venlafaxine withdrawal- please help!!

Hello all. Have been off the pills for 10 days. Honestly not as bad as I feared after reading scary comments. Had a couple of crying days. The depression has come flying back and even though I was expecting it it's still a shock to the system. However, it is infinitely better than being on the ven. I feel like me again and I never thought I would be happy about that. Am going it alone now as is not going to go away I just need to learn to cope with it. Have reverse SAD also so have that to deal with now so making the most of the rain while it lasts. Good luck to those of you about to stop the pills. It's definitely worth the effort

I found being off them is a release. I have emotions again! I life more, get mad more, enjoy life more. 15 days and u will notice a difference ur not a zombie its worth it

I have been suffering with depression for for4 half years now and been on velaxvaxine for 2 and half year please forgive any spelling mistakes as I'm currently on day 4 of withdrawal and I'm going through hell I have had sickness and upset stomach I'm spining I can't move my whole body is in so much pain I'm crying,shaking,screaming,laughing,suicidle I have been diagnosed with bipolar only recently I cut down down from 210 mg with the help of amtitriptiline 100mg but have now now been 4 days clear of my 37.5 mg and its pure hell can anyone give me any advice on how long this last for before I start to feel slightly normal at least so I can function with my husband and child ren without scaring them and feeling this pure pain any longer

I have been suffering with depression for for4 half years now and been on velaxvaxine for 2 and half year please forgive any spelling mistakes as I'm currently on day 4 of withdrawal and I'm going through hell I have had sickness and upset stomach I'm spining I can't move my whole body is in so much pain I'm crying,shaking,screaming,laughing,suicidle I have been diagnosed with bipolar only recently I cut down down from 210 mg with the help of amtitriptiline 100mg but have now now been 4 days clear of my 37.5 mg and its pure hell can anyone give me any advice on how long this last for before I start to feel slightly normal at least so I can function with my husband and child ren without scaring them and feeling this pure pain any longer

I have been suffering with depression for for4 half years now and been on velaxvaxine for 2 and half year please forgive any spelling mistakes as I'm currently on day 4 of withdrawal and I'm going through hell I have had sickness and upset stomach I'm spining I can't move my whole body is in so much pain I'm crying,shaking,screaming,laughing,suicidle I have been diagnosed with bipolar only recently I cut down down from 210 mg with the help of amtitriptiline 100mg but have now now been 4 days clear of my 37.5 mg and its pure hell can anyone give me any advice on how long this last for before I start to feel slightly normal at least so I can function with my husband and child ren without scaring them and feeling this pure pain any longer

I have been suffering with depression for for4 half years now and been on velaxvaxine for 2 and half year please forgive any spelling mistakes as I'm currently on day 4 of withdrawal and I'm going through hell I have had sickness and upset stomach I'm spining I can't move my whole body is in so much pain I'm crying,shaking,screaming,laughing,suicidle I have been diagnosed with bipolar only recently I cut down down from 210 mg with the help of amtitriptiline 100mg but have now now been 4 days clear of my 37.5 mg and its pure hell can anyone give me any advice on how long this last for before I start to feel slightly normal at least so I can function with my husband and child ren without scaring them and feeling this pure pain any longer

Hi tg I am on day 13 now free it has been hell and over the weekend I thought I have came through this but since getting up this morning the dizzy ping pinging has started again not as bad but the weekend my energy had returned and was feeling really positive then today no energy aches and pains a bit emotional but not as bad as last week so I am hoping this is just going to be one of they days and tomorrow will be better still taking my St. John's wort and omega fish oil as I believe this has helped I am going to persevere and stay off them for good good luck hang in there it does get better today is not going to get to me think positive x

Have ben on 150mg venlafaxine modified release for three years. Had to go cold turkey after thought I could be pregnant. On day 4 now. Have experienced shivers, dizziness, brain fog, muscle twitches, nausia. However, the worst thing by far has been the anxiety. Pure nightmarish terror leading to uncontrollable tears and utter despair. I'm hoping that I'm getting it out of my system, but having read reports here sounds like I may have to hang on a while yet until this passes. Venlafaxine really saved my sanity, just hoping it doesn't sabotage it now.

If anyone else it's experiencing this withdrawal it would be great to hear from you. Xx

I went through withdrawal with some pain, but it can be done. Just hang on! Don't give up!

Thanks manuel.

Today is my fifth day, and I've coped better than yesterday. Had shivers that seem to come from my tummy and nausia, terrible salt cravings too! but anxiety control has been easier. Your comforting words were gratefully received. My job now is to convince myself that the bubbling anxiety is a result of withdrawal, and not a return to my pre-medicated psyche. I feel like i'm on a cliff edge in the dark and I could slip over the edge at any given moment. Longest week ever! Docs app on friday, hopefully he'll understand.

Love to all..x

i ended up being in hospital as i have bipolar as well so have found it extremly hard but the withdrawals are now gone im on new meds i just hope these dont have the same effects if i ever have to come off these .thanks for all your comments it really helps when you realise your not alone and your not the only 1 i guess we all suffer he different ways i guess this was was 1 drug that saved me and broke me as someone commented above

I was also on venlafaxine for 10 years after suffering postnatal depression. I was on 225mg a day. I was having withdrawal symptoms even though I was taking the full dose, so I decided to come off them because I didnt like feeling like that

I was getting the brain zapps while on them.

I went to my docs and he advised me to come off them gradually, so I went down to half for 2 weeks, and half again for 2 weeks, until I was taking 7.5 mg for the final week.

I havent taken any for two days, and I am suffering bad withdrawal symptoms (brain zaps, hot flushes, migraines, pin prick feelings all over my body, cold shivers and uncontrollable crying. I knew it would be difficult, but I didnt know it would cause this many symptoms.

Something should be done about the information leaflet that comes with it, because it doesnt explain anything about these symptoms and it should do, because when I went to my docs and told them about my symptoms, he looked at me as if I was talking rubbish, and it needs to be established so sufferers can understands what symptoms to expect when taking or stopping these hell pills

I am determined to stay off these for good, they will not beat me

Like many of you I took Venlafaxine for many years but decided to wean myself off them I went through all of the horrible side effects that have been mentioned but finally took my last dose in January all went well with a few ups and downs until recently when I begun to feel extremely panicky and angry with everyone around me and not wanting to see anyone .has anyone experienced this ? All I can think at the moment is going back on the blasted tablets as I don't know how long this is going to last can anyone tell me if they have been through this ?

hi sue269,

i had this problem too a few months after gettng ths crap out of my system. Its not you, it the legacy of this horrible drug. Best thing to do is go see your doc, and get something mild prescribed to counteract these feelings. I found that citalopram 20mgs once a day does the job. DONT GO BACK TO THE VENLAFAXINE!!!

Another thing you could do, is see what therapy is on offer from either refferal from the doctor or see if you have a MIND centre in your area and get yourself on something that can help you with self help and awareness and taking control of your thoughts and feelings.

Stick with it kid and be strong and positve and youll do it.

stick with it im through it now but i did end up in hospital they give this drug out so easily and to be be honest this drug worked well for me to start with until i was at the highest dose possible that my doctor thought was suitable then it wasnt working for me anymore but doctors dont take into consideration the withdrawals of coming of these drugs i went through pure hell coming off these drugs as if i was coming off a class a drug

ask your doctor for some support and some medication to help you through it good luck please try not to go back on them because if you do at some point you will have to go through it all again ,