I have just gotten off of Venlafaxine. Anyone else?

Posted by mbryan @mbryan, Apr 25, 2023

I am having trouble staying full/feeling full/feeling constantly hungry. I need some advice on what to eat. Is this a serotonin problem that the medication causes as a withdrawal symptom? Has anyone else also gotten off of this medication?

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@graciepeanut521

Hey there!
I’m also very slowly tapering off Venflaxine because when I tried to quit cold turkey I could not take the withdrawal symptoms. Fun fact: my doctor told me that Venflaxine is harder to withdraw from than heroin! I have only tapered down 20mg in the last two months, but I’m rooting for you! It’s interesting that you can’t seem to feel full. Are you having any other side effects?

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replying to @graciepeanut521 . I too am tapering off of this medication, and in all honesty, feel horrible. I am feeling more on edge than normal, irritated, angry(and I am not an angry person by nature) and very anxious, or rather more anxious than usual. As far as feeling "full" do you mean when you are eating? I do not have much of an appetite because of my liver/pancreas disease, so I am not having this symptom you described. I will see my neurologist tomorrow to discuss these symptoms among other things, and inquire if he can give me something other than what I have so that I can relax a bit more easily.
Good luck and hang in there. We can do this.

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@sears

My doctor won’t prescribe Effexor or Paxil any longer due to the extreme tapering issues.

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That makes a lot of sense! That's good that they are not prescribing it any more.

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@frances007

replying to @graciepeanut521 . I too am tapering off of this medication, and in all honesty, feel horrible. I am feeling more on edge than normal, irritated, angry(and I am not an angry person by nature) and very anxious, or rather more anxious than usual. As far as feeling "full" do you mean when you are eating? I do not have much of an appetite because of my liver/pancreas disease, so I am not having this symptom you described. I will see my neurologist tomorrow to discuss these symptoms among other things, and inquire if he can give me something other than what I have so that I can relax a bit more easily.
Good luck and hang in there. We can do this.

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The “feeling full” was in response to the original post. I myself do not have an appetite while withdrawing. It’s been about 3 weeks since I lowered my dose of Effexor and my appetite is slowly coming back, but for a while I could not eat at all.

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@graciepeanut521

The “feeling full” was in response to the original post. I myself do not have an appetite while withdrawing. It’s been about 3 weeks since I lowered my dose of Effexor and my appetite is slowly coming back, but for a while I could not eat at all.

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Oh, wow. That definitely makes sense to not have an appetite! I know it's different for everyone, but I swear this is the weirdest feeling that I'm experiencing. because it's not necessarily hunger all of the time, but a feeling in my upper abdomen that recently has gotten a little better. Usually it helps if I eat, but I'm not too sure if it fully helps.

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@sears

My doctor won’t prescribe Effexor or Paxil any longer due to the extreme tapering issues.

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I tapered off Effexor several years back. I had a horrible time and thought I was losing my mind. I went on celexa for a few years only to start cymbalta two years ago. Never felt well on any of them and now tapering off cymbalta. It’s not going well. I listened to a talk by a man who had an easier time coming cocaine than coming off antidepressants.

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@mbryan

That makes a lot of sense! That's good that they are not prescribing it any more.

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My doctor isn’t but I’m sure others are still prescribing. They haven’t been taken off the market.

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@cfos

I tapered off Effexor several years back. I had a horrible time and thought I was losing my mind. I went on celexa for a few years only to start cymbalta two years ago. Never felt well on any of them and now tapering off cymbalta. It’s not going well. I listened to a talk by a man who had an easier time coming cocaine than coming off antidepressants.

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I don’t think cocaine has a long drawn out withdrawal.

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@cfos

I tapered off Effexor several years back. I had a horrible time and thought I was losing my mind. I went on celexa for a few years only to start cymbalta two years ago. Never felt well on any of them and now tapering off cymbalta. It’s not going well. I listened to a talk by a man who had an easier time coming cocaine than coming off antidepressants.

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I'm sorry to hear that, what a crazy ride! I have started to feel so much better after figuring out what the withdrawals cause. I'm able to treat my self with the ride foods and natural supplements to aid in this recovery. Effexor and SSRN's make your cortisol sky rocket. Cortisol is you stress hormone, therefore, glucose levels can also rise. While the stress hormone causes you to panic, some soothe that panic with eating, and that's exactly how my body responds. I would do some research on cortisol levels and make sure to meditate and do calming activities that can help you cortisol levels to get back to normal!

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@sears

My doctor isn’t but I’m sure others are still prescribing. They haven’t been taken off the market.

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I think that this drug is being advertised as the wrong kind of medicine. It's so dangerous for the human body.

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@sears

I don’t think cocaine has a long drawn out withdrawal.

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It doesn't, but whatever chemical is in Effexor/Venlafaxine is highly addictive to the body, more addictive to the human body than cocaine or heroin.

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