Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
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
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Thanks for the encouragement, tennessegirl. My doctor just put me on a small dose of citalopram to help with brain zaps and some of my withdrawal symptoms. Never considered that getting off a drug would be so hard.
I take Effexor for depression and Xanax for anxiety. Both have major issues..such as becoming' addicted' Coming off these meds is hard for most… but few are warned of this. I never took these meds till I lost my husband and my daughter had a stroke. These meds can be insidious in my opinion
Seems MD's feel there must be a Pill for everything How many of them have taken , and felt how these ' addictive' meds affect us ? Is this what medical schools teach ? Must be on a ' lifetime' pill for every problem ??
I Agree
CONGRATULATIONS!
How long were you on it when you decided to discontinue the drug.
What are the other 2 meds you are on with the Effexor?
What sre the other meds if you dont mind me asking?
EFFEXOR Xanax Insulin BP meds Only Effexor and Xanax are a problem for me Went to ER after not taking Xanax for 3 days Had 300 BP !!! Thought I was dying Want to cut back on Effexor never knew these meds could make one so sick
ON it about 9 -12 months MD increased the dose!!!
Physicians pledge ' First DO NO HARM " ??
Wanted to share an encouraging update….last Wednesday was my first skip day for my every other day regimen and I had made it through the entire day. Thursday was normal because it was my day to take it. Friday was supposed to be my skip day, but I gave in and took a 1/4 tab because I needed to be able to function at work. Saturday and Monday were both successful skip days. Yesterday morning I woke up feeling horrible, figured it was just because I had just had my skip day, so my body was just telling me it needed another 1/4 tab. Took it, but didn't feel better like I normally do, actually felt a little worse and started to get the nausea feeling, so decided to take the day off work and rest. I was surprised I had to do this because it was not my skip day. Whenever I take the medication I feel fine, it's just the skip days that make me feel awful. Anyways, I started to feel better later in the day after pretty much laying on the couch all day. Today is my skip day and has been the first day ever since trying to get off this stuff that I have felt virtually no withdrawal symptoms. I still get a little vertigo if I move my head too quickly….but I can deal with that. I am just really excited because now I have the feeling that I can do this. Earlier in the week I didn't think I was going to be able to skip 2 days in a row, but now I'm thinking it might be possible. We'll see how I feel tomorrow, but feeling really optimistic right now, and wanted to share!