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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
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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By the way, I wanted to say how nice it has been reading other peoples experiences… Not that I’m happy other people are suffering, but it is just so nice to know that I’m not alone.
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4 ReactionsSo hard to be treated for this condition. My heart goes out to you, obviously you are a bright , sensitive person. I wish you all the best.. we care
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3 ReactionsA few thoughts after 8 hours of sleep:
1) I’m really disappointed in the physician who prescribed Effexor/Venlafaxine to me. With the research I have done over the last 24 hours I now know this drug was intended for major anxiety and depression.
2) I’m really disappointed in myself for not recognizing a less-than-supporting spouse as the root of my depression and anxiety. I was married 25 years and have been divorced 3.5 years. I know, now, that I really needed a partner and co-parent more than medication!
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3 ReactionsThank you! I’m on the “better side” of 8 hours of sleep…feeling more like my true self this morning!
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1 ReactionToday I have hope that I might be able to stay off Effexor, some three months post-withdrawal. I weaned myself off the first time four years ago. After about two months with no problem, I suddenly experienced an extreme anxiety attack. I called my doctor immediately and said I needed to be back on the drug NOW. This time, because the experience was identical--an avalanche of fear, anxiety and depression two months after weaning off the drug--I considered that it might be the result of continuing withdrawal and not yet the real me. It has been a horrible number of weeks, but I had my first good night last night and got out of bed without dreading the day for the first time this morning. This is thanks to support from my husband, brother, a few friends with whom I shared my misery, and members of this support group who have shared your stories. I am praying that this is a genuine "reboot," and aim to continue getting sufficient physical exercise, meditating on what is good, fighting to stay optimistic and avoiding the negative, doing what I can to help another. I expect to continue to have hot flashes, but that's minor compared to the nightmare of withdrawal from Effexor. Peace and good health to you all.
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2 ReactionsP.S. This is after telling myself just yesterday that I am one of those who must be on the drug for life.
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1 ReactionI was on Effexor XR and eventually it gave me night terrors, hallucinations, deep anxiety and a slew of other undesirable problems. Also high blood pressure, which aggravated migraines. Deciding that I could not and did not want this drug in my life anymore, I tried making an appointment with my primary (who had prescribed it). Because my primary was not available, I was seen by the nurse practitioner, who told me to get off it immediately and to take the one that she felt I should take, starting the next day. I just did not think that was wise, so I went home and searched for info. No way was I going to follow her advice! Effexor is not an antidepressant that you can just stop taking, especially not then following it with another antidepressant. The literature was very clear on that. So I stayed on it until a neurologist was able to see me. She was appalled by what the nurse practitioner had wanted me to do. She created a schedule for weaning off the drug, over several months, until the dosage and frequency of administration was next to nothing. Even with that, I had withdrawal symptoms, such as what I called brain-squeezes and auditory disturbances. I've been off that drug for over 15 yrs and took NO antidepressants until I agreed to take a low dose of Zoloft, which was ineffective but also created issues for me. THAT ALSO needed the guidance of the professional who prescribed it, and it took about 8 MONTHS of a detailed, finely tuned weaning schedule, along with check-up visits. When done, I still felt unwell, sluggish, cotton-brained, and kept hearing nasty whoosh wounds in my ears, even being awakened by it. The pharmacist worked with my doctor to create a tincture of the Zoloft, and that also had to be worked into a "weaning" schedule. When all was over, I was grateful to be free of the drug, but still felt somewhat unwell , and that is how I attended our younger daughter's wedding, feeling like an observer, struggling to smile, greet people, and not let on that what I needed to do was crawl under a blanket. I could well have won an Oscar for my performance that night, but what propelled me was not wanting to spoil our daughter's wedding. To this day (12 yrs later), I look back with much regret at how a medication could have sabotaged what was such an important family event.
Based on my very real and personal experiences with these two often-prescribed and "popular" antidepressants, I urge not handling the discontinuation of any medication sans medical guidance.
Just my two cents...I sincerely hope all goes well for you as you aim to be released of the Effexor.🌺
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5 ReactionsHello
I have come to give hope to everyone. After taking venlafaxine 225mg for years I decided to take the plunge and come off it. I got down to 37.5mg but every time I tried to go further it caused such horrific side effects I gave up. I tried cutting the tablets into pieces but it was so hard to not have them crumble it got to a point I became so dejected I had almost given up. Now anyone here coming off knows the side effects. Literally horrific. Luckily I did some research being in the medical profession and found in the UK BNF that they did a liquid preparation. I spoke to my GP about my terrible experience so far and persuaded her to allow me one 37.5mg/5ml bottle (£290) on NHS prescription. Well using a variety of syringes till I got down to 0.25ml I am now done. Very very slight vertigo but keeping busy makes it barely noticeable. To all my UK friends, if you have a caring GP, ask them for this regime. Honestly I never thought I would see the day I came off this drug, it was a life saver for me but coming off was a journey in itself. I promise if you do it this way, you can succeed 🥹
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6 ReactionsMay I ask how long you have been off venlafaxine?
Hi @brightwings,
It has been a long time since you posted. I used to follow this thread when my partner spent a year getting off of Effexor, and your story inspired me. As a Healer myself I actually think of you often as you were one of the first people who embodied many of the things I now believe to be essential to healing trauma and the body. I was also fascinated by your experiences with plant medicine "before it was cool".
I actually decided to create an account so I could message you and ask you if you are still kicking around here on these boards, or if there is any place I can message you to chat about healing and energy and life. Long shot perhaps but I can't see how to PM someone on here =)
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