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 agree. I also think that a lot of Doctors really dont have a lot of knowledge about drugs.
Liked by GailBL, Volunteer Mentor
@tennessegirl
I am on a very high dose of Effexor. I do have terrible brain fog and memory issues. Beyond that, I am not sure what else I have since I take a number of prescriptions.
I really never thought of going off Effexor because it has kept my anxiety attacks at bay.
I see my psychiatrist every 6 months for a med review. She asks how I feel and adjusts accordingly.
She tells me I am at the highest dosage and would have to use something else if this stops working.
She is the 2nd psychiatrist I have seen and no one has ever mentioned side effects, neither has any of the therapists I have seen.
I think I need to talk with her.
Thanks for your input!
And believe me, I know that each person reacts (or not) to things differently.
There is no 'one size fits all.'
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
Liked by Lisa Lucier, tennessegirl aka Melinda
I tapered myself down to the 37.5 MG then was doing every other day for a while before just stopping about two weeks ago. I can’t believe I still have symptoms of withdrawal even after that. My dizziness has gotten better and the brain zaps are few and far in between, but I am quick to get angry, super tired, and very confused. I am trying to make it in a new job and has been brutal to deal with.
@cotentandwell
I had a conversation with my husband about some of the reasons people are getting off Effexor and the terrible withdrawal. He knows I have brain fog and a horrible memory as a result of the Effexor. He asked me if I had known, would I refused this drug????
Good question….
After a while, my PCP suggested I come off them since I was doing so well. She told me to do it VERY SLOWLY. I can no longer remember (of course) what system she suggested.
I do remember I was taking 1 pill in the am and 1 pill in the pm (of course I do not remember the strength either). I remember I was still on my am pill. I started the system with the pm pill. Soon after I started the process, I was at a very good and enjoyable work shop. I was laughing and having a good time. After the workshop my hubby and friends were picking me up for a my favorite dinner. Life was good.
Before the workshop was over, I had to use the bathroom. Please pardon the TMI….I was sitting down when all of a sudden my entire body started to quiver, I felt like I was burning up, my mouth got dry and I felt like I was going to die. I hadn't felt like this in months. I realized my anxiety attack returned with a vengeance!!!! I quickly called the psychiatrist for an appointment. She said I should not have tried to go off the Effexor. Of course I was doing well because I was on the right medication. I told her I tried to go back on but nothing was working. I was told that once you go off, but cannot go back on for x amount of months. She tried me on 2 or 3 other meds and nothing worked. Yes, I gave it time. After x months, I asked if I could go back of the Effexor. She put me back on and the anxiety stopped. It did not work as well as it once did, but it was fine enough.
So, I am guessing since I went back on it, I would probably have gone back even knowing what I know now. Even so, I think I need to talk with my psychiatrist.
Sorry this was so long.
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
@grandmar……..Girlfriend..I am sooo glad I could help. You made my day. I made a typo however. The tabs only last about 8-10 hours! Before withdrawal. I have to edit that comment. But so true …everybody is different and not all psychiatrists know all the answers. I'm here for you! Hang in there.
Liked by GailBL, Volunteer Mentor
hi…I've taken effexor for long periods of time twice in my life now. the withdrawal can be awful for sure, but the drug saved my life so it was worth it for me. anyway, the first time i got off of it, my doctor prescribed prozac for me to start taking during my last month of effexor. it totally worked and i had hardly any withdrawal symptoms. after a month or two off of the effexor, i was taken off of prozac which does not cause withdrawal symptoms. might be something to consider!
Liked by grandmaR, Brightwings AKA Cute Susie, amalia78, misszimbo
@charleyxx
I feel pretty much the same way you do about the Effexor.
After all I have read, I really don't know what I want to do.
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
Also…in regard to doctors not warning of the side effects of effexor…my doctor 100% was honest with me about the potential side effects while taking Effexor and the difficulty most people have when stopping the medication. at that point i had tried 5 different anti-depressants over the course of 9 months and NONE of them were working and i was in the darkest place in my life. effexor was a last resort and it was 100% worth it for me. i think it is a slippery slope to tell people not to take a specific drug because of personal bad experiences with it, when the truth is the reason it's been around for so long is that it actually does help a lot of people. 10 years after I got off of effexor the first time, i was hit with another depression, this time even more severe than before. i tried EVERYTHING to get better before turning to effexor again. Yoga, exercise, acupuncture, cupping, cryotherapy, meditation, a vegan diet, a paleo diet…literally everything. I was taking well-butrin and increased my dose of that as well. absolutely nothing worked and i was sinking deeper and deeper into a black hole so i asked my doctor to prescribe effexor, and within 1 week, the depression started lifting. i know for me personally, all the brain zaps and confusion and night sweats (UGH THE NIGHT SWEATS!!!) and anger and irritability i dealt with for a few weeks when stopping the medication were 100% worth it because it quite literally saved my life. i am in no way disregarding people's horrible experiences with the drug as i know they are VERY common. i just wanted to tell a different side of the story. that being said, the suggestions in coloradogirl's post are really really good. Advil and a LOT of exercise and eating right definitely helped me feel better during withdrawal. all i wanted to do was lay on the couch with a box of doughnuts and a large pizza (and maybe some french fries and ice cream too) but the days i worked out and ate right were infinitely better than the others. good luck to everyone!
Liked by Lisa Lucier, Brightwings AKA Cute Susie, amalia78
@charleyxx
About the Prozac, Thank you! I will definitely ask my doc about doing that when I get to that point. I’m still early stages. Ive been on Effexor for 15 years. 225mg. 75 in the morning & 150mg late afternoon. My doc started tapering me off with the morning dose by cutting it in half for 2 days a week and then every 3 weeks addiing another day at 37.5. It’s been pretty smooth so far. Fatigue, sleepiness, headaches, some dizziness, foggy brain- but most of the time it’s ok. I’m worried the worst withdrawal will happen when I get down to the lowest doses.
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
@tennessegirl
@ GRANDMAr8. I saw a psychiatrist…nut..but anyway. Was told the tabs were only good for 8-19 hours then your body goes into withdrawal..that I wasn't having panic attacks! Said to increase my dosage. Crazy man. I've had panic attacks since my teens. I take Zanax when I feel the panic coming on. I took Effexor for depression. So much misinformation out there!!!
Remember everybody is here for you. Each situation is different!