Venlefaxine Withdrawal 150 mg

[Jinxed20]

This is a first for me and I’m wondering if anyone can provide advise . I did my first reduction on Venlafaxine 4 days ago . The first day I had a bit of naseau but after that I have been fine . If I was to get any withdrawal symptoms from the reduction when would you think it would occur ? Would it be noticeable right away or would you not notice it for a week or 2 ? Any feedback ? I actually feel really great and my mood is also very good which I find interesting . I had been feeling just terrible on this medication and have for years . I have no idea why my doctors never encouraged me to try to come off of it when I had never had severe depression or anxiety prior to a one time episode of a panic attack 12 years ago .

[Celtic27]

Regarding reducing venlafaxine are you doing it yourself or is your doctor reducing them! With any medication withdrawal symptoms don't affect everyone but reduction iss better done over 4/5 weeks at least maybe 8 the reason for this is to reduce any withdrawal symptoms you maybe unlucky to get! Please if you are doing this off your own back see your doctor first p.s I take a higher dose of venlafaxine without any troubles! Take care All the best

[Jinxed20 in reply to Celtic27]

Thanks my doctor is aware but I am not reducing at quickly as he recommended . I am going down only in very small amounts . He wanted to pull me off it within. Just a few weeks and I know that won’t work with how long I have been on it and dependency to it . I am hoping to be off it within a 6 months time frame . Slow and steady . I have down a lot of research on this drug and many say they have failed because of how horrible they felt coming off it . I want to reduce slow so my Brain has a chance to adjust to reduction and I am in no rush . I’ve been on this for 12 years And few more months and slower I feel will be better . I am refusing fear to keep me on this drug over what might happen . I’ve done the first reduction I feel great . I just don’t no if withdrawal would happen after 5 days or I would have already felt it already . That’s where I am lost and frankly I don’t think My doctor would have that answer .

[Celtic27 in reply to Jinxed20]

You know your own mind so if you feel you want to come off venlafaxine slower I don't see there being a problem is your doctor changing your medication or are you coming off anti depressants all together if so well done! All the best david

[Jinxed20 in reply to Celtic27]

I am planning on coming off them completely . I had one panic attack 12 years and was put on them . I had just had my baby and it was never after that even discussed to discontinue use . I feel it was that they just felt it was easier to keep writing the prescription then to assist me getting off them . I have had a couple physician changes due to my doctor retiring and one moving out of country also so this could also be another reason . I feel there is no need to be on them it’s the issue to get off them that’s the problem as my body is dependent on them and this is where I want to do it very slowely so that I don’t fail when I do come off . I just don’t no how withdrawal works if you are doing it in very gradual step downs . I personally would have felt I would have noticed side effects already if they were to have occurred .

[Lynl]

This is a tough question, as I’m not a doctor, I am glad you are feeling great , but I would talk with the doctor and tell them and tell them how your feeling to make sure about side effects

[Kkimm]

Hello

I have been on 187.5 mg of Venlafaxine for nearly 3 years and am doing very well on it.

Sorry to hear it did not work for you.

I think 4 days is very early to notice anything if you are weaning off gradually. Like the other replies I think doing it through your GP is wise.

You may be doing this already anyway.

Can I ask why you went onto this medication in the first place?

Very best wishes.

Kim

[Jinxed20 in reply to Kkimm]

I had one panic attack 12 years ago and was Put on it for that reason . No recommendation or suggestion to come off it. My doctor is aware that I want to attempt to come off it but he wanted me to reduce by large drops and I refused to do it that way as I knew it would be extremely difficult and would cause me a lot of side effects . So he wanted me to drop from 150

To 75 in 1 weeks and then sit one week out and then drop to 37.5 and then follow the same plan and then stop it all together . I know this is not going to work for me with my job and I can’t afford to be off work it’ll ot work with those kind of side effects so I decided to drop from 150 to only 131.5 mg . What I was been told to do was to count the grain in 3 pills and device that by 3 so it averages out what the pills have inside . They were very close so I made the math calculation and took out 54 grains out of the pills . It days 5 and no withdrawal at all . So what I wanted to know is would people feel off or withdrawal on this small of a reduction or would you notice something and should I wait for it ?

I realize this will take much longer to come off and I’m okay with that . I’ve been told slow and steady and that is what I plan to do verses what my doctors had suggested which would be to be right off this in a matter of a few weeks . After 12 years there is no rush . I have gained weight , I sweat , I have terrible headaches from it . I already have my head buzzing from it prior to taking the next dose .. and frankly am flat lines on it . I have no get up and go , no energy , chronic fatigue . My heart rate on this medication is also up and is a symptom of the drug . I also had breast cancer at 35 and I am now 41 and truth be told I don’t feel being on this stuff is a great thing for my health . After chemo and all of it I feel the least drugs the better .

I guess I really just wanted to know if I was going to have withdrawal would I already be presenting with those symptoms after 5 days ? It will it still come ? And my doctor has no clue . I refuse to follow a plan that I will fail on and going off it like that with big drops will not work . My brain chemistry will be so messed up . I have heard so many that couldn’t get off and I truly feel it has to do with how quickly there physicians reduced the medication that it didn’t give them a chance to adjust .

[Jinxed20 in reply to Kkimm]

Yes my GP is aware but I am reducing much slower then what they recommended . I would be just set up to fail coming off it if I did it the way they suggested .

[Kkimm]

Hi

I think you are very wise to come off very slowly. Unfortunately I do not know the answer to your question. You may be lucky and not suffer side effects.

I am interested to hear how you do at weaning off incase I ever decide to come off it so it would be nice to hear how it goes for you if you feel like it.

Very best of luck.

Kim

[Natsteveo]

Hi jinxed20

As you know I’m tapering off my venlafaxine too it’s my 4th week now and my dr tried last week too cut me down a little bit too quick only because I was doing so well as well but I started to get hot sweats and brain zaps so I went up half and it stoped so as of Wednesday my dr will call me to see if I’m ok and he will drop me down a further half but if you have any bad noticeable side effects just knock yourself up half again... I’m not fussed if this takes me a full year to come off them as long as I’m able to cope and not going back to how I was all should be good... my advice is don’t run before you can walk because you could go through tapering well and then all of a sudden you could hit the floor with a bang and have bad effects I’ve researched this and a lot of people I’ve spoken too said coming off venlafaxine ruined their lives but everyone isn’t the same my friend you could be one of the lucky ones and sail through it but just take it easy and take baby steps some days or weeks you will smash it and then you could just have that one day you feel bad but just keep your spirits up and always ask a medical professional about things that your not sure of... nat

[Jinxed20 in reply to Natsteveo]

So for me I’m struggling to understand when the side effects hit ? Like would I notice it the day I drop down ? Would I notice it 2 weeks later . It’s been 5 days other then a bit of nausea I have had nothing these 5 days . I noticed today I had some coffee and it seemed to make me have a few Brain shivers but I went for a walk and have been fine . How many mg’s is your doctor dropping you by at a time ? And it’s been only 4 weeks for you . And 3 reductions already .. I have only gone down the one from 150 to 131.5 mg . It’s been 5 days I feel fine but I guess what my big question is would I have felt withdrawal already if I was to have it ? It is it coming ? I guess this is where I am struggling to understand .

[Natsteveo in reply to Jinxed20]

Maybe the nausea and brain shivers are a tiny side effect.. but your doing great .. I Was on 300mg my dr dropped me down to 225mg then 2 weeks in she dropped me to 112.50mg and I felt that drop so I upped it to 150mg and I was fine again I will drop it again when she ring but tell her I will drop to 120/130mg instead of a big drop..I got no side effects till like the 2nd week only because my dr dropped my mg quite quick and my body and mind wasn’t ready for that drop so like you I’m doing it slowly but surely I know drs are brilliant at helping but sometimes a big drop isn’t helping us and we have to go with our gut instinct

[Jinxed20 in reply to Natsteveo]

Interesting you didn’t have much for side effects going from 300 to 150 that’s quite a big drop in 4 weeks . I’d like to keep in touch while you are doing your reduction . I am going at this much slower then you are so I’m not sure maybe I am just prolonging the pain of all this when I don’t need to be . I noticed tonight about 30 minutes before my next pill I felt I needed to take my next dose . This is how I have always felt on this stuff . Within about an hour time frame I felt my head was calling for my pills . It was kinda like that tonight as well . I think I will just try to maintain this small reduction pace . When I start feeling crummy I’ll go up if needed . But I think I’m going to take the reductions over a period of 6 months .

[Natsteveo]

I also gained loads of weight when I started these and has gotten worse being on it for 20 years??? My heart rate was rapid when I was on 300mg and I’m talking 130bpm... and since I’ve been tapering off them it’s a stable 78/80 which is normal it hasn’t been normal for a long time and I get those bad headaches too so we are the same there... I felt my tablets had stopped working so I thought lockdown would be the best time to try anyway.. it’s understandable why you want to as well. You kicked cancers butt so good for you to be med free if it’s what you want just take baby steps maybe we can help each other out.. I brought a diary and I write in it everyday saying how I’m feeling it helps me

Nat xx

[Jinxed20 in reply to Natsteveo]

I agree my doctor told me your body gets used to a certain dose and it’s doing nothing . I thought I was in withdrawal already . My heart rate is also big about 104 and doing cardio exercise can be very challenging . I have gained about 40 pounds . Some may be just from poor habits but some is forsure from the pills . I also retain fluid within my face and I hate it . I really struggle with my image . I hate how I look .

[Natsteveo in reply to Jinxed20]

It must be the pills then as I’m the same too I retain water round my face too

[Jinxed20 in reply to Natsteveo]

I actually noticed in 5 days already my face is already not as puffy . It’s kinda crazy to think medication can do this to you to be honest . If I can get off this stuff and stay off it I will be so happy . The struggle is not to be what’s coming such as anxiety or depression as I never experienced that just that one panic attack I had years ago it’s really just dealing with the side effects and couping with coming off it I am concerned about .