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coming off venlafaxine?

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talulabelle1982
talulabelle1982

I have been taking venlafaxine for over 7 years and can admit that it saved my life a few times in the early stages. I have tried to come off them numerous times,during the past 3 years but have failed every time. The gp honestly dosent know how to help, cut down slowly, miss every other dose...I've tried everything. The side effects of withdrawal are horrendous...shaking, sweating, panic attacks, sickness, violent outbursts, suicidal thoughts. Ive read all the horror stories and truly feel sorry for anyone who has ever taken ven. I'm desperate to quit them but it seems impossible. Any advice would be much appreciated!

13 likes, 362 replies

362 Replies

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  • penny55286
    penny55286 talulabelle1982

    Posted

    I've been on ven for about 8 months and o noticed in the beginning it wasn't doing very much for me, so I gave it time but it just didn't work as my welbutrin did when I lived I  NY. I asked to be put back on it and off the ven. I reintroduced welbutrin back into my system w the ven for a month and about 8 days ago i stopped the ven. God I'm struggling w the side effects,  tremors in my hands nausea headache zapping every time I blink can't enjoy food dizzy  when walking struggling to focus at workbut the worse  part this past Friday I had the worse episode yet. I fell hard  into my depression and became suicidal. Its been 16 yrs  since I tried to kill myself. I couldn't and still can't stop crying and feeling the need to stop the pain.  How long will I feel this way before I'm back to normal? Ive missed 2 days of work and can't afford it. Help, thanks
  • penny55286
    penny55286 talulabelle1982

    Posted

    I've been on ven for about 8 months and o noticed in the beginning it wasn't doing very much for me, so I gave it time but it just didn't work as my welbutrin did when I lived I  NY. I asked to be put back on it and off the ven. I reintroduced welbutrin back into my system w the ven for a month and about 8 days ago i stopped the ven. God I'm struggling w the side effects,  tremors in my hands nausea headache zapping every time I blink can't enjoy food dizzy  when walking struggling to focus at workbut the worse  part this past Friday I had the worse episode yet. I fell hard  into my depression and became suicidal. Its been 16 yrs  since I tried to kill myself. I couldn't and still can't stop crying and feeling the need to stop the pain.  How long will I feel this way before I'm back to normal? Ive missed 2 days of work and can't afford it. Help, thanks
    • hiphi
      hiphi penny55286

      Posted

      Hang in there, it will take its toll, but I think you are getting near the end of the worst part. It feels much like you described it. Although I've never experienced suicidal thoughts, it is hell. I was on Ven for 7 years and did a gradual decrease over a month or so, despite that I still am noticing the effects. I am trying desperately to rise above it all, but it is so difficult. I've been off totally since May 17th of this year, so almost two months. The zaps are mostly gone, I can walk straight again, and drive; all of that took about 3 weeks. My headaches are decreasing as well, but I'm now dealing with the things that happened over the past 7 years. Divorce, job loss, destitute for years, and still not able to pick myself up. Thank God for my amazing children, and future husband, I would have gone back on the Ven...... I am living day-to-day still but I know each week its a little better. I'm holding onto hope that I will be happy, truly happy once again xoxo Holding your hand and wishing you much strength Penny! We all can get rid of this poison eventually. ((HUGS))
  • meg54
    meg54 talulabelle1982

    Posted

    Hi everyone - I'm in the U.S.

    I was on 112.5 mg of effexor for a little over a year for anxiety.  I gained a lot of weight.  😰  I craved carbs all the time.  I decided to come off the drug because I felt like it wasn't helping the anxiety, & a few months ago I had to go on BP medicine because of the weight gain.

    With the help of my physician, I tapered down over 5 weeks.  It has been 41/2 weeks since my last pill.  I had many of the withdrawal side effects that everyone else experienced.  It does get better.  Dizziness is still lingering though.  For the past few days, I have been waking up dizzy, & I feel heavy headed.  Is this normal for 4 1/2 weeks?  I'm afraid something else is wrong. I can still function, & pretty much all side effects are gone.  Thank God.  I hate this drug

    thanks .....I really like this forum 

    • hiphi
      hiphi meg54

      Posted

      Hi there Meg. I suspect there is nothing else wrong. I still have dizzy spells but not as frequently. Anxiety lasts quite awhile as well. Give it a few more weeks to clear up. Just know that everyone is so unique, some may experience symptoms for months, others for a few weeks at most. But since your symptoms of dizziness began with the removal of Ven from your system I would guess that it will clear up as you continue to heal. Xo Be well. 
    • meg54
      meg54 hiphi

      Posted

      Hi Hiphi,

      The dizziness seems to get better in the afternoon.  How long have you been off it?

      thx,

      Meg

  • KimPH
    KimPH talulabelle1982

    Posted

    I was on Effexor XR and then Venlafaxine XR fo 7 - 8 years. Varying doses.  Tapered to 37.5 for one month and went off completely after that month. Last pill taken was 7/23/14.  I'm FINALLY starting to feel normal again.  I read some of your posts and have experienced most, if not all, of the same withdrawals. Aside from still being a bit sensitive and feeling like my senses are on hyper-alert, I feel more normal as every day goes by.  FINALLY!!!  Best of luck to everyone else in their journey.  

    Oh, and my sister was switching from Cymbalta, which is very similar to Effexor and Venlafaxine and has similar withdrawal issues, and started Prozac at the same time.  She had a couple of crazy emotional days, but she seems to have had fewer withdrawals than I had.  Maybe something to adding the Prozac.  I was on it years ago and went on and off it several times with NO withdrawals.  I may consider trying it again.  But it stopped working for me after the 3rd time on it.  Maybe after 20 years off it may have a good effect on me again.

    • Hiness58
      Hiness58 KimPH

      Posted

      Even though physically I think I am through the worst of the withdrawals.  I have some drama going on  in my life that I am not handling well at all without something.  I am thinking of low dose zoloft. I hate to do it, but I am obviously not right in the head and I think I will always need something.  I hate that I feel that way, but I am not handling life very well right now and honestly if you looked at things from your perspective you guys would be like "what is wrong with you? That's nothing!" 
  • tonyjc
    tonyjc talulabelle1982

    Posted

    Hi everybody. Its been interesting reading this forum. 

    I have been on Venlafaxine for 10 years now. Before that I tried a dozen other anti-depressants that didnt work. 

    While I think that the Venlafaxine has been a good antidepressant for me in that it seems to lift my mood and has minimal side afects, I too have tried to wean myself off it a few times with terrible stories to tell. I have suffered every withdrawel symptom listed in this forum. I previously took 300mg per day for years, however the last few years has been 225mg per day. I am able to wean myself comfortably down to 75mg per day but as soon as I try 37.5 mg the withdrawals begin and make me extremely sick. I am very annoyed with my doctors who put me on this stuff. 

    I have come to the conclusion that I wont try weaning off again until I have a clear plan and time to do so. I have managed to sucessfully wean off benzodiazapines so Im confident I can get off the Venlafaxine eventually aswell. I believe the key to weanng off these substances is to do so very VERY slowly. It took me 12 months to wean off benzodiazapines safely with the help of a professional. I feel it could take me years to wean off the Venlafaxine. I couldnt believe how terrible the withdrawals were when I tried. What are these drug companies doing to us?

    Dont lose hope any body, there are ways through this. If you have to keep on taking the drug until you feel the time is right to begin weaning off then keep taking it for now.  Good luck and all the best to you all.

  • lafin79
    lafin79 talulabelle1982

    Posted

    I've been on venlaflaxine for 5 years after unsuccessfully trying other anti-depressants.  I was on 300mg and have been reducing it by 75mg for the last few months a month at a time.  I came off them completely a week ago and other than a slight sicky feeling and the occasional headache I've been fine.  Think I should probably have done a final month of 75mg every other day in hindsight.  Not sure if this is something you've already tried as I noticed some people are reducing a week at a time instead of a month.  It's a great feeling to finally feel strong enough and happy enough to come off anti-depressants so must be horrid to suffer these horrendous side effects once you've reached that stage.  Hope you find a solution soon.  Good Luck x
  • louannpouvie
    louannpouvie talulabelle1982

    Posted

    my only idea is this: I was on pristique and had horrible withdrawal. My only symptom was horrible depression. Worse than before. After struggling for weeks I realized that a LOT of anxiety was behind the depression. I started taking Adavan (lorazepam) every night or when I got really stressed. Of course its generally not good to take this everyday except in these circumstances. It can be addictive, and withdrawal from the adavan can be hard. It let up on the anxiety so I could begin to wean off the pristique. Also, my psych said i could take Risperdal to ease up on the depression and anxiety. Of course this is an antipsychotic, and should not be flippantly prescribed. In this way, i could wean off pristique in a week or so, and get on something that would work for me. thanks. Adavan could help with shaking and panic attacks.
  • Phoenixstar
    Phoenixstar talulabelle1982

    Posted

    Hi everyone, this is my first time on a forum. Reading all your posts has prompted me to join.

    I'm in withdrawal from Ven too. It's awful!

    id been in citalopram for 18 months, then changed to another and then finally was put on Venlafaxine. I was on 225mg a day - nothing else had worked up til then and Ven seemed to work wonders. I've been on them for 6 months and along with group and 1:1 therapy have been feeling great (apart from profuse sweating and the initial feelings of severe dizziness etc). Anyway just recently  I kept forgetting to take the tablets regularly so last week decided to come off them completely. what with forgetting to take them a lot I guessed I'd weaned myself accidently! Well, I feel horrendous! I'd discussed with my psychiatrist coming off them around Xmas and he did explain I'd feel "weird" but that's an understatement! Extreme nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, tearful, irritable, sweats, nightmares, lack of sleep then soooooo tired the following day, vomiting (1st time last night) ...the list goes on...

    I have 2 children ages 2 and 3 and this is making everyday stuff hard to deal with - let alone working too. I'm day 5 of being completely Ven free and after reading everybody's posts am really worried that this might last a couple of months?! I thought I'd be through the worst of it 😔

    • mrs_se
      mrs_se Phoenixstar

      Posted

      Hi Phoenix 

      If you look higher up the posts you will see my husband seany came off ven some time ago. 

      He had a horrendous time coming off them and also suffered with extreme sweating which was a massive embarrassment for him. 

      5 days in is quite early into the withdrawal I think, it can really vary how long it takes. 

      Maybe you could go and see your doctor and discuss it with them before you make any decisions?

      Seany stuck with the cold turkey and is now on a low dose of sertaline and is so much better off. 

      Whatever you decide to do I hope it goes well and you have plenty of support from family or friends and also on here. 

      If you want to ask any questions please do and we can tell you our experience of it

      X

    • mrs_se
      mrs_se Phoenixstar

      Posted

      Hi his discussion starts on page 1 and he describes what it's like cold turkey from start to finish. Hope this helps smile x
    • Phoenixstar
      Phoenixstar mrs_se

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. I really hope it all wears off soon!!! X
    • mrs_se
      mrs_se Phoenixstar

      Posted

      If you can just keep in mind that there is an end to it all eventually and if you're like Sean he felt like a massive fog had finally cleared once all the withdrawals stopped. 

      I really hope you're getting the support you need and people understand at you're going through. If not maybe show them this thread so they can read just had hard it is. 

      Speaking as someone who didn't go through it myself but supported a loved one going through it I found it very hard and utterly frustrating at times but reading the comments really helped me understand just what he was going through. 

      I really believe doctors should tell people how hard coming off these tablets are so people can make an informed decision before they start taking them x

    • froggy2
      froggy2 mrs_se

      Posted

      YES!

      There really is an end..

      I've been off for almost a month - stopped and no taper.

      I think ive been really lucky with the reaction - only got one sweaty incident when I was under pressure at work. The emotional reactions are still going up / down depending on how much angst I'm building up. The more I complete before I consider something else the better as two or more things raises the pressure.

      At one stage beginning of last week, I had and issue with my staff at work, looking for a place to move to (rent or buy? where?), designing model railway, and anything else that peeved me went in the swimming pool. {must stress, I have no family or kids, so only, clothes, mobile and maybe one laptop were involved :P }

      A Flu reaction made me very dry to dehydrated.

      Have shelved the railway, and concentrated on moving. Much better.

      The 'sink' of troubled water has now been unblocked and is draining away again.

      NOTE: food - I have continued to enjoy eating. Just had the usual chicken cheese lettuce and appreciated it.

    • froggy2
      froggy2

      Posted

      @I really believe doctors should tell people how hard coming off these tablets are so people can make an informed decision before they start taking them x@

      Phoenix - YES!!!!!!

      I was arbitrarily put on VF after suffering panic / shock after a relationship breakup almost like panadol for headache = VF for breakup - I went into the med centre and said I need something cause I'm in trouble. They effectively inflicted a long term brain poison on me - It was given to me without any mental consultation.

      Scenario: The Med Centre Doctors are part of research where they have been contacted by researchers "we're doing a masters study on breakups and the viability of Venlafaxine as a calmative, can you tell us what the reaction is on your patients?" So I may have ended up being given VF for no other reasoon than "see if it works".

      Or maybe VF manafacturers had an offer on at the time, that made it easier to pescribe VF rather than research something.

    • Phoenixstar
      Phoenixstar froggy2

      Posted

      Wow, that's harsh - you were basically a guinea pig!!! 

      The sad thing about all this is that I'd been feeling much brighter in myself. yes, I clearly needed help but I've been in therapy (groups and one to ones) and that's been such a big help. I just wish I'd have been on something much milder? These withdrawals have been debilitating! Like I said, I'm still suffering slight nausea and brain zapping but I'm also so irritable and tearful. My family are worried that I need to go back on them as they think the depressions returning, don't understand that it's part of the withdrawal. I don't know...I'm just getting sick of explaining my behaviour all the time. 

    • froggy2
      froggy2 Phoenixstar

      Posted

      LACK OF TRUE SUPPORT..

      THATS the ffing problem isn't it? my folks spend their time going on about how bad *they* feel now you are "behaving differently" to actually feel anything for me.

      I had a T shirt that said "NO I'M NOT ON F@#$*&% FACEBOOK"

      Maybe I should get one that said "YES I'M coming off F@#$*&% VenlaFaxine"

      and have a small jail cell type calendar to tick off the days.

      :P

      At work, as soon as I said that I was coming off the meds, my assistant three levels lower than me did a planned Ambush with "something I hadn't done yet". Then when I was able to keep the anger in, and keep calm, she went over the top to my boss who made a descision in an area of my training (Data Management), not his, (Engineering) [I think she is timing how long I'm on this forum] smile

      I'll start a new discussion - "Fireside Rambles" where everyone can dump stories.. You never know it may assist if someone else sees the same thing coming.

    • mrs_se
      mrs_se froggy2

      Posted

      Well done for making it through a month cold turkey. Like I said in a previous post the doctors should really tell people how hard they are to come off before they let people take them and let them make their own decision. 

      I really didn't understand what my husband was going through till he found this post and I read through everyone's comments. 

      I think having the right understanding and support is very valuable. 

      Well done again and I hope you're feeling better soon x

    • froggy2
      froggy2 mrs_se

      Posted

      Ta!

      I've ben really lucky to have found this post as I didn't really have any info / support ..

      To even post and describe what you are doing tis 3/4 the battle.

      Not that Aussie doesn't have any support, LifeLine is REALLY good for anyone to ring up have a bawl for 1/2 hour to someone who will be a short-term mate.

      DOCTORS

      Se, you mentioned Doctor, and I have to admit that I hadn't really written about it before.

      - Med centre in Sydney City first put me on it.

      - two psychs supported it.

      - Went to med centre close to Home. They gave me more perscriptions when I neded them.

      So basically, I have separate med files in about 5 places. I guess I could have ordered a months worth of meds from 3 places. Which is scary when I think about it.

      Psych

      - one even came me methamphetamines only because I was researching the effects and had the title of the folder sticking out of my bag .. no interview, only 15min conversation that started "I see that you are looking at Meth.. do you want to go on the program?" ""Umm ok. The rest of the 15min was him setting up the Govt accoutability process.

      The VF was "Doc, I've just broken up with fiencee, I need something." Doc: "ok how about this?" "umm ok."

    • mrs_se
      mrs_se froggy2

      Posted

      That's awful to hear you don't have much support. I hope you're getting some reassurance off here, even if it's just a little bit. 

      I still keep the emails notifications on even though Sean has been off VF for a year as sometimes people post and they go unanswered and I hate to think of people having nowhere to turn. 

      It can't believe your doctor just put you into VF like that, after seeing what it does to people I tell everyone I know going to the doctor for this sort of help to read up about any tablets and coming off them before they make their mind up and don't let the doctors pressure you into anything. 

    • froggy2
      froggy2 mrs_se

      Posted

      Support-wise I have some good mates.

      Don't know about your hemisphere, but these days year 2000 onwards to get something done I feel as If I have to explain everything instead of it just being accepted.

      example, I just wanted some process placed on our internal website so the process was 1. common 2. available. 3. everyone know where they stand (official) so I wouldn't have to continuously contend with "but i've done it this way why havent you?"

      - I have to fight why do I need it (um my assistent makes up her own mind on everything and hasles me when I don't follow her?)

      - I have to fight "but the website is public", (um yeah thats why I'm putting it there?)

      - I don't understand what you are describing, how about you write it down and we can discuss? (um by the time I write it down It would be ready to go to 'press' so why the extra discussion?)

      If I talked about this giving up of medication to family , I would get a *very* negative put down followed up by mother deciding I need medication followed by 'feeding' medication into "heres a coffee for you" [mother is from Army family]

    • juju1966
      juju1966 mrs_se

      Posted

      Wow. I'm getting hot flushes on the tablets so I'm dreading what will happen when I come off. Maybe it's my age lol oh dear.
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