venlafaxine withdrawal- please help!!

Hello Sue34151,

I did that when I stopped Venlafaxine, very slow, 1 bead extra each day.  There about 125 of those little beads in one capsule so of course it will take you that many days to get off of it.  I read some things different people wrote about still having brain freezes and some withdrawal symptoms, I still had some withdrawal syptoms also.  But I tried what they said and took a benedryl once a day and it did help a lot.  I am also taking bupropion which is my saving grace because it felt like I was wearing my emotions on my sleeve when I wasnt taking the bupropion (when I would forget a dose.)  I have also dropped 13 lbs in 3 weeks, 5 lbs each of the first two weeks and 3 this last week just because I don't have near the craving for sweets I used to. (I had gained almost 50 lbs since I started Venlafaxine in 2010)  Oh and also...dont get anxious and try to come off quicker, you will still have major withdrawals when there are only 5 beads left!  After my last bead I still had withdrawal symptoms and too the benedryl to help with those, I am now stopping the benedryl amd I feel like myself again.

I have been feeling better every day and I could not imagine going back on this drug, it helped me a great deal with the deaths of 2 people very close to me, I just felt it was not helping me anymore.

The capsule pulls apart quite easily. You can see the join just screw it around pulling slightly. Keep a bowl underneath the capsule to catch the beads. I am starting tomorrow but following my doctors recommendation, so I start cutting my dose down by 37.5 mg for two weeks and follow that incremental decrease until off. Yes has helped in the past. I would have been one of the first on it but I've had enough of my meltdowns ( sweating) so much I need to change clothes 3 times a day. Erratic sleep patterns, awake for 48 plus hours then sleep 24 hours when sleeping tablet kicked in. I've had many other side effects. I hope I lose weight also. My craving for chocolate is legendary.

Good luck with coming off them, it can be a bit rough if you are not sure what to do or to find little tricks to mask the withdrawals.  I kept boxes of donuts and ate candy, cookies...whatever I could get my hands on.  I had no idea it was tied to the meds until I stopped them and started to lose weight.  I am so very thankful for this site and the people so willing to share their experiences.

I will admit to eating biscuits by the bucket load. Just as well I like to cook. I have never connected it to the tablets either, but was blaming Stilnox. Taking Stilnox because I cant sleep, can go for 3-4 days without sleep, then collapse and sleep for days. Totally disorientating. Yep Efexor again. I meltdown, I change clothes and shower up to 3 times a day, up at night to change bedclothes, havent felt cold for years. Yep efexor.

I am not saying it wasnt effective as a n antidepessant, it was but maybe should have been ceased years ago. I have been on it since it first came out, so about 15 years.

Linda

Seems a big drop as you're halving the dose. I went from 150 to 3x37.5 mg tabs then to 75 then 37.5. I think drop by half too much and will exacerbate withdrawal effects

Hi Jaye you are certainly right about everyone being different when it comes to meds. I am a nurse and I have seen some weird and wacky reactions to meds. The thing that gets me here is that the oldies if they have dementia are hauled off any anti depressants, cold turkey. Now I know what the poor old souls had been trying to express.

Yes. everyones body reacs differently . I am now totally off this Venlafaxine med. Funny, as I have forgotten about even taking them. My journey of coming off them startedon 8/3/14. Today is the 26th of Sept. I could see my insurance had a good chance of not being there down the road, so I called the pharmacy to see how muchthis perscription would be without insurance. She said $250 for a 3 month supply. I thought let the journey begin. If you don't have insurance most likely it's because you don't have a job. So I'm thinkin that doesn't make sence. It was horrible because I thought I was tough as nails and would stop cold turkey. Didn't take long ( a day in a half ) and my head was doin some strange stuff. Come off extra slow to start and extra slow at end. I  haven't taken any in the last few days and I feel great. I've been throgh alot. Lost sister, my job, my wife. Dr said now wasn't a good time. I've lerned Dr advise not always correct. There isn't a good time to come off these med's. Life is full of stress, and depression....Long story short ~ I can't remember feeling this wonderful before. I joke like never before now. I was taking 150mg a day for almost 10 years. Took me 7 weeks to come off them. If anyone wants to contact me, it may be better to send a personal message. If possible I will help you with your journey. God Bless to all  : )