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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6363)Comment receiving replies
Hi, I’ve seen lots of posts mentioning having withdrawal, but few mention what the symptoms are. I have started to withdraw. Started at 225 mg, but have cut out one 75 mg pill every third day. Around this time, I started experiencing waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep. I’ve always had problems falling asleep, and take Ambien, Magnesium and Tizanidine to help. But once I was asleep, I slept through the night. Not any more! This seems like a sudden change, and I can’t think of anything else that would have caused it.
Has anyone else had this symptom?
Replies to "Hi, I’ve seen lots of posts mentioning having withdrawal, but few mention what the symptoms are...."
@susanh824
I suspect cutting your dose by a third every three days, if that's your plan, likely will lead to withdrawal effects. Three days isn't much time for your brain to get used to not having Effexor.
Yes- can’t sleep for the last month and a half. Terrible. I’m sure it’s this med. I’m down to 75mg. The no sleeping started after I lowered my dose which I did do slowly over months
Oh dear, this is WAY too fast. You will feel worse, much worse. I would reinstate ASAP to 200mg.
I dropped by 12.5mg every 3 weeks, and 2 months after 0mg my horrible withdrawal started. I was originally on 112.mg
You need to taper by 10% every month but stabilize yourself first and do it longer if you have to. It gets harder after you hit a smaller dose. Then there is the 'endgame' when you reach like 5mg.
How are you now in December??
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I am sorry to learn you are struggling with this. You have lots of company.... Withdrawal symptoms may include sleep issues. A National Institute of Health (NIH) continuing education article on venlafaxine reports: "Abrupt cessation of venlafaxine can lead to serious adverse effects such as irritability, tiredness, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, trouble sleeping, nightmares, headache, sweating, dizziness, tingling, or "pins and needles" feeling, shaking, confusion, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea." Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535363/
Which is why it is important to wean off the drug slowly. I've experienced most of these effects. I have little appetite and lost more than ten pounds. It's still a struggle, some three months after a complete stop of the drug. I am doing my best each day to counter what I believe are lingering effects of withdrawal (though my doctor disagrees, believing I should be clear of all effects by now). I aim for daily physical exercise, try to keep busy, meditate as needed, think on positive things, and follow many of the suggestions made by others on this website. On occasion, I take Benadryl or Tylenol PM to help me sleep. It's not easy, but I am determined to get better without relying on this drug for hot flashes (which helped little with hot flashes anyway). Wishing you all the best. Keep your doctor and pharmacist in the loop.