It's only been day 2 (insurance cancelled) of withdrawal & so far I've been feeling as though when I'm walking to whatever destination, my body arrives but my brain delays its arrival. I feel extremely anxious, nauseous, short-tempered, dizzy, sensitive & confused. I like how I felt while taking Effexor but these withdrawals are unbearable... how much longer can I expect to have them?
How long do Effexor withdrawal symptoms last?
Question posted by ambudai on 9 Feb 2014
Last updated on 3 August 2024
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
170 Answers Page 11
Autumn24
4 March 2015
If you cannot get the medication thru insurance and, like most people, cannot afford hundreds of dollars a month to pay for it, you should apply thru Pfizer Connect to Care/Helpful Answers, to get their Patient Assistance Program. Your doctor write the RX with 3 refills and signs the form you fill out. You send it to Pfizer and they send you 3 months worth of meds. When you have about 3 wks of meds left, call your dr and ask them to call pfizers refill line. Free and not too difficult.
2015ranson
1 March 2015
I too am weaning off effexor. I started in august 2014 on effexor 37.5 mg after taking zoloft for many years. I really did not want another anti depressant, I wanted off of zoloft. I do have anxiety attacks and some panic attacks. I was put on 37.5mg effexor generic. I was told to come back in 4 weeks as it tends to elevate the blood pressure. In sept. my blood pressure was up a little but I went on 75mg of xr. I took it for one month. Then when I had a colonoscopy, I did not take any that day cause I figured I didnt need it cause they were putting me out anyway, The next day I was very dizzy. It was at that point I wanted off this drug. First it was my choice to go on the hcl and only once a day. At my dr, appt it was decided I would go from 75 mg to 37.5 for one month and then to cut the 37.5mg in half for one month and then take a quarter of the 37.5. So right now I am taking about 9mg maybe a little less. I started that 2 days ago.
I want completely off this drug. Actually the less I take the better I feel. However I am afraid to stop. I read a book called "the road back" and it is about getting off these drugs. It did recommend omega 3, vit b complex, and b-12. The omega 3 is coated so you dont burp up the fish oil. I feel great, but am afraid of the next step. thanks for listening. I dont know why doctors dont tell you what happens when you go off. Effexor is not just a serotonin inhibitor like zoloft. My grandson who is a grad student in biological science at Purdue knows more about these drugs than a doctor or pharmacist.
BERRY695
2 March 2015
First I am so glad I found this forum.. been taking 150 effexor for about 13 years. About a month ago I started taking 112 mg. Last night I took my first of 75 mg. Was wondering how long for each dose before weaning to the next level? Also I was curious as to how every counts the beads do you just swallow the beads? put them back in a capsule. I am def going to try the omega 3 and vit b complex cant hurt.
I really want to stop taking this horrible mind altering drug but have been so afraid but I am ready to try now.
2015ranson
11 March 2015
I am completely off, weaned of down to barely taking 1/8 of 37,5 mg. I dont know what side effects I was supposed to have except vertigo that are not things that could happen anyway. I am 72 and feel better than I have in years, mentally and physically. I am getting back on weight watchers tomorrow to get rid of what I have put on. Hang in there everyone. I am taking my excess script to pharmacy tomorrow to get rid of it. I also know the less you think about this issue, the better off you will be. Don't dwell on what might happen, Pray.
sr0405
1 March 2015
I was on 300 mg Effexor plus Lamictal and a very low dose of Lexapro (2.5 mg). I hated the Effexor because it caused excessive sedation almost since the time I started taking it about 2 years ago. Withdrawal from Effexor can be awful. I once ran out and after two days, I was having severe symptoms similar to what other people have mentioned- dizziness, nausea, brain delay, etc. I was completely non-functional. This past October, I started an official "weaning- off" period. Thankfully, I do see a psychiatrist and he has been weaning me off very slowly and carefully. We bumped it down VERY slowly, but this past week when I finally finished the last 37.5 mg dose (after being on 37.5 mg for a whole month), I started to have moderate to severe nausea and dizziness. I was getting to where I couldn't go to work (called in sick for the first time in 5 years).
I talked to my psychiatrist, and he had me start taking two doses each day of the Lexapro 2.5 mg (one in the morning, and one in the evening). This has actually reduced my symptoms about 90%. I was already taking 2400 mg daily of fish oil, but it was the 12-hour dosing of the Lexapro that really gave me relief. I had also started having some of the worst depression I had ever felt, and the 12-hour dosing of the Lexapro stopped that too, pretty much immediately. It has only been a few days, so we'll see where it goes from here.
beth12345
1 March 2015
So which is worse: taking 37.5 dose of Effexor the rest of your life or taking Lexapro twice a day forever?
sr0405
1 March 2015
Good question. Actually, the Effexor was giving me drowsiness that had me taking daily naps, in addition to other so I will opt for the Lexapro. And I am pretty sure the twice daily dosing is temporary. Also, I would rather take the low dose of Lexapro than have serious depression.
withdrawing
17 Oct 2015
Thank you for writing, I am also on Effexor and Lamictal and I am titrating off currently. They are trying the Prozac bridge thing and we decided to have me go down by 25 mg each time instead of 50. This has helped a bit but I'm still miserable. Were you going off the Lamictal also? and would you tell me more about this fish oil plan?
shannon908
24 Feb 2015
I was on Effexor for about 15 years. It's worked on and off but started to feel like I couldn't process anymore. Decided to wean myself off, which I did very slowly, 150 to 75 to 37.5 to 18 to 9 over a 2month period. The vertigo was awful but I survived it. What I haven't survived are the body aches and pains. It's absolutely horrible and am still going through it. This drug should not be legal!!! Has anyone else had this symptom??
1slpers
26 Feb 2015
I've been on Effexor for 5 yrs and started having issues with it. My dr has me taking my new med to get it built up in my system and after a month just started to wean me off of the effexor. After 1 week I have a terrible headache, disturbed sleep, and body aches. I'm more irritable and had to let my boss know what's going on at work because of it.
JudiS1016
2 March 2015
I've been on Effexor (not XR) for about 14 years. I have a history of panic disorder, but didn't start taking an antidepressant until I ended up with a postpartum anxiety disorder and was unable to function. The most I've been on was 75mg. I cut back to 50mg. around 10 years ago. I stayed on 50mg until probably 2 years ago and cut it back to 25. Stayed on 25 for about 1 year. I tried to come off of it at 25mg. No way possible, so I started breaking them in half. Had to do stay on 12.5 for several months. Approx. 2 months ago, I cut back to approx. 6mg. Now I'm trying to split that (3mg give or take, because it half of a speck of a crumb). I can go for two days without it now and then I start with the dizziness and zaps. I tolerate it until I can't function and then I take a speck. Within 30 minutes I'm fine. This stuff is evil. I haven't taken any in 3 days. I feel a little dizzy, but not awful. I just want off of this stuff.
As far as body aches and pains, I've felt crappy most of the time and i think the Effexor is not only starting to make me depressed, I'm realizing that it may have been doing so for a long time. When I don't take it for a couple of days, I feel happier and more energetic... until the dizziness starts. There has to be an end to this.
gypsy_traveller
5 March 2015
I have been on efexor 300mg for over 10 years. .started the slow process of "coming off" of them... its taken nearly 1 year... today i am 3 days Efexor free.
The withdrawal is one of the worse things ive started going through.
The dizzy head, nightmares, insomnia, dryness of mouth, wanting to sleep during the day and very disfunctional, driving should be a no no until all withdrawals have passed..
I stopped 37.5 mg 3 days ago and yes life is better.I seem to look back and wonder what bubble i was in all those years... I know i have a long way to go..and last night had i had any tabs i may have weakened..today life looks so much brighter and i realize at this point its 1 day at a time
val200
20 July 2015
Yes I am going through the same thing right now!!! My story... I was on Effexor XR 150 mg for 10 years. I asked my Doctor how to get off the drug. He prescribed 75mg and told me to take it for 2 weeks, the 3rd week skip every other day for a week then stop. This was Horrible I experienced severe Vertigo for 2 weeks. I finally spoke to my Pharmacist and she was shocked that my dose had been cut in half right away. She advised going more slowly such as every other day 150 then 75 mg. This elevated my vertigo so I started the only other low dosage 37.5 and added to my 75 mg. equaling 112.5 mg. I am now taking this 112.5 mg every other day switching with the 150 mg. Making the process much slower. BUT NOW I am experiences the aches, pains and a low grade fever. Just as the above comments. I have no idea when I will be free of this insidious drug. I agree it should be taken off the market...
For anyone considering Cymbalta this is in the same family as Effexor ER (generic form is Venlafaxine) and has horrible side effects when trying to get off the drug... I wish I had gone on Wellbutrin which is a much cleaner drug.
berit norlen
17 Oct 2015
I have tried for 12weeeks still have withdrawing if I drink wine (?) Why
robink
1 Jan 2016
I broke down in my doctors office, telling him about my marital problems. (My husband can be a real jerk He is a really good doc, I worked with him as a nurse and consider him a friend. I have had therapy in the past and have borderline personality disorder. He put me on Effexor 75mg and it seemed to help me so much. Occasionally, I would miss a dose and would feel "strange" within hours, buzzy headed, hard to explain. One weekend, I decided to go away, alone and get off the drug. I was nauseated for two days, spacey, jittery, but on the third day I vomited forcefully. I was unable to drive, was ready to call an ambulance. My brother in law went and got my prescription renewed. Now, I have taken 37.5 mg for a month and am trying to take a pill every other day. I feel "strange, buzzy headed" and mean, all the hurts from my past have resurfaced and I feel like running away, divorcing my husband.
I almost refused to go to a family Christmas dinner, but relented and took a full dose of the Effexor to get through it. I'm not sure if I am in the worst marriage and need a divorce, or if I am just running away from life again. Whatever personality problems/marital problems I have, I do not need to be dependent on this drug. I only work part-time, thank God, I don't think I could work and deal with this, too.
rbmarrero
2 Jan 2016
Yes and it is horrible
I feel nausea foggy head
Now the last few days I feel like I'm getting the flu
Not sure if it's from stopping the Effexor or am I getting sick but I will never take another pill of any sort of medication again never!
robink
2 Jan 2016
I am weaning myself off the Effexor, I started taking it because I was having marital problems, and I just felt MEAN. I have a reason to be mean, alot of people have hurt me, but I wanted to be forgiving, etc. I liked the way I felt when taking it, I was on 150mg and I felt not as over reactive to hurts and annoyances. I also have pain issues, I was in my 50's when I started taking it- I thought it might have helped with the pain. I see alot of comments about the withdrawal causing pain, but I wonder if the drug masked some of the physical feelings of pain, as well as emotional ones. I am on 37.5mg now, every other day, but I got up in the middle of the night to take todays dose because I couldn't stand it any longer. I feel disconnected from my body and still a low level of nausea. I suffer from tinnitus anyway and have some hearing loss, but I think the withdrawals are making that worse. Yep, I am pretty miserable. I thought I was going to have to go to the ER a while back due to the withdrawal symptoms, but I am getting through it.
Sleepytp
5 Feb 2017
Yes, I'm weaning myself off of 150 over the last 5 weeks and am experiencing the brain zaps, lack of energy, irritability, and aching joints. I hate this stuff.
DurmMare
11 April 2018
I am weaning off Effexor after taking it for about 5 years. Top dose was 150... went to 75 with no problem. Doc warned me that going from 37.5 to zero was going to be the toughest time... and it is: Nauseous, no appetite, tired, headache... more later on other events
Mikokat
19 Oct 2018
I have been on effexor for around 15 years. I was down to 37.5 mg. for 5 years at least. I have been suffering with horrible sweating mostly facial for quite a few years now. In the summer it is almost debilitating. I really don’t enjoy warm weather at all any more. Iam in my middle 60s so this is definitely not post menopausal. I started to read side effects from Effexor and have had all of them. I thought I’d try to wean myself off this drug to see if it would stop the sweating problem. Iam down to taking half a pill 3.75 every two days. Iam feeling nauseous and very achy and flu like symptoms. Has anyone experienced extreme sweating from Effexor and anyone been able to stop the sweating problem from getting off this drug?
Kate4u
2 Feb 2015
I took 37.5 mg XR daily for about 4 years. The drug helped me through a very suicidal time in my life. I had tried Zoloft before but the agitation was too much. Effexor saved my life that being said I felt after 4years I didn't want to take daily naps to deal with the drowsiness. I quit cold turkey because beng on the lowest dose possible there really was no way to taper. I must say it was hell. I felt nauseous, agitated, had diarrhea, was incredibly irritable and had electric shock like sensations and almost gave up and restarted it. But I didn't. I had to take time off from work while withdrawing because my job requires great concentration. It took me a month to feel fully functional and I still got occasional shock like sensations for months. Now 3 years later I am again feeling like I am in a major depression. Would like to restart it to get me through the hump but don't know if I could go through another withdrawal. Thinking maybe of trying Prozac since withdrawal is supposed to be minimal but afraid it might be too similar to Zoloft. Hope this helps.
Brianjonesritchie
2 Feb 2015
Wow kate, that is very similar to my experience. I first tried Zoloft and couldn't sleep for 5 days or so and had a bad reaction to the ssir. Then I was put onto Effexor and as I've said, that was fine for 4 years. Off it for 2yrs and have just started taking it again reluctlantly. It's nearly been a week back on it. It really does make you think though... if it is doing more damage than good when you come off feeling worse than before you started
kaismama
2 Feb 2015
Sounds like you suffer from major depression and need to stay on it. You wouldn't have any of what you've suffered. Many of us learned that we cannot stop our antidepressants. Its a Chemical imbalance and you need to correct it. There is a way of tapering off that dose Btw.
Kate4u
3 Feb 2015
Yes,I probably do need medication for life. I was coping well off it by vigorous daily exercise but due to an injury I have been unable to exercise for months. I don't know when or if I'll be able to return my exercise routine and the big D saw it's chance and moved in. Really wanted to be strong and thought I found a solution as I felt so much better on exercise than the feeling of lack of emotion that Effexor gave me. I will see how low I go then I will resume medication of some sort if needed. Thanks for your support.
30kelly
19 Feb 2015
I have been on Effexor for about a year and a half. I'm currently at 225 mg a day. If I miss one dose I have horrifying nightmares, night sweats and wake up in a state of panic. In addition, I've gained about 25 pounds since starting this crap. I can't stand this stuff and want to get off of it.
I told my Dr I want off and he encouraged me to stay on. I am again going to approach him next week about getting off of it. I am glad to have found this site so I can beg for help going through withdraw. I'm scared and don't know if the strength will exist to push through it. But, I'm going to try. Just reading about the symptoms of 75mg withdraw is freaking me out!
Thankfully, I work from home and can manage around my job. I'm praying I won't be a snappy, crazy bitch toward my friends and family. Headaches I can work through. Hurting the people around me, not so much. I wonder why I was put on this drug for a low level of depression?
lkj
29 Jan 2015
Im now up to day seven without taking any effexor. I started weaning down from 150mg just after Christmas. Im hoping that I'm over the worst of it now but I think without this forum l would have given up at day 4 and gone back on the meds as I was feeling so terrible. Thank you all xxx
kaismama
29 Jan 2015
It doesn't effect all of us the same way either. I was on it over 10yrs and between thanksgiving and christmas I tapered down and was off of it, no problems at all.
Talldrinkofcrazy
3 Feb 2015
Hey all! I've been on Effexor XR (venal facing) 75 mg for 10 years now. I had good luck and was happy with it but wondered if it's been killing my libido. Plus after 10 years, maybe it's not as effective? Rather than increase the dose, I switched to Wellbutrin XR (bu prion) 150 mg. Anyway, I have approx 150-180 Effexor XR generic capsules from late 2014 in my cabinet just sitting there. I have no intention of using them. For any of you whose insurance changed and left you high and dry or need some to wean off, I'd be happy to send these to you. I just don't want them to go to waste if there's a fellow depression anxiety sufferer who could benefit from them.
jamie87
10 Feb 2015
Omg I need them
franksull
5 March 2015
I was on effexor 300 mg for 2 years as I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2012. I was also prescribed lithium 750 mg and olanzapine 10 mg. I was also prescribed Quetiapine 125 mg for some time. In 2014 I started to have vision problems and had an MRI brain scan. It was found that I had a brain tumour that was pressing on my optic nerves and was also causing the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
I had major brain surgery for the removal of a large benign brain tumour in July 2014. With in weeks of surgery the depression and anxiety and panic attacks just vapourised. The tumour had been causing all the symptoms. I made a full recovery from surgery with no loss of cognitive function or coordination and my eyesight is back to normal also.
Immediately after surgery I started to withdrawal from then drugs. I started with the lithuim and olanzapine and then the effexor. It was shear hell getting off the lithium and olanzapine but a nightmare getting off the effexor. I tapered off all the drugs very slowly. The effexor was definitely the hardest to get off. I tapered down from 300 mg to 275, 250, 200, 175, 150, 125, 100, 75, 37.5. Every time I did a reduction it was hell and the more I tapered off the worse it got. I was determined to get off these drugs as I never needed them in the first place and had been misdiagnosed for 2 years. I had all the symptoms during the withdrawal that have been posted by other people here.
It is now 3 months since I took the last effexor and the brain zaps have finally stopped. I still have very sore muscles and joint pain which I have been told is another side effect from all the drugs. I have a brother who is a doctor and he has told me it may take a year to get over the brain surgery and all the drugs I never needed.
It is now 7 months since brain surgery and the prognosis is excellent. I have had no depression, anxiety, panic attacks or seizures post surgery. I am now back on my road bike cycling 30 to 40 km a day and getting fit again.
Good luck everybody else getting off this nasty drug
marad
7 March 2015
I have spent some time reading the posts and it has been very helpful. Every side effect I have,,, but... I have not started to wean off the effexor yet. I see my Dr. next week. I have been having awful brain "blanks"... can't remember what I was doing 10 minutes ago. I can easily sleep 18 hours a day... dizziness. Everyone is mentioning the side effects WHILE they are weaning ... this worries me, because I have developed these symptoms the last few months and not reducing the amount . I am on 112.5 mg a day. Did anyone experience the side effects while on the pills?
barbarajayne
20 March 2015
I quit effexor day before yesterday. I'm not weaning, I'm looking at it as mind over matter. I feel weird, but it will pass. It's like anything else, no pain, no gain. I wanted a different antidepressant is why I'm doing this. My choice is prozac which I've been on before with good result, but your body gets use to your antidepressant and it becomes less effective. If it gets horrible, my doctor gave me a prescription for low dose effexor to take with the prozac. I'm not planning to use it. I know I'll get nerve zings, I'll just try to deal.
maran77
22 March 2015
Bararajayne how's it going? I want to do the same thing. I am on 225mg Effexor and will cut to 150mg tomorrow, 75mg the next day then just go off it. I will be starting valdoxan the day I cut to 75mg. I just want to get it over with but the symptoms I'm reading about freak me out a bit. If I am a couple of hours late taking a dose I start to get body/brain zaps so I hope it won't get the more severe symptoms. But it just want to get off it due to side effects. Hoping the valdoxan may help me get off it.
KJD0026
9 April 2015
I have been on Effexor for 5 years for anxiety. I am undertaking studies ATM & I am finding I am not absorbing information at all.. I find i can't recall anything i heard a few minutes prior to hearing it unless I write it down. Is so frustrating. I have decided to titrate down from 150mg over 2 weeks, by my Doctors orders. 75mg for a week, then 37.5mg for a week then stop. Well the last dat was two days ago and I have been so unwell. Dizzy, nausea, intermittent diorreah and sweats & chills & Unable to drive a car. I have been laid up on my back for 2 days. In desperation I took 37.5mg this morning, but immeadiatly threw it straight back up. So I took another 37.5mg after dinner at night. I don't think the GP really understood the severity of the withdrawal of this drug, I have taken some good advise from this forum. Thanks people. Ill try the dividing the granules next I think, I really want this drug out of my system ASAP.
franksull
10 April 2015
It's now 4 months since I took my last effexor. I was on 300 mg of effexor and started withdrawal in August 2014. The withdrawal is awful but I am over it now except for muscle pain which is slowly dissipating. There is light at the end of the tunnel but it is bloody hard work to get there. I also withdrew from 750 mg lithium and and 10 mg olanzapine. I was also on 7.5 mg of zopiclone for insomnia and have almost beaten it also. I was misdiagnosed as having depression and anxiety when in actual fact I had a brain tumour that caused the mental health like symptoms. Once the tumour was removed all the symptoms disappeared. From my experience I recommend people get an MRI to clear the possibility of a biological problem. I was prescribed and enormous amount of medication that I should have never taken. The medication has done physical damaged to my body that I hope repairs in time. Good luck everybody getting off this nasty SSRI
Sniksder
16 April 2015
Ohhhhhhh boy, my prescription for this crap ran out last week, have to wait until the 24 th to see doc to get refills, so I am going through withdraw involuntary. But after reading all the comments here about this drug, not going back on it at all. The issues I am having is some crying, some frustration, and some weird dreams, but the one that is making me crazy is the felling I get when moving eyes to quickly. The most annoying thing is the doc never mentioned the withdraw symptoms, so today I decided to dumb that doc and find a new one that I don't have to wait months to see, appt is in a few days instead. Hopefully with wife's support I can get through the worst of this, thankful I was only on this for 6 months and not years.
Inactive
17 April 2015
I'm at the end of my 4th day of no meds. I am starting to feel normal again. I have been gradually decreasing my dosage for two months. I've been on Effexor 75mg for almost 7 years. I got sick of the constant headaches and vertigo spells. Not to mention I don't think it helped at all. Made me very anxious and gain weight. For the past few days I have had flu like symptoms, extremely dizzy, loss of appetite, headache. Been taking vitamin C the last 4 days and fish oil for one day. It made me burp and tasted fish the entire day! Anyway for those trying to break free..good luck and it does get better. I suggest taking off work while you do this process. It's extremely harsh!
Inactive
17 April 2015
I'm at the end of my 4th day of no meds. I am starting to feel normal again. I have been gradually decreasing my dosage for two months. I've been on Effexor 75mg for almost 7 years. I got sick of the constant headaches and vertigo spells. Not to mention I don't think it helped at all. Made me very anxious and gain weight. For the past few days I have had flu like symptoms, extremely dizzy, loss of appetite, headache. Been taking vitamin C the last 4 days and fish oil for one day. It made me burp and tasted fish the entire day! Anyway for those trying to break free..good luck and it does get better. I suggest taking off work while you do this process. Plan on laying down for the first 3 to 4 days. It's extremely harsh!
cuteandfluffybunny
29 April 2015
I've been on 75 mg of Effexor for about 10 years and came off twice (the second time just recently) I found the best way to taper off this medicine is to do it this way (for simplicity sake I will use 37 for 37.5)
75, 37, 75, 75, 37,75, 75,
37, 75, 37,75, 37, 75, 37
75, 37, 37, 75, 37, 37, 75
37, 37, 37, 37, 37, 37, 37,
0, 37, 37, 0, 37, 37, 0
37, 0, 37, 0, 37, 0, 37
0, half 37, 0, half 37, 0, half 37
done... try to make sure the third and 4th days at zero fall on the weekend because they will make you more dizzy than usual, but after that you will just have mild dizziness here and there when you move quickly or turn your head fast for about a month... it takes a long time to leave the body.
twinkEEmama
18 May 2015
I have been on Effexor XR 75 mg for only 3 weeks, and I want to wean myself off of it. I thought I would do every other day since I have the capsules. I did not take it today and I am having the usual symptoms everyone else is talking about. Dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating. Since I have been on a relatively low dose, for such a short time, I'm wondering if I can do this by stretching days in between doses, or if I need to get a prescription for 37.5 mg to taper off. Any input would be appreciated.
franksull
21 May 2015
I would recommend you get 37.5 mg pills. I started tapering from 300 mg and it took me 5 months to taper off completely. Every time I tapered down the withdrawal effects would worsen for about a week after each taper. It is now 6 months since I took my last pill and all the withdrawal side effects are gone. It was pretty awful getting off venalfaxine but I have done it and there was light at the end of the tunnel. It feels great not to be taking that stuff now. Hang in there you can beat it.
triplemom
25 May 2015
My psychiatrist stopped my Effexor 75mg on Wednesday and told me to just take my Wellbutrin 300mg and klonopin as needed. It is Sunday and my eyes cannot focus on anything, I'm dizzy and have swishing noises in my ears when I lay down. Please tell me these symptoms will go away soon. I can't get a hold of my doc with it being holiday weekend.
vicky heyes
13 July 2015
OMG!!! Day 3 of coming off Venlafaxine 75mg after reducing dosage over year and half... my head! i feel on another planet! the nausea is unbearable! scatter brain! can feel signals in brain are all over! but Im not giving in! im going to push on with this !
AnxiousNot
5 July 2016
I've been taking Effexor for the past 14 years. As of 3 years ago, I've been very slowly tapering. Last August I finished after only taking a few beads daily. Felt great for 3 months but soon after I started to have discontinuation symptoms, very anxious, unable to sleep, jittery, unable to focus ... I reinstated in November 2015 to 1/4 of 75 mgs. Since then I've started a very slow taper, now on 4 beads/day. I plan on reducing by 1 bead only after a lengthy hold (probably 3 months or so) in between. I am hoping to be off completely in a year's time. Based on my past experience, I don't want w/d symptoms or w/d syndrome which is why I've chosen to taper very very slowly. You need time to alow your CNS to readjust. That is key! Best of luck to all!
31eph532
25 Nov 2016
I got off effecor successfully. If you take it at 7am, take it at 7:15 for awhile if you have symptoms stay where you are till your body adjust. Taking your Vitamin c and omega. When you adjust take it at 8:15am. Take the very next dose if you can go from 75 mg. to 74mg. Do that. Call the company directly and ask if they can do that. The doctors don't know sometimes.
When the dose is decreased stay there for awhile
, it take awhile for the dose to adjust. When you feel alright take it 15 minutes latter. adjust. Next doctor appointment go down to the very next dose, don't trust that your doctor knows what it is, it's not possible for them to always know. I got down to every other day successfully went on a retreat and was on 25mg every other day. A sound doctrine Holy Bible retreat. Had lost my pills could not find them every one prayed and had no side effects or withdrawels.
A year or so latter went through depression with reason, had to face some things, but doing it with God and people with faith and Holy Bible sound doctrine. Jesus if it's your Will for these people to be saved from the pharmaceutical drugs that are causing so many problems
please heal them as they abide in you. For You God direct the steps of the godly. If you think effexor is tuff just look at long term effects of marijuana. my friend told me that her daughter in law who had cancer said there are other drugs to help the stomach aches. Of course marijuana helps a lot of things for one thing it gets people high. Changes the brain chemistry. Just food for thought. Praying would all do have to be tempted to takes those drugs that many of us would not resist to feel better and that we have perseverance up the hills and mountains of life. Life is a mountain and it's better to go up hill rather than down hill.
Deeg33
10 Jan 2018
Hello. Thank you all for sharing your experience. I took Effexor for 16 years (i know... ) but after a move and a new doctor have been working with him to wean over the last few months. I took my last pill 36 days ago. The withdrawal has been pretty awful- but also seems to be textbook to what everyone else has experienced. I’m taking the recommended fish oil, vitamin D3 and daily vitamins l, am exercising and keeping busy etc. the brain zaps have drastically decreased, but I still wake up if anxiety and an upset stomach every morning and am still having days where my emotions still just feel uncontrollable. Just curious as to how long these additional symptoms lasted for people. I know each experience is different but would love to hear if anyone’s symptoms lasted longer than the 3 week period that people suggest.
I feel as if the emotional response and anxiety I’m feeling is 100% associated with the withdrawal as I’m in a completely different and better place when I started the medicine and I’m able to rationalise how I’m feeling and it passes- but man I hope this ends soon! Thank you to everyone who’s come back after successfully withdrawing and I wish everyone success in going through this horrible process.
Jh168126
10 Jan 2015
I was on Effexor for about 10 years. I was on 375mg for most of that time. I easily got down to 150mg about a year ago. Then it got hard. I got down to 75mg but the side effects were unbearable so i went back to the 150mg. With my dr help I tapered to 75mg and then switched to Prozac for one week. Took half the dose of prozac for another week and was done. Initially it was great. Very few side effects. 6 weeks have passed and I find myself crying, irritable and so dizzy i can't get out of bed. I am not sure if these are side effects or my anxiety and depression. The dizziness is unbeatable. I cannot eat or i vomit. I will never let anyone i know or care for use Effexor. Anyone know of these are withdrawal symptoms after so long?
Brianjonesritchie
10 Jan 2015
I was on Effexor for 4 years at 75ml. I weened myself off them over a month period back in march 2013. I had all the usual side effects coming off it that month ie brain zaps. It's now Jan 2015 and when I look back, I think I've been struggling with anxiety the whole time since patiently waiting for it to stop. It hasn't. I'm seriously thinking of going back on Effexor. It was good for me when I was originally on it, I just thought it was time to get off and thought I was gonna handle it better.
If not Effexor (I always read about it being bad) ... then what else?
Jh168126
10 Jan 2015
Brian... I am wondering the same thing. Waiting for my doctor to call me with suggestions. I think I need something, just not effexor.
Mmei
18 Jan 2015
I tried to wean off. Was on 150mg of Effexor for 4 no but it wasn't helping with major depression or anxiety so I wanted to try something else. I stop my last 37.5 pill two days ago and today I've been crying all day, increase in anxiety, dizzy and no appetite. How long does this last?? Doc has switched me I remeron, but I had to go back to 37.5 if Effexor today because I felt so depressed
carlajg92283
18 Jan 2015
My suggestion to folks struggling with withdrawal or a return of anxiety/depression, has anyone considered or are currently in counseling. Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered best practice in treating depression and anxiety. Positive results can be seen in a few weeks, provided the client is able to do the work involved. I know it's helped me and the clients I work with who suffer from depression and/or anxiety. Guided meditation and mindfulness exercises can also diminish symptoms and also the experience of withdrawal. I hope you begin to feel better soon. Hang in there!
lkj
27 Jan 2015
I am a practicing psychologist and also wraning myself off elfexor after 10years (we are all human! ) I have been doing a lot of mindfullness practice both for me and my patients. Try Russ Harris he is an Australian psychologist and has cds and some great books that have been really helpful for me. Also exercise is a great way to naturally produce those "feel good" hormones and reduce anxiety. Good luck
mkl1954
28 Jan 2015
I have been on Effexor xr for 10 years , but I never went higher than 75mg once a day , I also take xannax xr 1mg, But last mth I dissided to stop the Effexor, I have a slight headache dizziness and short temperature, But I was taking it with the xanx. I am hoping that the xanx xr works without Effexor, I to have anxiety
Mmei
28 Jan 2015
Is hearing "clicking" sounds part of withdrawal?? Plus I feel anxiety and depressed. Now I'm on another anti-depressant for the past 3 weeks. Pdoc says it's hard I tell if the new one is working due to me withdrawing. Well that's just GREAT! so does that mean I go thru WD or a coulee more weeks and then find out the Med is not working?! Then I get to start over??? My doc kept me on Effexor for 5 months with horrible results. Going to a new pdoc today.
lkj
28 Jan 2015
I haven't experienced any clicking sounds. I had lots of dizziness and brain zaps for the first 4 days. Im day 7 with no medication today and the symptoms seem to be easing a little. In term of the emotional symptoms remember that its normal to feel some levels of sadness and anxiety in life. See if you can try other ways to manage these negative emotions. If counselling/psychology is too expensive try some mindfulness meditation. I personally think that this is helping me gain some clarity and perspective atm. Good luck xxx
Mmei
28 Jan 2015
Saw new pdoc today. She was great. Yes, "clicking" sounds are typical of withdrawal. She said that anxiety and depression bouts are too. So he said she will re eval me next week to determine the therapeutic effects of my new med( which is Remeron). She was super intelligent and went thru my genetic testing I had done to determine what meds to stay the heck away from. I cannot metabolize Zoloft, Lexapro, or Citalopran. I did GREAT 22 years ago in Prozac and like me, she was wondering why my old Pdoc did not attempt that? She said that if withdrawal symptoms go beyond 2 weeks, some of what I'm feeling may be from new med, like dizzyiness and headache. I guess what I recommend is always a second opinion if your doc isn't working with you on the WD. My old pdoc was adding Clonodine, Klonopin, and another med that can make all or some WD worse!! The only one new doc said can "help" may be the Klonopin for the anxiety.
Brianjonesritchie
28 Jan 2015
I went to the doctor yesterday and he has recommended I go back onto Effexor. It's been 23 months since I was last on them. As I stated earlier, the anxiety returned and just hasn't gone away. The worst part is waking up anxious first thing in the morning. Feeling tired, but very anxious in the morning is hell for me. I do training, running and generally look after myself. I've stopped drinking alcohol, smoking this year (30 days) and a few other positives.
I started taking 75ml starting today and seeing a shrink on Friday.
belleza
13 March 2015
Hi I'm wondering if ur dizziness ever went away?
godgotme
8 Nov 2017
can someone explain brain zaps? I'm am nauseated ,emotional, when my eyes move my brain feels weird, I don't sleep well and I need this to end. it has been day 9 since my last dose of 37.5.my doctor took me down from 150 over about 2 1/2 months.
Happy2Be
31 Dec 2014
I started out on 75 mg. approximately 8 years ago and stayed on that dose for a year. I easily weaned myself down to 37.5mg and had been on that dose (generally sub-therapeutic) for 7 years. 6 months ago I cut 37.5mg tab in half to stave off nausea, diarrhea and vertigo. 1 month ago I cut the 37.5mg tab in one quarter. As long as I took this very small amount I did not experience any withdrawal. Last night was the first time I did not take an effexor tab in 8 years. I have mild underlying queasiness and mild nausea when I turn my head quickly however I expect this to pass. My plan is to take a drug holiday, take yoga, treadmill 3-5 times a week, and biofeedback. I wish all a successful wean off of this med.
1064erica
2 Jan 2015
Has anyone experienced heart arhythmias while on Effexor? I have been on Effexor for three months for depression (was previously on prozac for 20 years) and have felt great on Effexor. However I haven't been experiencing , with increasing regularity, heart palpitations, a sudden racing heart beat accompanied by sudden weakness and an occasional feeling like my heart skipped a beat. I ended up hospitalized for a couple days. Doctors think it may be related to the Effexor. I am a healthy, thin, middle age woman with no previous heart issues, normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. While at the hospital my heart rate would suddenly jump from 70 to mid 120s. This while I was sleeping. Has anyone experienced anything like this?
Nazzland
3 Jan 2015
Perhaps you are having panic attacks unrelated to the Effexor. I ended up in the ER a few times as well thinking something awful and it turned out to be severe panic attacks.
0422alexis
5 Jan 2015
My panic attacks increased on the medication and have sky rocketed during the withdraw symptoms. I have all of that. I wish I would of this forum before I took my doctors recommendation of how to ween myself off the medication. Good luck!
GettinBetta
7 Jan 2015
I feel that a bit of personal background is needed to understand my situation...
Although there has been a history of depression and anxiety related illness in my family for generations, I've always been proud of the fact that I've managed to avoid turning to medication for assistance in dealing with things. I'm 45 years old, and my wife is a similar age.
2 years ago that all changed.
My wife was diagnosed with a quite rare form of blood cancer. It's not curable but is "treatable".
After 3 months of sobbing and alcohol abuse, I sought help from my GP.
He began my treatment with Effexor XR on a dose of 75mg. Within 3 months, my doctor increased my dosage to 150mg. It seemed to do the trick in terms of "masking"what i felt inside.
My wife thankfully went into remission about 6 months ago.
After much internalizing, I decided to take myself off all medication 6 days ago. "Cold Turkey"was the method I prescribed myself.
I'll be honest in saying that it has been pretty tough. I'm experiencing full body jolts/shocks, and a loud "whooshing"sound whenever I shift my eyes suddenly or move my body quickly. My brain does seem to be a half step behind but not to an unmanageable point (which is good as I have a number of people reporting to me and a bunch of needy clients to take care of)
I haven't really experienced nausea, although the jolts and whooshing noises tend to throw me a bit and have me feeling a bit dizzy.
The biggest problem for me has been terrible nightmares, and extreme night-sweats (which i also encountered when I went on the drug to start with).
I must credit some of the earlier posters for their advice in terms of maxing up on vitamin supplements (Omega-3, B-Complex, Multivitamin). I will say that, although they have not removed the symptoms in my case, they have me feeling generally better which, in itself, seems to offset some of the symptoms.
Emotionally, I find that I seem to be getting a little "teary" when seeing a sad scene, or hearing a sad song (or even a happy one), but not to the point where I'm having a meltdown.
It's early days, but I'm sure I'm making the right move.
As far as I'm concerned, Effexor has it's place, but I feel that it's far to easily prescribed and is certainly not explained fully in terms of getting off it.
Good luck to you all!
Mark.
1064erica
7 Jan 2015
in regards to the person who suggested my heart arrythmias might be panic attacks . . . not sure how that can be when they are happening while I'm asleep (I was hooked up to heart monitors while hospitalized) Not surprisingly, I have stopped taking the effexor and my heart arrythmias have decreased significantly.
Nazzland
7 Jan 2015
to Erica:
I suggested it might be panic attacks. I'm glad you pinpointed it to the Effexor. I myself had horrible panic attacks which occurred at night. My nerves were frayed and I was able to stay active during the day. It wasn't until I sat still or
rested that my nerves rattled. My heart rate shot up. My heart was pounding through my chest. I was terrified believing it was a heart attack. That was my experience. I was simply making a suggestion trying to help. Increasing Effexor actually helped my panic attack not decreasing them so I'm sure things are different.
lkj
28 Jan 2015
To 1064erica if you where told in hospital that you where experiencing arythmia then that would be the case. But just letting you know that it is possible for someone to have a panic attack in their sleep. Our cortisol levels peak at around 4am and this can lead to a panic attack (its happened to me a number of times)
marad
20 March 2015
106erica... I also have experienced my heart "skipping a beat" It wakes me up at night. I don't have it during the day. I am wondering if it is cause for concern. I mentioned it to my Dr. and she didn't say anything.
tarristm
29 April 2015
I have experience heart arrhythmias too, on Effexor. I am in the process of weaning myself off of the medication. I have been to the ER twice and seen a cardiologist. I have been diagnosed with PVC (Premature Ventricular Contractions) which can be caused my medication. Apparently these are "benign" arrythmias and don't damage the heart. Either way, I believe the Effexor is causing the arrythmias as when I began taking the medication, I experience these. My Dr. advised they were a known side effect and would go away. They did eventually go away, but within the last few months they have come back with a vengence and last for days. Unfortunately, until I have weaned myself off of the medication, we won't know if this is the true culprit. As a side not,e I didn't realize I could count the balls in the capsules. I am at the very beginning of weaning myself off, so this will be helpful in my plan.
Shorty01184
2 June 2016
If people are still following this thread, my chest pains weren't full blown panic attacks but chest pains they said were anxiety related. Scared the crap out of me!
Blandpam
3 Feb 2017
I had my doctor hook me up to monitors to wear home for a day to watch my heart. I felt exactly the same thing. My doctor isn't. The brightest and didn't link it to anything. But its definitely from the Effexor.
Margeauxj
10 July 2017
I also experienced severe heart palpitations while on this terrible medication. I thought it was just me until I saw that you also experienced them.
linda_canada
29 Dec 2014
Effexor XR was (sadly) the only drug that worked with my anxiety and depression. I've been weaning off now for two years, going from 225mg to 37.5mg in the first year. Since January of last year, I've been trying to wean off the 37.5 dosage - the lowest available in capsule form - and it's been difficult. It's an incredibly slow process but I have at least avoided some terrible side effects. The only way it seems to work FOR ME is by opening the capsule and counting out the beads (I stopped completely yesterday, after getting down to taking only five beads). If I eliminated too many beads in one day, my brain would tell me. What has helped me manage dizziness and brain zaps when they come about is lots of water & fruit, fresh food (nothing processed), no alcohol and daily DHA oils (I'm allergic to much fish/shellfish, so I'm not getting essential oils that the brain needs. Flora has a vegan DHA capsule, so no fishy burps).
Daily walks in the sunshine (on days when I dont' feel well enough to do 30 mins of full cardio) help with the anxiety. Juicing also seems to have helped on days when the brain zaps were particularly terrible. I don't know if there is any scientific basis for any of this - or if all elements of my plan are necessary. It's just what is working for me at this moment. Best of luck.
Nazzland
3 Jan 2015
I also counted beads and it worked after trying many times to get off the drug. Good job.
NashvilleGirl
11 May 2015
Thank you for this post. I have also decreased down to the 37.5mg dosage over a year ago, and that's where I got "stuck". Since Jan 1 of this year I alternated every 24 hours, then next dose in 36 hours, then next in 24 and so forth until in February I could take every 36 hours. I then tried alternating every 36 hour then 48 hours but that is NOT WORKING! Side effects are ongoing, come and go, and I feel my personality is becoming increasing short-tempered. I will now try breaking open the capsules and counting beads on a daily basis and continue a decrease over the summer. I really want to get off this drug.
bdevans
25 June 2015
That is good you mentioned water and fresh fruit? I am currently OFF of my generic sub for the Effexor, because I have developed a terrible stomach ulcer. Now, I am feeling that throbbing, electric, pounding all the time. I will let you know if anything changes, how long it takes for these symptoms to go away.
cuteandfluffybunny
13 July 2015
The electric pounding sensation lasted for about a month and a half after I was completely weaned off of the medication but it got less pronounced over that time period. I found that avoiding caffeine during this time helped a lot. When driving car sickness medicine (Dramamine) helped with the vertigo sensation. It seems like the withdrawal takes forever... but it's worth it. I've been free from Effexor completely for 3 months now. I feel more alert and a lot less restless.
Cass0242
28 Dec 2014
I am coming off of venlafaxine. I first started with 1/2 the pill, then I did a 1/4 of the pill. Now I stopped taking it and I am on day 3 without it. There are not enough words to express how I am feeling right now. I keep hearing this weird noise in my ear or in my head. My vision is shaky, I feel very hot, and my mood is horrible. I am miserable. I just wanted off of it because I felt like I lost myself taking it. I wasn't happy or sad, I couldn't remember the last time I laughed or cried. I felt emotionless. Now I'm in a horrible mood, I'm frustrated, And I feel terrible. When will this stop?? I feel like I just got off of a 10 day nonstop Merry-go-round ride. Yuck!!!
0422alexis
30 Dec 2014
I'm on week 6 and not good. I had a good 2 weeks after an awful first week. Than my blood pressure spiked and I get dehydrated and start dry heaving. I'm going to the doctor this week. This is awful. Way worse than I was before I got on the medication.
0422alexis
31 Dec 2014
This morning I only got nauseated once. Side effects seem to be winding down at 6 weeks:)
Thank goodness.
Nazzland
3 Jan 2015
I know how hard it is. I have been there. Getting off the drug was difficult but I was determined to beat it. I went through rough patches as well. Time heals. It's hard to be patient but it will work out in the end and you'll be much happier. Counting beads inside the pill is the only sure fire way of getting off the drug with little side effects. I've tried both ways and counting beads ultimately got me off the drug. I wish you the best.
Nazzland
3 Jan 2015
look at linda_can below and how she did it. That is how I did it as well. We both seemed to have success. I hope it helps you.
Willow6916
1 Sep 2016
It gets better!!! I definetly lost myself while on this medication. I'm on day two of no effexor and I'm getting the weird noise in my head when I move my eyes. Hoping it goes away. I was down to taking 70 little beads out of a 37.5 mg capsule and then just stopped. There was only maybe 20 beads left in the capsule after taking 70 out. It's a brutal drug to come off of and I was terrified but I caught through all the horrible withdrawals. U will be OK! Takes a bit but stay positive and look forward to getting urself back :)
Inactive
10 Dec 2014
I've been having a horrible time getting off Venlafaxine. I was taking Celexa for about 4 months and wanted to stop because it didn't help with my depression/anxiety plus it had some bad side effects. I was having a hard time getting off of Celexa (which seems like a joke after experiencing Venlafaxine withdrawals) so my doctor prescribed me Venlafaxine to get off of the Celexa. She prescribed me to 225 MG. My depression disappeared for about 2 weeks and my anxiety was better. I took 225 MG for almost 4 months and I can't believe what a total zombie it turned me into! I was extremely dazed all the time and almost felt drugged. I started to feel like the dose was way too high for my body. My body felt strained like I overdosed and couldn't digest the medicine. I couldn't think at all. At first I barely slept then I started sleeping up to 18 hours a day.
I couldn't get out of bed, I was just too tired to move.
It would be a strain to even move my arm because I was so exhausted. I even got into an accident while driving. It was like I checked out for a second while driving and all of the sudden I noticed the car in front of me was stopped but it was too late. It took me a while to understand what had happened because I was so dazed all of the time but I stopped driving after that. I felt like I woke up finally and I was in total shock that I hadn't seen how crazy this medicine was making me feel. Anyway I started my withdrawal and have went from 225 to 150 to 112 to 75 to 37.5 to 1/2 of 37.5 in 4 months. I've been on half pill for about 2 weeks and have been having a really hard time. I'm still very tired ALL of the time. Even at this dose I feel like I need to go to bed after being up for 2 hours some days. I don't even remember what it's like to be myself anymore. I can't think clearly at all. Some days I feel extremely depressed, suicidal, and just hopeless. I want to burst into tears a lot and other times I get so irritable. I'm a nervous wreck. I feel like I'm going totally nuts some days and it's scary. I live alone but my family knows that I'm struggling with withdrawals. I'm 19 years old and this has totally put my life on hold. I had to take off school this year and I have no social life anymore. I've been trying to stay awake longer now that my dose is lower but If I can manage a relaxed seven hour day I feel like I've been up for 78 hours. I feel totally out of control of my life. I want to be off this medicine so bad! I will never take another medicine again after this. I am really having a hard time at this dose of about 18 MG. It's almost as hard as when I lowered from my highest dose. I'm not sure If I should start cutting the half pill in half or just start taking it every other day as my next step. I take daily vitamins, fish oil, and B12 everyday. Does anyone know any other supplements that might help at all? Also I'm wondering if anyone who has lowered their dosage like I have could comment on if the withdrawals keep getting worse from here? Sorry for such a long post but it feels a lot better to be able to share this with people who understand! Any feedback/advice is really appreciated!!
MadISon68
10 Dec 2014
I had similar side effects, symptoms... I was like a zombie on Effexor. I am creative person and after 2 weeks on this med I couldn't do anything except sleep or watch TV. No concentrations. Suicidal.
I decided to stop Effexor cold turkey, not a good idea but I couldn't take an other pill.
I have been depressed, hospitals, prescribed differents meds, but getting of Effexor is the worst.
Withdrawals are excruciating, unreal... It's been a week. I still have crying spells... It's good to cry anyway. I have no appetite and constant nausea.
I take a xanax to alleviate the panic attacks, but mostly the constant anxieties.
I did read that taking vitamins, drinking a lot is good to clean the body. Detoxing Effexor is compared to detox from heroin (read this on a blog).
I will say that after a week it's getting better. My worst peak was after 5 days...
Understand it is different for everyone.
I also read that just taking a 20 min walk can help with anger... Being irrational...
Hang in there. One day at the time... Like AA.
U590660
11 Dec 2014
Are u taking effexor XR? Is it the pill with the beads? If so do u remove half the beads? How are u feeling today and what day are u on?
Best of luck to you.
0422alexis
26 Dec 2014
I realize this original post was back in February, but I recently came off venaflaxine. My doctor slowly had me come off it over a week and a half or so. (One every other day for three days and then one every 3 days twice) It was hard. The most noticeable side effect right away was this dizziness right behind my eyes and then came the disorientation. I didn't feel well for about a week. Then I was fine for about 2 weeks. Then all of a sudden on week 4, I started getting nausous (with and without vomit) dizzy and headaches (beginning week 5.) I'm at the end of week 5 and the nausea is getting worse. My anxiety and stress are worse now than before I went on the medication. I also suffer from depression and it's worse from my normal, but not anywhere near as bad as I've ever had it. I really do not recommend this medication.
Karlene1963
24 Jan 2015
I was taking 75 mg of Effexor XR. I started weaning off it by having my dr prescribe 37.5 mg. After I took the lessor dosage for a while, he wanted me to just quit taking them. After 3 days, I was back in his office with the dizziness, noise in my ears, and crying. He gave me refills and suggested I start decreasing the amount I took. I started with 1 every 2 days, then 1 every 3 days, then 1 every 4 days. I'm down to 1 every 5 days. I started this dosage about 2 weeks ago. I noticed two days ago and yesterday that I'm experiencing a slight bit of dizziness, but nothing severe. It is tolerable. I'm hoping that this will pass soon and I can decrease yet again to 1 every 6 days. It has been really hard to wean off this med, but it can be done! Give your body time to adjust. It hasn't had to make norepinephrine or serotonin for some time. It has to adjust to making those and regulating them. It's been about 9 months since I started decreasing my dosage.
I'm so very glad I started and the end is in sight!! And, as a side note, I believe that this med has contributed to my weight gain. I'm glad to say that I'm 55 lbs lighter!! Good luck and God bless!! <3
catsmack
12 March 2015
Hi there, I don't have any words of advice for you, as I am trying to get off of it myself. Haven't been on it for too long, but was taking 135 XR. I just wanted to comment because I too am 19 and in college and my doctor actually had me stop taking it because last weekend I just about threw myself in front of a car. Pretty sad I guess.
I live with a roommate but my family and friends are all a few hours away. Every day I beg my mom to let me quit school and come home, but I only have 8 more weeks and she really wants me to make it through. I completely feel you when you say you don't want to take another medication again. I would rather wake up sad every morning than have to deal with the turbulent mood swings and feeling of absolute despair/hopelessness this thing gives me. My doctor is a dumb *** because he just told me to stop taking 135, just like that, and after reading about how important it is to gradually go off of it, that was pretty reckless of him.
Anyway, no point in trying to taper off now-- it's already been a couple of days. You posted this more than a year ago, so I hope you are doing better and that, a year from now, I will be too. xox
lisamichele1220
22 March 2015
I wanted to say to everyone out there trying to take the best care of themselves and understand no medication can be used forever to not be afraid to see someone. Especially if you have insurance.For people with depression the intrusive thoughts are dangerous companions. Bringing those thoughts to consciousness can hold them off and even eliminate them. It is very important to say the thoughts out loud in a safe place. Also, if the symptoms get too bad check yourselves into a hospital. If nothing else all your other needs will be met while you are getting well. To the student who threw himsef in front of a car, I'm so sorry. There are people you can talk to at school. Please use them. Don't let those thoughts eat you. You say them out loud. Write them down. Look at them without judgment and don't be eaten by your subconscious. I hope you are all well from now on!
meme59
16 April 2017
Did you ever get off this awful stuff. You sound exactly like me. I cant type much because this med has affected my brain that much and I'm scared and feel crazy
leechius
1 Dec 2014
This is an oldish forum - but thought I would add something for anyone that is going through withdrawal at the moment, though I suppose the information is much like what everyone else has said.
Have been tapering off for about 8 months - 150mg - 136.5 - 75 - 36.5 - and when I ran out 8 days ago, I decided to go off it.
The first 2 days were fine, day 3 I started to get the head-zaps, day 4 was montrous, and I barely could get off the couch - Head zaps, and nausea. Then day 5 it seemed to ease, and I started to return to my normal routine. Day 6 I was completely snappy and impatient, and since then I have been calmer, and the head-zaps are very minor.
As a side note: I have been trying to lose weight (I am about 30kg overweight) for 2.5 months, and have been losing only 200-300g a week, despite going to the gym and doing moderate cardio and weights, and having about a 1500 calorie deficit. In the week that I stopped the pill, I went down 700g. I am not sure if its connected or not, but I have often wondered if I put on so much weight because of the pills.
Also, I am way more motivated and have a much greater clarity in my head.
sara12345
2 Dec 2014
That's great that you didn't need it. I went off more gradually than you did--that is I went to still lower doses and never had any head zaps. But after stopping it altogether and being very depressed for over a month, I went back on to it. I really need an anti-depressant and this one saved my life.
lkj
27 Jan 2015
Thanks for your comment. I have been weaning myself off 150mg of elfexor since just after Christmas. Went down to 75mg and then altinated with 37.5mg. Last Thursday l took my last 37.5mg tablet thinking l would altinate for a few weeks but felt good Friday and Saturday so decided not to take anymore. Im doing it tough now though! Head zaps (what a great way to describe them) and feeling really weepy. I am able to drive and go to work but at the end of the day my brain feels tired. Im also having really poor sleep. Has anyone else experienced this? I came to bed tonight thinking that maybe l needed to go back on 37.5mg but all these comments have made me think I'll try to persevere and hopefully I can tolerate the symptoms. Wish me luck
lkj
27 Jan 2015
Thanks for your comment. I have been weaning myself off 150mg of elfexor since just after Christmas. Went down to 75mg and then altinated with 37.5mg. Last Thursday l took my last 37.5mg tablet thinking l would altinate for a few weeks but felt good Friday and Saturday so decided not to take anymore. Im doing it tough now though! Head zaps (what a great way to describe them) and feeling really weepy. I am able to drive and go to work but at the end of the day my brain feels tired. Im also having really poor sleep. Has anyone else experienced this? I came to bed tonight thinking that maybe l needed to go back on 37.5mg but all these comments have made me think I'll try to persevere and hopefully I can tolerate the symptoms. Wish me luck
qitter
29 Jan 2015
When any of u were getting off effexor did u get any excessive sweating?
I had my thyroid removed last year - got the meds
All OK
I had been on 300(2 tabs) of effexor for over 4 years
Decided the end of 2014 to wean off it mainly because juggling it with my thyroxin was a Hassel
And I felt I was strong enough without it (big dose needs gov authority)
I halved the dose then went another 2 wks at 150 then every other day
Then zero
Symptoms:
Episodes of over heating that leave me breathless & WET
My hair which I have cut short to cope needs toweling dry
If by brain snaps u mean like somebody/ thing "flicks" ur switch off & on fast
Then I get them
Dizzy spells a plenty - multiple times daily
I suffer from vertigo & complained to Dr my serc wasn't working - he said synus . I said huh?? Lol first for me, a chronic synus sufferer.
Headaches most every day from when I wake up
Trouble with my weight( couldn't loose it) my thyroid was blamed but since stopping effexor I've dropped 2 dress sizes - go figure.
Feel cranky but aside from the occasional verb outbreak & dirty look I keep it to myself.
My logic part of my brain tells me its not me even if non one else believes me.
I took 150 tab today & symptoms have lessened
PLEASE how do I go from here
Thanksg
lkj
29 Jan 2015
Hi quitter. I haven't had any major sweating but I have had some moments where I get the chills or overly hot. I'm also 48 so this could be the start of menopause for me. Also saw my Chinese medicine doctor today and she said these symptoms are also part of the livers way of flushing the drugs out of your system. Unfortunately for yoy your situation is confounded by your thyroxine. I understand that it can be a delicate process getting the levels right and from what I've seen with friends sweating is one of the symptoms. Hope this was helpful
flealea
30 Jan 2015
I have bee on effexor for 2 years. Due to weight gain and general "flatness", I decided to wean myself off. I did it pretty fast (70 to 35 to 0 in 2 weeks) and I feel horrible. The worst for me is intense vertigo- I've been feeling like it's probably unsafe for me to drive, although I have been continuing to do so. I'm also nauseated, irritable, zappy in the head, and just this evening (day 8 on nothing), I'm itching like crazy, which is why I'm here writing and not in bed.
I tried adding some B complex to my regular multi- not much difference. I find some relief with tylenol, but it's pretty short lived.
On the plus side, my emotions are returning. I actually cried the other day because the tortilla in my ranchos hueveros was too stiff to eat... My libido also seems to be returning, which should be helpful in the marriage department. I was initially placed on effexor to help with night sweats related to menopause. Those are returning, but it sounds like that could be another withdrawal symptom.
This drug is a heavy hitter and I really think docs need to be much more conservative in prescribing it. Anything with such intense and system wide withdrawal effects had to be taking some sort of toll on our bodies.
Positive energy and support to all of you going through this. It does help that I'm not in this alone. Now to go scratch my skin off and sweat through my sheets...
sara12345
31 Jan 2015
You did your body no favors by going off of it so fast. Your symptoms may last longer with going off of it so quickly.
lkj
31 Jan 2015
I agree with sara12345 see above for how l reduced my dosage and I was on 150. Im now day 10 since I took my last tablet and symptons are minimal. I am extremely tired however but this may be unrelated
sara12345
2 Feb 2015
Thanks for your agreement with me lkj. Actually, I took a lot longer than 10 days.
cjduran
5 Feb 2015
I have a different problem from what I have read so far. I have MS and have been on Norco for pain for at least 4 years. I just got a new dr. and he is tapering me off of the norco and prescribed effexor. I was all for it until I read this forum. I am quite frightened of the side effects and(horrors) the withdrawal symptoms. I suffer withdrawal all the time on norco. So I am very familiar with that particular hell.
I am not necessarily depressed. Just that I have significant pain.
So what do you think. Should I start the effexor?
Autumn24
4 March 2015
I have been on Effexor XR at 225mg a day for over 13 years (started at 16, now Im 29). I reduced from 3×75s down to 2×75s for the past 2 days and I already feel like death! Headache, feeling icky, not real uppety, even my eyes hurt and Im just short tempered. I dont 'need' to get off the meds, however my doctor said she wants me to try something Zyprexa. Anyways, just throwing my 2 cents in. While the meds work, had I know that it would be like hell to get off of, I wouldnt have gotten on It.
marad
20 March 2015
I just read your post and it helped so much to understand my feelings while on Effexor. I have been worried about myself (I am a senior) because of memory lapses... gaining a tremendous amount of weight. Mentally I am totally different... it takes a couple of minutes for a thought to sink in... scary. I am terrified to attempt to wean off because of suicidal thoughts. At my age this not a nice thing to spend the rest of my life experiencing.
ddh58
18 June 2015
I wish I had seen this thread a month ago, before I started tapering off venlafaxine (150mg/day). Better still, I wish my doctor and the psychiatrist who advised her on getting me off it had seen it!
I reduced my dosage from 150-112.5-75-37.5 over 4 weeks. It was going pretty well until week 4, when the vertigo started. Two days into week 5 (taking none) the brain zaps started and the vertigo became debilitating. As much as I hate the sexual side effects and weight issues--yes, I am convinced weight gain is part of it--I'm going to resume at 75 mg and try again much, much more gradually. Wish me luck!
dawnjmrn1
3 July 2015
Does anyone have suggestions on how to function with the withdrawal symptoms? My doctor refuses to call me in a refill or a replacement. I have been on Effexor XR for 7 years and now am abruptly withdrawing not by choice. I am a nurse and need my head much clearer to be able to function. If anyone has suggestions, I much appreciate it.
Lozziejean
29 Sep 2015
Thanks for the comment - in the process of weaning now and am finding it really great to hear from others who have been through it and are feeling better!
turtlemomma
25 Feb 2017
Yes, exactly my issue before, for years. terrible pain, weird, u pleasant and extreme side-effects
tlapris
22 Nov 2014
I've been on Effexor, and later Effexor XR, 225mg a day, as well as two other meds (Lamictal 200mg & Seroquel 50mg), post hospitalization for severe Depression, for 14 years.
Five years ago I began seeing a wonderful counselor who has helped me accept and love myself, and I'm hoping this will help me through the following: Recently, I decided I want to find out who I am without these meds in my system. I made an appointment with a respected psychiatrist in my area, for the sole purpose of discontinuing the meds. The supervision of a professional is very important to me due to the horror stories I've read about discontinuing each of the 3. I first saw him a month ago. We started with Effexor. I decreased 37.5mg every for days. When I dropped to the last four days and the final dosage of 37.5mg, I felt waves of dizziness and nausea, with slight headache. This got better over the four days.
My last pill was 2 days ago. I have slight headache, dizziness and nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, and fast cycling hot flashes. Actually, it's not near as bad as I expected. Not saying it's pleasant, but doable. I haven't had the underlying, slightly depressed uneasiness I've felt for years on the meds, my cognition is definitely clearer, and I've been more assertive and less reactive.
Yes, this is only the beginning, yet worth the journey, even if at some point in the future, I need to start meds again.
tracieaw
10 May 2015
I have been on Effexor 150 for about 14yrs. after I had a hysterectomy. There was such a bad rap going around about hormones so I decide against them however dealing with a stressful life I had to hv something to deal . It's a wonderful drug when you are experiencing anxiety or depression. It help me during that time in my life but now I think the med. is now causing other problems like tinnitus. I think it's always caused fatigue but I took the bad to help me cope with short temper, anxiousness, hot flashes from hysterectomy, and lack of hormones. I'm now 42, my kids are older (my baby is 16) and I think I have less stress in my life so I would like to tapper off this med. it makes me highly anxious just thinking about the effects of withdrawal. Can I get some encouragement or advice.
carrotstick
14 May 2015
I have been on Effexor for 7 years. I am very active, I walk 4 to 5 miles at least 4 days a week and work out with weights on my off days of walking. I have gained 15 pounds the past 3 years and I can't lose the weight, not even a pound. I take 37.5 mg. Three days ago I opened the capsule and took out 5 beads and have done so the past three days. It's midnight and I'm trying to sleep. I feel like I have bugs crawling on my skin. Earlier today I was tired and irritable and felt lousy so I took a nap, same feeling of itchy skin. Any suggestions regarding how many beads to remove? Thanks help less in San Diego.
Palmeter
9 June 2018
I am withdrawing from Effexor after being on it for 3 years for my hot flashes I’m going through hell zapping my heart feels like it is racing , can’t sleep hot flashes every 10 minutes and very angry at times, it’s been 2 weeks , how long does it take before the withdrawal goes away
Hwright70
15 July 2018
I am off effexor after about 20yrs of taking it. I tapered off and did okay until stopping the 37.5. I'm irritable and my family is hiding from me. How long will I feel like this? I suffer with insomnia for years to top it off.
defeated
19 Nov 2014
My only daughter died on April 3, 2013 of an accidental drug and alcohol overdose. On October 27, 2013 her grief stricken boyfriend died too. I was non-functioning at that point. My Dr. put me on Effexor and I have hated it ever since I started it. I was feeling the occasional brain zaps and dizziness from time to time over the year but didn't know it was from the drug until I went off of it completely.
My doctor weened me off by changing my dosage from 150 to 75 and then after a month down to 35 and then told me after a month of 35 to stop taking it. I did that on October 27th 2014 and it has been hell.
The first two weeks I couldn't leave the house because the dizziness and nausea and brain buzzing was overwhelming. I finally went back to work last week but I a cannot drive, I can barley handle the elevator ride to my floor. It has been 4 weeks and I feel like this is my life sentence.
I went to a new Dr. today because mine retired and he said there really isn't anything he can do except refer me to a shrink for medication management.
If I knew there was an end date to all of this, it would be easier to take. I would have thought that a month of being completely medication free, I would be feeling much better by now. That is not the case and I am feeling defeated.
How can any Dr. in good conscious prescribe this crap? It is pure poison.
Sarah3882
23 Nov 2014
I've been on Effexor for 14 years, and had to get off for prenatal care. I've been tapering for 100 days, you need to go down 12.5 mg per week. When you get to 12.5, split that in half tapering another two weeks. Use 150, 75, 37.5 then 25 mg pills to achieve this. You're going to be just fine. Effexor has been a miracle for me, and I know this is not the case for all, but you're going to be OK. Try to focus on the progress you're making, not how bad you feel, this helps. Even the last 6.25 was hard, so you're not alone here. Taking off from 35 mg is REALLY hard, so you're not by yourself here. Try some anti nausea pills like zofran, and xanax to keep the anxiety down, this will def help. Good luck!
Lara1111
26 Aug 2015
I started taking Effexor XL Venlafaxine 75mg for anxiety nearly 8 months ago. I had few side effects but bearable, they allowed me to work and that was great for me. I felt happy 100% and no side effect during treatment.
After 6 months my GP reduced the dose to 37.5, he prescribed me Venlablue. NO side effects reducing the dose. After 6 weeks of Venlablue I stopped because I found out I was pregnant.
On the first day after stopping I started feeling dizzy and was sick. On the follwing days I felt dizzy with a bit of nausea but resting, lying down made my body relaxed and less nausea.
What I think is that most of you come off the medication too quickly. You have to take the low dose for at least 2 months. It is a strong medication and your body needs time to get off it. It is so unpleasnt to read all this negative stories online and see how people do not know to appreciate the fact that these antidepressants save so many lives. I used to feel worse when I was reading bad stories online but now they don't scare me anymore. :-)
I'm grateful to Venlafaxine. Good luck to you all.
Rwittmiller
10 July 2016
I agree, it's a fantastic cure to many problems that can't be seen, only felt.
Sinnabun
31 Aug 2016
My mom passed 2.5 years ago, and my 80 y.o. Dad was put on this drug for depression. He noticed he began getting dizzy, brain fog, but didn't think the drug was the cause. We have taken Dad to many Drs to diagnose the dizziness. Not one mentioned it could be this. He sometimes falls several times a day. We have discussed this with his Dr. again. The Dr. seemed ignorant of this side effect. Dad is now being weened off. Time will tell if this is the reason for his severe dizziness. Other wise, Dad is very healthy and active for 80.
Willieverfeelnormal
7 Sep 2016
I'm so sorry for your losses
Willieverfeelnormal
7 Sep 2016
For some reason it cut short my entire comment?!
Dee04951
15 Sep 2016
Brain buzzing is driving me crazy. Had to take batteries out of wall clock each click caused buzzing.
Dee04951
15 Sep 2016
Brain buzzing is driving me crazy. Had to take batteries out of wall clock each click caused buzzing.
Calliopea
21 Nov 2016
I had surgery for Chairi Malformation June 2. It is a rare disorder and had caused me a lot of dizziness and balance issues. I did fine for two months and then started having dizziness and balance issues again. So my doctor has started taking me off different meds to see if they lessen the dizziness. I have been on Effexor a couple years supposedly for hot flashes. I have multiple pills I take and fill them in a pill pack monthly. Three weeks ago I started having nausea and vomiting. I haven't had a fever. Last night I was filling my pill pack when I realized my pill for Effexor had not been in my pack for the past few weeks. (I get pills via mail order and sometimes when I go to fill them each month, one or more drug hasn't arrived yet, so I may have had a week of Effexor and run out after that.
Would stopping this pill have caused the nausea/vomiting? So I'm thinking if I've already not taken it for 3 weeks, I don't want to go back on it if it's so toxic. I've really been through the ringer, lost 9 pounds and had to have an upper endoscopy to see if that was causing the nausea/vomiting. If it is all due to this stupid EFFEXOR, I will be so relieved that I'm not actually dying, but at the same time, feel really stupid!!
Calliopea
21 Nov 2016
I had surgery for Chairi Malformation June 2. It is a rare disorder and had caused me a lot of dizziness and balance issues. I did fine for two months and then started having dizziness and balance issues again. So my doctor has started taking me off different meds to see if they lessen the dizziness. I have been on Effexor a couple years supposedly for hot flashes. I have multiple pills I take and fill them in a pill pack monthly. Three weeks ago I started having nausea and vomiting. I haven't had a fever. Last night I was filling my pill pack when I realized my pill for Effexor had not been in my pack for the past few weeks. (I get pills via mail order and sometimes when I go to fill them each month, one or more drug hasn't arrived yet, so I may have had a week of Effexor and run out after that.
Would stopping this pill have caused the nausea/vomiting? So I'm thinking if I've already not taken it for 3 weeks, I don't want to go back on it if it's so toxic. I've really been through the ringer, lost 9 pounds and had to have an upper endoscopy to see if that was causing the nausea/vomiting. If it is all due to this stupid EFFEXOR, I will be so relieved that I'm not actually dying, but at the same time, feel really stupid!!
Le Perrot
31 Dec 2016
"... after a month of 35 to stop taking it."
My Dr told me the same and it is soooo wrong! It was HELL with electric shocks (brain zaps) that made me impaired. From 35 mg you have to further taper it down slowly all the way. From 35mg to 20, 10, 3, and then some granules only for a few days.
It took me one month to go from 150mg to 35mg, then ANOTHER month to go slowly from 35mg to zero.
turtlemomma
25 Feb 2017
First, I sm so sorry to hear of your daughter -- omg then her boyfriend too. Now you dear lady, are in a similar boat. Finding a " good doctor " not chance. Like job hunting, church shopping.
I met the survivors before, and some become just as guilt ridden and depressed, suicidal as their loved ones who passed on. Effexor, venlefaxine -- one of the toughest SSRIs with not just withdrawals, also side effects..It treats anxiety + depression, been around for over a decade.
+ I am in a similar boat. Price $$$ then miss 1 day and instant sidd effects, brain zaps, dizxy, blurred vision, cloudy, highly agitated. smh I don't know. I moved out of state, need to go doctor shopping, not sure I SHOULD take venlefaxine anymore. Why?.been a month, still all the symptoms, but NOT going away and scaring me. I have to move to a new city, a safety issue and now ... Woke up screaming false! My head goes, " pfhhh pfhh pfhh" like it is flexing.
Afraid of the outcome = will a doctor put me back on a full prescribed regemin with Effexor? Will the brain ? spasms stop? Why I am here too. Think Project Semicolon ; .and PAUSE before action. peace
Lisbeth69
17 June 2017
I was on the effexor er for almost a year, I wanted off this poison, so my doctor took me down from 150mg to 75mg but not the er just the regular effexor tablets, so after the month past, I now cut the 75mg tabs in half making it 37.5 I am only 4 days into the 37.5mg, and yes I am having withdrawal's but they are bareable, after the 30 days are up I will go to the 25mg dose which is the Smallest tablet they make... but it still can be cut in half. I have heard you will not get off by removing the beads. Try the tablets instead.
Dorathea
16 Aug 2017
I wash on effexor for 10 years,i have stopped 3 months ago , i feel fine the only thing I got now is that my eye side is getting blurry, don't know if this is normal,will get it checked out next week
godgotme
6 Nov 2017
my story is similar to yours. i was put on this medication during my bout with breast cancer and all the chemotherapy and radiation following. it has been 3 years and i took my last dose 10/31.
i want to know if anyone knows when the withdrawal symptoms will end or be less debilitating?
Laura1977
13 Sep 2019
I know this post is about 5 years old now, but I feel the same way. Like I’m defeated. The anxiety, nausea, heart palpitations, mood swings, insomnia, hypo mania, etc etc are killing me. The anxiety, with hot flashes and chills leading to cramps and near vomiting, is beating me down. I stopped my Effexor after 10 years or more. I weened from 225mg to 37.5mg over more than a year. I was so sick I tried to restart them after 3 weeks (took one 37.5 mg) and ended up at outpatients at 4 am because the panic attacks wouldn’t stop. Tried Cipralex and ended up having panic attacks and bladder spasms. Took only 2 Cipralex. That was a month ago. I have nearly every withdrawal symptom listed. The panic attacks are keeping me trapped. Plus I feel sick. Plus I have a number of work place injuries, including post concussion that leave me with minimal quality of life. This medication is like adding insult to injury. And the withdrawals are nearly intolerable.
Has anyone else experienced this... long term use and how long the withdrawals last. It took 9 months to stabilize on my last Effexor drop, and with this level of anxiety I’m not hopeful that I will feel better anytime soon. Any long term users who got off of it, please give me some encouragement. I can’t restart them. I’m too terrified of the 6 hours of back to back panic attacks.
smhardin
17 Sep 2014
I have been on effexor xr for a year and he had increased my dosage a couple months ago. And now I'm without insurance. I have to wait till the next enrollment period on the healthcare.gov sight before I can see about insurance through there. My hospital here has outpatient social workers that can help me grt my refill but I hate the fact that they schedule the appointment so far away from the day I need it to be refilled. I have been taking a lesser dosage to conserve what pills I have left. I hate the withdrawal symptoms.
Related topics
effexor, withdrawal, insurance, brain, symptom
Further information
- Effexor prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Effexor (detailed)
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.