Withdrawal from venlafaxine

[Jock50]

I am trying to come off venlafaxine after 10 years have cut my 37.5mg down to 4 but am struggling with low mood and withdrawal!

[lisa40509]

Hi Jock50!Is there any med your doc can prescribe for break through symptoms till you have completed coming off the meds? That is what saved me coming off of Zoloft after many years and switching to a new med. I also tried some things I use to keep me grounded such as when symptoms arose and I would let my mind wander I would chew cinnamon gum. Drink icy and sour lemonade, wash laundry, walk my dog. Anything that could put me into feeling some control. Hope you start feeling better in the coming days!!

[Jock50 in reply to lisa40509]

They don’t want me off them but this is a GP and not a psychiatrist so unsure how to manage. Just need to get through this next bit.

[lisa40509 in reply to Jock50]

Try some of those grounding skills to help you get through this and consider discussing with your GP. Best wishes!

[Jessie-Boo]

Hi Jock50I am also trying to come off Venlafaxine, ( I’ve cut down from 225mg to 75 mg now. ) I tried this in 2007, and had a very bad rebound depression about 6 weeks after I stopped completely- took me a long time to get myself back together.

I wonder if you can come off the last bit more slowly? Maybe 18mg first?

I’ve also read that switching to Fluoxetine helps because it stays in your system longer so withdrawal is easier. I find I get withdrawal symptoms immediately I miss a dose.

I would definitely speak to your GP, maybe they can refer you to a specialist mental health team for support while you come off? Maybe psychology alongside would be helpful.

Good luck

[Jock50 in reply to Jessie-Boo]

I feel very low at the moment but need to keep going. No point in mental health services they are useless and would wait weeks. We are the silent sufferers that no one takes any notice of safely. Thank you for the reply means a lot.

[Jessie-Boo]

It’s really hard, I have just retired from working in specialist mental health services, I honestly feel that the withdrawal effects of these medications have not been fully considered or acknowledged.

I hope you have some supportive people around you Jock.

I’ve made the decision to stay at 75mg for a bit longer….. maybe until Christmas and treat it as a longer term aim. Have a love hate relationship with this medication, living in a dream when I’m on it… life just passed me by, but so hard to come off it.

[knitlover64]

Also trying to get off of Venlafaxine here. After taking for numerous years, my dermatologist recommended I stop it due to a skin reaction I developed in the last 2 to 3 years. Skin reaction is clearing up, but man do I feel awful. My GP is guiding me through the withdrawal, but I don't think she knows much about this. Per her instructions I started at 75mg 3xday , reduced to twice a day for one week, reduced to once a day for the next week, then one pill every other day, then stop. I got down to one pill every other day, but the withdrawal symptoms were so bad I couldn't just stop. I waited as long as I could to take another pill and slowly stretched out the time between each pill until I could stop. It's probably been a month since I took the last pill, and my physical symptoms are still hanging strong (hot flashes, dizziness, nasal congestion, weird dreams). Nausea is the worst. It seems to be the worst when I am hungry, so I try to keep something on my stomach. Has anyone else experienced this and found a resolution? The OTC medications don't seem to help.