coming of venlafaxine

HI Ken 72

I have been through some of what you are experiencing. I think the most important thing here is to consult your GP before you change anything and particularly with the symptoms you describe. If you don't trust him / her or feel you cannot approach them, consider changing and finding someone you can. I did and it worked for me!

For them, dealing with depression is very common and, being human just like us, they get into a routine and are sometimes unable to see the wood for the trees. I eventually took the bold step of changing GP (bit of trial and error but I dropped lucky) and now feel I have someone who is prepared to think outside the box and I have made good progress.

Next, be aware this drug disappears out of your system quickly, which is why the 75mg is 'controlled release' - i.e. slow to dissolve. The 37.5mg is not, meaning you get a 'hit' shortly after taking it and withdrawal a few hours afterwards. Your body gets a roller coaster ride! When I was on 37.5mg per day, I cut the pills in half (they have the score line for this) and took one half at breakfast and another lunchtime. That worked much better.

After a bit of time on 37.5mg and still struggling to get off it, my new GP took the bold step of prescribing the liquid form of the drug so I could taper it off even more. I say bold because it is not licensed in this country for some obscure reason, so she had to trust me a lot! I measure this out with an oral syringe and mix it with glass of water. After 3 weeks on it, I am down to about 10mg a time, once or twice a day depending on how it's going. That means I have reduced my dose by 50-75% in 3 weeks. I am looking forward to not being on it at all but I'm still having to be patient.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Hi bigchesse

The gp I have seen is a locum and she is the one that wants me to come of venlafaxine she seems to think they are doing me no good I feel no different really on them but I didnt realise there was such so many side effects coming of off venlafaxine the headaches are terrible my gp did say I would have withdrawal symptoms like dizzy and shacky I could handle that but wanting to sleep and the crying is not nice

Hi Ken72

Sadly, I was likewise put on this drug without a full explanation of what I was letting myself in for. Looking at other posts, many people share varying degrees of withdrawal symptoms and many say it takes a long time. So be prepared to be patient. I'm sure it will be worth it.

I feel compelled to repeat my recommendation that, with such severe symptoms, you should go see a GP ASAP. If possible. try to see the one who advised coming off the drug - that seems much better advice than prescribing it in the first place. Maybe go to your local walk-in centre if you're struggling to get an appointment?

Your post indicates you are taking 150mg every other day? That is giving you a roller-coaster ride - even more reason to see a GP.

Stick with it Ken, all the stories I have read say it's not easy but you will get there. I very nearly have - down to 15mg a day at the mo.

Thanks bigcheese

My partner doesn't understand why im of 150mg every other day will lokk at going to docs on mon

What you are doing is way too fast! My Dr. is also reducing mine from 225 she has reduced by 37.5 the first month and will reduce by another 37.5 next month and said she would have gone slower if there was a small dose reduction available. This is also the protocol I have seen described on line several times. I hope you go back to the Dr. You night want to discuss the protocol my Dr. is using. This past week was my first reduction it hasn't been great, a fair amount of anxiety which is less everyday and day 3 of the reduction was awful but after day 3 it has been a steady improvement.