I’ve always had a bit of tinnitus ( shotgun blasts without ear protection when I was younger)…..but since withdrawing from Effexor, it seems to have ramped up dramatically. Not to mention headaches. No doubt that anxiety increases blood pressure. Just one more thing to put up with. I’m just over 2weeks into my taper, with many weeks to go. Hanging on.

I had/have some tinnitus or whooshing, not sure how to describe it. It's like how your ears feel after you've been at a really loud concert and then you leave. For me it could be hearing loss, I guess, I just haven't gotten it checked out. There are so many strange reactions to this medication it's really not helpful for me to go to the doctor for anything and get misdiagnosed with something that just might be related to withdrawal.

The pulsating Tinnitus I keep under control via blood pressure. The depression Tinnitus is just interesting. It doesn’t hurt and it’s not otherwise distressing. It’s just there when I’m depressed. I read somewhere that depression/anxiety “Tinnitus” may actual be coming from the hypothalamus. Brain disturbances. Inflammation. I really don’t know obviously. But interesting. When it started up recently as I tapered I was concerned. Oh no my brain is disturbed. Again. Such a sensitive blob of mush. Meanwhile coming off of Effexor ER At 37.5 mg clips has been a joy. I feel better. I can’t wait until it’s out of my life! I can’t stop eating sugar! I’m getting very round.

Mirtazapine is worse! An hour after I take it, I need to empty my fridge. It’s awful.

When I’m home I sit in bed until noon looking at my phone! Like right now. Nasty stuff

Here’s a link to a Tinnitus paper that Discusses the complexity of Tinnitus. In addition to pulsating high BP Tinnitus and the static depression Tinnitus, I had the high pitched eeeeeeee associated with hearing loss when I was young. very interesting.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4148481/

I actually meant my appetite. When I told my daughter that I was on Mirtazapine, she laughed. She works for a vet…..they give it to cats as an appetite stimulant!

oh Man. It’s so weird having that light turned on. I’ve never had an appetite like I do now. Sugar and caffeine In particular. Hopefully you can try something else?

Other than increased appetite, I love it’s calming effects. I just have to have self-control over my eating.

So my deal is I successfully weened off Effexor only to go back on Zoloft for the depression anxiety. I got the pulsatile tinnitus while weening off and I still have it, but my BP is normal. Anyway, get THIS: I got vertigo. Doc treated me for the ear crystals. Didn’t help. Went for two hour testing and turns out my vestibular nerve is totally out of wack in my left ear. Going to PT for that now. So, my therapist asked about my history and I told her my life completely flipped upside down when my dad passed away about 18 months ago. About a year before he passed, I began weening off the Effexor (37.5 mg. And it took a full 18 months to completely ween). Anyway, after his death, I moved to another state, lost over 20 pounds, Got another job, two new cars, a piece of property and well, ironically (not) was diagnosed with having bipolar disorder. (Ya think?)

Here’s my point. It’s ALL related. Turns out I have something called Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness. Fits ALL my symptoms to a T!

That all being said… anxiety and depression meds and a good knowledgeable neurological physical therapist are helping!

If any of you are experiencing vertigo, check into the PPPD. MAOIs aren’t good for this disorder but it can be treated with PT.

Ok! Take care all 🙂

How would you describe the vertigo? When do you experience it? Walking, sitting, driving? I'm wondering if that is what I am having? I'm sure that I need stronger glasses doesn't help lol, but I get it driving on bumpy roads…gotta often rest the back of my head on the head rest. Also get it walking.

@secretwhitepop It's very interesting that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) can be used to treat PPPD–the very drugs we're trying to get off of, or have quit.

Wish me luck .. been on ssri and snri for 20+ years currently down to 37.5 Effexor Xr. Rage irritability anxiety and feeling of disconnectedness surrealism extremely difficult..I will post my backstory another time but I have a history of ocd pure o and anxiety..and they have kind of stopped working.. I’m now on thyroid armour and trt and exercise etc hope this helps with the transition .. will I ever feel normal again?

Thank you

I’m in the same boat. Down to almost 37.5. How did you do it? I’m removing beads from Effexor xr.

@doorman , well based on my research I kept just splitting the dosages in half months in between. Everything was ok from 150 to 112 the I noticed a little derealism zombieness from 112 down to 75 but managed to get through that..but I think 75 to 37.5 may have been too much especially with you kids at home who are at their prime at testing your limits.. I feel little more stable now thought