Venlafaxine withdrawal : I went to my... - Anxiety and Depre...

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Venlafaxine withdrawal

K1086 profile image
22 Replies

I went to my doctor as I really wasn’t getting enough help from my venlafaxine dosage. She’s trialing me on mirtazapine for a week with an immediate stop of the venlafaxine and I feel awful. Has anyone else experienced flu like symptoms? Hoping this feeling eases sooner rather than later

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K1086
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22 Replies
Fruitsofspirit profile image
Fruitsofspirit

My Dr add the new one to my already venlafaxine. They supposed to weaning you off. Should tell your Dr. Hope you feel better soon.

K1086 profile image
K1086 in reply to Fruitsofspirit

Thank you, I have a follow up call with her this week so I will mention this to her

HyacinthBucket1 profile image
HyacinthBucket1

Immediately stopping venlafaxine will make you feel absolutely awful and possibly end up doing things you might regret. I ended up in a right old mess doing that once. You just need to look in YouTube for venflaxine withdrawal videos to see others experience on just missing 1 dose.Speak to your Dr again and say you need to withdraw slowly. Or if it were me and had some pills left..cut down gradually yourself.

HyacinthBucket1 profile image
HyacinthBucket1 in reply to HyacinthBucket1

Oh and sorry to say but your symptoms could last weeks and weeks even months. It's an evil drug to get off and only those who have made that step can tell you how hard it is to get off it. My Dr didn't have a clue on the withdrawal effects it has. I had to reduce my dose right down to 12mg before eventually stopping or the withdrawal effects were just too awful. Good luck x

K1086 profile image
K1086 in reply to HyacinthBucket1

Thank you for your replies. I have a follow up call this week but if the withdrawal symptoms carry on I will get in touch before then. I’ve been on it for over a year so I was prepared for a funky feeling. Just didn’t know if it was normal or not!

Whiskers16 profile image
Whiskers16 in reply to HyacinthBucket1

This really scares me as I’m on 150 mg now but it’s not doing anything for me but so frightened if the withdrawal effects. I’m not in a good place as it is.

HyacinthBucket1 profile image
HyacinthBucket1 in reply to Whiskers16

Hi..I will PM you xxx

Whiskers16 profile image
Whiskers16 in reply to HyacinthBucket1

Please do x

HyacinthBucket1 profile image
HyacinthBucket1 in reply to Whiskers16

Will do later ok xx

lifted profile image
lifted in reply to Whiskers16

I'm on 300 velafaxine

Whiskers16 profile image
Whiskers16 in reply to lifted

Could I please ask are you taking it for depression or anxiety. I’ve been on it for 8 weeks now and can’t see any improvement in my anxiety at all. In fact I am worse as I’m not sleeping, lucky if I’m getting 2-3 hrs.

lifted profile image
lifted in reply to Whiskers16

Depression I've been on it 20 yrs

Whiskers16 profile image
Whiskers16 in reply to lifted

My dad is 90 and he had been on it for 16yrs for depression with no problem

Gretch61 profile image
Gretch61 in reply to Whiskers16

Hi, I’ve been on it 8 years, increased it to 225 5 weeks ago it done absolutely nothing for me except make me feel terrible

Vinny123 profile image
Vinny123 in reply to lifted

Hi I have been on 375 mg since last April. Felt better in sept till early January this year. Relapse again. It’s crap. Speaking to doc on thurs. but know won’t change meds because of withdrawal. Feel really stuck. It’s wondering if it’s stopped working or not. What to do. ??

_Alex_ profile image
_Alex_

You don't just stop Venlafaxine like that, especially at higher doses. So mistake by your doctor.

Venlafaxine can be safely crossed over with Mirtazapine anyway.

Beezer profile image
Beezer

Yes, I went off Effexor XR on my own and it was awful! I went back on it 3 months ago and it was terrible to start again. I hope you find something to help you without some many side effects. Some people can be more sensitive to side effects than others. Take care!

Missy_D profile image
Missy_D

I just want to say something positive from personal experience. I overdosed on Venlefaxine big time. Lucky to survive and dose was slowly titrated back up to pre overdose level. However due to complicationsof the overdose I had to stop suddenly and switch over initially to Sertraline then Mirtazapine. Had no problems what so ever. No headaches, no nausea, nothing. Whilst some may say I am lucky, I just wanted to highlight that we are all different and it's not all doom and gloom.

Caulie123 profile image
Caulie123

Hi I’ve just come off 150 ven and I’ve tapered off since jan but i finished taking my last reduction to 37.5, 19 days early, a big mistake, but I continued on nothing, my psy told me to go back on it but I’ve resisted,

it’s hard , it’s been a month now, and each day I don’t know who I’m going to be -

So just take it easy xx and ask for help

I’m currently on both! I’ve been on mirtazapine since 2017 and put on venlafaxine in 2020. It’s a better combo (for me) than setraline and mirtazapine

Gretch61 profile image
Gretch61 in reply to clinicallydepressed

Hi, what dose of Venlafaxine are you on.

Mercede profile image
Mercede

I am currently getting off 100mg of venlafaxine. It's one of the hardest things I've done. Flu like symptoms are a given. Eat right, take vitamins, drink lots of water. Good luck. God bless

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