coming off venlafaxine?

I've been on Effexor for 4 years and decided to spot as it is not helping much, tired of being "not myself" plus 20kg plus. I half the dosage of 259mg and then stupidity stopped. That was 3 weeks ago, I have suffered many of the withdraws symptoms but the exhaustion persists, what can I do? I am so so tired I have to have naps during the day to see me through the day. Can anyone please help? When the tiredness goes away? Thanks.

I was on it. 37.5 mg. My Dr told me to take 3 " grains" out of each capsules a day...3,6,12....etc. until I was done yo taking none. I have been off them 4 weeks and just now having flu like symptoms from coming off. Not horrible just un- nerving..

Hi there, I have read this with interest, I have been on venlafaxine on and off for nearly 20 years :-(, I have decided that I want to come off them, as I do feel better, and have a very good life. I havent managed to get an appointment with my GP yet, am seeing him Friday, but for the past 2 weeks I have been taking 75mg every other day (instead of every day). I am so scared as I dont want to feel ill but I dont want to carry on taking them. I want my life back, I have 2 previous failed marriages because of them.

I just want to know what is best in the long run? I would rather have a couple of really bad weeks than weeks of feeling rough.

Hi Teri1968, I too am in the process of trying to get off Venlafaxine; after being on it for several years (various doses & formats), I have now reached the point where I am noticing the side-effects far more than I'm noticing it's benefits.

It has helped me enormously along my journey with depression & anxiety but I know I am now feeling quite well in myself & like you, my life is really ok ... in other words, if I can't manage without any A/D's when things are about as good as they can get, then I guess I never will be free from them!

I have excellent care providers, GP & support at home so I feel the time is right for me to get Venlafaxine free. However, I am very conscious of returning to being ill again & don't want to undo all the good work that's been done so I'm not undertaking this lightly.

My previous efforts at getting off Ven. have failed because I simply couldn't tolerate the withdrawal symptoms ... gave in & restarted them. I've been on as much as 300mg but have gradually reduced to 37.5mg(in-on-go-dose). I do also have a quantity of 75mg prolonged release which I am currently cutting up to help ease the withdrawal as the 37.5mg don't have the same effect.

After telling my Psychiatrist 1 month & 4 months ago how bad the 'buzzing' sensations, headaches, eye-focussing problems, wobbliness, nausea, palpitations, heart thumps, hotness etc, etc all were, he wanted to increase my dose, which he said would ease the symptoms especially by taking prolonged release tabs. Whilst I greatly respect & trust their expertise & knowledge, I know how I feel & how much time I spend feeling ill because of the side effects...so much life is wasted while I'm coping with & trying to mange the horrendous side effects....

Stopping writing now because I've just seen how much I've written! Hope it all makes sense....x

thank you 2104January, am trying to not have one again today :-), have told my close friends now and they are so supportive! Feel very very positive and determined!

reading all the posts on these forums has really helped me.

Teri1968, I agree that reading all the posts on here is extremely helpful...I've read them off & on for a while but have never joined in discussions before ...Thanks to all on the Venlafaxine forum ...

Arrrggghhh, this withdrawal is horrendous & doesn't seem to be easing...oh to feel normal & not have all these awful sensations!

------ Move my eyes & 'thud' from my heart followed by graduating thumps which radiate outwards over my body, giving me buzzing/electric shocks/tingling in feet & hands then finishing in my ears! {picture a large stone thrown into a lake with the circular ripples being the sensation going through my body}.

------ Feel like I'm on a boat - swaying, rocking & unable to stay upright. Giddy, unbalanced, unsteady, wobbly, unco-ordinated & shakey.

------ So unbearably hot!! Phew, think I'm going to explode ... next, shaking with cold :-(

Started taking organic powdered wheatgrass yesterday as it's supposed to have lots of benefits (tastes awful though) & I've had either paracetamol or cold/flu tabs plus 2mg Diazepam last night.

Got to try & keep going on this Venlafaxine withdrawal because I really don't want to give in & take another one....

I take my hat off to any of you that have been through this process & have managed to stay off it x

Hi 2014January, I feel your pain, I had one 75mg tablet on Sunday, and last night I gave in and had half a tablet.

At the moment am bad tempered, tearful

Am suffering with the headache and fuzzy feeling. Yesterday I had an upset tummy and bad tummy pains.

I feel I am only at the start and it is going to get worse each day.

Keep in there, we can do it!

Do you exercise at all? I exercised Monday and Today and think that helps as well

Teri1968, it's rotten that you have tummy pains...hope they ease for you.

It would seem the symptoms you describe are quite usual for withdrawing from Venlafaxine but it's worth monitoring them & don't hesitate to get medical advice if they worsen or don't diminish.

My mood is good with nothing such as you are suffering...I've got enough with all the other awful sensations!

Not been able to exercise at all, no dog walking, no serious housework ... just been doing bare minimum because I feel so dreadful, moving worsens all sensations so I've resorted to keeping as still as possible - lying down & sleeping is my preferred state at the minute. Driving's been a 'no-no' as I feel completely drugged & not in control.

I keep telling myself this is only temporary, it's not going to be like this forever & it will (eventually) pass. Patience, patience, patience for now (far from easy!) but I so want to get back to all the things I used to do....

I've just been reading through the previous posts on all these Venlafaxine threads which are very insightful, reassuring yet realistic, moving & comforting. I've had/have my reservations about trying to come off Venlf but know that I would not have considered it all when I was less well than I am now. That in itself confirms to me that my body is telling me it is the right time.

I practise Mindfulness which, for me, is incredibly helpful.

These past 5 days have been very long & I do feel like I'm 'stuck' & not getting anywhere but I refuse to give up!

Hoping for a better day tomorrow.....

I have been off them about a month and a half now. The first few weeks were iffy with shaking, tummy issues , headaches and dizzy. But I am glad to say it's all subsidded and I feel great! Don't give up!

2014January and Tammy75673 have you both come off them completely and not gradually?

I don't know what to do for the best, I am seeing GP on Friday but just itching to get off them completely and get my life back

I came off gradual. You don't want to just stop. I was on capsules and my go told me to take out 3 "grains" a day 3,6,9,12....until they were gone.

Teri1968, I've gradually reduced the dose over a fairly long period of time...was on 300mg 3 years ago for approx. 9 months, the dose & format (prolonged release or regular) have been adjusted depending on how I am (all under Consultant & GP supervision). Any changes have been closely monitored with regular check-ups, but there's never been a plan to be on a certain dose for a specified length of time. I've had other meds alongside at times (Diazepam {various strengths}, Mirtazapine {had violent reaction to this!} & Zopiclone)....

The lowest dose I've been on is 37.5mg which I've been taking for approx. 6 months - I've been gradually reducing this over the past 3 weeks leading to the final few grams on Sunday evening. For me, just having a few grams has helped to take the edge off those vile side effects/withdrawal symptoms but on Sunday I decided that was it! So since then as hard as it is, I've not had anymore.

I'm drinking lots of water with fresh lemon juice in & taking paracetamol when it's unbearable plus 2mg Diazepam at bedtime. Coping...just

I've previously tried to get off Venlafaxine but didn't manage it as withdrawal symptoms were so bad - I do wonder that I possibly wasn't ready to be weaned from them at that time?

I am in the very early days of being Venlafaxine free (3 days), have reservations about getting ill again without them but, like you Teri1968, I want my life back....

Talking to your GP is a sensible approach because you will need their support/input along the way & they may be able to reassure you. I'd say it's perfectly reasonable to have some uncertainties & being concerned for yourself is perfectly normal. A good chat with your GP will hopefully make things a bit clearer for you, there's no harm in mentioning you've been on here...in fact my GP recommended patient.info as a trusted website for health matters & information (not just for Venlafaxine); there are so many websites & so much 'stuff' on the www it's tricky knowing which to believe. Apparently this is a trusted & reliable site.

Not long until Fri Teri1968 so look after yourself tomorrow ...

Thank you tammy75673, your update is encouraging :-)

Hi there. I'm new to all this,but have been experiencing all the above symptoms while weaning off meds. I'm doing it slowly due to the dreadful side effects,which is near impossible with four children. Has any women out there suffered irregular periods. I've missed one. Comforting to I'm not on my own.

Am really struggling tonight :-(, I work nights and although it is good it is very quiet around and nothing to take my mind off things.

I have been sitting here researching and researching and I know I can do this, but just getting through is killing me.

Tonight I had my first brain zap, was strange!

Feeling sick, dizzy, achy, tearful :-(

Still, only had 37.5mg in 3 days so that is good! positive!