Hi guys well this is the second week of reducing my 300mg and it is going pretty good!!! I get hot flashes and had a little bit of brain Zaps but I’m taking omega 3 fish oil and it’s kind of settled it so just easy peasy baby steps and I’m sure I will get there. Had nightmares too but I am still being as strong as I can be
I hope you are all doing best you can with our situation and the lockdown
All the best Nat xx
Hey Nat, it sounds like you have the right mind set in place and are doing okay.
Some symptoms will break through but as long as you keep a positive attitude
and go forward, you will succeed. Good Luck. I'm behind you all the way. 
xx
Thanks @agora1 means the world to me I’m very determined to kick this no matter how long it will take
Loadsa love Nat xx
Hi Nat,
Effexor? Why are you coming off it. You never said why.
Horseaddict57
I've been on it for 20 years and I'm just convinced that effexor has caused my rapid heartbeat over the years but my main reason is I feel im ready to completely try and go without it if I can since reducing it my heart rate hasn't been as high...I'm not saying effexor is to blame but it is proven if you stay on it for a long period of time it can cause long term effects
I just want to try at least
Nat
Funny thing. I was on it for 10 years. After bariatric surgery in 2018, a psychiatrist told me he thought my weight gain was from a combination of the meds (Effexor & Wellbutrin) & that anxiety & depression were not my problem. He thought that I had ADD. I went off Effexor - a nightmare withdrawal - and started ADD meds. After 9 months of extreme anxiety, depression, no appetite, unable to work, losing 45 pounds, I went back on Effexor 3 weeks ago - and I thank God my primary care physician had the smarts to allow me to do so - especially with this pandemic. I would not have been able to leave my house or survive with all that is happening right now.
I know meds are not the answer for everyone but I am so happy they are available. And I would rather try & work through my ADD , eat mindfully, & exercise than ever feel how I felt without Effexor.
Best of luck to you!
Wow bless you honey I've gained like 3 stone since being on it I'm only going to try reduce them first to see how I go first I'm not rushing to come off them I'm just going to give it a go and if it dont work then I'll go straight back up
Thanks for sharing it helps so much
Nat xx
Good for you, Nat!
I've been on Effexor since 2002. It has helped me when other meds did not. I currently take 300 mg QD but I used to take 450 mg about 12 years ago.
In general I try to take any meds only when absolutely necessary, and for me Effexor has been necessary.
Cheers!
Hi thanks so much for this effexor gas been my life saver I'm also on propranolol too and they are helping loads..I'm only going to reduce my meds to see how I go because I'm pre menopausal too so I've got them both going g on haha but I'm managing up too now touch wood just dont want to rely on them anymore I want to be able to take some control of my illness let's see how it pans out hopefully all will be ok
Thanks nat xx
Just want to let you know that I was on Effexor through all of menopause & it saved my life! Never had a single hot flash or any of the problems all of my friends had!
I have gone through Effexor withdrawal several times my self. The brain-zaps are something else alright. I've also gone through Cymbalta withdrawal (another SNRI) I've been on everything, and SNRI withdrawal is always the worst. I feel like crap most of the time while getting off of them, but eventually it passes. I would encourage you to taper off slowly if you can. I know you're eager to get off, but cold turkey withdrawal (I've done this a couple of times) is really nasty. Best Wishes.
Thanks ever so much for your reply I'm actually doing this the slowest I can advised by my dr as she knows how fragile I can be and how I think so fingers crossed I'm able to do this slowly but surely hopefully thanks for your encouragement means so much to me xx
I’m curious as to know how your doctor has recommended you taper as I am considering starting to taper but really fear the side effects of the withdrawal while still working . Have you had anything you have found helps ? I am on 150 and I think I have to go down to 75 right off the hop. Glad to hear you are doing well ! Keep it up !
Hi there as I was on the capsules obviously I had to change to tablet form so I would usually have 2 in the morning and 2 tea time but I started 2 in the morning as normal then 1 and half at night for 2 weeks I was pretty good with them... then last week she last Tuesday she wanted me to go 2 in morning half in the evening and I thought it was a bit quick to be honest which means within 2 weeks I was dropping down to half in the evening but I started getting hot sweats dizzy spells and brain zaps so I went so tried 2 in the morning and 1 in the evening and the side effects settled so although the dr knows about medication my body was telling me these were tapering me down too quick for my liking so next Tuesday I will try the half in the evening again see if I need a bit longer.. I also work so my opinion is very very slowly to taper the quicker you taper the worker the side effects in my opinion... I take omega 3 fish oil caps in the afternoon for my brain zaps and touch wood it’s working so far so up to now I have no side effects
Nat
Wow that’s great ! Sounds like you have an amazing doctor ! Not all are that lucky ! I feel like I’m navigating this on my own .. I am going to only go down from 150 to 130 mg I have decided and am going to see how I feel . I’m in not rush so I’d rather stabilize on each dose then worry about getting off it quickly . I agree with slow and steady . My doctor doesn’t believe in this and thinks ripping the bandage off as quickly as possible is best . I’m not going for that approach so I gong to manage it on my own along with some other experts . I came across a product I think will help me with withdrawal issues from True Hope and forsure am going to give it a go . I also have ramped up my Vitamin D to 10,000 IU a day and agree that the fish oil is very helpful .
Sadly I am going to be taking grains out of my capsules but I refuse to be pushed into coming off this and suffering and bed ridden so I will just have to navigate this on my own with what I have . So happy you are 3 weeks in and have little to no side effects . You are very lucky .
hi nat how are you now given its nearly 3 weeks.i started reducing my medication a few days ago not had insomnia but lacking a decent sleep but that's not new other than that seem ok.
Hi kenny yeah doing great my dr rang me this morning for my 2 week check up told him I'm doing fine just having very detailed dreams but they just dreams so I'm doing ok touch wood ge wants me to try half in the morning half in the evening now for the next 2 weeks so let's see how these are going to be... good luck to you kenny slowly but surely for us 2 also my heart rate is now at normal range of 74/80 bpm which is the normal rate it was 104 bpm on full venlafaxine 300mg so that's proof I knew what it was all along strange isn't it
Keep in touch we can give eachother support
Take care
Nat xx
sounds good to me I am halving my 45mg tablet going to do it for a month and then quarter it and see how it goes.i really need a life without medication.yeah I hope you continue your withdrawal hopefully its a positive long lasting outcome.
Very slow and steady ask your dr for the tablet though as capsule ones ain’t meant to be split my friend so be careful
If you need any advice I’m always here
Nat
May God bless your venylafaxine reduction. I'm doing a Klonopin reduction. I have gone from 3.0 mg/day to 2.125mg per day. It's a slow process, but so worth it! Together we can do this!
We sure can babes thank you and good luck to you your doing brilliantly x
Hi
I read your post and wonder if you managed to get off ven. I started my journey in January from 150 ven and I’m now on 37.5 ven, I feel rubbish, my emotions are all over the place. I just want to get off them, I’m following my doctor’s plan. I can go back up at anytime but I want to succeed. Thank you for your help
hi there, not sure if you're still on this platform, but i was really interested to hear your experience of Venlafaxine. i'm still on it, and have been for about 14 years. i take 150mg a day. if i forget to take it, within about 9 hours of not taking it i start to get physical symptons of nausea and brain shakes. i would really really like to come off it, and have recently started taking cbd oil to great effect. have you any advice? many thanks
Hi
I’m coming off ven I have been since January as per my doctor’s guidance. I’m moving down from 150, I’m currently on 37.5 but I can definitely feel it, my emotions are all over the place. What do I do? I’m just struggling on
Coming off Citalopram / Antidepressants
Coming off Sertraline 
Venlafaxine side effects
