Venlafaxine

[Adisaracu]

I abruptly stopped taking venlafaxine.what are the side effects If you stop taking them?

[Pamdon81]

It depends on how long you have been taking them for and it ain't a good idea to stop them suddenly other wise you will feel nasty side effects including more anxiety, nausea, brain zaps, depression. Please seek professional help from your gp to help wean you off them other wise going cold turkey will put you through hell. Take care

[designguy]

I agree with Pam, it's never a good idea to abruptly quit any med, you should always taper off of it slowly to give your mind and body time to adjust. You should also know that typically the process can increase your anxiety temporarily so be prepared for it and don't do it during a stressful time. It depends on the med but you should allow at least 2 - 3 weeks to taper off of it and maybe longer.

[Dell12345]

I really would not recommend this. If you want to stop taking them then reduce the dose over a couple of months at least.

Venlaphaxine is known to have bad withdrawal symptoms if you stop suddenly.

[Leon1991]

When I was first on them at age of 18 they really helped me was on them for 3 years and I was immune to the dose and was getting really bad withdraw as I was on the max dose!

Long story short I had to come of them. I didn’t know at the time this drug was one of the worst to come of. My doc said 2mg a week over the corse would take a year to 2 to come of them and try something else. So I taperd down for one week and felt really crap! Then I decided that I’d rather suffer bad and fast than do 2 years of hell. So I stoped abruptly even my doctor said it was a huge no and never do it. So I took it in my own hands and honestly it was bell! Major cold turkey, went extremely dizzy, clucking, itchy, sweating, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, words can’t describe the bell I put myself through. And It only got worse. 3 months ent by and I still wasn’t recovered. It took a year since the day I stopped to fully recover and I swore to never taken them again. But yet 4 weeks know and I’m back on them. My advice is please don’t do what I did could have killed me I was that bad. Talk to your doctor and tell him you want to come of as quickly and safely. Maybe dropping or cutting the tablet a tiny bit each day till you get to half the dose? As you doctor for some Valium while your coming of them as they will help with the withdrawal symptoms just don’t go cold turkey.

What the reason your coming of them. Again all this will depend on how long and what dose your on

[FeRollet]

Please be careful with quitting venlafaxine. I have incredibly debilitating withdrawal even if I forget to take it one day (debilitating dizziness; strong headaches and nausea amongst others). I have recently requested to reduce my dosage as I was struggling with a rare side effect and while the adverse condition has subsided; I am now experiencing extreme depression again, as well as headaches and stomach ache.

I’m feeling really defeated, but I know I can’t go off the medicine.