Venlafaxine withdrawal

[OliveandPickle]

Hi

I am currently on day 3 of stopping venlafaxine. I have been on them for 1 year and was on 75mg. Previous to this I had been on sertraline for 7 years. The psychiatrist said that as it was a low dose of venlafaxine I could just stop and shouldn't have any symptoms. However, I am definitely experiencing some withdrawal effects. I feel very dizzy and restless. Finding it difficult to fall and stay asleep. Experiencing brain zaps and generally not feeling very well.

Has anyone else experienced this withdrawal or have any idea on how long it lasts?

Thanks

Natalie

[Playonwords]

I’m sorry you’re going though that! I’ve experienced withdrawals from another medicine. The worst part lasted for a day and then I felt the lesser symptoms for about a week. I hope you feel better soon!

[OliveandPickle in reply to Playonwords]

Thank you for the reply.Hopefully I will start to feel better soon

[Engelbrekt]

I don´t think the psychiatrists really know of the withdrawal effects. In the most cases you have to gradually change the dose when it comes to SSRI and SNRI. So, if you can have a talk with the dr or you can go back to half the dose and then taper off. I have gone on and off three times in my life (SSRI) and it can be very difficult, so I have made a plan and never I should stop cold turkey.

[grayson12 in reply to Engelbrekt]

Well your Psychiarist does not know much about Venflaxine . the drug is on e of the worse for withdrawal . The doseneed to be tapered down gradually. You may need to change.

[Engelbrekt in reply to grayson12]

I agree , but you should reply to Olivenadpickle not to me...

[OliveandPickle in reply to grayson12]

Thanks for the reply. The psychiatrist said that as I was only on 75mg it was a low dose and I could just stop with little or no problems. I emailed him yesterday with the withdrawal symptoms I am having and he said they should sub side in a few days however I could always go back on to 37.5mg and taper off. I think i have done 4 days so would silly for me to go back on again only to try and come off. Need to try and ride through it.

[Oldbury1 in reply to OliveandPickle]

Yes I did the same came off suddenly instead of gradually and felt like a dizzy sucky feeling my eyes were feeling crossed eyed I had to sit down felt like that about a week. Do if you says it's been 4 days a few more days you'll feel alo better. Makes no sense to go back on them if you've already come off and felt the effects of dizziness so gives it 3/4 more days and the dizziness will fade away.

[OliveandPickle in reply to Oldbury1]

So you were on 75mg and just stopped? I just feel very dizzy, sick and very emotional. I am hoping that the hard part is over. How did you feel now not being on medication? I was thinking earlier I just want to feel like me again but I question who that person is. I have been on medication for 8 years and I am just hoping I am still the same person. My husband has only known me on my medication. Just hope I dont change too much

[Oldbury1 in reply to Oldbury1]

Yes dizzy sicky an emotional feeling but didn't throw up abit like a travel sickness feeling it's takes awhile to feel better. I was on 100mg strepaline and came off hence the side effects caught up with me took about week and few days as it's suddenly you've stopped as oppose to easing doses down slightly week by week. I'm not on any medication for 2 months and my husband thinks I've been alot normal still do OCD but not as time consuming so he thinks medication doesn't work I'm better off without it. But I've had few bad days in between so my doctor has put me on fluoxtine 40mg tablets too see which medication works. I haven't tried any medication for a long period do not sure when to notice the benefits of it. So hopefully I do with this one as I'm not finding CBT helping me much either it's feels like i leg go off emotions only but not gained much. It's only been 5 sessions so I know it's a long process to go still. Just wish there was a magic wish to o get rid off OCD once and for all. I do worry it will always be a part in in life as I've suffered for over 36 years in silence and this is the first time I've spoken about this summer as my husband and me don't get on much, my 2 well behaved adorable children got caught up in my OCD which is unfair for them and my husband. I think being stuck at home with lockdown my husband is struggling to continue as it's too much for him and my children so I seeked help otherwise I'd loose everything. And the thought of being on my own is abit scary as my OCD would get worse I don't think I'd get out of bed to start my day. Sorry if I've gone on abit off track. I think OCD suffers would like to feel normal again but it's been so long we probably don't know what normal us anymore, so hopefully you will feel abit of better without medication.

[OliveandPickle in reply to Oldbury1]

Thank you for being so honest.I have ocd intrusive thoughts and found that although the medication helps to calm me down. I never actually had some of these thoughts before the medication, it's like the medication brought the thoughts on?

You have done the right thing in taking the steps to try and be stronger for you, your kids and husband. It's so hard to not get consumed in how your feeling and I feel sometimes people without OCD just dont get it.

I have had CBT. First time I didnt feel it benefitted me at all but then I gave it another go a year later and it really helped. Stick with it or maybe try someone else?

I have started to try meditation and thats quite a good distraction.

Hope it all works out for you x

[Oldbury1 in reply to OliveandPickle]

Thank you for your kind reply back. Yes I always say to non OCD suffers I'd swop any day to be you for without OCD it's ruins lot going on in your life. Yes OCD meditation excersies help abit with time distraction. Hope you feel better soon too x

[Susan67 in reply to OliveandPickle]

I agree with you but he should of put you on a lower dose to wean you off.After the symptoms Iv had the last couple of days am thinking of seeing a dr to gradually come off and maybe find something better if there is anything.

I hope your symptoms stop soon but am interested to see how long they last.

[Susan67]

Iv accidentally ran out of venlafaxine so hav been without a couple of days. I never realised how bad withdrawals were.I couldn’t sleep and if I did have bad dreams.

Inside my head feels like it’s vibrating.

I was feeling sick but now being sick.

I have started having the shakes.

Iv spent most of the time in bed I feel so bad. I took a bath to see if it would help but was sick when in the bath, luckily I had a jug.

I never want to feel like this again.

I take 225 of venlafaxine but have read even when on smaller doses should never just stop taking them.

I think your psychiatrist has made a big mistake and feel so sorry for you.

I hope you’re feeling better soon.

[OliveandPickle in reply to Susan67]

Hi susan.I managed to go 4 days without the venlafaxine but the withdrawals got top much for me so went back on to 37.5mg and tapered off slowly. It took a few months to do this however I realised through this process that I was better on medication so went back onto sertraline.

I found taking vitamin b complex, magnesium and cod liver oil helped with the side effects. I had done some research and alot of people had mentioned this vitamins for withdrawals.

I hope it all works out well for you

[Susan67 in reply to OliveandPickle]

Thank you for your tips and good luck.