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
Thanks for the post. I have been cutting my 100mg tablets in half for a few days. Other than feeling really out of it, I'm ok. I've also used Kratom for those days as well. That may be curbing the withdrawal symptoms. I will continue this until I run out of pills which will be a few weeks. I'm not refilling my script.
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@tshere95 I hope all goes well for you and that you will be off of pills with few of the difficult side-effects that some have mentioned.
JK
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@tshere95 Oh my goodness, with all of those side-effects it's no wonder you want to get off of effexor. It really is not worth it at all. You sound like a very determined person so I am sure you will find other ways to help you with your depression and anxiety. I will be looking forward to hearing how it's going for you.
JK
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Everyone's experience is different. I'm sure you understand that. For me, I have had enough with being dependent on a drug for my mental well being. I have gone through long periods of my life where I did not take any anti-depressants and got along just fine. After my husband died in 2001, I went into a deep depression for 2 years. It was horrible. Effexor helped me tremendously, but I feel that now that my life has stability, I want to do it on my own. I let the Effexor run my life for way too long. I also know how difficult it is to get off this drug and I want to do it now while I have the presence of mind to make my own decisions. Not to be gross, but my chronic constipation is a huge reason to get off this drug. Having to be dependent on laxatives is no way to live. Also, I was experiencing extreme dry mouth to the degree that I could not fall asleep without a cough drop in my mouth to ease the choking sensation. I gained 15 pounds while on Effexor and now after 4 months of weaning off, I'm down 10 of those pounds. My mind feels clearer and although I do deal with occasional panic attacks, I am able to talk myself down. Hopefully, things will level off in time and I'm willing to wait. I do hope my thoughts are helpful.
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@tshere95 I am experiencing the same symptoms. Effexor is by far the worse medication I have ever taken. I am currently tapering off of it and the withdraws are not comfortable at all. I made the decision to come off it because I am in a better place in my life than I was when I allowed my doctor to talk me into this medication. I understand the “ zombie “ feeling! I feel that way everyday and just really have NO energy. I am currently taking 37.5mg. I was on 75mg and recently just decreased it and toughed it out. I am on day 3 of the decrease and I’m actually doing better than I expected. I have been taking Effexor for a little over a year and I truly wish I would have never started. I know there is light at the end of the tunnel so I am pushing forward and asking God for healing! I am a woman of God so I know this too shall pass.
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@contentandwell – You ask a very important question. I can’t answer for everyone, but I can answer for me. I started therapy about a decade ago to help me cope with some situational issues that caused me some very severe depression. Venlafaxine had its place and I might even go so far as to say that it saved my life.
I am in a much different place in my life now, and no longer need the strict emotional stability that venlafaxine has provided. Now, I find that venlafaxine has actually provided *too much* emotional stability – to the point of stagnation, or emotional blunting. Sure, I don’t feel the low-lows that I once did, but more importantly at this time, I also don’t feel the high-highs either. These are part of what make life so precious.
I’m starting to get some of that back, and I’m realizing more and more each day what I’ve been missing.
I hope that makes sense …(?)
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Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, @blssed81. Thanks for your encouraging words for @tshere95 and also sharing some of your story.
Wondering how it's going today with having decreased your venlafaxine (Effexor)? Are you still seeing side effects?
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Hello, @megannicole, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad the posts on this thread have helped you feel normal in your tapering off of venlafaxine (Effexor). Yes, many members have commented it's been very tough.
I applaud your decision to contact your doctor to talk about how your taper is going. How are you feeling this morning?
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@efexnot Thank you so much for your response, I really appreciate it and I understand perfectly. I think the person I am concerned about has convinced himself that he absolutely needs these medications. Sometimes I feel like he wants to need them, as odd as that may sound.
I realize that depression is a real illness but when I consider this person, his depressions seem to me to all be situational, and with very good cause. He is convinced he is bipolar, but that is misdiagnosed something like 60+ percent of the time because the diagnosis is made based on what the patient says.
Thank you again. This really is such a difficult thing to deal with, both for the person who is suffering from it and for the people who care deeply about that person.
JK
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Good luck on your journey. I've gone from 150 mg down to 50 mg for about the past week. It's not as bad as I though. Yes, there is absolutely no energy whatsoever. There's more to life than this. I fully believe that. Yes, this too shall pass.
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Let's encourage each other!!! I have decided – this time for sure! – to wean off Effexor. Been on 4 prescriptions since I was prescribed Prozac about 14 years ago. Several have told me, including a pharmacist, that Effexor is the worst to get off of, so when you and I both succeed we will feel we have accomplished something really great! Right now down from 150 mg to 75 mg and will go to 37.5 in a few weeks. Been there once before and had to go back to 75 mg and then up to 150 mg. I've had some withdrawal stuff – sadness, flu-like symptons, feeling lethargic – but what I've read which I didn't know before, is that these feelings will pass. And when I have stabilized with the 37.5 I am going to ask for smaller dosages until I get to 0.
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Determined to wean myself off of Effexor and looking for ideas and to offer support to anyone else going through this.
@gwenaloveseveryone2 I wish you great success in your withdrawal. From what I have read here, this is not an easy task. You sound very positive though so I am sure you will manage to push past the tough times and come out victorious.
JK
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Hi, @gwenaloveseveryone2 — thanks for being so encouraging to the members in this discussion. What you describe about going down in dosage and then needing to go back up again sounds typical of what others have reported in this tapering journey.
What part of the withdrawal side effects has been most challenging for you?
@tshere95
drowsiness, dizziness, feeling nervous;
strange dreams;
increased sweating;
blurred vision;
dry mouth;
changes in appetite or weight;
mild nausea, constipation
These are listed as possible side effects of Effexor. I have ALL of these!! I stay sleepy and feel like a zombie most of the time. It's just not worth it. I've dealt with it because I thought I needed this drug but I've finally realized there are other ways to deal with my depression and anxiety.
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