Venlafaxine - withdrawing

I'm afraid your GP is talking rubbish. The side effects of withdrawal, even on the lowest dose, as you are, are very real indeed. I think the only people who don't suffer withdrawal are those that switch to another medication in the same group. 

I came off 225mg,after being on it for 6 years, nearly 12 weeks ago and suffered major side effects and withdrawal. But I did go cold turkey. The recommended method is to reduce your dosage slowly, over a matter of weeks. As you are already on the lowest doe you could start cutting your pills into halves, quarters etc and experiment to see what works best for you.

i tried coming off it once before by reducing slowly and got down to 37.5mg with no problem. But once I tried to stop altogether I had bad side effects.

A lot of GPs don't have the necessary psychiatric training and therefore are dismissive of withdrawal symptoms. but from the extensive research I did before coming off the, I know otherwise.

Good luck, and take it slowly.

The symptoms you are experiencing are related to the withdrawal of the drug from your system not anxiety.  Doctors know very little about proper withdrawal and I would be reluctant to follow their advice when withdrawing.  I also know they prefer to keep patients on drugs rather than supporting that they get off.  I've been on Effexor XR for well over 12 years and have spent the last 3 years in an extremely slow taper.  I'm currently on 3 beads/day and since 6-8 months ago, I've been reducing 1 bead every 3-4 months.  This method of withdrawal has had very little affect on me and I feel no w/d symptoms at present.  I will continue to reduce 1 bead until I feel for certsin that I can stop.  It will be very gradual and it will take another year or so but that's okay because I'm in no hurry.  Best of luck!

2. Withdrawal symptoms are real even at sub-therapeutic dosage that you are on. Therapeutic doses for anxiety disorders are at minimum 75mg. Therefore

3. you were taking sub-therapeutic dosage to manage as opposed to treating an anxiety condition as a result of being followed by a GP instead of a licensed psychiatrist.

Based on the above there are some considerations:

1. For any patient still experiencing definitive anxiety symptoms even after months of therapy the dosage needs to be increased. Only once all anxiety symptoms withdraw, and following a minimum 6 months remission, should the dosage begin to be tapered gradually.

2. If you do not have anxiety symptoms and did not have any for the last 6 months, except when you miss a dose you may begin to taper. The problem is that from 37.5 there is no proper tapering. Most discontinue entirely at 37.5. If you have tablets you can halve them and remain at a half for around 3 months and then stop. If you have capsules you will simply need to stop because approximations in removing beads are not advised. You may try halving the contents by using a good scale. Still this is not the best way. Counting beads is also debatable but some swear by it.

3. Consult a psychiatrist for the best way forward - if feasible it may be the best way forward.

Your GP however does know more than we do here as he has met you, seen you and monitored your progress. If there is cause to believe that your anxiety is still prominent I would rather discuss upping the dose to see how it goes, before discontinuing. If you are certain that you are ok, and all this again depends on the severity of symptoms you initially presented with and the kind of progress you have made, you may try to come off.

Best of luck either way.

Been taking venlafaxine 300mg daily for couple of years now and even missing one day gives awful withdrawal typically symptoms as you describe. I forgot to get script last week and used last on Fri morning. Been a horrible experience since, all your mentioned plus brain zaps shivering shaking sweating vivid dreams, jumbled words crying, laughing for no reason nearly 72hrs now and unsure if should just stick it out and get off this awful drug. Have also gained over 20 pounds in weight. I suggest you do what feels right for you. Good luck

That's so very wrong. I had tapered down to 37.5mg every other day and felt awful on the day I didn't take it. Nausea, brain zaps, headaches, tiredness etc etc. Eventually 3 weeks ago I went back to my GP and saw a nurse. I explained that I wanted to stop ASAP and was told it could take up to 8 months to wean me off.

Whether it right or wrong I went cold turkey. I was signed off work for 2 weeks to do this. It wasn't easy and I felt terrible, the brain zaps and generally feeling zoned was by far the worse but I started taking omega 3 oils, vitamin B complex, vitamins D and E and within a day I felt so much better.

I'm not 2 weeks without the pills, back at work and feeling proud.

It can be done if you're ready, determined and have a good support network. My husband, family and employer were great,

Good luck 😉