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
Weaning off of this drug really messed with my gastro system. Diarrhea and horrible cramps. I wonder if it may be your gastro system and not your reproductive system. Might be worth a trip to the gyno to be double sure.
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@sadiesmom My daughter has been being treated for gastro issues ever since she started the Effexor. We're to the point now where she's had every test and her specialist has told us that until she is fully weaned there isn't anything else we can do. Obviously, he suspects the Effexor is the major culprit, and I will say that her symptoms have dramatically improved as we have lessened her dosage over the past year. We had also taken her to a GYN to rule out endometriosis…
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Yes, stomach cramps and cramps in the back of my calves, as well as headaches. Fortunately not debilitating but pretty annoying!
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Hi Dyan,
I think most of us were given the drug the same way.
I am NOT 100% sure when all the issues came to light.
I am curious, did you ask the doctor if there were any side effects you had to look for?
Don't be angry, it doesn't help.
I think we ALL learned a good lesson OR we were reminded that it is OUR obligation to ask the questions if we want to have them answered.
Don't forget, often doctors will prescribed the best medication for the situation without a discussion, unless asked.
Good luck!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
Wow, just found this place as I have decided today to finally wean myself off Effexor/venlafaxine. Taking 75 mg for over 10 years and now that I’m retired, I feel strongly that this doctor I had then pushed them on me without any questions or background of depression. I was going thru menopause and hormones were bouncing around me like a teenager. Fast forward to now at 64 I’m experiencing some ptsd from childhood trauma and I’m still on meds. I feel like my meds are not working anymore and expect my doc to recommend increasing the dosage but I can’t do this anymore. I’m in counselling for ptsd, trauma right now and I’m working of living thru it.
I understand weaning is long process and I’m here to learn real experiences from this group. I will be contacting my current new doctor to let her know I will be weaning myself off ASAP.
I read several posts here talking about weaning thru reducing the bits in the pill itself. Wondering what you would use to perform this daunting task! Or do pharmacists create lower dosage pills to essentially wean me off thru my drs prescriptions. Wish it was that easy.
I’ve lived reasonably well without meds until menopause so I feel strongly I was misdiagnosed and want my own creative life back. Tired of the zings in my head, ear ringing, vivid disturbing dreams, and gastro issues, etc etc… My goal is to finally “BE” without these meds.
Your help is greatly appreciated! ❤️
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@mommapsych Thanks so much for your replies! I copied them as I tend to forget details and also I may show them to my new psychiatrist whom I'm hoping will be supportive in my efforts. I have read in other comments that some people are helped by an additional medication as they are weaning off of Effexor and I would need him to prescribe that. I'm also going to check with my pharmacist to see if he has any knowledge in this area with the hopes of having backup in case the PDr is resistant. I am so sensitive to even a short delay in taking this med that I'm pretty certain it will be a difficult process getting off of it. But I've learned so much here that I'm sure I can do it. So helpful to hear success stories such as yours.
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@sandij I worry about psych medications in our water supply. I intend to put any leftover beads in a med container and hand it in at one of our prescription med disposal days in our city. Just a thought.
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Each time I pulled out more little beads (aka tapered my dose) I’d take that dose for three to four weeks. If I accidentally went a bit longer, that’s ok. If I got dizzy spells I made sure to take them at about the same time each day. This is also not the time to be pushing yourself. Stay as healthy as possible for best results. Get rest, exercise and watch your sugar and otherwise junk foods 🙂
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@sandij
I've had bad cramps from withdrawal seemingly from out of the blue, at times.
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