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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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@jakedduck1
The compounding pharmacy did mine this way:
Maximum dose was 112 mg. Now on 105 mg (for 2 weeks), then 97.5 mg. (for 2 weeks) and so on. This is my 9th day. So far, I’m good. My physician wanted to do it faster and in a different way. I didn’t agree with him. That’s why I went to a CP. when I tried to get off them three years ago, my doctor suggested faster. It was a nightmare. You are correct in saying go slow.
By the way, I was on 37.5 mg for 11 years and 112 mg. for about 4 years.
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1 ReactionMy decrease regimen is all that was offered to me, so I don't have a choice. My next step is zero from 37.5mg. I'm doing every other day. So far, I felt nothing yesterday which was my third rotation with nothing. This is what worked for my mom so she's making me do it this way.
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1 ReactionAt what percentage drop do the withdrawal effects usually happen if you cut out 10% every two weeks?
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1 ReactionIf it's working for you, that's all that matters. Keep going!!
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1 Reaction@maryathome
There are too many variables–body type, activity level, incentive/reason to get off, male/female, weight, type of Effexor, dosage, time on the drug, etc. You're fine until you're not–some do great at whatever tapering they've decided on, then wham, all h*ll breaks loose. At that point, you go back to the last dosage at which you were doing fine, stay there for a period and then, try decreasing less.
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2 Reactions@sharaden
YOU! always have a choice. It’s your life and your body.
My doctor expects me to either disagree or say no to her. We eventually hammer out a compromise, sometimes she wins sometimes I win but it’s always my decision.
Go talk to a pharmacist I know they will tell you not to reduce every other day.
Also people are different, just because it worked for your Mom is no guarantee it will work for you. However there are some people who don’t have withdrawals and you may be one of the lucky few. I hope you are. I hope you’ll let us know.
I hope all works out.
Jake
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1 ReactionFrom what I’ve read most happen near the end or after it’s stopped. Many had no effects.
Jake
I agree — there are many variables — but I'm tapering off from 150 mg, which is 486 beads, according to something I read on another blog (it gave the number of beads for 150, 75 and 37.5). I started off slow, with 20 beads/wk for a few weeks, then got impatient and started taking out 50 beads/wk (which is a little more than 10% of my original dose). I'm down to 245 this week and so far, no problem with the brain zaps, dizziness, etc. I'm tired, unmotivated, sometimes cranky, etc., but I think that's inevitable. (I don't always eat regularly either, so that could also be low blood sugar.) The way I have it planned from here on out is continuing to drop down 50/wk until I get to 45. Then I'll go down to 30 for a wk, then 25 for a day, then keep dropping down 5/day for that last wk until I get to zero. If that stops working ok for me at any point, I'll post about it on here. But so far, in terms of those god-awful, debilitating physical effects — which I've experienced several times previously when I forgot to refill my scrip in time — no problem. Knock on wood!!
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1 ReactionLast night I slept 10 hours (as usual). Started at 112 mg. Been around 12 years on 37.5 and increased 3 years ago to
112 mg. I also take 150 mg Wellbutrin.
I feel like I’ve been wasting my life away. I only do things when I have an appointment or a function or important errand to perform or the flowers I planted will die if they don’t get watered.
I know this is the beginning of my journey and have a long way to go. Four capsules remaining (105mg).
After that I move on to 97.5 mg.
I sit here unmotivated. I need to do some errands and housework but don’t want to move. Tearyeyed that I feel like a piece of furniture in my home. I take a good quality Omega 3, magnesium and B complex.
Once I get off these pills, will I get my motivation back.
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1 ReactionI too am in the process of coming off of a 30 year hate relationship With Effexor. As some of you did, I also tried to do it cold turkey and weening myself. I kept telling my doctor(s) that I was tired all the time and just plain blah. They answer was “take 2 instead of 1”. I look back now and think “really?”. Anyway, I found a doctor willing to send me to a psychiatrist in order to evaluate my state of mind and he agreed that 30 years was way to long since my reason for going on them had ended 29 years ago. He put me on a weening plan that we both agreed upon. During my 8 weeks of weening, I had no issues at all. 2 days after my last pill, the brain zaps began along with the demonic dreams. I have watched my diet and have been drinking plenty of fluids along with a lot of rest. The bad dreams have subsided although the dreams I do have are certainly weird. The brain zaps are still pretty intense but through this message board, I am encouraged. My psychiatrist said indeed, Effexor is the worst one to come off of. Best of luck to all of us in this effort to get back to living our best healthy lives,
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5 ReactionsI have a friend that swears by the powder “Calm” for anxiety and stress. I was taking it for a time and it did help. And for your sake, GET OFF EFFEXOR. Want even more of a reason? Go online and look up all the side effects of this drug. There are so many, they are listed alphabetically.
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1 ReactionI tried to write that they wouldn’t let me post ! The company should be put out of business…
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