Coming off Venlafaxine

[Gingerwoodworker]

Hi all,

I'm on day four of reducing Venlafaxine, going from 75mg to 37.5mg.

Backstory, been taking other Antidepressants for the past 13 years.

This tapering down is the worst I have felt in ages, on and off sweating, headache since Saturday... On and off feeling sick and now on day 4 it's like I have taken a massive laxative 🤣

Have others had similar experiences?

[Hidden]

Hi I'm hoping to come of venfalaxine soon been on 225mg for about 6months they have done nothing for anxiety for me. I hope you will

Stay in touch. X

[blackcat64013]

My doctor and I found going slowly and taking it down by half every week or so the best option. When you get down to the lower doses it is a bit trickier. My doctor's plan is

1st week

75 35 75 35 75 35 35.

2nd week is all 35.

Week 3 is 35 0 35 0 35 0 35. Week 4 is now zero.

If you feel worse, you go back up and try again.

[gizmo22]

Hi I was only on these for 6 weeks 37.5 they made any anxiety i had 10 times worse, Doctor gave me the tablets so i could taper off, i took 37.5 one day and half next and so on for 2 weeks. Then 1/2 every day for a week....Then the Doctor said it was ok to stop..NO i should have carried on for 2 more weeks.. The Pharmacist said the slower the better as i was very sensitive to SSRI'S...4 weeks and i am still having withdrawals.. The crying is awful and the anxiety is bad.. But i am hoping that soon it will all get better..Good Luck hope it gets better for you...

[denvajade]

Hi there Gingerwood worker! I too am slowly coming off venfalaxine, I am going from 37.5 to 0 . I have been on these for about the same period as you. I went on it for fibro, ra and BAD depression. I have tried before to reduce with out success but this time I am getting it right. I open the tablet and take 5 grains out each day and stay at that level

For a week. Then 10 grains for a week, I am now up to taking 65 grains out. Just doing it slowly. Banging in the head has slowed right down. Had days where I am abit irritable.

My research said try and sleep thru the worst at the beginning, put yourself to bed, drink lots of water and I am taking ashgawanda. Wishing you well you can do it. Keep in touch. 🥰🍾

[Hidden]

How are you getting on & feeling? I'm on day 6 of zero intake & interested in others experiences.

[Gingerwoodworker]

Well, last night was the first zero dosage.

Got up this morning, felt fine... Worked from home (work in IT support) afternoon not a problem felt a bit slow (like walking through water).

After dinner went into the garden and did some light hedge cutting.

Came back inside and bang! It was like hitting a wall! Hot sweats, felt sick, headache started and felt extremely dizzy... This sets into motion anxiety... But I'm telling myself this is normal symptoms for antidepressant discontinuation syndrome....

Currently on my bed trying to just let it pass.

So thought I would just hop on here and update my post.

Tonight I take one 35mg tablet, then nothing tomorrow evening for 6 more days.

Depending on how this goes I might stop altogether next week but only if the symptoms get less.

[Gingerwoodworker in reply to Gingerwoodworker]

Also I forgot to mention that since reducing my medication, I have lost just over 4lbs in 8 days 😄 so that's something to smile about!