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venlafaxine withdrawal- please help!!

Posted , 169 users are following.

tg
tg

Hi there, ive just joined on here to get some advice and support... i was prescribed venlafaxine xl (modified release) 10 yrs ago for severe depression after my daughter was born, over the years this has been increased to 225mg a day. My partner and i want to have another baby and was aware of the effects venlafaxine has or could have on a unborn child so i went to my psychiatrist to ask for there help to come off it, they drew up a plan where i would gradually reduce my amount by 37.5mg each week. This was 6 wks or so ago and am now on day two of no venlafaxine what so ever.... but im suffering really bad withdrawal symptoms.... excruciating headaches, shaking and shivering, nausa. This evening i had a major breakdown and couldnt stop crying. I had to be prescribed diazepam! I feel worse as each day goes by, dont think i can do this for much longer if this carries on.... i really want to get off this drug but i dont know how long the withdrawal will last and when ill start to feel better, does anyone have any ideas??

I feel like im in living hell at the moment...i have been feeling so bad that ive been house bound now since i started this regeime, i just need to know when its goin to end.

13 likes, 509 replies

509 Replies

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  • susan95391
    susan95391 tg

    Posted

    Hi there! Have you been put on any alternative antidepressants, I'm afraid that with other major health (physical) issues I've been put on trazadone and really don't now know what's causing what.  This is pretty hellish!!!! X
    • helen62899
      helen62899 susan95391

      Posted

      Hi. I was offered trazadone too. Less addictive n fewe sside effects i think but i said no and i'm not medicated. 

      Maybe its a new school of thought......we're all lab rats at the end of the day!

    • linda73099
      linda73099 helen62899

      Posted

      Trapdoor belongs to an earlier form of antidepressant so not sure I'd trust it one little bit either. Basically any drug that fiddles with brain chemistry is going to have side effects. 
  • susan95391
    susan95391 tg

    Posted

    Michelle54608

    hi Michelle!! I know the living hell and torment that you are going through, trust me!! I have reduced myself off Venlafaxine very slowly and been put on trazadone 2 wks ago, not at all good considering I had been taking it for 14 yrs!! On some occasions I have a glimmer of hope and then it changes again, I guess it is just time that will help but 24 hrs in a day and not getting much sleep into the bargain is not good, it will eventually get better, I have battled breast cancer and other horrid illnesses and this is not going to beat me.  Please hang in there, sending you lots of good wishes, Susan.

  • susan95391
    susan95391 tg

    Posted

    Hi Michelle54608 and Linda73099, 

    This illness is horrid as we know and we are all in this together, it really messes with our heads.  We will be there for each other and fight this together!! We will come through this, I am having a horrific day trust me, but we will go forward, kind regards to both! XX

  • tunamancali
    tunamancali tg

    Posted

    It messes with your head big time. But you must take it slowly. You are the only one who know's how your body reacts. Dr's sure don't know. You must be patient , yet never give up..It's too good once you get through this season. I wish i could speak to every one of you... I live in California. I would sure like to give my # out to speak to any of you. I am the real deal.  I've gone through this to help others... God Bless
  • ambarry
    ambarry tg

    Posted

    I am so relieved to have found this information!! 

    I have run out of my medication before now for a couple of days (venlafaxine 225mg) and this weekend for got to take one dose...

    my withdrawal symptoms are terrible. I always referred to the 'brain zaps' as fireworks going off in my head although the description on here is much more realistic. I also have extremely hallucinogenic dreams which lead to me being very tired, easily upset and irritable.

    Im so relieved this is a 'normal' response to withdrawal as I thought I was going out of my mind 

  • Beast
    Beast tg

    Posted

    Bless you TG.  It has been so long since I replied to your origingal post - however long ago this is!  I can only find posts as late as 2 months ago but I am sure I responded to your original post at least 18 months ago.  Maybe they are all messed up or maybe (oops antiestablishmentarian) the responses are deliberately mixed up so as to avoid any themes etc - these are typical terms used in the analysis of text based responses to posts. (or questions asked in a research study).    If I am not going to get responses EVER then suddenly your stinky tracking, censorred responses kick in - please remove me from your ..... forget it, I will attempt to do it myself.  Having worked for NHS Scotland or NHS England in public health for more than 20 years, I was dumb enough to believe the nonsense around anonymoty.   Everybody - GET OUT!
  • pregnant
    pregnant tg

    Posted

    hi,

    i am 10 weeks pregnant and have been on venlafaxine for 2+yrs and want to come off it due to my pregnancy. The doctor reduced my dosage to 37.5mg, but only gave me a one-week supply. Before reducing my dosage I came off 75mg cold turkey and went through the severe withdrawls that everyone has mentioned. Now that I'm the lower dose, I have skipped one day and went back to the severe dizziness and brain shakes, etc.

    Can I take Benadryl while pregnant? Are there any other suggestions to relieve the withdrawals? With the holidays around the corner, I can't imagine wanting to be near anyone with these symptoms. All I want to do is cry and lay in bed.

    Please help. I don't want this horrible med to affect my baby.

     

    • michael_37726
      michael_37726 pregnant

      Posted

      Hi 

      I'm sorry to read what you are going through and I totally understand as I'm going through it myself. It's very hard I know and all I want is relief from this but I think the only way to get relief is to just go through it unfortunately. I hate this venalfaxine and what it does to people it's disgusting that its not been banned and that GPs can still prescribe it. When I went too my GP to say I wanted off this drug I showed him some of the posts on here and he just screwed his nose up and said don't believe all that nonsense. Hence I walked out if there and will never go Back again. The fact of the matter is that the GPs get funding from these drug company's so it's in there interest to keep putting people on it. I would love to tie my GP up and force feed him this drug for a while then just stop giving it to him and then see how he feels with this nightmare withdrawal 

  • geraldine49407
    geraldine49407 tg

    Posted

    tg, I don't know if my last reply was posted so I may be repeating myself..., the only way to stop those aweful head-zapps and headaches is to stop the venlafaxine.  They do eventually go away.  Everyday, is a lttle bit better.  Get your self off that medication, it will be hard for a few weeks.  Be brave and good luck.
  • roy58048
    roy58048 tg

    Posted

    Hi,  

    I echo other comments that the most effective way to quit Venflaxine is to open up the capsules and take out one ball at a time.    Takes awhile but is effective without causing the nasty withdrawl side effects that I was encountering.  Been off over a year and never felt better.    Good luck and stay the course.    biggrin

    • susan46256
      susan46256 roy58048

      Posted

      Just saw your post and said,"YES!" out loud b/c I just started the self-weaning process in the same way.  I counted 160 beads in one capsule (ER) so decided 1 bead per day ~1mg/day.  (.9375mg) Good to hear it has worked!  Also have Benedryl on hand.  lol

  • paul63838
    paul63838 tg

    Posted

    Iv been on venlafaxinamed 300mg 7 years if miss a dose I go right of the scale miss two and crisis team get involved. I'm either a lot more ill deep under or the tablets are more addictive than GP let on. Could not come off them if I tried. I am a mess without them. As long as I get my full dose I'm human. Without it my quality of life, well there is none. I admire those of you who have given these tabs up.
    • kam321
      kam321 paul63838

      Posted

      I am the same.  I have tried to come off but had to go back on.  Good for those who got off, but for those of us still on, let's be glad there is something that helps
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