Sensitive to tapering off of antidepressants, Effexor and Lexapro

Good Morning,
I am also tapering. Faster maybe than I think I should or maybe not? I have been on 150 mg for about 5 years. started missing days here and there. Wanted to taper down, went to 75mg for 5 weeks, then 37.5mg for 1 week, now on 25mg for 10 days. The brain zaps are more frequent now. The past 2 days quite often with the 25 mg taper. I am in a really stressful relationship which dosen't help. He is not supportive. He and his 10 year old daughter live with me. I am trying to hold it together, hoping to feel normal soon. Not sure what normal is actually? But I know I don't want to be on a brain altering medication anymore. Of course I am also going through menopause along with this. Life is a joy. But I will persevere. I have to I have a beautiful 3 year old granddaughter. She needs her Mimi...

I’m so sorry to hear everything you’re currently going through.
Sounds like a really tough situation. Thank you for responding.
Hold in there. I too no longer want to be on a mind altering medication. I want to know which emotions are mine. I don’t remember what it feels like to be me anymore.

I know exactly what you mean. Between the menopause and the effexor, I don't know what emotions are real or not. My doctor was questioning if I was ready to d/c the medication? That really rubbed me the wrong way. Really? Why wouldn't I be? I realize my husband died. That was 4 years ago. I can't hide behind a medication for the rest of my life. I am anxious to get through this also. I hope you are coping well. It's tough. I am trying to keep busy to help with the side effects of the withdrawal. It seems to be helping. Until I drop from exhaustion. LOL...

Hello @anonymouslas and @mjsmimi. Here is another discussion you may be interested in reading through, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tips-on-minimising-withdrawal-symptoms-from-effexor-aka-venlafaxine/. It is a robust discussion where many members have discussed withdrawing and tapering off of Effexor. It is a long discussion, but you can read through some of the posts and jump in where you feel comfortable.

All all,

I have successfully weened off effoxer, with the doctors "unsupported" prescription. His words while handing me the prescription were "you are just going to get depressed again"

Whatever you do, do NOT try to do it cold turkey, I tried a couple times & ended up going back as the head zaps, racing heart rate, sweats & mood swings were too much.

I have been completely off them for the last couple weeks. I am heading into my 50's, going through menopause, periods are out of wack or is it "med-a-pause" lol.

But the weight is piling on!! I am eating with way more awareness & have been exercising regularly.

Has anyone experienced the weight gain after tapering off these med's & if so, has anyone found a way to streamline the weight gain. with this weight gain, I am starting to become a "debbie downer"
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

cheers

Okay, hi. I’ve been on 300mg of Effexor XR for around three or four years. It stopped helping me once I started getting older (I was put on it when I was just about past age eighteen) and my doc and I made a mutual decision to wean off but only after starting Wellbutrin and making sure it helped me first. Decreased by 37.5mg every three days, and felt fine besides a bout of irritability here and there. As soon as I was finished weaning off I started having terrible side effects. I felt like I was going to pass out one day, have barely had an appetite, and for the past two days have had awful brain zaps. I’m also extremely anxious and am constantly worrying if these side effects are normal and if they will ever go away.
Does anyone know of any way to get at least the brain zaps (they’re my biggest complaint tbh) under control a bit more?

@lilred
If your doctor told you to decrease your dose by that much and that quickly s/he’s an idiot. Every 3 days is insanity. Doctors are not Gods. You might want to think about your doctors advice considering medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. So in 24 days you went from 300mg to -0- WOW!
There have been studies done that recommend reducing your dose 5-10% every 4 -6 weeks. I’d guess those zaps are going to be around for awhile unless your one of the lucky ones. You may want to ask your doctor about restarting your medication until the zaps stop, unless he’s the one who came up with this plan, if so I’d be looking for a new doctor.
Good luck and wishing you health and happiness,
Jake

OMG WHO IS YOUR DOCTOR? He or she should come with a health warning. You are very very lucky the side effects were not a hundred times worse - the advice you received was highly dangerous, it should have taken about 4 to 6 months at least for you to come off 300mg Effexor, and don’t worry, they are an excellent drug for anxiety etc. and with the right help you can come off them completely over time. 300 mg is a high dose. I suggest you go back on them under the right supervision. Please see a doctor with experience in mental health you CANNOT play around with these drugs. The very best of luck.

Well, the thing was that we only continue going down like that if my brain/body tolerated it. Never would have continued doing it like that if I were having adverse effects during the drop. The only time I’ve felt bad side effects is the days after I took my last dose.

I am so happy with my doctor that I would defend her as well. Please please see this as it really is - under no circumstances should you have been allowed to reduce ur dosage the way you did, NEVER EVER EVER. it has nothing to do with it suiting ur Brain Body it was a huge risk, which tells us, your doctor knows nothing about mental health. That is not to say he/she is not a good doctor. There are horses for courses. One size does not fit all. If you look up reducing Effexor on google, it will explain it to you better than I can ,slowly slowly is the only way. Take care of yourself.