1. < Depression & Anxiety

Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

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

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

larrypains | @larrypains | 1 day ago
In reply to @simon007 "NJOYS, Hi. Update & your above post. It took me 4 years to titrate down from..." + (show)
@simon007

NJOYS, Hi. Update & your above post. It took me 4 years to titrate down from 75mg Ven/Effexor XR, as you say , by progressively reducing down. By crushing 3 -2 - 1 capsule beads , diluting them & syringing down at small degradations, from a measuring pot.
Was on Ven / Effexor April 2017 to *Oct 2018, *when titration off started. Got 90% of side effects, titration did not reduce these in any way. 2 years after titration, I was still getting bleeding spots , headaches, anxiety, blurry vision, light sensitivity, dribbling etc, I can go on. BUT, in the past 2 months some of the more minor side effects have stopped. I gather from M. Horowitz & other Professionals / feedback , some years lie ahead before recovery . anxiety persists along with other major issues. CAUTION, weight gain from these meds can in turn, cause high levels of Glucose & possible pre-diabetes. Regards

Jump to this post

4 years? Something wrong with that. That would make it the worst drug in the world BY FAR!! You needed something to go along with your withdrawal process.. boy I am sorry!!! That's horrible!!! Iwas taking 150 mg for 12 years. In 2 weeks I went to 75 mg no problem. Then to 37.5, that's when the problems started. Stopped there and went back to 150. I needed to take something anyway
Now I've been switched to pristique 50 mg. Switch took 3 days and no withdrawal. Now coming off the pristique I don't know. But at least it's only 50 mg. We'll see maybe.

REPLY
aprilchristy | @aprilchristy | 1 day ago

I have been taking 60 mg in morning and 60 mg at night for probably 8 years. Recently, I saw a Mayo psychiatrist that realized I was on three of the same type of medicine class which can be very dangerous. He made recommendations for me to first come off of Cymbalta because I feel like it is no longer benefiting me in anyway. I am now working with a new home psychiatrist that is working off of the recommendations from the Mayo doctor. I have been weaning off of Cymbalta for several months now. We started with the night dosage because he said it could be causing some of my sleep issues. We went down 20 mg for a month, down another 20 mg for two weeks, and another 20 mg for two weeks. I’m completely off of the night dosage now and haven’t noticed any withdrawal symptoms others talk about. At 60 mg Cymbalta can help with pain and since I have a lot of pain does psychiatrist wanted me to monitor my pain for a month at 40 mg. That is where I’m at now for about two weeks and I can’t tell a difference in my pain level and still know withdrawal symptoms. So for me, taking it extra slow and being patient is working to come off of it.

REPLY
melc65 | @melc65 | 1 day ago
In reply to @rfinley2024 "Yes, would like to hear more o. Your protocol for tapering off Venlafaxine with minimal side..." + (show)
@rfinley2024

Yes, would like to hear more o. Your protocol for tapering off Venlafaxine with minimal side effects. Thanks

Jump to this post

I would like to hear your protocol

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.