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Advice please - coming off 37.5mg Venlafaxine / Effexor

Posted , 37 users are following.

daniobentley
daniobentley

Hi all, 

I have been on Venlafaxine for about 9 years for anxiety and panic disorder. I was only ever on 75mg but it was the only thing that help stabalise my mental health. When I was pregnant 6 years ago I tapered to 37.5mg p/day which was horrible and when i was pregant again 4 years ago, I didn't change it. 

I have been feeling for the last couple of years much less anxious and more able to cope with things, therefore I've been wanting to come off these for a while. I noticed that if I missed a dose I would really suffer for it the next day, causing panic if I had run out or something. Anyway, things in my life are positive and I feel now is a good time to try and get off completely. 

Thing is, I have been halving my 37.5mg pills for a few weeks and that's been good, but I can't do less than that without horrendous side effects. I don't want to go back to the anxiety I experienced in the first place but I don't want to stay on hese forever either. 

I have tried a half pill one day and a quater pill the next for a week and just don't feel myself (dizzy, foggy brain, anxious, angry easily, nauseous etc.). I don't get capsules so can;t take"beads" out so I have to snap the pills in estimated halves/quarters. I felt so bad this morning I took the other quarter from last night. 

Docs keep saying "you're on such a low dose, just take one every other day and you'll be fine" but it's really hard even on such a low dose. 

Any advice greatly appreciated - I am weary of "bridging witg prozac" because I don't want to swap one drug to another. I am happy to try vegetarian diet, or detailed weaning plans, etc. 

Thanks in advance

1 like, 84 replies

84 Replies

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  • Nancydrew01
    Nancydrew01 daniobentley

    Posted

    Hi

    Not sure if you’ll receive this as your post was a few years ago now. Just would like to know if you managed to come off venlafaxine without going on Prozac and what the effects were

    Would appreciate your advice

    Thanks

    Nancy

  • john059
    john059 daniobentley

    Posted

    Hi everyone. I know this is an old discussion but what kind of vitamin B are people taking to ease th zaps. I’m 4 weeks in after stopping Ven and was wanting to take some along with the other vitamins. My Dr told me I would experience zaps for 4-6 weeks. She wasnt kidding. Have a good day everyone!!!!!
    • julie48718
      julie48718 john059

      Posted

      Take fish oil or Omega 3 and as much benadryl you can tolerate without it making you sleepy. At least that is what worked for me. Good luck
    • julie48718
      julie48718

      Posted

      Drink lots of water the point is to flush the medicine out of your system. Avoid caffeine (which I love) and make sure you are using water.
    • john059
      john059 julie48718

      Posted

      Hi Julie. Thanks for the reply. Can I ask how long you were on Ven and what dosage you were on. I also love coffee and am down to roughly 2 cups a day. I do drink lots of water and take two Reactine daily or almost daily. I am just soooo tired of feeling this way. I have accupuncture tomorrow which has helped but I only feel good for a few days following the procedure. I sure do feel good though for those few days. My Dr told me that she doesnt beleive I have depression but a social problem. I spend too much time by myself. So once these horrible feelings subside I plan on doing some volunteer work. Give back to the less fortunate. Hopefully makes me feel better as I am a people person. Once again thanks for the reply and have a super great evening!!!!!
  • michelle_56037
    michelle_56037 daniobentley

    Posted

    I am was on 225mg for a few months now needed to reduce due experiencing itchiness all over my body. I was on 150mg and now 75mg. Am I able to withdraw and get off Effexor Xr 75mg without taking 37.5mg. If so how should I reduce.
    • kat7777
      kat7777 michelle_56037

      Posted

      Hi Michelle,

      I would advise to reduce to 37.5 mg as the gradual reduction gives  your body a chance to acclimate. 

    • michelle_56037
      michelle_56037 kat7777

      Posted

      Ok thank you then from 37.5mg how do you reduce do you skip every second day.
    • kat7777
      kat7777 michelle_56037

      Posted

      I had been on Effexor XR for a few years so I reduced to 18 mg for a period of time.  Then I skipped a day for a period of time and then skipped every 2 days etc.  If i felt brain shivers coming on then I would go back to previous dose and eventually I was off the medicine.  It is good to be patient.  It did take a period of time. Hope this helps. 
  • Venny
    Venny daniobentley

    Posted

    You shouldn't do it by skipping days,reduce it every couple of months but take it daily

  • becky31520
    becky31520 daniobentley

    Posted

    hi, i'm on day 8 of being off my venefaxine. i've honestly felt so much better from the horrible things the meds were doing to me. I feel a litttle dizzy, shaky, and jump at times. I Suffer from panic/anxiety dissorder so i've been nervous about this. I just had to get off these meds so im trying to just restrain my brain and tell myself that any uncomftorable symptoms are a positive sign my body is getting rid of it. Has anyone came off and felt better, how long did it take, and are you happy to be off? i as well started on the 3 fish oil tablets a day and feel it helps. Im going to look in to the B1 that ive read about. Its irritaing because my doc freaks me out more and then wants to put me on another med. i feel like im an adult and need to finally take a handle on my issues a bring them to a hault.

    • alison_45716
      alison_45716 becky31520

      Posted

      Hey Becky I tappered down off the Effexor over a month and taking lots of fish oils and drinking lots of water. I have to say for me it was the best thing I ever did. I don't feel controlled or dependent on this drug. I have also lost 5 and half Stone in weight. While I was on Effexor I found it very hard to lose weight despite my efforts . I'm of Effexor 3 years . Its the best thing you will do for yourself. keep minding yourself lots of self healing podcast's and YouTube videos also helped me so and still dose. If you need anymore help feel free to message me anytime. Best of luck Becky.😊

    • becky31520
      becky31520 alison_45716

      Posted

      thank you!!!! That makes me feel better. Ive noticed the weight starting to come off as well. I went on it and recieved an instant 30lbs. I have found several podcasts to really help me just free myself of my panic/anxiety dissorder. I having been trying to just listen to them over and over again.

    • kat7777
      kat7777 becky31520

      Posted

      Congratulations! That is a huge step... when I came off I felt so much better mentally that it eased some of the lingering effects . Over time the effects on my body totally dissipated. ...I would say that was a few months . I had huge weight gain when I went off so I fasted for a week under doctor care . Weight easily came off and I never looked back . You should be very proud of yourself.

      Unfortunately many doctors are unaware of the extreme effort it takes to come off of a drug

    • becky31520
      becky31520 kat7777

      Posted

      Thank you and congrats to you as well. Today is day 9 and I feel pretty good just have some spots during the day that I have to stop and regroup. I realized that my emotions are coming back and I feel like a melting ice queen. I think also just learning as many coping tricks will deff help. Ive also have been just trying to stop and slow down everything I do.

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