venlafaxine withdrawal- please help!!

Hello all,

Just found this forum whilst searching the web for withdrawal from venlafaxine. In my honest opinion, I have found some of the post helpful and some quite harsh regarding the drug.

I am having most if not all the symptoms that most of you are experiencing, some worse than others, but the one thing I would stongly disagree with is the prescribing of it in the first place. My withdrawal is hell, and no doubt you all will agree, or else you wouldn't be on this site in the first place. However, they are not a patch on what I was like prior to taking Venlafaxine. How many of you can really say you were worse taking it than you were before? I am not one to judge but I will defend someone or something that has helped me get better!

I was presribed several different meds before my GP and others found one that helped and it did help. I was started on a low dose but quickly increased to 225mg per day and had been on this for approx 3 years. It made me able to function again, which I could not do prior. It took away the emotions yes, but thats what I needed as everything in my life had just become an emotion, and for a person who is normally very logical in all things this was.... not necesarily numb, but numb to a point without being overly so that I couldnt deal with day to day things like work, kids, and everything else life likes to thow at you just for the hell of it!

I am experiencing the brain zaps, the pins and needles, the joint pain when i'm trying to sleep at night, the hot and cold feeling, the out of body feeling, the emotions are coming back with a vengance, not to mention the nausea, tiredness, et all. BUT, I wouldnt change it to go back to where I was three years ago, not for a minute.

I do not want to make any of you feel as though what you are going though is nothing because I am acutely aware that is not the case and I have the upmost respect for all of you in making the decision to come off the drug. But please, instead of going on about who should or should not have prescribed it for you or suing the manufacturers for not marking each and every withdrawal symtom on the information leaflet in the box, just ask yourself, had it been there when you were presribed it, would it have made a difference? I probably wouldn't have even read it, the condition I was in, let alone be worried about comming of it. At the time I was in such a bad place I just wanted to function normally again, and if that helped at the time (which it did) I was going to take it.

It helped me, and I know as an average inteligent being, if you take any drug for a long length of time your body and brain are going to need to re-adjust when you stop.

I am working through this like the rest of you, and would rather put words of encouragement or note anything I find that is helping me so that it may help others, but I dont think it will help anyone trying to deal with withdrawal to read all about how bad it is and why it shouldnt be on the market etc.

Please folks, can we just be a little more positive about getting better and look towards a healthy future, rather than sounding depressed and moaning about the medication we are trying to put in the past?

I am sorry if I have offended anyone with my post, but I was moved by some of your posts, the positive outlook that some of you have, which in itself has helped me today. I think if more people posted the positive aspects it would help the rest of us. I am not suggesting in the slightest that the problems should not be posted just that dealing with the present and the future seems a lot better than reliving the past!

I wish all of you well, and hope your symptoms reduce and dissapear, leaving you feeling amazing and ready for life. That's what I am looking for and as such from reading the posts above have put some of your ideas into place in my own life hopeing they help. Thank you, all of you for helping me today and my love goes out to all of you

Marie x

I agree. However, letting others know that the bad stuff is not permanent whilst also being open about how rotten the process can be. I came on here looking for help and knowing I wasn't alone was a good thing. I don't think you can blame the people who make the drugs but in some cases the people who perscribed them can occsionally be at fault. My psychiatrist started me on Venlalil because 'it's a new drug and it might help'. Suggesting he wasn't that aware of how it worked. It's great to know that, like yourself, people are helped by venlafaxine, it's just not for everyone. The leaflet with the medication does actually state that no-one knows how it works. By taking it, we are responsible for our own choices. Lots of drugs are like this, it's just those of us with severe depression are more likely to notice bad things happening. This drug didn't work for me and caused a lot of difficulties but it was my choice to take it, I wasn't forced to.

Hi Caz,

I totally agree with you that people on here including myself want to know the good and bad bits of what others have experienced. The feeling that you are not alone in it helps me greatly as I expect it does for others.

What I do not want to read about though is everyone asking why were they given it? No-one on here can answer that question, only the person or people who presribed the drug can answer that, and although I will concede there are some doctors out there who unfortunately for whatever reason are not as helpful as others. I do believe they are trying to help. Some of us however, me included just wanted someone to give them something, anything that would take them out of the dark place they had landed in for whatever reason.

My point was that, is it not better to look forward when trying to help? symptoms and relief of those if possible? Some of the post I read made me feel worse, they made me feel angry. I myself am going through withdrawal which is hell and reading some posts from those with a positive outlook has helped me over the last few days. Others as I said, made me angry and upset, a feeling I was acutely familiar with and did not want to feel in the first place!

On a little bit more positive note, I tried the benadryl and although the brain zaps and dizzy spells are still here today, and joint pain when trying to sleep is horrendous, I think the benadryl has helped a bit.

I have also stopped drinking caffine tea and changed to de-caf which may be why I am feeling slightly better too. I have also found that if I eat larger portions of food I feel worse, whereas if I just eat small bits and bobs regularly I dont seem to be as bad!

I hope my little bit of information might help others. But when it comes down to it, withdrawal is going to happen, and you can either deal with it best you can or complain about it! I want to get back to being my old self and dont want to hear people complaining why me? I want to get better and if I can do that and help anyone else in the process then a happier person I will be.

I apologise for any offence I may have caused anyone with my previous post but I am quite an outspoken person (my family and hubby with definately concur with that statement) and sometimes too honest for my own good, but I just want to get it through some peoples heads that if you continue to look back and try to blame someone you are only delaying getting better yourself. Look forward, look at your family or friends and maybe you will see they want you to get better too!

If unfortunately you are going through this on your own, please message me and I will be more than happy to bore you to tears with my goings on! but I will support you, and try to help you as much as I am able. We all need someone to share the good and bad with. I am lucky to have a fabulous husband and family who care for me and I am more than willing to share some of my ups and downs, trials and tribulations of a working mum with three kids under 8, going through withdrawal - ha ha sometimes my life is like a sketch from a carry on film, but it keeps me sane - well almost!

All joking aside, if any of you are on your own and just need someone to listen, just to let of steam and moan and shout at, I'm up for that too!

Chin up all - we will come out the other side - I am certain of that :-) xx

Thanks to Psychochief, Rachthemidwife and others for your comprehensive coverage of an issue that I have only just become aware of - THE DIFFICULTY VENLAFAXINE WITHDRAWAL.

I became interested because I have been suffering from a single side-effect of taking the drug that is not mentioned in the posts I have read ...my libido is almost non-existent. For an enthusiastic 'participant' with a brand new girlfriend, it is quite a big issue and I am determined to come off it. The Venlafaxine certainly cured my depression and I have been creative and optimistic since it kicked in about 6 months ago.

I don't want to lose this regained enthusiasm for life but I feel that, with this lovely girl's help and understanding, I can probably keep it going without the medication, and regain a most enjoyable enthusiasm into the bargain! :-)) - so I'm going to see my GP and try to use the gradual method.

I'll keep you all posted about progress, as I have found that every post has helped MY understanding a bit so I hope to do the same.

Good luck, everyone :-))

Pat

Good for you Pat !

Hopefully with your new found interest, your creative and optimistic outlook with only bloom and I am sure with having someone to share it with, enthusiasm for life with expand on its own.

I wish you all the best with your recovery. This site has been so very helpful for me. Hope it helps you too.

I'm now on day 5 and update so far:

Started drinking decaf tea instead of normal - still tastes the same to me.

Started taking the benadryl - one 10mg per day

Started taking codliver oil & multi vit cap one per day - Thought it might help with the joint pain at night.

Starting the gym (slowly) on Thursday - thought it couldnt do any harm

Eating small meals rather than normal size portions

Today was a good day, only a few brain zaps and dizzy spells, but could honestly say I felt good!

Last night was not so great, the joing pain has reduced and now only seems to be in my knees, but OMG is it bad! So bad in fact that I sat in a really hot bath from about 2.30am till about 4am, this helped and I eventually got to sleep (wearing my ladybug onesy that father in law bought me for xmas lol - found a use for it after all)

Think tonight I might try the hot bath immediately before going to bed and see if that helps.

Hope the rest of you are holding on in there and getting better.

It will pass and soon you will be back to being youselves again (I tell myself this each day)

Marie xx

You're not having fun are you, Marie - good to hear such a positive attitude though - best of luck with it

I've changed from having 1x150mg/day to 2x75mg, in preparation for smaller doses and have an appointment to see my GP, to keep him in the loop ...feeling quite excited at the prospect of getting off this stuff!

All the best to everyone

Pat xx

I've just signed up to this forum and currently coming off Venlafaxine, Been on anti depressants off and on most of my life venlafaxine has been by far the best for myself but trying to come off them when I'm currently still depressed is horrendous !!! I am currently 21 weeks pregnant and have already dealt with the night sweats ,dizziness now I'm onto feeling utterly miserable I have 2 kid's already and feel rotten as I've been very bad tempered . Studying HNC interior design and really don't think I'll pass as feel I'm turning into a recluse also suffering stress ,anxiety , paranoia , poor sleep and crying alot been on them again since my Daughter was born and diagnosed with post natel depression really had no idea how bad they are during pregnancy have the doctors today but really don't know what help they will be able to offer me but feel I'm cracking up.....Vickie x

Hi Vickie2 & tg - I have also just joined, after reading tg's account of Venlafaxine withdrawal.

I was put on prozac when I was 16, and this was changed to Venlafaxine when I was about 20. I began Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Nov 2011, and at the end of 2012, felt ready to come off of my medication, after years of working towards getting better.

I started to withdraw from my meds, taking my last one in Nov 2012. At first, I got the usual brain zaps, which I recognized from having missed one or 2 pills in the past. Now, however, 3 months later, I have hit a wall. I can't stop crying, I can't face anything, I tried once again to go to work this morning, and the feeling of anxiety was immense. By the time I got there, I had to just run to my boss's office and I started having a panic attack, and crying uncontrollably. He sent me home and told me I need to take time to get better - but I feel like a failure being off, and I can;t afford it financially, but I just cannot cope!!

The CBT was going well, but there is noting that gets rid of this feeling of depression.. I feel like I am back to square one, despite the years of work I put in to make myself better.

I am in complete despair just now....I have got a telephone appointment with my GP on Friday, so no doubt I will be signed off of work. I have never been signed off work, I feel awful! Any help/advice is very much appreciated.

Thank you for sharing your experiences too, it helps to know I am not alone.

p.s. I am now 26... so in all it's been 10 years of pills. Six of those on Venlafaxine..

Hi Sam. Sorry to hear of your troubles. I'm 27 and have been depressed since I was 12. I left my last job because I was told that they didn't like having me around but had no legal reason to sack me as I was good at my job. I took the hint because I didn't want to work for people like that. I was whinged at the few times I needed to go to doctor, councelling etc. It sounds like your boss is supportive and understands that depression isn't easy to live with. Try to take that as a good sign and appreciate that they seem to care about you. I found that being on the venlafaxine didn't make me any better, just less bothered by it. I'm nearly off it (37.5 2x day) and I'm starting to feel like me again. I think if you haven't seen any improvement after 3 months off it, it can't have helped much. I saw a very good councellor who said that a lot of my depression came from unvented anger that I'd bottled up over the years for varios reasons I won't go into. She used to give me a box of tissues with every session because she was sure it was all going to come out at some point. It didn't at that time because it was all far too suppressed. I think anti-d's can be fantastic for some people but they can dampen the emotions and exacerbate the original problem. Scince I've started coming off them, I have cryed a few times but I can feel more coming. I know once it starts it won't stop for a while. Perhaps this is what is happening to you. If you've been on pills for 10 years, you've got a lot pent up in there and it's coming out all at once. This is just an idea so don't take my word for it, but if this is the case you need to let it happen. Bottleing it up again could set you back in your recovery. I used to bury my face in a pillow and scream and scream because I felt like I might explode but it used to help for a little bit.

I hope you don't suffer for too much longer and if all else fails, get a dog.

Hi caz r - thanks for your reply!

I completely understand what you mean regarding the "numbness" these pills give you, as opposed to actually resolving any issues. I knew at the time that the tablets were just kind of glossing ovr things, but I really felt positive after a year of CBT, hence why I decided I was ready to come off meds. Unfortunately, it's a double edged sword. The withdrawal stage started off fine - or so I thought, I can see now where the cracks started to appear i.e. getting tearful in work for no justified reason, snapping at my husband, generally not enjoying life. It wasn't until I actually got to this stage (crying spells where I am afraid to cry for fear of not stopping as you say, the mood swings, the feeling of utter despair, and suicidal thoughts, which I really thought was years behind me) that I really took notice of it and thought ok there is something very wrong here.

When you feel this way, however, it is difficult to believe that this is purely down to withdrawal and not necessarily a second bout of depression. I have not gone to work again today, and I am beating myself up about it so badly for no apparent reason. Like you say, my boss obviously cares. I didn't really see it that way, so thank you for pointing that out for me.

I am so lucky to have such a supportive husband and boss, yet I just can't seem to lift myself up again.

Today, though, I had a shower (ok, I know, it's not exactly an achievement), and I put a bit of makeup on.. all this week I have taken no pride in my appearance, and have washed just enough to be hygienic. Normally, I shower every day and I always try to look my best, I am normally mortified to leave the house without make up but this week, I haven't even had the confidence to get into the car and drive. I am going to try this today, I think (HOPE) that this is one step forward. I have got a telephone appointment with my doctor tomorrow and I really hope she gives me some useful advice. The gp's just don't fill me with confidence at all.

Get a dog, yes that's an idea hehe, funny you should say that because I thought this morning, about taking my sis-in-law's wee dog a walk at some point, just to sort of get me out the door, and facing people again (another thing I haven't seemed able to do this past week or so). I don;t want to become a recluse, I want to get better, it just seems I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel at the moment. We have 2 cats and they make me smile no matter what, so they are always around which is good, but I need to get myself together again, just don't know how!

Anyway, thanks for the advice and your suggestion of everything being bottled up isn't so far fetched.

I too have a LOT of built up anger, and a LOT of things to be angry about from the past, which I thought I had let go of. I am pretty sure I can leave the past behind, if only I can just find the strength to move forward.

I hope so too - thank you and my best wishes to you also.

Sam

Tg - are you feeling any better now? How are you getting on?

Hi. I have just been prescribed the drug. My major problem over the past few years has been a lack of motivation and drive. I have suffered with depression for as long as I can remember, but when young was still able to achieve/perform. Then I got near 50 and my SSRI stopped my anxiety but I wanted to kill myself. I am on 225mg Venlafaxine now. As the drug at that dose taps into your adrenaline system it has given me the awakeness that I have craved for a long time. Problem now is that I only sleep for 2 hours a day and have to fill up some time. Still, it's better than wanting to sleep for most of the 24hr day I think. May as well be dead then. I have withdrawn from Seroxat enough times to know how bad it is. I have learnt now to know why I want to keep taking drugs that stabilise my brain chemistry and have accepted that, just as a diabetic needs insulin, I need serotonin and adrenalin. So my message is, keep taking the drugs and get some talking therapy too. x

Hi, I lost my mum, gran and aunt all within 5 months of October 2011. I went to pieces and I was put on 75mg venafaxaline, the following week it was increased to 150mg, followed by a month later going up to 300mg. I saw my psychiatrist about a month after and he decided to put me up to 375mg, then again a month later 450mg, thus along with 1-4 5mg diazapan daily and 1 temazapan every second night.

I started fainting constantly and really hurting myself at times, one of the times I lost my memory for about 45 mins my husband was just about to call 999. I had no energy, dizzy constnty and like a zombie. Only thing keeping me going was that I was told I was high up the list to see a therapist to talk to. Then I found out nhs does not have therapists they outscource to charities so I got my own private therapist last week costing me £45 a time.

Last week i was so fed up as I had fainted again and gave myself a concussion, so I cut down from 450mg to 300mg within 10 days then I started feeling very ill, shaking from inside, freezing and shivering from inside, walking about constantly cant sit still, heavy heart pounding, mild shaking of body, unable to concentrate, really bad headaches and feeling extremely anxious. My therapist told me to call my gp that he would help me through it,

I called yesterday my gp was on holiday so was put through to another in the practice. I expained about coming down too quickly from venafaxaline she told me that was ok that I could come down more if needed or go back up whichever I preferred but insisted I stop the diazapan immediately. I tried to explain what I had researched about venafaxaline but she was more interested in getting me off the diazapan. I came off that call shaking, crying, feeling very sick and a huge migrane came on. She told me she was putting a note on my records saying ive not to get anymore diazapan. Im in a complete mess with the huge side affects of coming down too quickly and now them taking me off my diazapan I dont know where to turn. I just feel so awful inside so ill I just want those horrible tablets out my system totally so was thinking of going cold turkey as the doc seems to think its ok

Just thought i would add an update since stopping the Venlafaxine, and also to answer a few things ive seen posted here.

First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.

Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.

The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.

Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.

Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.

That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.

Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.

If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.

Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.

I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.

Just wanted to get that point over!!

Diazepam.

Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!

My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.

My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.

Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.

I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.

So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.

My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.

If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!

Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.

I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.

So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.

Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.

Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.

Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.

Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.

Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.

Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.

TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?

Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.

When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.

It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.

Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.

NO ONE