Weaning off Effexor with CBD Oil

Posted by melanier @melanier, Dec 27, 2018

After having my son last year, I had really bad postpartum. I talked to my doctor and she prescribed me Effexor. I started out with 75mg, it wasn't enough, so the doctor prescribed me 150mg. I was on that for awhile, but the side effects were interfering with my libido, so the doctor suggested I wean off of Effexor and start Wellbutrin. As I was weaning, I had the worst withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms were too much, so I quit trying to wean completely off of the Effexor, and was taking the 75mg of that and 150mg of Wellbutrin. It helped, a little, but my goal was to get completely off of Effexor so I'm trying again. And now my goal is to get off of the Effexor and Wellbutrin completely and try something natural like CBD oil. It's so hard dealing with the withdrawal symptoms, I'm trying to tell myself that this is a temporary thing and it'll be worth it in the end. Any advice for the symptoms? And has anyone had success with CBD oil for helping to wean, and using that for depression and anxiety?

Thanks!

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ang811 | @ang811 | Feb 26, 2019

I just want off of this medication.

debravalentina | @debravalentina | May 13, 2019

Has anyone used cbd oil to get off venlafaxine?

Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | May 13, 2019

In reply to @debravalentina "Has anyone used cbd oil to get off venlafaxine?" + (show)

Hello, @debravalentina, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You'll note I moved your post to this existing discussion, "Weaning off Effexor with CBD Oil," so that you can Connect with others who have had similar experiences.

I'd suggest talking to your doctor about your wishes to wean off of this medication to get a tapering schedule and to get some input on utilizing CBD oil in this process. I'd also like you to meet @ang811 @merpreb @mrossano @parus @grandmar and others for some thoughts and support on your journey.

Wondering how the venlafaxine has gone for you and if you'd share more about why you hope to taper off of it at this point?

grandmaR | @grandmar | May 13, 2019

Hello @debravalentina
Welcome to our group!
I have no doubt you will find lots and lots of useful information!
I am one of the people Lisa suggested you get to know.
I am going through tapering of Effexor since mid-November.
To be fair, I have met my first goal, so I have stopped for a few months, over the summer, while my schedule of daily activities are different.
I believe that I can speak for most of us by saying that weaning off VERY, VERY SLOWLY is the best way to deal with this drug!
The withdrawal can be so horrible, if you so too fast, that you can wind up in the hospital!!!!!
This is serious stuff.
As I said, I started in November and it took me months to go down 25% on my dosage of 300 mg (2-75 mg in the morning and evening).
I met my first goal of reducing my evening dosage to one-75 mg. tablet.
My next goal will be to reduce my morning dosage to one-75 mg tablet, too.
I do not have any intentions of quitting completely since this is the only drug that has curtailed my anxiety.
I would just like to, if possible, reduce to what I consider to be a reasonable dosage.
Now, I am not in the medical field, I just do what seems to work for me.

I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.
In the meantime, have a great day!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

mhmann | @mhmann | May 17, 2019

benedryl, cbd. kid I tried everything since my GP cut me off of effexor. no wean and it was hell for 5 months untill I found an amazing psychiatrist. No more brain zaps cognitive issues. Find a psychiatrist that treats and has knowledge about brain chemistry. Don’t give up. After a year of hell i am once again myself

ophirbushi | @ophirbushi | Jul 3, 2019

In reply to @ang811 "I am happy I found this forum. I am on Effexor 150 mg. I’ve been on..." + (show)

@ang811, it's good that you stopped doing alternate days, since it is really not the right way to wean off. I recommend this group on Facebook: it's called "EFFEXOR (Venlafaxine) Tapering Discontinuation Syndrome and Protracted W/D" that has valuable information, at least in my opinion, on how to wean off from Effexor safely.

The thing I wish I've been told before trying to wean off is that it's dangerous, and if not done slowly and correctly it can cause long term or even permanent damage.

Also note that especially in the low dosages you need to be extra slow and careful, because its effect grows exponentially in the low dosages.

All this is not in order to dissuade you from weaning, only to give you the information on how to do it safely, information I wish I knew before trying to wean off myself.

I wish you success and much health. Ophir.

renwald | @renwald | Jul 5, 2019

Sorry you’re having trouble with the meds. Effexor is like a big, vicious animal that crawls in and goes to sleep. It can scare the other smaller problems away. If you want something different after using it however, to get off of it, you may find it’s difficult to get rid of. Weaning off of it is a chore and there are threads on here about that very subject. That is the point when you’re poking the big vicious animal with a sharp stick. The animal isn’t particularly loyal and is apt to bite and continue to bite hard day and night before it ever tries to get up and leave.

I’m out of my element on canabis oils. Considering federal law has thwarted reliable therapeutic studies and research for decades, it seems an unproven item. My ‘barbershop’ advice is to proceed with great caution for the psycho-active agents, neurochemistry and neurochemistry-behavior are complex in action and reaction. One can always answer shop or get second opinions among medical specialists but I’d be as conservative as possible when tinkering with the neurotransmitters.

My understanding (and it’s limited at best) has been that with the most well researched anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anti convulsants etc, the treatment is akin to throwing a handful of fertilizer in all directs rather than narrowed to one limited item. This means that the entire range, scope and depth of what is already out there as treatment is not fully understood in all the areas it affects and you may get a lot of unforeseen cause and effects.

If you add something like canabis oil, you’re throwing another wild card in the mix. Bear in mind, accidental death by medicines and drugs in general is the second highest cause of death in the country. If you decide to tinker with it, at least tell the md (preferably Psychiatrist whose job is to know how psyche meds interact) what you’re intending to do since they are in a position to tell you dangerous interactions and contraindications.

All this is made more complex and distressing if nothing else is working. At the root of all is lies psychic pain that is individualized and we want it to go away one way or another. At least make every effort to avoid doing more harm from something preventable by a few skillful questions and professional insights by those trained in the field.

shelleee | @shelleee | Jul 9, 2019

I am weaning myself off of Effexor with CBD oil and so far so good. I was on 300mg of effexor, cut the dose in half and using a couple drops of cbd oil in the morning and have had zero of the nasty withdrawel. I am amazed!!

shelleee | @shelleee | Jul 14, 2019

In reply to @grandmar "@memeblair Hi and Welcome! I am one of the people Lisa suggested to give you some..." + (show)

@grandmar

@memeblair
Hi and Welcome!
I am one of the people Lisa suggested to give you some input about weaning off Effexor.
As a little background....I am 63 years old. I've been on Effexor for many years (lost count). After a few events that shook me to my soul, I am now taking 300 mg of Effexor. Because I had weight loss surgery, I cannot take released formula, I take regular pills (which for reducing probably works out better than the capsules). I take 2-75 mg pills in the AM and the PM.
I am weaning VERY, VERY slowly. I am doing it on my own without the help of a doctor. The psychiatrist who monitored my Effexor left the practice and I have not yet found a new doc. Before she left, she left with a 6 mos. script to my prescription provider. I tried to wean off with the assistance of my doctor many years ago when I was on a much lower dosage but the schedule was much to quick and wound up back on meds. I am NOT using anything, at this time to assist with withdrawal since I am not having any symptioms (at this time).
As I said, I take 2 pill in the AM and PM. I cut one of my PM pills into 1/4s. I removedd 1/4 from my PM dosage every other night for 3 weeks. Since I felt fine, I went to every PM for 3 weeks. At the end of next week, if I continue to feel well, I will remove another 1/4 of a pill in the PM every other night for 3 weeks. If I do well, then every PM.
I guess you can see the pattern. I reduce the PM pill by 1/4 ever other night for 3 weeks, then every night for 3 weeks. I always 'read' my body to make sure I am OK and not having withdrawal symptoms. If I do get them, I will remain on the dosage or go back for another week (or more if needed). It is MY OPINION, that slow and steady will (hopefully) win the race.

BTW......I am NOT looking to totally come off the Effexor. I am just looking to get onto a dosage that will keep my anxiety under control and my head clear. I am thinking 37.5 mg in the AM and PM. That, I will see as I get closer. As I said, I am in NO rush to complete this process.

Hope this helps!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

Jump to this post

I just tead this post and is almost the same as my story. I have taken effexor many many years. I am now at 300mg . Last week I was introdeced to Cbd oil. So, I stopped taking 150mg(I know that is alot at once) I put a few drops of cbd oil under my tongue in the morning and same at night and guess what
...NO withdrawel symptoms at ALL!!! I have tryed getting off effexor many times so I know how bad it feels. I am totally amazed. If this CBD oil is what it takes not to feel sick then I will continue it. How are you doing now?
Shelley

ang811 | @ang811 | Jul 14, 2019

In reply to @shelleee "I just tead this post and is almost the same as my story. I have taken..." + (show)

I’m doing great. I’ve weened myself down to 6.5 now. I also haven’t been experiencing any withdrawals as well. Feel free to private message me on Connect. I don’t get on here anymore but felt the need to reply to you since I got it thru my email. Look forward to hearing from you