Effexor/Venlafaxine withdrawal

[hyperfocusaficionado]

Anyone have any tips on how to successfully come right off Venlafaxine/Effexor?

I badly want to come off it now, but i don't want to be dysfunctional for an unknown quantity of weeks/months...!!

I'm tapering gradually, taking some supplements... have heard switching to another antidepressant which is easier to come off can help to prevent discontinuation symptoms, but Prozac seems to be the one most talked about, and when I tried Prozac years ago, I felt terrible on it, my mood went very low so I dont really want to try that. Does anyone know if Sertraline works to help come off Venlafaxine?

I've managed 300mg down to 25mg generally OK(ish) over 10months, but when I tried to go down to 12.5mg the withdrawals were so terrible! I couldn't tolerate them any longer after a week of trying and had to go back up to 25mg.

If I knew how difficult it is to come off I would never have started it, scares me what it must be doing to my brain.

Any help or experience would be much appreciated!!

[Downinil]

Hi hyperfocusaficionado! Every body is different but I became manic on Effexor and haven’t been the same since. It’s trial and error in my experience.

[hyperfocusaficionado in reply to Downinil]

Thanks for your response! Did your body respond to stopping it OK (assuming you did quit it)?

[Downinil in reply to hyperfocusaficionado]

I have not been the same since stopping it. Your prescriber will be able to monitor you if and when you both decide it’s a good idea. My case is very unique. I have undergone elective neurosurgery due to treatment resistant depression with severe OCD accompanied by GAD. I need to be seen by a neurologist as well as a neuropsychiatrist. It’s hard telling how it will affect anyone else. I have been told that once the delicate balance of brain chemistry is altered your brain is used to having the medication so Idk.

[Downinil]

hyperfocusaficionado, has Effexor helped you?

[Browny71]

it is extremely difficult to come off it terrible side effects. You will have to endure them for a couple of weeks. My anxiety and crying spells followed me for a long time. Eventually I went back to taking it again because I had suicidal ideation. I’m now more controlled with other meds in addition to venlafaxine.

[Feelingsonauseous]

I’m currently experiencing bad withdrawal symptoms. I was on 75mg, lowered slowly to 37.5, now taking it every 3 days, but I feel really sick on the 1st and second day, then good on the 3rd day, then again super sick when it’s close to time for my next dose. Nausea, headaches, stomachaches, diarrhea, shaking, brain fog, confusion, no focus. I have such a hard time being functional and able to work… I’m feeling really discouraged now.

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

I wish I could remember how I got off of Lexapro the first time. I literally have no memory of it. I know I took it during middle school and it was 20mg (I think). I was on it for a few years. Then I told my psychiatrist that I didn't want to be on it anymore. He agreed about my progress that I had made. But I don't know how I did it. I'm assuming weaning was probably done. How I felt during that time.

Sending you love and hugs 🫂❤️

[jikreamer]

I was on 'Effexor for years, very gradually reduced the dosage and had no problem coming off of it. However, Psychiatrist cross-tapered me to 'welbutrin and that may have been what helped me come of Effexor successfully.