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
I only was on Effexor for about a year and a half. 37.5. For hot flashes only. Went off 6 months ago after a fainting incident. Had the brain zaps and nausea, etc but the hangover feeling went away. So did anxiety I believe now was caused by the Effexor. I STILL have boat head and throbbing/pulsing, especially late in the day or driving. My head feels "heavy" too. I'm paranoid about other issues but did have brain MRI couple months ago to rule out something really bad after the fainting and heart tested fine. Does anyone have similar ongoing boat head and throbbing six months later???
Liked by Leonard
@brownikl1
That’s probably why your going through the withdrawals. Effexor needs to be stopped slowly, VERY SLOWLY!
Jake
Liked by texasduchess
Hi. When you say “throbbing/pulsing” can you describe more? I developed “pulsatile tinnitus” after going off Effexor. One of many crazy symptoms, including smelling bad smells! I’ve never had tinnitus before nor ever even heard of pulsatile tinnitus (where you hear your pulse in your ears.) Now I am battling vertigo! Doc says I do not have Ménière’s nor do I have benign proximal positional vertigo. Went through two and a half hours of testing! Doc says I have loss of vestibular nerve in my left ear caused by a virus. She said she’s seen an inordinate amount of my exact case this year. I’m skeptical. All this stuff came on after I weened off Effexor. And I mean I weened slowly Extremely slowly. I took 18 months to ween off the last 37.5 mg.
I now take seroquel and zoloft and feel more like myself. (Not crying everyday now. )
I hate that I’m on meds but I’m slowly coming to terms with it. Realizing that I need something and that my body functions more like a normal person on meds than not on meds.
Take care.
Liked by Leonard
It's definitely like you describe I think. Like a swooshing sound of the blood flow to the heart beat. Not loud. The part that makes me crazy is the dizziness and also the throbbing seems to be on the back of my head usually more in the evening. On my way home from work many days I feel like I need to hold my head with my hand or arm to "stabiluze"…..VERY VERY weird.
Liked by Leonard
I was on Effexor for many years at 150 mg I told my doctor I wanted to go lower so he put me on 75 for about a year and then I had to have a step test that I could not take Effexor for 7 days before the test my doctor put me on 37.5 I went off at for the seven days before the test and I am now 6 weeks out with no side effects I am not going back on it
@lisalucier
Hi, @notaround – just wanted to check in and see how you are doing? How is the duloxetine (Cymbalta) that your doctor switched you to? Has it been effective for you?
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