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Any long term side effects from stopping venlafaxine?

Posted by uzername @uzername, Sep 2, 2023

I was treated with venlafaxine XR for 16 years for depression at various doses. I did a very slow taper over 3 months in 2016 to avoid acute withdrawal symptoms and did fine. Since that point in time I have had progressively worse symptoms of hot spells and sweating. I am on therapeutic doses of estrogen so this is not menopausal symptoms. I tried restarting a variety of SSRI and SNRI but it made the sweating worse. Has anybody had any long term permanent problems after stopping venlafaxine, ( Effexor)?

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njoys | @njoys | Jan 25 8:14pm
In reply to @acrz0623 "I have been dealing with a feeling of which the best I can describe is lightheadedness..." + (show)
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I have been dealing with a feeling of which the best I can describe is lightheadedness and or disassociation. I feel like I’m a little drunk/ high all day everyday but without the positive effects.I was on Venlafaxine 150mg for about five years or so. I had to stop due the Venlafaxine causing what my ophthalmologist said was angle closure glaucoma. I had to have a laser iridotomy in both eyes due to increased eye pressure. I had a battery of tests done by a neuro ophthalmologist and was told I have perfect vision and no damage to my optic nerves.I visited a neurologist and had a MRI brain scan with and without contrast and came back “normal”I visited a vestibular physical therapist and was told my vestibular system is “normal”I came off Venlafaxine in May 2025 and within two months I’ve been experiencing this feeling of lightheadedness or visual disturbances since then all day everyday. It feels at times it gets worse and my vision gets blurry or fuzzy. Neuro Ophthalmologist said my acuity is 20/25 vision.I have done all these tests and seen numerous doctors and can’t get an answer why I feel like this. The only thing I can think it could be is withdrawal or discontinuation syndrome from the venlafaxine.If anyone has any insight for me it would be greatly appreciated.Thank you 🙏

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I stopped taking a 75mg dose of Effexor twice now after gradual decreases over a period of months. About two months after completely stopping the drug each time, I experienced a variety of horrible withdrawal symptoms, such that I had to resume taking the drug. A year ago, I started my third attempt to end this drug, reducing much more slowly, at about 10% a month. I mention my experience to confirm that it is possible that what you are experiencing is the result of protracted withdrawal.
Are you familiar with withdrawal akathisia: ". . . a neuropsychiatric condition, characterized by severe agitation, restlessness and a sense of terror. . . . Patients report a very distressing subjective feeling of restlessness and dysphoria, and they often fidget, pace, rock and are unable to sit or stand still. However, akathisia can also manifest more subtly without obvious motor symptoms, typified by terror and a subjective feeling of restlessness.
"The pathophysiology is poorly understood . . . . This pronounced state of agitation can be mis-diagnosed as a manic state, an anxiety disorder, a panic disorder, a personality disorder, ADHD, health anxiety, restless leg disorder and functional neurological disorder, or a factitious disorder by clinicians unfamiliar with the syndrome in psychiatric drug withdrawal." [Excerpt from The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines by Mark Horowitz and David Taylor, p. 23-24.]
I understand little about it, but did experience some of the features of akathisia. It might be worth looking into for some explanation of what you have been feeling.

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