Effexor withdrawal symptoms?
Does anyone expierence palpitations or flutters in chest as a withdrawal symptom of effexor?
Question posted by smhardin on 22 Sep 2014
Last updated on 29 September 2021 by Aqraria
8 Answers
Aqraria
10 Sep 2021
This post is really old lol. But my symptoms are pretty extreme at the moment. Im getting heart palpitations and an electrical feeling through my hands. And that happens from every 10 seconds to every couple minutes. Ill have times where it happens rapidly. Its insane unlike anything ive ever experienced. Something else is that im super irritable and paranoid, which has made it hard to do alot of daily activities. And my anxiety has been so extreme. I had a panicattack that jad me pacing back and forth and not gonna lie it even made me think suicidal thoughts. It was probably the worst panic attack ive ever had. These are the most extreme symptoms ive ever had on an antidepressant. And there are more symptoms aswell but they are the more common ones that most people have.
Teezee
4 Oct 2020
I've been on a half dose for 2 months as I wean off Effexor and started having palpitations about 3 weeks ago. Initially, I noticed them only in the afternoon and evening but recently they occur all the time.
Kerrygreg
23 Aug 2020
I had heart palpitations while on venlaxafine 75mg ER. After research this lead me to my decision to withdraw from the drug. I am off of it now. My mother has end stage cardiovascular disease. I am now on no other psychotropic meds. I am taking sam e. My palpitations have stopped.
Amy289
22 Aug 2020
I’m wondering if that’s the reason for the palpitations
arogers72891
12 April 2019
I was taking venlafaxine for a few months, found out I was pregnant, Dr. told me to stop taking it and weened me off of them. Even weening myself off I still have heart palpitations or flutters as soon as I feel like I’m at rest it gets worse... it’s one of many withdrawal side affects I have but the only one I’m having a hard time getting over... it’s been weeks of this... I don’t know if it’s permanent now or not ...
Andrew66
17 July 2021
I was put on a low dose of Venlafaxine 37.5mg a day for panic disorder but they have never worked, it has left me with constant palpitations, but after reading up about them it says they can give your heart a Long QT reading, which I was told after having another ECG so I have been told to come of these drugs over nxt few wks, but I was never aware it could do this when my GP prescribed them so I 'm not to pleased, I am hoping after my system totally gets rid of this drug out my system my QT reading goes to normal, it is very scary and made my Anxiety worse, so no help from the Dr there...
jesslausisco
19 March 2018
I know this is old but just wanted to see if anyone would still respond.
I had to come off it by accident about 3 weeks ago. Fish oil helped with nearly everything after the initial flu feeling. I still have the "heart flutters". anyone know how long it took for those to go away? I hate it
TexasDuchess
20 July 2018
Was on Effexor 25 mg once a day for hot flashes for 18 years (went into chemical menopause at 45 with breast cancer treatment). Was going to go off 5 years ago, but with a second bout of breast cancer occurring, my oncologist (who prescribed the Effexor) said not to right now.
My prescription was ending April of this year (2018) and I thought now is the time. Everything I read said to taper slowly. Since I was on the regular release and it was a pill, I used a pill cutter and reduced my dosage to 3/4s, then 1/2, then 1/4 and then off. Each taper was at least two weeks.
I was fine for six weeks after tapering to the final dose mid-April. Then, I started experiencing a lot of anxiety, restlessness (I felt I had to pace) and insomnia. Further research led me to Effexor/anti-depressant discontinuation syndrome and akathisia. I think the Effexor had really cleared from my system and my brain needed to rebalance and start making whatever the Effexor had given it, or learn how to deal now with whatever the Effexor had previously blocked.
Did more online research and reading others' stories. I have had fairly good success with supplementing with 1,000+ mg fish oil, l-tryptophan (500 mg), GABA (500 mg), l-arginine (500 mg), ashwagandha extract capsules (470 mg) and five B6 vitamin tablets (100 mg each) up to five times per day. Even so, now and again, I have had to take 1/2 of a 5 mg diazepam prescribed by my oncologist to help with the akathisia. Please note that he is aware I'm taking l-tryptophan, but only prescribed the diazepam.
Sometimes, the fluttery feeling in my chest goes away quite readily after taking the L-tryptophan, et. al. When it doesn't, I have taken Kava-6 (365 mg) and rhodiola rosea with some success.
I take a Benadryl capsule (generic is diphenhydramine), a lemon balm capsule and a chamomile capsule to help me sleep. I am now going to sleep quite easily (no whirling thoughts) and get restful sleep.
I've been on this supplement protocol for a month. I tried to cut back this week on the L-tryptophan+ (I understand I should taper off) to three times per day and felt too much anxiety/restlessness. I also experienced vertigo (had to use a popular seasickness OTC remedy). I think getting back to "normal" is going to be a long process.
Snowhill
10 Dec 2018
How long did you experience heart flutters? I have been on Paxil for 3 weeks and I have started having them.
Miss_Shauna
27 Oct 2014
Yes!! I was on 150mg of effexor for close to 2 years because I was "diagnosed" with depression. In march of this year, I was diagnosed with hypersomnolence/borderline narcolepsy after spending $1000's of dollars wondering why no medicine was working for my so-called depression and i was only just always tired. I hate being dependent on any type of medicine so i decided to start decreasing (as my does were actually increased to that amount). I messed up and missed a couple doses when my prescription ran out and immediately regretted it. I started getting super dizzy, nauseated (actually threw up), electrical shocks in my fingers, palpitations, headaces, brain fog, vertigo-like symptoms, and horrible mood swings. I looked up the medicine and possible withdrawals, then lo and behold, I'm not anywhere near the only one. This made me want to get off of it even more. Last month I dropped down to 75mg, and started feeling moderate but tolerable symptoms again.
Once they stopped, I dropped down to 37.5mg. Again the symptoms appeared. Today is my 4th day taking NOTHING whatsoever. I'm experiencing brain delay, vertigo symptoms in my head, electrical shocks in my fingers, and headaches. Ive also been more tired the past few days, but i find it easier to just sleep and not deal with the symptoms. They are mild, but they are there and absolutely frustrating. I refuse to take another pill as it is not bad enough for me to have to. If u have any questions, feel free to ask!!
Miss_Shauna
27 Oct 2014
I also get more urges to eat.. and I fall into them maybe thinking that it'll decrease the symptoms some...
brandi12
24 Sep 2014
Yes, I have had what feels like palpitations, but I have had other side effects with this drug as well. My body tends to take to medication a little to well.
I never really knew of the major side effects of this medication, that is until now.
My side effects include this is all with very light movements, what feels like blood rush to my head and then it all leaves, uncontrollable shaking every few seconds. The rest of my side effects don't happen with just movement but at all times weakness to where I do fall down, nausea, lack of alertness, extreme irritability, not just brain zaps or blood rush feeling but it is the whole body, extreme headaches, sensitivity to light, never feeling full, out of body feeling, feeling of not worthy, uncontrollable crying, night terrors, extreme sweating at night or anytime I sleep, I am not able to stay awake for long periods of time. There are more but I can't explain how to word them correctly.
I gave in and took the med again, I am trying to taper down with taking the med everyother day rather than everyday in attempt to make these side effects lessen but so far still the same just not as severe. Good luck and hopefully you can figure out something for yourself that works. So far not a clue for myself yet.
smhardin
24 Sep 2014
Thanks. I have almost all of the side effects that you mentioned. I am trying to ween myself off the medication.
tracieaw
11 May 2015
How are you now?
brandi12
12 May 2015
I am completely off of effexor finally. I went to a different physician and they prescribed xanax and zoloft the combination of both helped and made the transition better. I am now completely med free. I was on a low dose of both medications. I do still need the xanax as a result from effexor due to panic and anxiety on occasion but otherwise happy and healthy.
KKULTRA
15 Aug 2015
Glad you were able to ween off successfully. It is difficult to see patients with already life-changing afflictions with such an added stressor and side effect profile such as yours. I, myself, have been prescribed Effexor 75 mg for 3 months, and, although I am not experiencing the amplitude with my sides, I have and still do experience very pounding heartbeats. These palpitations scare me. I am already a hypertensive person and am taking medicine for my HBP, so naturally palpitations are extremely uncomfortable and unwelcome.
Best wishes and thank you for letting me share my experience.
Related topics
effexor, arrhythmia, withdrawal, symptom, chest
Further information
- Effexor prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Effexor (detailed)
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