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Venlafaxine withdrawel help :(

Posted , 6 users are following.

ickycrawl
ickycrawl

I've been on venlafaxine for close to a year now. I take 75mg a day. I was perscribed this medication due to anxiety, and panic attacks. I was riddled with very uncomfortable side effects from this medicine. Things like, sweating profusely, itching all over, inability to urinate standing up, lack of sex drive. And more.

2 weeks ago I decided that I was done with this stuff. I can handle my anxiety now, or at least be aware and manage it. But no more medicine. So for a week I cut the 75 mg pills in half. Then I took 1/4 of a pill for a week. I stopped taking it completely 3 days ago.

Since I've stopped taking the medicine I feel like a complete wreck. I can't think, I can't process what I see, everything is just too much, and overwhelming. I'm so sleepy, and dizzy. I also feel like puking most of the time. And I feel my pulse through out my entire body sometimes.. This all terrifies me, and I just want to feel normal again. I start school soon, and I take care of my 1 year old son full time right now. I have to feel better asap so I can take care of everything. My wife says I'm exadurating and I need to get over it. But everything I feel right now is real, confusing, and aweful. Is there anything I can do to feel better?! And how long will this strange, confusing physical feeling last?!?! Thanks for your time.

0 likes, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • plainden
    plainden ickycrawl

    Posted

    Hi I took ven only for 6 weeks + only 37.5 + it made me iller than an ill person so came off cold turkey.Like you I was awful.Fortunately I have a great wife who ran around after me + I do not work (just closed dowmn my business).The withdrawal for me lasted 6 weeks.God knows how long it will last for someone who has been on a high dosage for a long time !!.I am on mirtazipine which has been a god send -ok i have put on 2 stone but I can function like a normal human.Good luck
    • ickycrawl
      ickycrawl plainden

      Posted

      Yes, I imagine a positive support system would make a great deal of a diference. I'm glad that you have that, be thankful for her! Also glad that you found a medicine that has helped you. I'm not sure how much two stone of weight is, but I'm sure the extra weight is well carried by a man thats happy! cheers buddy!
  • ickycrawl
    ickycrawl

    Posted

    So after 4 hellish days I'm starting to feel like I'm turning a corner on this. I certainly do not feel normal, but I feel much better than I have the past few days. 

    I'm going to list some of my withdrawel symptoms just for reference for the next person going through this, hopefully it helps ease them.

    -brain zaps, jolts of overwhelming influx of information thats not being processed properly, causing confusion and stress.

    -headaches

    -sweats, hot, cold flashes

    -severe dizziniess 

    -nausia

    -extreme thirst

    -fatigue

    -sleepiness, and insomnia

    -vivid dreams

    -surges of emotion, sometimes fear, anger, sadness

    after 4 days, these things are still there. Just not nearly as bad as the first 3 days. The second day was the worst day for me so far.

    • ickycrawl
      ickycrawl

      Posted

      Also taking Omega-3 with DHA fish oil tabs 3 times a day with meals helped tremendously.
  • Scrumpyjez1
    Scrumpyjez1 ickycrawl

    Posted

    I was on Ven for 6 weeks,having previously been on 5 other anti depressants since last Oct. Some of the side effects were awful, particularly Prozac. I was determined to stick this one out for as long as I could,but right from the start the side effects were awful. Burning pains in both arms,horrendous night sweats, insomnia,constant nausea,up to the toilet 5 times a night then difficulty trying to wee,anxiety plus, just feeling totally horrendous in the morning. Went to my GP last Tues, I was on 37.5 mgs twice a day. He agree I should come off them, and told me to take one that night, then stop. I questioned this3 times as I was terrified of any worse side effects,but he said this was such a low dose I would be fine. I even went to the pharmacist for a second opinion, and he agreed with my GP. To cut a long story short I have had so little in the way of side effects, one night,night sweats, and a wee bit anxious on a couple of mornings, but I take the very odd 1 mg tablet of Diazepam. 2mgs since Tues. Feel as though I am starting to get my life back again. Hell will freeze over before I would go back on antidepressats.I wish you well icky crawl .You will get there in the end.hang on in there.

     

  • plainden
    plainden ickycrawl

    Posted

    Hi,persevere !!!!!!! What enabled me to withdraw was great support.I do hope you have it coz you'll need it ! When things got so bad ,I had very dark thoughts + it was my support that kept me going.Good luck.You've started ,so keep going.I can really relate to what betsy0603 said in her post- my original symptoms came back,but i kept telling my self it was the withdrwal + to continue. Best of luck.
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