coming off venlafaxine?

Sorry that should have read "fear, panic and nausea"

By the way it really helps to know I am not alone in this and I hope we all see improvement soon.

Wow this thread is totally amazing....better than any therapy! I am so glad I started it and thank you to all you lovely people for sharing your very personal stories. It is almost 3 weeks since withdrawing and I have had to take 1/2 tablet in total (112mg) in this time because the dizziness has been that bad. It's still there and so is my temper but everything is getting better!!!!!!!!! I have changed my eating regime to healthy stuff but that too is hard for carb withdrawals but nothing compared to venlafaxine withdrawals! Good luck to all who are coming off this drug and let's be thankful that we have seen the light!

I'm so sorry. It's me again. It is unbearable today, I don't know how I'm finding the strength to carry on. I am so worried I'm damaged forever.

Are there any other long-term users currently withdrawing and having such bad symptoms at my length of time off who can relate?

Hi Sally. Yes, there are other people who have terrible withdrawals. A number of years ago, I was w/drawn from a high Zoloft dosage, cold turkey. I had all of the symptoms you're describing and more. And it was about four months before I was symptom free. But I did get there.

I too am 63 years old. I have been on Effexor/Venlafaxine for about 10 years. My dose has been 300mg daily. I am w/drawing slowly in an attempt to soften the brain blow. So far I'm doing pretty well. Feel like the flu is coming on. Some headachy-ness. Chills from time to time. I am fortunate that I am not working and can just stay in bed when it's really bad. When I finish this w/drawal, I want to clean the anti-anxiety meds out of my system as well so I really have a long haul ahead of me.

You will begin to feel better. I promise. These are just symptoms of your brain crying out for the drug. It effects your brain on the outside and your mind in the inside. Try to relax your fears in that area. You will get clean of this if you keep trying and you will feel 100% better.

I began w/drawl by 75 mg increments. Recently, I've slowed to dropping 37.5mg every two weeks. I am at 75 mgs today, schedule to drop again next week. I will pull my capsules apart and split the tiny beads into two if I can't get 18.5mgs. I may even try every other day tapering at the very end. We'll see when I get there.

I am still taking anxiety medication, as I mentioned. I highly recommend that your doctor provide you w/something if you aren't and to slightly increase your dosage during this period if you are. Don't try to do too much at once. The anxiety produces its own similar set of nasty symptoms. Talk w/your doctor about this. Even if you have to w/d from it later, it may be worth it because you are suffering so right now.

In the meantime, be very, very kind to yourself. Consider getting a massage or an acupuncture session. I have found both bring some relief. Use lots of lotion on your skin. Take long bath with lavender oil in the water. Lavender's fragrance helps relief nausea, helps to relax you, encourages sleeping. Get as much sleep as you can, even if you need to use sleeping aids. Eat well. Light meals. Try some wild-caught salmon -- very good brain food. Fish oil capsules are helpful. Try listening to a book on tape -- not having to read it saves your eyes and headache -- but it will still give you a distraction from the pain. Soft music. Soft lighting.

I don't know the details of your problem, that is why you were taking Effexor. I have chronic depression and general anxiety -- since I was a child. I don't know how much you were taking or how much you've decreased your dosage. I do not recommend going cold. If that's what you did, call your doctor immediately and get on a tapering schedule. It does take a long time, but in my case, I've been sick for a long time. I know not to expect miracles.

You can do this. I wish you the best. Write again if you need to vent.

Dear Maureen, thank you so much for getting back to me. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

I was put on Effexor 150 mg in 2003 for a period of depression relating to specific incident in my life. After nine years I develops itching and my doctor said it would be the Effexor or so he took me off it. He took me off that in three weeks and I was fine. I had a panic attack about three months later, didn't relate it to the Effexor as I knew nothing about the dangers of delayed Effexor withdrawal.

By that time I had a new doctor in Spain who had no idea of my history and she gave me Alparazolam (Xanax rarely prescribed in the UK). To make the story short I got addicted to the alprazolam after one week and had to go on the Valium taper to get off the alprazolam and then I had 18 months of withdrawals. I had been put back on Effexor to help cope with the benzo withdrawals, jumped off that when I recovered, another delayed withdrawal of panic and horror, given Mirtazapine which made me suicidal after 6 weeks. I have a wonderful addictions doctor now who had to put me back on the dreaded Effexor to cross taper off the Mirtazapine which I got off in August with 4 months horrendous withdrawals, then tapered me off this Effexor (150mg) which is where I am now except this time I started to have immediate withdrawals from this wretched drug.

I don't think I could have faced a slower taper and trust my new doctor implicitly. I'm afraid I would never touch another anxiety drug in my life because of my bad experiences and my doctor would and never prescribe me one anyway in view of what happened to me which all stemmed from the original Effexor.

Thank you so much for your reply. I really have needed it. The withdrawals are violent and vicious. Believe me I have been through many withdrawals and these are probably not the worst compared to the benzo's or even the mirtazapine but they are still pulling me down and I have had enough.

I will just have to tough it out and thank you for your confidence that I will get there.

I am so happy you contacted me and you are at the beginning of your journey and so I will be there to hold your hand if you need me.

Thanks again. Sorry for any typos.

Sally, there isn't a mood drug made that we can't free ourselves from when we decide to. I am convinced that you will recover and that you don't have that much longer to suffer. Your brain is going to reset itself when it finally accepts that the meds are gone.

At the risk of redundancy, I strongly believe in alternative medicine to help us through this. Aromatherapy. Massage therapy. Acupuncture. I believe in fish oil to help with the brain zaps and the quivering.

Many of your symptoms sound to me to be like the way I experience anxiety. I question whether dealing with anxiety might reduce the severity of your symptoms. Marijuana helps me cope w/anxiety; some peoples, yes and others no. But so can re-breathing your air w/a brown paper bag.

A lot of my dizziness was connected with my eyesight. There were whole days I had to keep my eyes closed or the vomiting started again.

Walking is my primary exercise. My dogs and I walk an hour every day. I have had to walk behind a friend, holding her elbow, because I was so dizzy. But walking settles my mind a bit. It expels the anxious energy for me. (Who am I kidding? It's my only exercise!)

Recreate good memories to distract yourself for a few moments at a time. Sniff a cotton ball w/your favorite essential oil on it. Listen to quiet, melodious music. You are ill right now so treat yourself as if you are very fragile and precious.

Try to get outside a bit. Feel the earth waking itself from a tough winter. Think of your brain waking itself from a tough withdrawal. Realize that the flowers are soon to bloom again.

Hello Maureen

I've just woken up ready to face another day which I hope isn't too challenging. I have woken up calm but wan so let's see. I was at my wits end yesterday, it was horrific. I usually try to avoid these message boards but am so glad I'm discovered this site and you!

I appreciate your advice loads. Coincidently I have arranged to go to an alternative therapist this afternoon. I will also be getting a nice massage as you suggest. With regards to walking I too am an avid walker like you and walk my little dog twice a day. Yes I too find it helps to clear the mind.

You have such a strong and positive attitude towards withdrawals and these mind drugs in general and I really admire that. I tend to get quite negative about this especially as I think the usual recovery from this is a few weeks for most people thankfully and I panic I am the exception and it will never happen to me or take years. So thank you very much again Maureen. I will continue to update here.

I hope you have a good day

Hugs xx

Hi everyone - new user in the forum.

My experience in brief - Following a severe depressive episode last June (13) which resulted in hospitilisation i was prescribed a cocktail of medication - venlafaxine (375mg) mirtazapine (45mg) and some quitiapine.

On my discharge from hospital my meds were monitored through a psychiatrist and as i recovered i reduced the quitiapine, then stopped taking it, followed by the mirtazipine which i ceased around Nov last year.

Leaving the venlafaxine - Now i have been doing really well recovery wise so, maybe time to reduce the venlafaxine, reduced to 300mg at the start of Dec...unfortunately started to feel a return of the depressive sypmtoms and anxiety so back up to 375 mg.

Tried again in Jan, down to 300mg, been doing ok on this up until around 2 weeks ago when i decided (with my shrink to try 225mg) 2 weeks in and i feel awful - started with memory lapses, sleep disturbance, nightmares, irritability and a rise in alchohol consumption. I am not really struggling with high levels of anxiety, depressive thoughts and cannot concentrate at all - resumed on 300mg yesterday, hopefully this will work and get me back on the rails.

I will keep the forum posted and welcome and comments or experiences.

All the best - Toby

Apols - typo in last paragraph. I meant to write "i am now struggling"

Hi again,

I really feel that it's important not to take any huge jumps down in strength to come off this drug - I'm convinced that to minimise the side effects it's best to come down 1mg at a time - try this over 3 to 4 days then come down again. I took big jumps down that was prescribed to me but in hindsight I'm sure wasn't the best way! especially 1 tablet every other day, this is absolute hell and drives you crazy, switch to the slower method it has to be better

Sally, I am so happy that you are seeking help from alternative medicine. I know that you will feel wonderful after your massage. All of those comforting, healing touches are the universe's way of easing your pain. Please try to receive them as such. They will have more benefit if you can.

I don't know that I am particularly strong but I am determined. If a heroin addict can kick that habit, I can kick this one. Won't be fun or easy but I will accomplish this. And Sally? You can too. You are not the exception and it takes months to clear out your system. Not only must all traces of the drug be eliminated but your brain has to reboot itself to start producing the chemicals it should. I anticipate it will take me several months after I've completely stopped taking all venlafaxine before I am free. Knowing that makes it easier.

Such good energy to you, Sally.

Toby, perhaps 75 mg was too large a step for you to begin with. Roxie, you suggest as much too. Maybe you need to come down 32.5mg at a whack. And I personally am holding at the given dosage for at least two weeks before I step down again. This is just me.

You can go faster, certainly. You'll probably be pretty sick but it won't kill you. It's just so horribly unpleasant that I would like to spare myself that misery.

I can relate to all of your symptoms, Toby. I am losing things left and right. I went to the store three separate time solely for toilet paper and came home w/no tp each time. I can't even lie down until 2-3 a.m. and then I want to sleep all day the next day. I would like to consume more alcohol but I have abused alcohol in the past and only allow myself two glasses of wine in a 24 hour period. But that urge is there. Right after my last drop, I had horrible muscle spasms in my calves for a solid night.

I am not a doctor and don't pretend to be one. But I've dealt w/depression most of my life as have, it seems, most people on this site. We are hard core. This is not an "episode" for us. So we end up on stronger meds at higher doses for longer times. It doesn't mean we are weak. And it isn't something that you can make universal directions for curing -- like "cut your doses in quarters and you'll be done in a month." Brains don't work that way, especially ours.

The only thing I can say for certain is that we can get off this medication if we are determined. Go at your own pace. Treat yourself like the extraordinary being that you are. Explore every path. Don't be afraid to talk about what you're going through.

Eventually we will all succeed if we are determined.

Hi Maureen

Yes the massage. It was wonderfully relaxing and I couldn't stop crying afterwards for some reason. I haven't cried in 10 years as the Effexor stopped it so it was wonderful actually. The therapist also put me on Triptan (?) and gave me loads of tips for distraction away from constant thinking about withdrawal symptoms. Feeling better on and off today and have been busy since the morning so distraction is good.

I am actually only just over 9 weeks off so I suppose that's not too long off. I love your analogy of heroin addicts. Yes I am determined to get through this too no matter how long this nightmare takes. I am supposed to be travelling next week and I have our son's wedding in June so I really hope I am up to it all. If not I will just have to fake it as usual!

I am sorry you have been suffering from depression for so long and that medication has become a way of life. I really respect your advice and hope your journey is not a hard one but I know you will get there.

Hugs to you and everyone on here

Sally

Wow, I didn't know the side effects for some people are THAT bad.

I am in the process of tapering off this drug since over a month ago. I first reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg for a couple of weeks, then down to 37.5 mg for a couple of weeks, and I am on half of that for 3 days now.

My worse side effects are hot flash, night sweat, headache, and dizzy spell. But none of them are severe. They are very tolerable for me. I am thinking this sucker is easy, at least it's easier than Cymbalta. For Cymbalta, the brain zap was horrible, severe headache, and fall asleep behind wheel is scary.

I gained 15 pounds on this sucker. I would like to lose 5 lbs once I am off it (I need the 10 lbs). When I am happy I eat eat eat. I have been really happy on this drug (actually all antidepressants make me happy). I need some will power back. When I am on them I lose will power, too easy to let everything go.

God, I hope I never get depressed again. Dealing with tapering and trying to lose the weight gained on the drugs are not fun.

In response to JulieMI:

Sounds very similar to how I tapered off Venlafaxine. Got the same reaction, mild tolerable stuff. Then when I stopped after 2 weeks of 18.75 every other day, the symptoms really had me edgy. The brain zaps were the WORST. I never experienced them until I was off completely, and sometimes during the every other off day near the end.

I have to say, I never REALLY believed in the effectiveness of nutrion, vitamins, Omgea 3s, until I tested it out on this withdrawl. It works. Every morning I take Flaxseed oil, Mangosteen, Tyrosine, Ginko, and some typical vitamins. If I don't happen to take them early in the morning I start feeling like crap. Headaches, dizzy, zappy. When I take them right away, nothing.

I'm 2 weeks in to my withdrawl and things are slowly evening out. I think after another 2 weeks I should be done. From what I've read out there, seems a month is typical, and up to 6 months is possible in some cases. I hate you Effexor.

Hiyas

Yes I think 4 to 6 weeks seems to be typical. I've also read of cases (the majority I think) where symptoms seem to improve as you go along. I think I am one of the unfortunate ones who are extremely sensitive to these kind of meds. It took me 14 months or so to recover from 4 weeks-worth of benzodiazapines. 4 1/2 months to get off Mirtazapine and g-d knows how long this cr*p will take me!

Mind you I should say although my withdrawals are truly hellish (sweet and sour today - this morning not too bad, this afternoon was crying my eyes out with discomfort on the sofa until I pulled myself together to get out the house) the most hell I experienced from an A/D was from Mirtazapine. I would never have believed it possible to suffer as much as I did. And that is an A/D most people find mild!

Once I get through this nightmare I can and won't ever touch another psychotropic drug in my life!

Good luck everyone!