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Withdrawing from venlafaxine

Posted , 8 users are following.

gillybean36
gillybean36

I've been on 75mg a day for about 10 months due to panic attacks, but it makes me feel unwell constantly, I decided to cut down but as soon as I missed a dose I just slept all day and missed another one, so I've just decided to go cold turkey, I'm on day 3 of no pills. So far, I've slept on and off, I'm just so tired, the brain zaps started on day 2, so I'm just wondering how long this is going to last for? I've looked through these forums and most people seem to be on higher doses and been on ven for a lot longer, does it make a difference to the withdrawal depending on dosage etc? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

0 likes, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • michael76690
    michael76690 gillybean36

    Posted

    Hi gillybean I would not recomend going cold turkey. I was on 37.5 three times a day and went cold turkey as the meds were affecting my vision,terrible sweats,Insomnia and facial rashes. Opticians and Doctor told me i needed glasses which i bought £220. Stopped taking venlafaxine cold turkey had all the side affects brain freeze,Banging noises in head,Swishing gravel sensation in head and bouts of mania and confusion. This went on for several months and my Doctor would not believe it was anything to do with withdrawal symptoms. He has informed DVLA I have suffered a psychiatric illness and my driving licence has been revoked until i can show 3 months of mental stability.I am/was a Hgv driver thats why Dvla were informed. I do not need to wear glasses anymore since I  stopped taking the med. I am 3 months off the stuff and feel fine now still get slight headaches. I am not trying to scare you but if I were you i would tapper off this drug very slowly. Hope you are ok and get off this drug safely
    • gillybean36
      gillybean36 michael76690

      Posted

      Hi Michael, I understand what ur saying but I've been cold turkey for 9 days now and will never go back to it. Glad to hear ur doing well now!
    • michael76690
      michael76690 gillybean36

      Posted

      HI gillybean glad you are ok. drugs affect people in different ways hopefuly you will not have as bad a time as me coming off the stuff. hang on in there the affects dont last for ever. you can do it, good luck and stay well.
    • froggy2
      froggy2 michael76690

      Posted

      HI gillybean you will cop some stuff - anoyed at people ("If gilly was on the VF they would not have said that to me" comments..)

      Intolerance - (I know i need to do xyz, so WHY did I only do z ?!?!? )

      I think this is part of the slump after the hump, but like everything else, there are going to be ups and downs..

      Spike Milligan said that the beautiful sunrise after recovery led him to do brilliant stuff.

    • jaye76671
      jaye76671 michael76690

      Posted

      I been off 4mths an stil withdrawl city just eant my life bak..the dox said first three m ths ment to be the hardest but al feels the same to me..but no goin bac 4mths off fighting to here no way im giving in..
    • simon3164
      simon3164 jaye76671

      Posted

      Hi jaye may I suggest you start taking cod liver oil as many have found this to be helpful, it may not stop the withdrawl but in my case 2 months before I stopped VF I started them because the omega 3 in them is beneficial to the brain to the point with me that I am on my 3rd week off VF and no withdrawl.  Hope this suggestion helps you.
    • gillybean36
      gillybean36 simon3164

      Posted

      Yes I agree with Simon the cod liver oil helps, ive been off Venlafaxine for 8 weeks and it definitely helped with the withdrawal symptoms
  • Smiley78
    Smiley78 gillybean36

    Posted

    hi gillybean36

    what sort of dosage would you recommend works for the cod liver oil or the Omega 3? i've just stoped taking the Ven (about a week now) and hoping that this time i can actually get thru all the symptoms and not give up yet again...

    • gillybean36
      gillybean36 Smiley78

      Posted

      I take 1 capsule a day which is 1000mg but sometimes I would take another one if I had a bad day. Hope this helps 
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