Quiting effexor

[olab7]

I'm going to start tappering off of effexor. I started it for anxiety and it has helped that but i believe it has, in turn, made me quite depressed. I just want to live without medication again. I want to go back to normal. I never use to have these problems... I think I have it better than most people who decide to get off of effexor because I've only been taking it for about 4 months. 75mg the first two months then 150 since then. Most stories I've read are from people being on it for years. So considering those people taper for months, how long should I taper down before just quiting? Also, anyone have any experiences with quiting effexor? Have you felt better since quiting or worse?

I know I should tell my doctor so he can set me up with a taper plan but I've always had a bad habbit of doing things on my own without telling my doctor (got myself off of xanax and depakote) in fear of him not liking the idea. I know, kind of stupid lol. Any replies would be really appreciated.

 

[Vaya]

olab7,

I have tapered off of Effexor before. It was unpleasant, and you absolutely must inform your doctor of your intent to get off of it. If you find that the medication isn't for you, you have every right in the world to not take it, regardless of whether or not your doctor "likes" the idea of you not being on it. In other words, do not be afraid to inform him/her of your decision and to request a reasonable tapering schedule, for there is nothing to be afraid of in doing so.

My life improved drastically once I stopped taking Effexor. When I made the decision to get off of it, I had been on it for about 8 months, and while I agree with you that it did decrease my anxiety a bit, it made my moods very unstable and the benefits no longer outweighed the risks/negative side effects. I, however, attempted to wean myself off of it alone without telling my doctor (I was younger and far more naive at the time - somewhere mid-highschool). The experience was fantastically awful! I experienced depersonalization similar to that experienced by people experiencing Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) from benzodiazepine withdrawal or improper tapering. Additionally, though, was the most unpleasant sensation I have ever felt within my brain: what are commonly referred to as "electric shocks," which at the time when I was withdrawing from Effexor were not accepted as real by the medical community. Thankfully, that has since changed.

The following is taken from the Discontinuation of SNRIs: Venlafaxine section of Wikipedia; I think it does a great job describing why a taper under the supervision of a doctor is so critical:

Sudden discontinuation of venlafaxine (brand name Effexor) has a high risk of causing potentially severe withdrawal symptoms. Even missing a single dose can cause symptoms of withdrawal. The high risk of withdrawal symptoms reflects venlafaxine's short half-life as well as its effect as a dual uptake inhibitor. Discontinuations have a tendency to be significantly stronger than the withdrawal effects of other antidepressants including the tricyclic antidepressants, but are similar in nature to those of SSRIs with a short half-life such as paroxetine.

Symptoms of discontinuation are similar to other antidepressants including irritability, restlessness, headache, nausea, fatigue, excessive sweating, dysphoria, tremor, vertigo, irregularities in blood pressure, dizziness, visual and auditory hallucinations, feelings of abdominal distension, and paresthesia. Other non-specific mental symptoms may include impaired concentration, bizarre dreams, delirium, cataplexy, agitation, hostility, and worsening of depressive symptoms. Online help groups consistently mention withdrawal from venlafaxine as triggering dreams of a particularly distressing and hellish quality.

Electric shock sensations have also been reported with many patients describing the symptoms as "brain zaps". It has been suggested the sensations may represent an alteration of neuronal activity in the central nervous system.

Studies by Wyeth-Ayerst, the maker of venlafaxine, and others have reported severe withdrawal cases, including withdrawal as the presentation of a stroke, as well as neonatal withdrawal (neonatal withdrawal has also been reported with paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline, and citalopram). In some venlafaxine withdrawal cases, successful discontinuation was eventually achieved by the addition of fluoxetine, which was later discontinued itself without difficulty. Additionally, use of tramadol has been proven effective as anti-depressant withdrawal aid especially with venlafaxine.

Be safe, and good luck to you.

~ Vaya

 

[lestahb]

Hey Olab7,
I just finished a taper of effexor that i started in september. Granted, i was on for 12 years, and on a dose of 300mg, so it is a little different than you, but here is how my experience played out. I started decreasing the 37.5 mg every two weeks. the first month i was fine, then all of a sudden i got really teary. Like i would just feel like crying a lot. It felt almost like hormonal, (not sure if you are female and understand...) but not as bad as depression, so i carried on. It went fine until i got to the very end. I stayed on 37.5 every day for a month, and then stopped. I got really dizzy, felt nauseous from the brain shocks and vertigo on the third day. So i ended up going to 37.5mg every other day for two weeks, and then every third day for two weeks. Every thing seemed fine, until about a week after my last dose and i developped restless leg syndrome. I felt like i was losing my fucking mind. I couldn't lie still, couldn't sleep, just paced and had to have my legs stretched. My doctor put me on 0.5 mg of clonazepam, which helped a bit and i got some sleep. Everything was okay until about two weeks ago when i suffered another depressive episode, or the start of one. I went to see my doctor, and he put me on 15mg of cipralex, along with the adderall that i'm still taking and i still have the 0.5mg of clonazepam that i take as needed. usually once or twice a week.
Since you were not on effexor nearly as long as me, i don't imagine the effects will be anywhere close in intensity, however everyone responds differently. I know that my doctor was thinking of putting me on paxil, as it has a longer half life, just for the last few weeks to ease the transition. Other ideas included tramadol as it seems to have shown some positive results.
Hope this helps.

 

[Vaya]

^I'm not so sure about Tramadol being a great idea because high doses of it can induce seizures; likewise, coupling it with Effexor withdrawals *might* (no proof for this though) cause some problems because tramadol is an SNRI, as well as serotonin-releasing with weak affinity for the mu-opioid receptor. I posit that the first property of this drug might cause some problems with agitation and/or may magnify the perception (or reality) of those "brain zaps" (wish I had a better term for those...)

I could be wrong, though... definitely would be an interesting topic for some research.

~ Vaya

 

[lestahb]

Weirdly enough, tramadol has shown to help getting off effexor specifically.
"Tramadol is also molecularly similar to venlafaxine (Effexor) and has similar SNRI effects, with antinociceptive effects." - - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramadol#Off-label_and_investigational_uses

also:
Department of Mental Health, G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, USA. [email protected]

The analgesic tramadol has many characteristics in common with the antidepressant venlafaxine. The drugs are structurally similar, share both serotonergic and noradrenergic properties, and undergo a similar metabolic fate. In this study, a patient, who developed significant depression following cessation of tramadol after several years of therapy, is described. Her depression was then treated with venlafaxine with excellent response. It appears that tramadol may have provided a prophylactic antidepressant effect in this patient. Because of its similarities to venlafaxine, tramadol may possibly exert a degree of antidepressant effect in certain patients, particularly those with chronic pain."

I was reluctant to go on another SSRI to come off a different SSRI, i believe that paxil was offered. Then Tramadol was mentioned. Although to be honest, if i had to do it again, I probably would have taken them up on the offer.

 

[Vaya]

Weirdly enough, tramadol has shown to help getting off effexor specifically.
"Tramadol is also molecularly similar to venlafaxine (Effexor) and has similar SNRI effects, with antinociceptive effects." - - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramadol#Off-label_and_investigational_uses

also:
Department of Mental Health, G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, USA. [email protected]

The analgesic tramadol has many characteristics in common with the antidepressant venlafaxine. The drugs are structurally similar, share both serotonergic and noradrenergic properties, and undergo a similar metabolic fate. In this study, a patient, who developed significant depression following cessation of tramadol after several years of therapy, is described. Her depression was then treated with venlafaxine with excellent response. It appears that tramadol may have provided a prophylactic antidepressant effect in this patient. Because of its similarities to venlafaxine, tramadol may possibly exert a degree of antidepressant effect in certain patients, particularly those with chronic pain."

I was reluctant to go on another SSRI to come off a different SSRI, i believe that paxil was offered. Then Tramadol was mentioned. Although to be honest, if i had to do it again, I probably would have taken them up on the offer.

You're amazing. Thank you so very much for clearing up my sometimes inquisitive yet uninformed mind Then, indeed, tramadol would most certainly be in an ideal Effexor w/d emergency kit!
Learn something new ever'day...

~ Vaya

 

[panic in paradise]

i have no experience with effexor other then being around people in w/d from it.

there is really nothing to worry about as long as you take all the recommendations given of working in tight with your doctor on a tapering schedule.

 

[Cohesion]

It sounds similar to weaning off Paxil, which I stopped taking overnight. It was the worst idea. I would wake up in the morning crying. Electric zaps, the whole bit.

Now I am weaning off Wellbutrin which is not rough like Effexor or Paxil. Regardless I am playing it safe and weaning very, VERY slowly. That's all you can do.

Here is a very extensive thread on quitting Effexor:
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/depression/175123-effexor-withdrawal-tips-dos-donts.html

 

[olab7]

Thanks to everyone that replied It really helped. I think I'll suck it up and just tell my doctor. I've just never really stood up to my doctors. My doctor told me not to get off xanax when I suggested it to him. I realy don't want to risk doing this myself sounds like I'd regret it.

lestahb: Yeah, I know its definatley not going to be as bad as most people which I'm very relieved about lol. You're seriously a trooper. I'll be checking out that healthboards link, thanks mami.
I really just want to get back to normal. Hopefully effexor is the problem.

 

[mr. red]

I'm just about to come off 225mg of effexor and switch to paxil. I haven't been on an SSRI in a while, but hopefully it will go well.

 

[Missykins]

I know I should tell my doctor so he can set me up with a taper plan but I've always had a bad habbit of doing things on my own without telling my doctor (got myself off of xanax and depakote) in fear of him not liking the idea. I know, kind of stupid lol. Any replies would be really appreciated.

You said it, not me.

You should definitely discuss this with your doctor, one, because you're depressed, and, two, because if it's helping you with anxiety (which is good) you may find another med than address both of your concerns.

I have bipolar disorder. I take about five different medications. I have accepted this. "Normal" for me is in and out of emergency rooms. Perhaps normal for you is living without anxiety, but you should be able to address your depression, too. Some antidepressants can have the opposite effect.

No one here is qualified to give you a safe taper schedule because you are not our patient and we are not your doctor. Therefore, it would be unsafe for you to follow any taper schedule provided here.

Once again, I would strongly encourage you to discuss this with your physician.