Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Thank you all for the support and sharing what has worked. I don’t want to get on Prozac … want to get off antidepressants if possible. I wish all on this quest success, health, and happiness.

I am weaning off Effexor, down to 37.5 mgs from 225 mgs this past winter, and using a marijuana candy with THC to help me. I didn't find any relief from anxiety with the CBD oil but my daughter does. I live in a marijuana legal state and am so grateful! I only need 1/2 of a gummy square (5 mgs THC) twice a week. That's compared to the over 1500 mgs per week of the Effexor, and I feel so much better! So I never thought I'd be in this position, but I'm becoming a cannabis evangelist! I'm just starting week 2 of the low dose Effexor and don't feel wonderful, but I really don't think I'd be doing near this well without the THC. I know you asked about CBD but if you have access to THC …

I'm also down to 37.5 from 150mg. Does your husband plan to continue to taper down to 0? I'm afraid to keep going right now because I've been experiencing panic attacks and I'm a bit grumpy and snappy. I wonder how long to wait before these symptoms subside and I can get rid of this drug once and for all. Do keep us posted on your husband's progress. I'm clinging to every hope. Good luck to him.

Can anyone share their experience with how long your withdrawal symptoms lasted when you finally completed your taper down to zero mg? I'm stuck at 37.5 mg and hesitate to move on because I'm afraid that my panic attacks and grumpiness will get worse or, God forbid, not go away at all. I read your replies and use your encouraging feedback to get me through. Please share. Thanks so much.

Yes he plans on getting down to 0. So far he hasn’t really had too bad of symptoms. Joint pain, ( just feeling strange), very difficult time sleeping, some nausea. He’s had 2 days where he threw up a lot, but nothing he isnt willing to go through to get off this stuff. He hasn’t said he feels panic attacks but he explains it as just feeling weird and he has restless leg syndrome that drives him crazy st night. But he’s going to try and get off this junk. My husband was misdiagnosed with bipolar and now we realize this. He hasn’t had any bipolar issues at all coming off this stuff. He was even on depakote but stopped taking that 2 months ago. You can do this. Just keep trucking along. You’ll get this and I’ll keep you posted. Let me know how you’re doing as well

I take 75mg a day for hot flashes. However I have so much weight and now have dry mouth. I blame both on Effexor How did you cut back to 37.5?

Why did Efexor change to Age 🙁

@sarnm I live in Washington State and marijuana is legal for recreational and I'm using it to help me wean off Effexor. I've gotten down from 225 mg to 37.5 mg in a short time frame. I take 5 mgs THC about twice a week. For comparison I think a joint has around 500 mgs THC. It doesn't make me high, just sleepy so I have it at night. My only Effexor weaning side effect is occasional foggy head. This is a HUGE improvement over the other times trying to get off. I actually feel less anxiety and depression than I did with the high dose of Effexor! I never thought I'd say this but I wish everyone could have legal access to marijuana!!

Gail, please let us all know how you do ….Betcha do great!!!!!!

I don’t have tips because I’m only 5 days into my weaning off process. I’ve tried numerous times in the past, but always gave up due to the withdrawal side effects. I’ve successfully gone from 225 to 150 mg without any effects at all. 5 days ago I went from 150 to 112.5mg and the unpleasant physical effects started appearing yesterday. My brain feels like it’s in a vice grip and no painkiller is alleviating the discomfort. The vertigo and nausea have also begun.

I’m really disappointed that here in Canada (I don’t know if this is the case in the US as well), immediate release Effexor tablets are no longer available; I was counting on using them for this process. How I’m going to wean with capsules is beyond me.

Right now I want to die and it’s only the beginning. Ugh.