
In reply to @dianecostella "It has to be a very slow tapering off. Look it up in one of the..." + (show)
@dianecostella

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.

Jump to this post

Maybe the book "The Anti-Depressant Solution" might help. Written by Dr. Joseph Glenmullen, who has spent 30 years helping people discontinue Zoloft, Effexor and other drugs in this category. The book gives guidelines on how much taper, the withdrawal symptoms, checklist to help track the withdrawal symptoms, case studies and more. In April 2020, I was put on 25mg of Zoloft for anviety. By June 2020 I was have severe heart palpitations thanks to the Zoloft. (Turns out I am in the special 4% of people extremely sensitive to Zoloft.) The tapers had me in complete misery. One taper put me in the hospital. I found the book in April 2021. By following Dr. Glenmullen's recommendations, I have discovered that I only taper 0.4mg at a time without being in complete misery. Presently my dose is 5.6mg. I am using the liquid Zoloft. Please also do research on both drugs. Got to the website of the drugs manufacturer. There you will find a more complete profile of the drug then what the pharmacy give you. Good luck and let us know how you are doing!
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Moderator
Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Oct 3, 2021
In reply to @califas "Hello! Ive been taking Effexor XR 150 for 4 months now. It has worked compared to..." + (show)
@califas

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?

Jump to this post

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?

REPLY
1 reply
califas | @califas | Oct 3, 2021
In reply to @amandajro "Hello @califas and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will notice that I have moved your..." + (show)
@amandajro

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?

Jump to this post

Thank you so much! Yes, Ive mentioned it to her. My psychiatrist is amazing! I have brought up my concerns and has mentioned she wants to start tapering me off in a month and I started to worry. I am being proactive by finding solutions that others have used to bring to her attention to see what she thinks. I hope I never have to take this medication again.

REPLY
sherry47 | @sherry47 | Oct 4, 2021
In reply to @califas "Hello! Ive been taking Effexor XR 150 for 4 months now. It has worked compared to..." + (show)
@califas

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?

Jump to this post

Go slow and try to remember that things may not always be the way you perceive them at this time or for the next several months. Be prepared for things to get dark. Reach out. I found it hard to explain what was going on. Remember that people here have been through it. Use that

REPLY
miker8888 | @miker8888 | Oct 4, 2021
In reply to @dianecostella "It has to be a very slow tapering off. Look it up in one of the..." + (show)
@dianecostella

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.

Jump to this post

Your last sentence is golden! I was on Effexor XR for several years when my Psychiatrist and I decided to stop. She created a rigid, detailed plan and suggestedthat I chart each day. That chart and check offs helped immesureably. There were some difficult moments and I certainly experienced several "brain freeze" events but that chart kept me going until that last pill when I realized I was free.

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momo13 | @momo13 | Oct 7, 2021
In reply to @jtj "Hi all! I'm new to the group, but have been reading pages and pages of old..." + (show)
@jtj

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.

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Hello,
I started on Venlafaxine 150 a little over a year ago and it helped me through a rough spot in my life. I have successfully tapered down to 37.5 MG a day, then every other day and that went pretty well. I am now trying to stretch it to every 3rd day but by the end of the 3rd day I am very nauseated, have head buzzing and sound and light sensitivity. Just want to stop taking this stuff! Any suggestions?

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