Is anyone currently coming off/ already come off Effexor (Venlafaxine)?
I’m on zero and going through hell at the moment. Here’s my story:
I took venlafaxine for approx 6 weeks. Have now come off it as it isn’t doing anything for me and at 150mg x 2 a day was giving me HORRENDOUS insomnia on top of my already super bad insomnia struggle.
The withdrawal is hell and I’ve only been on it for about 6 weeks.
Crushing head pain, stomach pain with horrendous nausea, anxiety is through the roof, bad anger attacks, not with it, no appetite, day dreams/thoughts that seem like they are real (frightening), muscles all over my body going into rapid spasm, major exacerbation of existing nerve pain (hell!), insomnia which is resistant to prescription sleeping tablets), brain zaps, dizziness and feeling like my head could fall off.
Laying down in bed with the fan on seems to be the only help along with painkillers and anti nausea medication.
I would not recommend anyone take this SNRI anti depressant because one day you’ll want to stop or change meds and tapering off venlafaxine comes with major withdrawal too. Whether you go cold turkey or taper - there’s no difference.
Any advice or words of comfort would be greatly appreciated. I’m a single parent and single handedly going through this on my own as a parent.