Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

I know I am a broken record, but diet and exercise have taken me from 450mg of Effexor in July to 187.5 today. I have also been able to cut Lithium from 900mg to 450mg, Bupropion from 450mg to 300mg (soon to be 225mg) while completely stopping Seroquel, Lorazepam and a host of other meds treating the side effects. Every time I reduce the meds I feel better.

The Seroquel has been tough one because my sleep is messed up from the venlafaxine and the bupropion. I did sleep six uninterrupted hours just the night before last. I expect my sleep will level out over the next month or so. I won't take anything for sleep as I wake up groggy and depressed.

The only changes have been a clean diet (no sugar and no Ultra Processed Foods, lots of veggies and protein) and two hours of vigorous exercise six times a week. I'm not sure I need so much exercise but I really enjoy it and I am terribly overweight from all the meds.

I have done a ton of research, it's pretty much all I do besides exercising, and diet, exercise and stress reduction are the only recommendations that are consistent across all of my findings.

The more research I do the more I realize that most of the pills I've been taking should only be prescribed in extreme cases and only as a bridge to lifestyle changes and psycho therapy. In my case meds have been dolled out like prescribers were paid by the pill.

The efficacy of these treatments is seldom much better than sixty to sixty five percent. Lifestyle changes are always effective to one degree or another and tend to have positive side effects. In my experience everyone I have ever met could use someone to talk to as well.

My comments are based on me experience only. I am not suggesting anyone follow my example, well except the research part. More knowledge is always a good thing.

Good luck on your journey may it be a beneficial one.

I forgot to add; I know how hard lifestyle changes are. I looked for answers in a pill for fifteen years. During that time I lost everything, my family, my fortune and my freedom. I knew in my gut that I needed to change my lifestyle and I didn't, until I found myself with a shotgun in my hands.

I hope everyone turns away from the road I have been down. Go for a walk. Skip the ice cream it will be there when you get back.

in reply to @simon007 Thank you for your post. I am now taking 37.5 mg of Effexor, down from 75 mg, and so far I seem to be doing okay.
I too take klonopin, prn. I do not want to give up this medication because it helps me when I need it, and I will next month when I have a 90 minute MRI. I like to keep this medication on hand for those instances when I feel that I need it. And now since the pharmacy fills my script with .5 mg tablets as opposed to 1 mg tablets, it is easier to take less of the medication, and I have found that 180 tablets lasts a very long time.

I was on 225mg Effexor and 900mg Gabapentin daily. I can't even remember how many times I tried to get off but it was a LOT. I figured it was impossible. I just want you to know it is 100% possible and I am finally free of those poisons. I did it by removing a pellet from each capsule every few weeks. Took forever but it worked. Then when almost off it took an additional few weeks of a Prozac script to help get off. Good luck.

If I may ask, how long have you been off of these drugs?

Hello to all my fellow withdrawal sufferers!

19 years ago I was prescribed 37.5 Venlafaxine XR capsules for postpartum depression. My youngest of three was 4 months when I fell apart at his well baby checkup. I was a hot mess of tears and frustration. (Looking back I now see that it was more a lack of help from my spouse that put me in that state…but that’s a different story) .

During the almost two decades I took Effexor/Venlafaxine I have attempted many times to wean off the drug, with doctor approval. I have been on the lowest dosage so I was instructed to take them every other day. I suppose I am ultra sensitive to the withdrawal symptoms as first few hours past the “off day” missed dose I began experiencing withdrawal:

1. Tinnitus – it does not come and go. Nope, this bad boy stays and squeeeeeals with no reprieve.
2. Vertigo – I am dizzy and off balance and often liken the feeling to trying to swim through wet cement or jello. My limbs feel like they are lagging after the rest of me.
3. Tingles – My tongue and gums feels numb and/or tingly.
4. Experience emotional extremes – I am a roller coaster! Watching the news had me sobbing when normally I might have merely felt sad. Explaining to a friend that I was staying in this weekend had me in tears. Driving to get groceries and experienced the WORST road rage (admittedly, there was no cause for my behavior. I’m so embarrassed by how I snapped at being tailgated). Typing this has me weepy. I recognize this is the withdrawal, but that doesn’t make it easier to “control” my emotions.
5. Lethargy – I could easily watch tv most of the day, when usually I watch 2-3 hours a week!
6. Poor diet – I normally eat clean/paleo foods, but I crave sugar and carbs and junk food and alcohol.

My most recent weaning has been with my primary care physician’s blessing. The first two weeks I tried taking a dose every other day, but that was too extreme for me. Since I take capsules I can’t cut a pill in half, but I have been opening them to remove pellets from each. I initially halved the dosage and took a regular dose for two days then a half dose one day. Two weeks later I did every other day. Two weeks after that I took the half dose for two days and a regular dose for one. Then I took a quarter dose two days and a half dose for one day. Then a quarter dose every other day.

With a three day weekend, I ripped off the proverbial bandaid. I stopped taking any Venlafaxine. I am struggling! But I think I may have figured out a quasi-solution: the pellets I took out are still in a jar. Twice today I licked the tip of my pinky finger and tapped the pellets. I got about 5-8 “sprinkles” in a serious micro dose. This may be my best approach to sanity in this. No, I’m not completely off the drug, but I’m okay with that.

Damn, but I HATE this withdrawal!!!

By the way, I wanted to say how nice it has been reading other peoples experiences… Not that I’m happy other people are suffering, but it is just so nice to know that I’m not alone.

So hard to be treated for this condition. My heart goes out to you, obviously you are a bright , sensitive person. I wish you all the best.. we care

A few thoughts after 8 hours of sleep:

1) I’m really disappointed in the physician who prescribed Effexor/Venlafaxine to me. With the research I have done over the last 24 hours I now know this drug was intended for major anxiety and depression.
2) I’m really disappointed in myself for not recognizing a less-than-supporting spouse as the root of my depression and anxiety. I was married 25 years and have been divorced 3.5 years. I know, now, that I really needed a partner and co-parent more than medication!

Thank you! I’m on the “better side” of 8 hours of sleep…feeling more like my true self this morning!

Today I have hope that I might be able to stay off Effexor, some three months post-withdrawal. I weaned myself off the first time four years ago. After about two months with no problem, I suddenly experienced an extreme anxiety attack. I called my doctor immediately and said I needed to be back on the drug NOW. This time, because the experience was identical–an avalanche of fear, anxiety and depression two months after weaning off the drug–I considered that it might be the result of continuing withdrawal and not yet the real me. It has been a horrible number of weeks, but I had my first good night last night and got out of bed without dreading the day for the first time this morning. This is thanks to support from my husband, brother, a few friends with whom I shared my misery, and members of this support group who have shared your stories. I am praying that this is a genuine "reboot," and aim to continue getting sufficient physical exercise, meditating on what is good, fighting to stay optimistic and avoiding the negative, doing what I can to help another. I expect to continue to have hot flashes, but that's minor compared to the nightmare of withdrawal from Effexor. Peace and good health to you all.