Venlafaxine

[AtheistRob]

Hi . I found venlafaxine quite helpful but its a bit horrible to come off of. Strangely we are away at the moment and I ran out yesterday and am already feeling the , what's called brain sparks. Apart from that it has served me well. Good luck

[Hidden]

Sometimes when we come of medications it is best to talk with your Doctor who will help you taper of over time.

BOB

[GodKid in reply to Hidden]

That's the truth. I am reducing Klonopin, and have gone from 3.0mg to 2.125mg. It is a slow process but I am grateful to God I can do this!

[Hidden]

Hey AtheistRob!

This is Atheist KD the Kitteh Mama! You're not the only superstition-free person here!

Venlafaxine (Effexor) is the most difficult antidepressant to discontinue. Psych research has documented this. Why I don't know, but it's true.

I temporarily missed my dose a couple of times because I ran out and the mail-in pharmacy was slow (long story.) The first day was okay. The second day I felt weak and "off" somehow. The third day all hell broke loose - I felt extremely weak, faint, nauseous, dizzy, shaky. Once I received my drugs in the mail, I took them and felt much better, but I needed a day or two to recover. I've never experienced the brain zaps; maybe they come later.

Right now my shrink is tapering me by 37.5 mg. This is the smallest capsule they make. I've been reducing like this for 3 months and it's been tolerable. For a few weeks after I started I felt very weak and shaky, but now it's not so bad. My original dose was 300 mg/day and my shrink wants to get me to 150 mg/day. Next month I'll start 225 mg/day.

DON'T try to discontinue by yourself. Srsly, as you've discovered it's not pleasant.

Stay safe.

[Mini1973 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I’m also reducing Venlafaxine from 225mg to 150mg and dropped to 187.5mg this week and will stick at this dosage for a a couple of weeks before dropping another 37.5mg to 150. I’ve got bad tinnitus, am shaky, jumpy and feel weak as well. I want to do this though!

[Hidden in reply to Mini1973]

Hello Mini1973,

Good luck with your taper. My 37.5 mg drop has taken about 4 months. My jitters are mostly gone, but occasionally I get weak.

You can do it!

KD

[Piggyspice]

Whenever I miss a pill, guaranteed 15/16 hours later I have nausea dizziness and brain fog.