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Venlafaxine withdrawal - there is hope!

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annasch
annasch

I've previously posted on another discussion thread about coming off venlafaxine - I was about to take the plunge myself - but rather than re-post on that thread I thought I'd start a new one to give my account of my experience and I hope a chance of light at the end of that awful tunnel for others.

Diagnosed with clinical depression many years ago most of my adult life has been spent on one or another SSRI - finally arriving at venlafaxine ten years ago as nothing much else was helping. At this time my mood was scraping the bottom of the barrel - emotionally I was empty & swung between desolate and merely oppresively sad.

I can't completely right off vnlfx - it did lift me initially and give me motivation, but unfortunately over the years the efficacy weakened and therefore the dose I was taking increased - until at the beginning of 2012 I was on 300mg daily.

As I progressed through last year it became obvious that not only was vnlfx not helping me in anyway, it was also producing some alarming side effects - these had crept in slowly over the years and I had been so caught up with my mental health I hadn't noticed. Forgetting a dose resulted in the most debilitating nausea, dry mouth and brain zaps - I began to fear going away and forgetting my medication or not being abe to get to the pharmacy for a prescription and running out. All the time I continued presenting myself as a contented, together, capable professional woman, and as any of us who suffer mental illness know, this 24/7 act is absolutely exhausting. By the autumn of this year I was sleeping in huge chunks. The sedative effect of the drug combined with being asleep being an excellent way of hiding from my problems, I found it all to easy to succumb to sleep. I'd sleep for ten hours solid at night, then wake for a few hours in the morning, feel sleepy and give in - only to wake again briefly during the evening before the cycle began again. Luckily working a shift pattern as well meant I could get away with this, but my non-working hours were spent asleep & hiding from the world.

I don't know why the lightening bolt hit, but once day I became aware that this was no quality of life & went to see my GP about withdrawal from vnlfx. I must emphasise here that my GP has been wonderful during the entire time I have known her, and I'm aware that I'm lucky to be in this situation. She was aware of anecdotal evidence of vnlfx withdrawal syndrome and we made a plan for a very slow dose decrease - suffering such marked side effects when late taking my meds meant that we were expecting a tough ride.

I cannot emphasise too much just how important it is to go slowly slowly slowy, and to reduce your dosages by tiny amounts. Each time I cut down too quickly, or reduced the dose too quickly I'd be pole-axed by side effects and mental disturbance. A couple of times I did think about giving up, and remaining on vnlfx for life - but the thought of returning to that hideous emotional no-man's land was enough to motivate me to pick up & go back to the previous 'good' dose again & persevere. The key stage was probably getting down to a quarter of a 37.5mg tablet (told you the dose reduction needs to be minute!) and then my doctor adding in fluoxetine 20mg for two weeks before I took the plunge and took my last ever dose of vnflx. That was over six weeks ago and the relief I feel now is immeasurable. I now have clarity of thought and emotion to the extent that I can't ever remember having before. Don't get me wrong, I'm still clinically depressed, there is no magic wand, but I feel just like I have been released from venlafaxine taking my mind prisoner. I don' t think that unless you have experienced this drug first hand you can possibly imagine just how much it really ***ks with your mind - absolutely terrifying.

Key to my success has been managing to find a therapist that by some fluke I have a superb connection with and weekly sessions with her have been more valuable to me than any drug ever has. I expect to be seeing her for a very long time to come - to reiterate i'm by no means 'cured' but am happy at last to be back in control of my mind.

Happy to pass on further details of what worked for me on my withdrawal - I kept a diary, helps you have faith to get through the bad days - but please don't expect miracles, I know that just because it's worked for me it may not suit anyone else.

But - please do have hope! I was one of the many in despair on here a few months back not ever being able to see a way to get free of this hideous drug, but I've done it, so it can be done

xxxx

14 likes, 115 replies

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  • Spanishsarah
    Spanishsarah annasch

    Posted

    Feeling so yucky.  I've been SLOWLY weaning myself down off venlafaxine and I'm now down to 37.5mg every morning, been taking that for a week now....the headaches are just so unbearable....I lie down and it thumps, I stand up and it really thumps, the only time I can deal with it is when I'm sleeping.  I hate this drug so much.  I thought I was doing well as I really have taken it slow but this is awful.  That and about an hour after taking the tablet I feel nauseous and just want to sleep.  Is this normal and if so is there any tricks out there that can make this a bit easier? The other thing I've noticed is how disgusted and fixated I am with the weight gain.  It's awful.
    • KimPH
      KimPH Spanishsarah

      Posted

      Hi Sarah, I know what you mean.  Why would they put us on this horrible drug?  There are so many different side effects, but they DO stop.  I've heard the best way to get off this stuff is to wean really, really slow.  I didn't.  I cut down to 37.5 mg a day for 3 days and then just stopped.  The first few weeks were lousy!  Brain zaps, dizzeness, nausea, diarrhea, exhaustion, trouble sleeping.  The list just kept growing every day.  I got off this crap on 7/23/14 and I finally feel good again!!  If you plan to wean and get off completely, it WILL get better over time!  Best of luck!!
    • anne240
      anne240 Spanishsarah

      Posted

      Hello.  Once I came off the Effexor completely I c=lost my appetite and the weight has dropped off, so much so, that I have dropped 3 dress sizes!!  The drug really made me put on weight.  I took 10 nmonths to withdraw, and that way I did not get any withdrawal symptoms at all.  I suggest you keep on 37.5mg for the time being until the headaches go away.  Slow is the answer.  I went onto generic pills as they go down to lower doses.  I do not like the generic, but only way I could do it.  I cut them up into smaller and smaller doses over the months.  
  • nicki16
    nicki16 annasch

    Posted

    i had been on venlafaxine for about 3 to 4 years. i was on 300mg a day split between 150 am and 150 evening. this was alongside lamaotrogine, mirtazapine, quetiapine and buspirone. i constantly felt sick and tired.

    5 weeks ago i was admitted to hospital and they said i was on way too much meds and was probably getting that seratonine uptake? syndrome. they stopped my lamotrogine straight away and cut my venlafaxine to 150 a day. a week later they cut it to 75 a day then a week after that they cut it completely.

    i was in hospital all this time, mainly because they would be able to treat any side effects but also to monitor my mood because i was very low at the time.

    i did get some side effects but they were not that bad. just feeling a bit fluey. no where near as bad as i thought. my mood did really drop though but that is why i was in hospital in the first place.

    they have started me on a small dose of another a/d. cant say if the physical side effects of being on venlafaxine have improved since i came off it because only came out of hospital yesterday and have been using PRN meds while on ward and last night. 

    what i would say to anyone coming off any meds is try not too think too much of any bad side effects you might get because then you will be so worried and it will be harder for you. 

    i did use to get side effects if i missed just one dose of venlafaxine before but coming off it completely was no worse than that.

    good luck to anyone coming off any meds 

    • anne240
      anne240 nicki16

      Posted

      Hope you are OK now.  You did really well coming off Venlafaxine.  It took me a long time to withdraw, and I did not get any withdrawal symptoms.  It is just over a year since I stopped.  i was on 150mg a day.  Had been on anti depressants for over 20 years, and Effexor for 9 years.  

      Glad you are doing well.

  • Mulholml
    Mulholml annasch

    Posted

    So yesterday was my 1st day on Vensir XL 75mg and I was in bits the whole day. I hadn't felt so low in months.  I have been clinically depressed for years & was always given Fluoxetine 20mg as I have also been diagnosed with Buliema.  They helped with the purging but my mood was so low that I had to speak to my GP. So now I will start V XL. Please please tell me that they work because I don't know what I'll do if this is what I'm meant to be!! Home life not so good, OH has no interest in knowing about Buliema or Depression & he always has the upper hand on emotional control.  Not in a good place right now. 
    • pixie22
      pixie22 Mulholml

      Posted

      All antidepressants take a little time to start working, and I know how difficult that is when you're depressed and desperate for relief. All I can suggest is that you keep taking the venlafaxine and hold on if you can until you start feeling the effects. I was on fluoxetine but it stopped working, and venlafaxine was a life saver for me, gave me back my sanity, but it was about a week before I felt the effects. It sounds like your situation is getting you down and that can't be helping. Is there anyone else, friends or relations, you can talk to? 

      This site is useful, you can exchange messages with other people who know just how you feel so understand. Believe me, I've been there - there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I wish you the best.

    • Mulholml
      Mulholml pixie22

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your kind words, just a bit anxious when I read all the negative stuff about VXL.  I can't get any lower so anything is a bonus.  I'm so glad that you have come through the other side, I'm still feeling my way through with decisions to make that scare me too much. I know that I may have a bit more clarity in the next few weeks but medication will only mask how I feel, the root cause will still be the problem.  I'm on a waiting list for therapy so this may be the turning point. 
  • robert60958
    robert60958 annasch

    Posted

    Hi Annash,

    I have read a few different posts on venlefaxin,  and I thought that only people with bad experiences would write about it, and that there could be a larger number of people out there having great benifit from the drug.

    I'm a recovering drug addict,  Have been without alcohol and drugs for about 5 years now. Came off the methadone 22 months ago. The last time I was with the psychiatrist at A&D services, I was prescribed venlefaxin.  under a new name:  Effexor XR,  apparantly a 'New" drug for depression.  Only to find out later that it was the same as venlefaxin.  I started on 150 mgs,  , the first time I took it,  I accidentally took a double dose,  Made me very nausious in the middle of the night and vommit.  the next day I was very "high" elevated,  .

    since then been taking 150,  and got increased 3 times  by 75mgs, to 375mgs.

    I have because I ran out of tablets been on 225 for about 5 weeks and felt ok.  then talked to my GP and went back to 300mgs.

    Today I forgot to take my dose and the whole day I felt terrible,  Your story gives me hope and I may print it out and take it to my GP as I do want to come off this drug as well.  Last time I asked him to change med's he suggested it was better to stay on this rather than coming off and starting a different one again.  I don't agree,  and hopefully he will change his mind or I may get a second opinion.  because I'm drug free I can not go back to the doctor who originally prescribed me, He said to stay on this for at least 2 years,  it's been 2 yrs and 3 months now, and I don't feel I can think clearly, or be my normal self.  

    thanks for your story.

    Regards

    Robert.

    • anne240
      anne240 robert60958

      Posted

      Effexor is a brand name for Venlafaxine.  I came off it 16 months ago.  Took me 10 months to withdraw so I did not get any withdrawals.  I had come off it once before cold turkey, but bad withdrawals, although they did not last too long.  I am doing well without anti depressants, as had been on them for over 20 years.  Yes just miss one days dosage and you feel awful. 

      If you take it slowly, like I did, you will not suffer withdrawals. 

  • Sukiwarrior
    Sukiwarrior annasch

    Posted

    Hello Annasch,

    I have just read your post from a year ago and wondered if you are still AD free and feeling OK.

    Suki

  • lynn1955
    lynn1955 annasch

    Posted

    what sort of therapist did you have my husband as only been on venlafaxine for 4 weeks and quatapine at night he now as his sleep back but he as absolutly no emotions at all no feelings for anything or anybody he was on this 7 months ago but took himself off it and went back to work for three months but over that time he lost all his sleep so he was put back on it
  • Whatamess
    Whatamess annasch

    Posted

    Hello all, I'm pleased to have just found this forum as I am possibly on the verge of tapering off Venlafaxine so that I can be prescribed another anti-depressant (possibly Sertraline). I have suffered with bouts of depression for over 30 years and have been on Venlafaxine for at least 12 years, current dosage is 262.5mg. It seems that it is not helping my moods & depression much anymore and my GP has suggested trying Sertraline. But having done a lot of googling about withdrawing from Venlafaxine I am rather scared of all the things I have read about the horrible symptoms. I live alone and don't really have anybody who would be there to support me whilst I am withdrawing. My supposed best friend doesn't understand depression and all it entails and recently she has totally dumped me because she can't understand (or even try to) the suffering I have been going through this year with a particular crisis in my personal life. So as well as being scared of the way I may feel if I begin withdrawing, I also am scared because there will be nobody to be there for me if I need help, support or even just a friendly voice and shoulder to lean on.

    i am seeing my GP tomorrow and will discuss the possibility of starting the withdrawal, although she may be reluctant to start right now because of how long I am feeling. Vicious circle - I want to start feeling better and a new medication 'may' help, but am I strong and well enough to go through withdrawal?

    I will check back in here in the next day or two and tell you what has been decided. Your cyber support along this rocky road will be much appreciated.

    Goodnight everyone, hope tomorrow is a better day for us all

     

  • Anxiety88
    Anxiety88 annasch

    Posted

    Yeh so true its good at the start but once the med gets proper into the system lik a 3 to 4 week episode thats when people with a high level anxiety that try to go off or it does not suit get the first hand slap to the dark side of meds by reference i mean withdrawal and its hard to explain i can handle the below the head symptoms but the head pressure and blurred vision i get and head buzz leaves me sleeping all day i think the route to my anxiety and problems rooted from red bull not lifes obstacles
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