How long do Effexor withdrawal symptoms last?

I could not go one day without the medication... nauseous, brain zaps, dizzy... all that. That's why I took 2-3 beads out of the capsule each day. It took almost a year, but I escaped the symptoms of withdrawal. However, it has been almost 10 years now and I still have brain zaps when I sit quietly or about to go to sleep. My doctor said she refuses to recommend this medication to her patients. I am sorry for anyone that has to go through the withdrawal.

Hey I’m so glad I found this forum. I weaned off 15+ years of 225mg Effexor daily. It took me cutting back 37.5mg a month until now where I’ve been 24 days zero Effexor. I cannot believe the physical withdrawal symptoms I am still experiencing. The nausea. The body aches. The chills. My PCP basically blew me off like “you’re still feeling that way”? Yes I am and it’s excruciating. Not to mention the crying from releasing 15 years of chemically repressed emotions. Does anyone have any advice about how long these physical symptoms last? Thanks in advance. These drugs are BRUTAL.

Hi there… I know this is an old post, but I’m hoping someone answers. My pusher (dr) prescribed 375mg daily of Effexor XR, but I only ever took 150mg, because I know how hard it is to get off. Now, I am trying to wean myself off as I have the flat effect (no emotion, joy, sadness, none of it). I just started today, and took 75mg, which is what I’m trying to taper down to. Eventually. I would like to get to 0 so I can have my emotions back. Anyone know offhand how long the brain zaps last? I remember them all too well from the last time I weaned myself off, but don’t recall how long they lasted. Thanks in advance!

Hi James, I completely understand what you are going through. Is there any way you can pay for the prescription so you can wean off of it slowly over a few months? It took me 3 months to wean off of it while adding another antidepressant. Towards the end, I took apart the pills and counted out the tiny beads to make smaller doses. The anxiety was unbearable. I did add in 1mg of Abilify, which seemed to help a lot, and also a lot of magnesium but I also has to use lorazepam and clonazepam. You can do it but take your time.

I’m so sorry for your withdrawal symptoms.
A doctor that would only give you two weeks between script withdrawals surely does not know, or understand the power of this drug. Mine were six week withdrawals and I still had a very hard time.
I actually made it to 37.5 and found that I couldn’t deal with anymore withdraws.
Every six weeks it just got so hard for me.
I decided to just go back to 75mg and stay there. I commend you for your determination. It just felt like my life was hell for so long trying this. I felt like I needed to be hospitalized. Of course “drug addicts”can only get help with this.
What do they think we are? I found it unbearable to lead a normal life and be able to participate at a job and personal relationships while dealing, even though I needed support so bad.

hi there
i hope you are well. i am interested to know if you felt anexiety and depressed after a while? did all this go away?
i stopped it three months ago but i just starts experiencing depression and severe anxiety three weeks ago.

I eliminated my dosage to 75mg for 1 month. Day 4 of stopping: feeling a bit dizzy, short tempered and anxious. So called hot flashes have subsided. I have been on effexor for 18 years. I will prevail, I do not want to take it any longer.

I have been taking Effexor xr 225mg for 6mths. I have since reduced my dosage down from 225mg to 150mg, 75mg and now 37.5mg in a matter of a month. I am not experiencing any withdraws like ever body else maybe because I haven't been on Effexor xr long enough. However, I am taking vitamins for the last two years to help with my depression and taken omega 3 and 6. I am not depressed and my mood is ok. Getting off the last 37.5mg will be a challenge I won't be taking out the beads but maybe go on the tablet form to cut it in half to help me get off the last 37.5mg. So I guess you can come off Effexor without the terrible withdraws.

I posted this question originally. I am happy to report I was able to successfully transition to fluoxetine (prozac) and wean off without any side effects. Fluoxetine is much less expensive than Effexor, so possibly affordable w/o insurance is you can get a script. If not, the side effects could last a couple weeks. They're horrible.

It's been over two weeks since I came off of Effexor completely and I don't like the way I'm feeling at all. I'm either crying all the time or want to cry all the time or on the verge. I'm irritable as all hell. And my anxiety is unreal. And I'm tired. And a little dizzy. My doctor had started me on Trintellix 7 weeks ago and I'm on 20mg of that, so I can't tell if this is still withdrawal or side effects of the Trintellix or if I'm in a very very very deep depression. I feel like I'm in a fog and nothing makes me happy. I have zero interest in anything anymore. I really want to be off of Effexor, but I'm scared it's the only thing that helped me with my anxiety and depression. I'm starting to feel like I should go back on the Effexor even though my doctor says to still wait. I don't like feeling like this at all and it's really starting to get to me.

I was on 300mg of effexor and 700mg of lithium for supposed anxiety, depression for 4 years. I actually had a brain tumour that was causing all the problems. I eventually talked my doctor into sending me for an MRI as I was starting to have vision problems. A tumour the size of a duck egg was found and that was what was causing my so called mental health problem. It is now 4 years since I had surgery and I have made a full recovery. Getting off the 300mg effexor was hell but I beat it but I lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in income while I was on all the medication as I could not work. At present I have legal action going for compensation and it is looking very promising. I had never suffered from any mental health problems before I was put on all the medication. I now take no medication and the depression and anxiety symptoms disappeared after my surgery. I recommend every one who presents for the first time with depression demand from their doctor that they get an MRI brain scan

I started titrating off Effexor XR 150mg/day about 10-11 days ago... after being on it for c. 15 years. The psychiatrist has me tapering off in 4 steps - 37.5mg TID 1 week, 37.5mg BID 1 week, and 37.5mg once a day for a week.

I'm happy to report that so far so good... Side effects so far: If I miss my dose by more than an hour or so, the facial numbness rears it's ugly head (but that's only been in the past two days) - otherwise, just SLEEPY... not particularly focused - but I have ADD and don't medicate that daily - so while it may be the effexor dose - it may be that I haven't taken ritalin in about a week.

Good luck to those who have had a tough time with their withdrawals - because I know I am not out of the woods yet - but half way there.

I started taking Lexapro when I stopped taking Effexor. If I would forget to take my Effexor, I would get a “brain zap” and that is why I didn’t want to take them any more. I never had any withdrawal symptoms since the Lexapro took the place immediately and I didn’t have to go cold turkey.