Effexor withdrawal

Posted , 4 users are following.

I have been on Effexor 150mg for 17 years! After finding out that it has caused my angular glaucoma, I told my new Dr. about what I had found out and he quickly cut my dosage in half to 75 mg for the past 30 days, trying to wean me off completely.

I've had every withdrawal symptom you can imagine. From headaches, to heart palipatations. My biggest issue is not being able to focus. My brain is in a fog! My concentration level is 0. I have been taking a multi vitamin, fish oil, B complex, and it's not helping with my concentration level. I have no idea what normal feels like anymore.

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • Posted

    Oh my gosh you poor thing thats horrendous, can you not be put on a different snri or go over to an ssri from 75mg of ven maybe you need to see someone who specialises in mental health drugs.
    • Posted

      I'm not sure. I told the dr. (His asst.) a few weeks ago about how I was feeling. She said that it was all normal withdrawals and I needed to stick with the 75mg.

  • Posted

    Doesn't sound good I would speak with your gp. I did read that someone took Nytol which helped alleviate the symptoms.

    Did your councillor/doctor give you a different medication to replace it with.

    I've also been researching a drug called T3 which helps with thyroid, look it up sounds interesting.

    Take care Tammy

    Neil xx

    • Posted

      No, nothing to replace it, yet.

      I really don't want to trade one drug for another.

      I don't even know what normal feels like.

  • Posted

    As I was cut down on my medication weekly, my Dr. Introduced me to Fluoxitine 10 mg. I am off Venlafaxine, but I am not back to normal yet.
    • Posted

      It's hard what to do and what drugs work best for you. I've been taking different drugs for about 7 years and still getting no where. Let me know how you get on

      Neil xx

    • Posted

      Im on venlafaxine and find 75mg xl to be good, i used to take 15mg of escitalopram but i used to bounce off the walls on it lol, i was constantly on the go and couldnt sleep my brain would be buzzing all night.
    • Posted

      Perhaps I should go back on Esctrolpram, it might balance me out x
  • Posted

    Hi maybe you could look at alternative therapies e.g bach remedies, or st.Johns wort but dont take st.Johns wort with ven though, perhaps look into a range of alternative therapys.
    • Posted

      You can get things from holland and barrett like 5htp which are natural supplements but you would need to be totally off the ven as they are like not supposed to be mixed with antidepressants.
    • Posted

      Yes unfortunately its trial and error to find what works best for people .
    • Posted

      I'm on Mirtazipine, Pregablin as well. It's been about 6/7 weeks on the Ven, perhaps a few more weeks and it might settle in. xx

  • Posted

    My dr. cut my 75mg of Effexor in half today to 32.5 for the next 30 days. What is your experience on how long before the Effexor is out of my system? I would guess by October I should be off of it completely. I hope
    • Posted

      Not sure what the half life of effexor is depends on the drugs half life as to how long it takes to clear the system you could check with a pharmacist or your gp, and make sure you check natural supplements with your gp if you are taking any other meds as well, if you are going to try any.

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