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Venlafaxine withdrawal or relapse?

Posted , 5 users are following.

elora59113
elora59113

Hi all, I am five weeks post weaning myself off Venlafaxine. I was on it for about ten months. When I started taking it my depression had already mostly lifted, I was feeling okay almost all the time but never good or great, my baseline level was neutral and was only ever worse, never better, which is why I started taking it. I was also still having panic attacks here and there so my GP thought it was time to try medication. And it did help immensely. The meds started working in less than 2 weeks, I felt good and I never had a panic attack again. (Until recently, that is.) So then I started tapering off in August following Dr. Glennmullen’s program outlined in his book The Antidepressant Solution. (My GP knows I was reducing but I didn’t specifically ask for his help because his method of weaning off included taking the pills once every other day, which anyone who has been on this drug knows does not work at all. So he didn’t seem very knowledgeable about antidepressants.) I went from 150 to 112.5 to 75 to 37.5 to 0, reducing the dose every month. It worked fine and my symptoms were few to none. So I took my last pill December 19 after my exams (I’m in university) and for the first two weeks I was doing great. I had few physiological symptoms (some nausea and dizziness the first few days but it quickly went away). But now the psychological symptoms are unbearable. And as if getting off these meds wasn’t enough I was dumped three weeks ago. The guy I was seeing ghosted me. So I was understandably upset when it happened but it’s just been getting steadily worse. The first week I was upset and cried a lot. The second week I cried less but felt worse. And now this week it feels like a full-blown depression again. I feel overwhelmed by absolutely everything, I can’t get any work done for school and I cry multiple times a day. I don’t know what to do. Especially because I don’t know if this is just really bad heartbreak (but it does feel like more than that) or just Ven withdrawal that I just need to tough out or if it’s a relapse and I should get back on the meds (which I’m not super keen to do because it made me hot all the time and sweat a lot). Anyway for those of you who have come off Ven (or tried but couldn’t) how long do these symptoms last? I wasn’t on Ven for that long so when can I expect to feel better? Any help is appreciated!

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Purpledobermann
    Purpledobermann elora59113

    Posted

    Sounds like a classic relapse. Minimum therapy is never shorter than 2 years and ideally in the neighbourhood of 4 years to allow for solid maintenance at final therapeutic dose followed by a very gradual taper as you correctly pointed out. If you do go back on and reach appropriate treatment duration, I would only advise to further extend the taper intervals to closer to 3 months between cuts to ensure proper rebalancing and never any cuts during positive or negative stress periods in life. I would consult the doctor or organise any other kind of legitimate therapy to attempt to offset these escalating symptoms. It is manageable in several ways if you find medication unbearable. However, once chemistry is tampered with, response time is prolonged after any relapse - relapses are usually worse (feel worse) than the original condition by the way. All the best.
  • christina21598
    christina21598 elora59113

    Posted

    I haven't been on Venlafaxine that either about 4 months, so not that long at all. I also found that just missing my dose by literally a few hour's i begin getting terrible hot sweats and irritable. I'm sorry to hear that you've not had a very good time lately and, he couldn't of understood very well to of done that in the first instance, I'm sure in time someone like minded will be for you.

    I'd personally 'due to circumstances go up by 1/2 a dose to see how you feel but obviously discuss that with a professional

  • lynn67615
    lynn67615 elora59113

    Posted

    Hi Elora, I have been on venlafaxine for about 4 1/2 months, this drug helped me somewhat but has not pulled me into remission. I tried to go up to 150 but my blood pressure went way to high and it did not quell the anxiety. I went to see a psychiatrist for the first time last Thursday. I have weened myself back to 75XL and Dr. had me start on Lexapro 5mg along with 75 venlafaxine. I will slowly lower the venlafaxine and up the Lexapro. If the Venlafaxine worked for you maybe go back on it. It’s just so hard to reduce it.
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