I wish you all only the best of the best. I do want to share that if it were not for effexor, and sertraline, I would not be alive, able to function, learn or be a parent, or almost finished completing my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. No lie. Ive been on it since 1985. Ive been hospitalized, inpatient, locked wards only, more times than I can count, and was weaned off, so other modalities could be tried, with unfortunately no success. I was 14 when I started Effexor. Im 53 June 6th, have 3, gorgeous, now young twenty-somethings children, and outside of my biological family, i adore everything about being alive. I give thanks for each sunrise, sunset, each breath and beat of my heart. I was severely abused, neglected and ritualistically tortured as the recepticle for an unmedicated schizophrenic mother and absent father. No sibs thank god. This occurred from birth through age 18. I will have Major Depressive Disorder and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder until the day I die and I hope that day is a loooooooong time off. I can say that now ... but without the 2 meds I previously stated, and the tons and tons of therapy i have had, and will continue to have, I could never have said those words. I was unable to say them years ago. I am glad that those of you who want to get off of venlafaxine are able to do so, while still able to live life without constant flashbacks, list time, or uncontrollable morbid depression. Your bodies/brains do not require it to live and have functional lives. That is awesome. Just know that there are some persons, whose brains and bodies need it to exist and contribute to life and take proper care of themselves and their loved ones too. -mary

My doctor had prescribed venlaflexine for anxiety and menopause 75mg but I did not start. It sounds like this med can give you too much withdrawal symptoms later?

Amen to that. Knowing what I know now, I would not have taken venlafaxine for hot flashes umpteen years ago, as I have been unable to get off the drug after two attempts. A third attempt is in my future. Among side effects is a loss of interest in sex. I was warned by my pharmacist, but I never imagined I would be on the drug long-term. I would try every anxiety-lowering trick in the book before resorting to this drug. (Anxiety brings on hot flashes, which I guess is why it was prescribed.)

so glad to find other to talk with. I had been on Effexor XR off and on for over 26 yrs. been off this time for 5 months now. had to come off because it had stopped working and was causing lots of depression and anxiety of its on now. I could not get off it on my own had to go to a place in Sedona AZ ,ATMC, to do a detox program to get off, ended up counting the beads to get off without passing out constantly. now Im seeing a Neurologist that is doing neuropath work on me to help heal my receptors and help with brain zaps and ears ringing and light headedness. it messed my physical up badly trying to get cortical levels back now also. i'm praying a lot and trying to be patient so I don't have to go on a bridge drug( really don't want to do that) so many side effects, loss of desire to do most ANYTHING, every 3rd day I have lots of tears too,
and the worse is with cortisol levels off I wake up in fight or flight everytime i wake up.
Anyone else have any information on how long it may take to get receptors to heal?

1 month ago I was taped off duloxetine an snri similar to venlaxafine due to severe constipation of 6 months. I nowvtake escitalopram 10mg. Difficult transition as I had fatigue dizziness.

Hi All !

I tapered from 225mg of effexor over 2 week spans at each dose, i did exactly what i was instructed to do after being on the med for over 5 years at a high dose.

when i tapered down to 37.5 i started having diareha and now I am completely off of it and Wednesday will be 3 weeks since i have stopped it completely, I have been having diareha , wondering when it will stop and if anyone else had a similar situation

I had used it years ago with reasonable success but ended up going off it cold turkey - long story but that move cost me my job.
Tried again recently & had nausea & insomnia & sexual side effects so had to go back off of it.
I think it’s feasible that your stomach issues are due to the medication change & suspect that will improve once you’re fully off. Not sure what to suggest that you eat.

Venlafaxine is known to cause a wide host of side effects and comming off the medication is the worst. I know alot of people it put into pyschosis. Including myself I lost my ability to eat or feel an appetite