discontinue venlafaxine - generic Effexor

[Hate venlafaxine]

Hi All,
I've never posted before, but I'm having a hard time with discontinuing venlafaxine. I have been tapering for about a month or so, maybe 3 weeks. I was taking venlafaxine for about the last 2 years, (1) 75mg pill twice a day. Prior to that I was on Effexor XR (1) 75 mg for about 3 years.

Anyway, I'm experiencing shitty withdrawal symptoms. I'm tapering sort of fast. I've got some anxiety and an overall weird feeling. I've been seeing people talk about shocks during withdrawal, but I've experienced those throughout the years of taking this medication. The shocks are actually less for me right now. I'm taking about a quarter of a venlafaxine a day. I can go for about 24 hours without any med then I gotta take a little bit.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend something to help make the withdrawal symptoms lessen. Something legal that I can do over the counter or call my doctor for. I don't do any other drugs, legal or otherwise except for asthma meds.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[x-to-tha-t]

Hey there,

I've got a friend who was on venlafaxine for a while, so I posed your question to her, and here's the answer she gave me...

"if he is on 150mg to start with, he needs to come down in 25mg per week, so start week 1 @ 150mg, week 2 @ 125mg down to nothing, you spend one day without medication and then start your new one. unfortunately there is no quick fix to the withdrawals, apart from getting prescribed something like diazapam in a small dose couple of mg till he is feeling better. perhaps 4 weeks would be needed of the diazapam for the venlafaxine to have completely got out of his system.
the only way to come off any pills is to do it cold turkey i am afraid unless your being put onto a another medication, then you will experience prolly a week of quite bad withdrawal but then the other meds will kick in.
i think a trip to the doctors may be needed for the chap. he may presecribe a medicine of lesser effect such as prozac to then wean yourself off, even more gradually.
i would say his best plan of action is to start taking 75mg for a few days and then to gradually bring it down like i said and visit the doctor."

She really knows what she's talking about, having been moved from prescription to prescription her entire life, so with a bit of luck this will help. I know how crappy WD can be from any sort of drug, prescription or not, so good luck with giving up

X

 

[Rogue Robot]

Homeless -> BDD

 

[dragonslayer428]

First off, take it SLOW! The above advice is good. Also, try benedryl for your anxiety and brain zaps. Ideally, having benzo's also help.

Another suggestion is to take Prozac to come off the effexor. You can google it to find more information. But of course, don't do anything without talking to your Dr. Because of Prozacs long half life, its often used to get off drugs like effexor and paxil.

 

[Violenza666]

I quit effexor cold turkey, but "brain zaps" do not sound pleasant. Good luck, and also talk to your dr about a taper schedule with some valium or something to help.

 

[Hate venlafaxine]

Discontinue Venlafaxine

Thanks Dragon Slayer and X-To-T-hat!
I probably did go off of it too fast, but I'm gaining ground! I now understand the "shocks". I experienced shocks while taking it, but now that I'm coming off of it, the shocks are very different. More muted feeling. Yesterday they were coming every 5 minutes, today they're at 20 minutes. I'm going to run out and get the benadryl though. I've been taking Claritin for my allergies, but if benadryl helps the shocks then I'll move over to that for a bit.

Thanks both of you. I really appreciate your input. You are both wonderful people. I can't thank you enough.

Warmly,

 

[x-to-tha-t]

No problem Truly my pleasure to have been able to help

 

[Hate venlafaxine]

Still having weird physiological disruptions thru this. Everyday I wake up and feel SO great. Then the weird sensations start. I'm completely off the meds and have been for about a full week. Yesterday I started feeling a little dizzy throughout the day that doesn't make for safe walking or driving. But, all of these distractions are nothing compared to how GREAT I feel most of each day. I wish I had gone off of these pills a long time ago. I Hate Venlafaxine!

Violenza666, What were your withdrawal symptoms and how long did it take you to feel "normal" again.

 

[Hate venlafaxine]

I started taking Benedryl, Advil and Vicodin to counter the physiological disruptions. It has helped immensely. The weird sensations are gone for the most part. I occasionally feel them in the morning, but once I get my day going, I don't feel them anymore.

Things are going so well. I feel so much better. Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

Your taking Vicodin to counter the physiological disruptions that Venlafaxine is causing? Did your doctor give you a prescription for it or are you just taking it illegally (without a script)? I only ask because Vicodin is naturally going to make you feel better, as its an opioid. Its also addictive, much more so than Effexor. I'm just a little concerned that you may obtain a habit if your taking it multiple times daily and continue to do so for a prolonged period of time.

 

[cage rat]

I've been on Effexor for many years. If I miss a dose one day, I get intense brain zaps, start shaking, become irritable, uncomfortable, irrational, anxious and a whole other myriad of symptoms. It's hell, even at 150mg/day. But I'm not going to stop taking it for any time in the foreseeable future, it's been my lifesaver.

First off, take it SLOW! The above advice is good. Also, try benedryl for your anxiety and brain zaps. Ideally, having benzo's also help.

Another suggestion is to take Prozac to come off the effexor. You can google it to find more information. But of course, don't do anything without talking to your Dr. Because of Prozacs long half life, its often used to get off drugs like effexor and paxil.

Starting prozac near the end for some time is common and a good idea, but yes, you need to talk to your dr. Benzos will also be immensely helpful.

Still having weird physiological disruptions thru this. Everyday I wake up and feel SO great. Then the weird sensations start. I'm completely off the meds and have been for about a full week. Yesterday I started feeling a little dizzy throughout the day that doesn't make for safe walking or driving. But, all of these distractions are nothing compared to how GREAT I feel most of each day. I wish I had gone off of these pills a long time ago. I Hate Venlafaxine

If you had come off of it earlier, it would have been easier. Coming off and experiencing withdrawal symptoms is normal, the longer you take it the more severe. However, it is not a true "withdrawal" and you don't even become really "habituated" to it. If you had quit cold turkey you would possibly experience extreme anxiety, panic, restlessness, possible drug craving, "brain zap" sensations, anger, extreme irritability, overall you would be very unstable. These symptoms would most likely dissipate within a week to two weeks.

I started taking Benedryl, Advil and Vicodin to counter the physiological disruptions. It has helped immensely. The weird sensations are gone for the most part. I occasionally feel them in the morning, but once I get my day going, I don't feel them anymore.

Things are going so well. I feel so much better. Thanks for your help everyone.

Chemically venlafaxine is closer to opiates rather than SSRIs, trycyclics, MAOIs, or other antidepressants, but has no affinity for opiate receptors. Vicodin would be the thing that's really helping you here, blocking out the bad feelings and relaxing you, you're just getting yourself high.

Your taking Vicodin to counter the physiological disruptions that Venlafaxine is causing? Did your doctor give you a prescription for it or are you just taking it illegally (without a script)? I only ask because Vicodin is naturally going to make you feel better, as its an opioid. Its also addictive, much more so than Effexor. I'm just a little concerned that you may obtain a habit if your taking it multiple times daily and continue to do so for a prolonged period of time.

K'd is right, quit the Vicodin and get a scrip for some Klonopin or Ativan. Those will help much more anyways and it's less likely to become addicted if you use them solely medically.