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 started taking it when I found out that my alcoholic husband was having an affair and completely ruined us financially. He got fired at the same time. I had to work so hard to get us out of debt and keep our house. It was a very rough time that got rougher when he died of cyrrhosis.
It is 7 years since then and I am married to a wonderful man and am retired. We have a great active life. I felt like I was ready to come off of it. If it turns out, I have to take something, then I will but it will be a much smaller dose and something other than Effexor.
Liked by JK, Alumna Mentor, Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
I just joined this group……I was put on Effexor in November at 75 mg. I cut in half about three weeks ago and a horrible muscle tingling in legs and joint pain basically in my knees started. OF course I'm going to see my doctor but can't get an appointment for a few weeks. it comes and goes and especially bad today…does anyone know how long this will take? should I go back on and then taper slowly?
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
@cathy615 Thanks for sharing your experience! It does make me feel better to at least try it. If anything, it should help me get off the Effexor at the very least according to my doc.
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
This site may help We are all different but these meds can be dangerous for some Some are helped by them I hate the withdrawal symptoms stopping Xanax Effexor made me very ill…..seems addictive
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
I was on venlafaxine for roughly 6 years @ 225 mg per day. Luckily Igot fired from the job that caused my anxiety issues. I took my last two months worth of meds and began to cut my dosages down over a 3 month period. I will not lie, it was hard but I did it and felt lousy while detoxing. each time i stepped down on the meds it took roughly two weeks for my braine to settle down where i would start to feel normal again, then two week later another step down, and feel like crap again until you’re completely off (3mo for me). My saving grace is that I had help with medical marijuana. I am not just talking about getting high on the THC portion!! I am talking about the CBD portion which is effective in treating Anxiety well as Epilepsy and doesn’t get you high. I have been off that horrible drug roughy 2 months and feel better in many ways. I hope you all find your PEACE ✌️ within!!! It is possibly. Goodluck.
@mainecsnfan
May I ask WHY you came off Venlafaxine? Do you feel that your job caused your anxiety and not something genetic? Now that you are off, do you have any more anxiety attacks or do you take CBD daily to prevent them?
I would appreciate any info you can give me.
After being on this site, I am thinking maybe I should come off the Effexor.
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
@mainecsnfan Wow! you really did it! Luckily you had medical marijuana. I'm doing well after about 12 days..almost only requiring a 1/2 of 75 mg tab. really taking only as a preventative because I have had some bed-hugging days, horrible dreams, ad infinitum. I have rescue pets I must take care of. Luckily my disability was recently approved. If MM was available in TN. You ate an inspiration to me to keep on keeping on. Thanks for sharing your story!!
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
@mainecsnfan Good for you, in fact, wonderful for you! I'm almost there too and have had very similar experiences as you in tapering down. Feeling so much better!
Bright wings checking in…Today I am 9 weeks antidepressant free. I know the only reason I was able to succeed getting off the drug was CBD oil and Sacred plant medicine. The next ceremony is on the 23rd and I am ready!
Ok so to evaluate how I am doing…my life is calm. However, other folks lives around me are not calm. I am easier to get grumpy at the ongoing drama that just won't let up in their lives. I care about these folks, so I am being as supportive as I can while still taking care of myself. That means sometimes I just have to get off the internet. I know I have to take care of myself because folks will just use me up if I don't. Been there, done that, don't want to do it again.
I have recently hooked up with my graduation class. Our 50 year reunion is in October. I am so excited. I lived to be invisible in high school. I didn't understand I was doing this at the time. I want to do a stand up comedy routine. I know I will have the folks who attend roaring with laughter.
My abuse was ongoing in the night but I had developed so many personalities to handle my ongoing sexual abuse that started at age 3 months. BTW I integrated the last of my personalities on 1/11/11.
Because of my multiple sclerosis, I have to be careful about getting too hot. However, I am eager to get my kayaks out and hit the river again. I live in the beautiful Ozarks and the rivers here are what drew me here.
I am here for you all. I read every post. Sending you my beautiful smile and all the encouragement I have. Bright wings
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie, edziner
WOW! A lot of good tips and discussions. My daughter is 21 years old and her doctor (a new doctor that had only seen her a coupled of times) put her on 75 mg Effexor XR to help fight anxiety/migraines. The doctor felt this was the best medicine for her since she has tachycardia. Well, she wasn't even on it for 30 days before she had the full effects of this medicine and eventually went to the ER because of thoughts of harming herself and unable to function. They did not hold her there, but told her to go home and follow up with her doctor. Her father and I have been then for her and made she was not home alone for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, we are unable to take much time off because of no sick/vacation time available. She is unable to work and is now home alone for 3 to 4 days a week. She followed up with her doctor (a new one because the other one is no longer there). They have been tapering her off, one pill every other day and then try every two days and then referred her to a behaviorist. We have tried getting her into a professional, but no one in our area is available. I have left messages for other clinics outside of area and no one will return my call. She has tried the every 2 days one time and it was horrible sight. She starting having body tremors, couldn't breath and crying uncontrollably. We immediately gave her the pill and within 1 hr she was a little better. She followed up with her doctor and we asked about reducing her dosage and still do the every other day. The doctor was a little reluctant, but agreed to reduce it to 37.5 mg every other day. She is still unable to work at this time. She just cannot function in the real world.
Does anyone out there have some advise for us? We have never been through anything like this before and as you can imagine, scared to death.
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
so sorry This is an example of what these drugs can do to many folks. They are to be taken very seriously Its just my opinion but I think doctors give them out too freely before discussing all the facts Would not be surprised if a few years from now the FDA puts more warnings on such drugs
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
Good to know
My heart rate was high this morning. But would take long breathes etc walk around etc and came down. Took a little bit. Usually I would freak out
Liked by Brightwings AKA Cute Susie
@cathy615
Hi, I was on cymbalta two different times and it generally helped me a lot. I transitioned to another med the first time due to insurance issues for a while and then went back on it. I don't remember any problems taperi g off of it to another drug.
I have to say though, that the second time i was on it, I did develop a manic episode that built after a few months of hypomania after I had been on it for about 6 months. I also received steroid shots during this time for Rheumatoid arthritis and was under extreme stress at work and home. Most notably, i did not talk to my psychiatrist about being hypomanic until it was too late apparently. For months i didn't need to sleep much and was highly productive. But then it tipped to mania and I couldn't sleep. That was my first manic episode, and I was 61! It took a few months to "come down." And then I really crashed into my worst depression ever.
I don't know how much each element contributed to the manic episode: cymbalta (it's a risk factor), steroids (another risk factor), and the extreme stress. My pdoc said she believes I was misdiagnosed with Major Depression when I actually had bipolar type 2. There is a lot in the lit about antidepressants triggering type 1 mania in type 2 patients.
I was put on many different meds, allergic to some(lamitrogene, lithium, depakoate), not responsive to others, and not covered when I lost my job and went on Medicaid. I have finally settled on Prozac (80) and seroquel (200 mg) for a couple of years and seem ok. I think i could be better. I did the dna test for medications this week and look forward to learning if something will work better. I don't recall having any physical withdrawal problems with going on and off all those meds. I DID have a bad reaction to seroquel at the 800 mg they prescribed. Horrible anxiety, nightmares, panic attacks. I reduced the dose immediately with my doc's ok.
So all of this is just a cautionary tale about the risks of any meds. And to be proactive with self observation, ensuring adequate sleep and relief if other symptoms arise. I know I waited too long to get help.
Be brave. Some of us NEED treatment all our life and we have to find out what works best. Only trial and error. Best wishes on your journey!
Cathy
Liked by Lisa Lucier, Brightwings AKA Cute Susie, tennessegirl aka Melinda