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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@adimswife
Hi, and welcome to the Mayo Connect community. I'm a volunteer here and not a medical professional. I can't give medical advice or medical diagnoses, although I do offer my experience, knowledge, and support.
Can you share with us what brought you to the Mayo Connect group? Since you are in the UK, it would be great if you would be willing to share how you work with pharmacists rather than physicians for issues with prescribed drugs. We welcome all input to this thread and other threads. Helping each other deal with withdrawal symptoms gives everyone the opportunity to find ways to withdraw that will work for them.
I was told to take a whole tablet which sounds the same as week 3 but I think as they are not slow release it must be that it's making my body used to not having the drug in my system all day if that makes sense. What I may do, if I get too 'wobbly' is to take half a tablet in the morning for week 5 and see how that feels.
I hope it works. I can't wait to get this poison out of my body!
and that would be 18.75 mg. My tablets come in 37.5 mg which is apparently the lowest dose available, and I cut them in half with a tablet cutter that I bought from Amazon for £5
it's really annoying as doctors and even my husband don't believe that these meds make you gain weight.
Hi JK. Well I’m not feeling too bad. I’ve had to take some Advil twice today. I dont know why I get these monstrous headaches but I have to deal with them the only way I know how. And thats the Advil. Looking forward to my app’t with the Cancer Doc on Thursday. I have many questions for him and his answers will clear up some things!!!!!
Hi @gailb . I think, like everyone else, I was looking for a way to get off the anti-depressants in a safe way. I was lucky enough to come across this forum and joined immediately. The title of this thread was basically what I typed into Google!
The reason I decided to join this forum was that I feel as if I will get the support I need. Only my husband knows that I am on anti-depressants. The reason I started them was too sensitive a topic to tell anyone else. I have suffered through my depression mostly on my own which I know makes it worse. Talking to others without being judged is really what I need. Even though I have made a decision to come off the medication, my depression remains but, I want to find another way to manage it and there is a lot of information here. I also hope that my experience will help others.
In the UK, we have the National Health Service (NHS) which, although we complain about certain aspects of it, is really good. The one thing I would say is that the doctors, (General Practitioners/GP's) are quite quick to put people on to anti-depressants and the waiting lists to see a therapist for counselling can take up to 12 months unless you pay for it privately, then you only get 6 sessions! I really wish this practice would stop.
Anyway, when I went to see my GP, she said that the surgery was lucky enough to have their own in-house pharmacist and I got an appointment within a few days. This is something that has only been available recently.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2018/01/more-clinical-pharmacists-set-to-boost-gp-services-for-patients-and-practices/
I definitely gained weight on this med!! I got on for depression and anxiety….it's giving me anxiety and depression from this weight!! Can't wait to be off of this
@adimswife
Thanks for the link you provided giving information about the UK pharmacist scheme. This sounds like it will make great use of knowledge and skills that are often overlooked here in the US. I found my pharmacist to be very helpful in my withdrawal from Gabapentin, which my Pain Doctor refused to help me with. I ended up relying on my pharmacist and he was great. I really had no idea previously that they were so willing and able to help.
You made a great choice to join this group as we are very supportive of each other. In addition, you have information and experience that will help others. I hope you find good ways to reduce your dependence on Effexor, which seems extremely difficult to stop taking. I have successfully withdrawn from other drugs and am thankful I never took Effexor.
@shaker1956 Have you had your headaches diagnosed? Could they possibly be migraine? I had migraines before I hit menopause and they were awful. They just came out with Imitrex shortly before mine stopped but I hesitated to use it because even though I did not have heart problems my family is full of them, and people with heart problems were not supposed to take it. Thankfully I rarely have any headaches now, which I am very happy about, not only because who wants headaches, but the only thing I can take is Tylenol.
My daughter inherited my migraines unfortunately and I know she does have success with some of the medications that are available now.
JK
Hi JK. I only started getting headaches recently. I think Its a combination of stress and withdrawing from Effexor. Advil does take care of them but it still is not pleasant!!!!! I start my 12th week without that dreaded drug tomorrow. It has been a pretty cappy go let me tell you!!!! Enjoy your evening
Actually starting my 11th week off Effexor. Not my 12th!!!!!
How’s it going ?