1. < Depression & Anxiety

Long term effects AFTER withdrawing from Effexor

Posted by DissidentDaughter @dissidentdaughter, Aug 4, 2018

I am wondering if anyone has had any experience like this. I weaned off Effexor three years ago. After doing so I have gradually developed what is now becoming debilitating chronic pain. I am wondering if there is any way that being on Effexor for 15 years could have caused me to develop this pain now that I am not on it anymore. Thanks for your thoughts. I can’t seem to find any direct related research on this.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

jeffreylwahl | @jeffreylwahl | Feb 19 8:33pm
In reply to @dfb "I was on 450mg for fifteen years. I titrated over four months to zero and ended..." + (show)
@dfb

I was on 450mg for fifteen years. I titrated over four months to zero and ended up in the hospital.

I now have unremitting suicidal depression and anxiety ( never had anxiety before) and I can only sleep two hours at a time.

My provider is giving me drugs to address the symptoms /discontinuation effects.

I was mildly depressed fifteen years ago when I was put on psychiatric medication. I was also loved and respected.

Now I am suffering from all sorts of aliments and have lost everyone and everything that ever mattered to me.

In hindsight I didn’t need the insane level of medication that was prescribed to me. Now I despair I can’t function without some amount of psychiatric interventions.

Medicine has screwed up before, bloodletting and oxytocin for instance. We are just starting to learn how badly they’ve gotten mental health treatment messed up.

All I am left with is the daily struggle to be relevant.

May we all live in good health and peace.

Jump to this post

Dear DFB. Thanks for the blessing at the end of your story. 3rd John vs 2 KJV Bible Says I wish above all things, brothers and sisters, that you may prosper, and be in health as your soul prospers. I somewhat paraphrased. I believe you can experience peace in the midst of your horrible storm, and can begin to see those storm clouds breaking up. You can make it just hang in there. Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. May I Share in closing, my life verses from the psalms, chapter 103 verses one through five. Bless the Lord oh my soul, and all that’s within me bless your holy name. bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget not all your benefits. Who forgives all of my iniquities, who heals all of my diseases, who redeems my life from destruction, and who crowns me with loving kindness and tender mercies, and who fills my mouth with good things so that my strength is renewed as the Eagles. I did that from memory from the King James Bible, it may not be quoted perfect, but I’m telling you these verses of scripture have changed my life and are sustaining me today.

REPLY
toekneet | @toekneet | Feb 19 9:07pm
In reply to @jeffreylwahl "Dear friend. I have been off Effexor completely for about 6 months. I’ve had continual times..." + (show)
@jeffreylwahl

Dear friend. I have been off Effexor completely for about 6 months. I’ve had continual times of weakness and fatigue. Mine in part is due to recovering from a quadruple bypass surgery in late April of 22. Then it was in late May I found out my right lung was not working due to a phrenic nerve that was somehow damaged and caused my right lung to be paralyzed. I recently had a bad cold, and my breathing was really terrible. I was short of breath, and my oxygen level was very low, which has actually caused me to seek out professional advice from a thoracic surgeon at the Cleveland clinic since I’m an Ohio native. I really can’t quantify and say for sure how much of my fatigue and weakness has been caused by lack of oxygen, and how much has been caused from long-term side effects from the Effexor, although I believe most of my weakness and problems that I’ve had other than the shortness of breath are being caused by the side effects from being off of Effexor. I am supposed to call Cleveland Clinic tomorrow, Tuesday, February 20 and hopefully I’ll be getting an appointment there for an evaluation of my lung situation. In the meantime, you keep looking up and try to stay positive, try to be a faith filled person, because with God all things are possible.!!!

Jump to this post

Hi Jeffrey. I’m so sorry you’re going through so much. It must be exhausting. I appreciate you taking the time to respond, and I wish you the very best. I’ll keep you in my prayers. Take care.❤️

REPLY
debamato | @debamato | Feb 21 4:20pm
In reply to @dissidentdaughter "Thank you for that suggestion. I haven’t used this resource in years so I wouldn’t have..." + (show)
@dissidentdaughter

Thank you for that suggestion. I haven’t used this resource in years so I wouldn’t have know who in the group would be good to reach out to here. I mentioned it to my doctor at my last physical and she was strangely silent regarding any of my comments related to chronic pain and depression. This is a new doctor and I was hopeful, due to her bio, that she was more open minded to alternative medicine and listening. However that was not my experience. I have moved A LOT in my adult life and so my medical care has been very inconsistent and poor. The only constant has been my therapist for the last 12 years. While I have done well since weaning off meds (and getting a divorce—one of the exacerbating factors for depression was the marriage), this pain is threatening to pull me down into depression again. Thank you for the recommendation and for reaching out to these other folks. I hope they might have some wisdom to share.

Jump to this post

Do you have any advice for weaning off of Paxil? I am desperate I just found this website and not sure how it works yet.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 21 5:29pm
In reply to @jeffreylwahl "Dear friend. I have been off Effexor completely for about 6 months. I’ve had continual times..." + (show)
@jeffreylwahl

Dear friend. I have been off Effexor completely for about 6 months. I’ve had continual times of weakness and fatigue. Mine in part is due to recovering from a quadruple bypass surgery in late April of 22. Then it was in late May I found out my right lung was not working due to a phrenic nerve that was somehow damaged and caused my right lung to be paralyzed. I recently had a bad cold, and my breathing was really terrible. I was short of breath, and my oxygen level was very low, which has actually caused me to seek out professional advice from a thoracic surgeon at the Cleveland clinic since I’m an Ohio native. I really can’t quantify and say for sure how much of my fatigue and weakness has been caused by lack of oxygen, and how much has been caused from long-term side effects from the Effexor, although I believe most of my weakness and problems that I’ve had other than the shortness of breath are being caused by the side effects from being off of Effexor. I am supposed to call Cleveland Clinic tomorrow, Tuesday, February 20 and hopefully I’ll be getting an appointment there for an evaluation of my lung situation. In the meantime, you keep looking up and try to stay positive, try to be a faith filled person, because with God all things are possible.!!!

Jump to this post

@jeffreylwahl, I hope your appointment went well. You may be interested in this long-running and active discussion where member are talking about phrenic nerve damage:
- Phrenic Nerve damage and paralyzed diaphragm: Anyone else have this?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/phoenix-nerve-damage/

REPLY
angel1013 | @angel1013 | Mar 10 6:13pm

I weaned off effexor about 2 yrs ago maybe and I have a possible "frozen shoulder" or shoulder impingement. I hadn't put the 2 together...don't know if its related but you never know. I am 44 and I cant use my arm and for no reason at all. Xray didnt show anything, I work from home on a computer all day, I have not damaged it in any way. I have other minor joint pain too but nothing like my shoulder.

REPLY
1 reply
njoys | @njoys | Mar 11 5:18pm
In reply to @angel1013 "I weaned off effexor about 2 yrs ago maybe and I have a possible "frozen shoulder"..." + (show)
@angel1013

I weaned off effexor about 2 yrs ago maybe and I have a possible "frozen shoulder" or shoulder impingement. I hadn't put the 2 together...don't know if its related but you never know. I am 44 and I cant use my arm and for no reason at all. Xray didnt show anything, I work from home on a computer all day, I have not damaged it in any way. I have other minor joint pain too but nothing like my shoulder.

Jump to this post

If you will research frozen shoulders, I think you will find that no one really knows their cause, they seem to just happen. I had a frozen shoulder occur out of the blue years ago that physical therapy fixed for me. (I was on Effexor for years before and for years after; I didn't and don't consider them to be related.) My brother had a frozen shoulder at one time, as well as his wife, and a co-worker, etc. None of those folks were on Effexor. Mention your shoulder to others and you may be surprised at how many have experienced the same. Good luck with yours.

REPLY
slegnam | @slegnam | Mar 12 9:31pm
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @terri672 - I moved your post to this existing discussion on effects after tapering off..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Hi, @terri672 - I moved your post to this existing discussion on effects after tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor) so that you could connect with others discussing this subject. Click VIEW & REPLY in your email notification to get to your post.

Hoping that @sandij @ldwhite720 @texasduchess @brightwings @notaround @babydoll will chime in with any experiences they have with returning depression or anxiety after a taper off of venlafaxine (Effexor).

What symptoms are you noticing especially with the depression and anxiety, @terri672 (e.g., loss of interest in activities, restlessness, trouble concentrating)?

Jump to this post

Hello everyone, I am brand new here. I am reaching out for information and advice on tapering off effexor and going on to prozac. It appears the effexor has stopped working for me. My OCD, depression and anxiety is very bad. I am going to be monitored by a psychiatrist. But, I have had terrible experiences with withdrawal symptoms that put me in the hospital in the past and I must admit I'm scared, anxious and depressed just thinking about it. Am I going to be ok ? Can anyone give me their experiences? Unfortunately I will most likely be stuck on a antidepressant for life with my symptom combination. I need support. Thank you in advance. I hope the pain that people have been feeling is resolving. God Bless 🙌

REPLY
njoys | @njoys | Mar 14 3:34pm

I have found this series of posts on this website to be the most helpful regarding Effexor: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tips-on-minimising-withdrawal-symptoms-from-effexor-aka-venlafaxine/
It is a ton of information, but I recommend it (as it was recommended to me).
If you will enter "Effexor Prozac" in the search area on this page, you will find many posts relevant to your question about those drugs in particular.
There are also various online resources which address withdrawal issues:
https://www.theinnercompass.org
https://withdrawal.theinnercompass.org/help-hub/how-laypeople-tweak-their-tapers-optimize-chances-smooth-successful-psychiatric-drug
https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/10/may-cause-side-effects-radical-acceptance-psychiatric-drug-withdrawal-brooke-siem/
https://learn.outro.com/home
https://www.survivingantidepressants.org
https://medicatingnormal.com/withdrawal-research/
Best wishes to you. As you can see, you are not alone.

REPLY
hammerman | @hammerman | Apr 2 10:57am
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @dissidentdaughter -- I'm really sorry to hear about the chronic pain you have developed. That..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Hi, @dissidentdaughter -- I'm really sorry to hear about the chronic pain you have developed. That must be very difficult. You are wise to consider all possibilities that might have led to this debilitating pain.

What I thought might be helpful would be to tag some members who have completed their taper off of venlafaxine (Effexor) and see what they have to say about any lingering side effects in their experiences, like @texasduchess @cathy615 @sadiesmom @aririkatotomoto @lalyfa. @gailb and @hopeful33250 may also have some thoughts.

@dissidentdaughter -- have you had the chance to ask your doctor what he or she thinks about a potential link between the medication and your chronic pain?

Jump to this post

Just signed up regarding taking Effexor, I have a ton to digest right now.

REPLY
henryhill | @henryhill | Apr 10 12:45am
In reply to @texasduchess "Wow! I hate to think that Effexor can cause permanent damage. I was on it for..." + (show)
@texasduchess

Wow! I hate to think that Effexor can cause permanent damage. I was on it for about 18 years and have been dealing with PAWS (extended withdrawal symptoms) since I tapered off 4/14/18. I took supplements to minimize the withdrawal symptoms and still take some of them (but now once a day, down from five times a day). I am DEFINITELY much improved, so I am hopeful that post-Effexor I am not permanently damaged.

Jump to this post

What supplements did you take to help with your withdrawal ?

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.