possible side effects? i currently have been without my effexor for about 4 days, would nausea be a side effect... how long does it usually last?
What happens when you suddenly stop taking effexor 150mg?
Question posted by sarajbrunet on 30 Dec 2012
Last updated on 8 January 2018
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9 Answers
Samson30
9 Oct 2017
I have been on Venlafaxine 75 mg for over 13 years daily. Now I have a 10 day without between doctors and my head on this 2nd day is a weird dizziness. My head moves and my brain delays is one way to describe it. My eyes are fine but neck feels strange. My head has a full feeling... we won't be traveling to a Memorial now this weekend. I feel odd and it is too unpredictable. Maybe after this 10 day stretch I can just remain off of it. Began it after trying other anti-depressants due to fibromyalgia pain and sleeping issues. Now last 2 nights woke up from night-terror dreams. Wonder if related? Ugh. Lucky us!! Appreciate the sharing.
ev of PA
15 Feb 2017
This was very helpful for me. I am on day three due to a finanicial goof up. I was considering toughing this out but now I can see it is better to go slow and steady. I have been on it as part of a chronic pain protocol and it is my final med to go off of. I was using a fetnyal patch for 15+ years and getting off that was easier than this!
clance42
29 Dec 2016
I stopped taking my Effexor Dec. 1, 2016 and the withdrawal side effects were interesting to say the least. This is not recommended as I didn't even hit the tip of the iceberg when compared to others withdrawal stories.
First the headaches started but they were not severe.
Second were the extremely nauseating dizzy spells. These lasted for about one week.
Third was the depression and anxiety. This wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Knowing what I'd felt before I started the medication helped.
Now I feel fantastic! I suggest weaning yourself off.
Tblightning22
17 Dec 2016
Hello..I am stopping taking effexor all together. I started about two and a half months ago taking the 37.5 and felt nothing. Then my doctor upped me to the 50 mg a day for anxiety and I have been feeling horrible ever since almost a month ago. I was taking it twice a day but when I got really sick with a stomach issue (which now I am thinking was directly related to the freaking effexor) a few weeks ago I decided to only take it once a day. I thought that might help my stomach issues. Well the nausea,lightheaded dizzy feeling seems to be with me 24/7 now. I have still continues to get really sick and can't drink anything with caffeine as it makes symptoms much worse. I have been feeling horrible. This drug seems very dangerous and I wish I would have known all this crap before I started taking it. I haven't had any for a couple days and I am really lightheaded constantly. The nausea and inability to keep anything down seems to be subsiding thank God. Fingers crossed.
I just started a new job and have to be on my feet moving around quiet a lot. Im really worried because of how bad ive been feeling not being able to work efficiently. People have been telling me I don't look well because I look sick and have lost weight because of the severe nausea associated with this drug. Does anyone know how long these horrific symptoms last? I am really hoping and praying this stops soon because it is horrible!!! I was a healthy person before all this...
Frameboy
22 Dec 2015
Dang! Sudden withdrawal from 150mg sounds awful. I'm on 300mg. I will need to be extra careful that I don't run out.
brace73
13 Sep 2015
I just got back from Turo,Nova Scotia after 2 weeks and forgot to take my affexor 150mg with me and didn't feel any different than if i wasn't on them but my Dr. won't try me with anything else because he says that effexor is the best meds for anixiety
papasam
30 Dec 2012
It is not recommended to come off effexor cold turkey, my doctor had me to do it saying that he saw no problem with it but believe me there are many side effects including nausea, brain zaps, flu like symptoms and dizziness. There should have to be a warning that comes with the drug concerning withdrawals they can be debilitating.
Pansy404
26 Oct 2014
Well this time iI took 10 months to withdraw from Effexor and had no withdrawals.
chief602005
14 April 2015
I am on travel from the United States to Norway and the one thing I forgot was my most important medication (Effexor XR 150 mg). I am on day 4 now with 3 days of nausea, dizziness, and felling like I am going to pass out at any time. I don't get back to the United States for another 4 days then I am back on it. Is there anything I do in the mean time??
kmanz51
3 Sep 2015
I was wondering how Chief602005 faired w/the w/drawals. Switched over from Effexor to Lexapro 4 days ago and suffering from dizziness, lightheadedness, feelings of passing out, fatigue, nausea/flu-like symptoms. Wondering if best to stop the Lexapro as well. And since I've been off the Effexor XR 150mg x 4-5 days would it be best to stay off at this point? Not interested in the recently found SE of Lexapro. My NP switched me this week w/no warnings of SE and the need to wean off Effexor slowly. Guess this is the care u get when working in healthcare... i.e. they think you already know everything... I have XR capsules and unable to cut but have read that some people open them and take out a few of the balls in order to decrease the dose. Not sure how much time I have to work with these w/drawals for I work midnights and prefer not to lose any shifts. I'm gonna start w/my local pharmacist and go from there. Any thoughts or concerns?
Pansy404
30 Dec 2012
I came off Effexor cold turkey and I warn you the withdrawal is pretty bad. You will suffer a lot of things including nausea. It took me two weeks of staying indoors and lying almost still, with brain zaps and flu like symptoms. If you can get through the first couple of weeks you will hopefully feel OK after that. It is not recommended that you stop Effexor suddenly but taper off if you want to come off it.
Some people suffer withdrawal symptoms for quite a long time. I feel I was lucky.
Let us know how you get on. Do you really want to stop?
Inactive
30 Dec 2012
Sounds similar to coming off Tramadol! Which was horrible!!!
sarajbrunet
30 Dec 2012
i am reading about brain shivers?? i am not expieriencing that but does anyone know how long the nausea is? does it make cravings worse or anything? i am expieriencing cravings but i eat and makes me full fast..normal side effect? tiredness? i guess i ask ive never cut cold turkey after being on it a couple years, i simply cannot afford it anymore?
Inactive
30 Dec 2012
From what I've read food cravings can be common. Nausea really depends on the person, try ginger tea to help. Keeping your head still when possible will help too. Another symptom I get when past my dose time is fatigue, I'll start yawning like crazy, similar withdrawl to opioids which I'd never expect. Keep in mind every day you go without you're closer & closer to withdrawl ending so hang in there, your pharmacist may have other suggestions too if its to costly to contact your doctor. I live in Canada so doctor contact is a lot different here. Take care. Kim
TrayC
19 Aug 2014
I was away on vacation and ran out of my Venlafaxine. I NEVER could have foreseen the withdrawals I had after only 3 days! The brain shivers affected my speech and concentration, and the uncontrollable sobbing came in waves like labor contractions. I didn't have any nausea, thank God. Totally ruined the last day of my trip. Luckily I didn't have to drive home. I took a pill as soon as I could. Within an hour I was feeling better, but 3 days later I am very tired and somewhat depressed. Please... Please don't stop taking them without help from your doctor. I wouldn't want ANYONE to feel the way I did!
Nissy7489
25 Oct 2014
I agree! I'm going through the same side effects and it's horrible. The worst part is that I have to attend to a wedding that I cannot cancel, with that said there will be totes with champagne and all... I'm wondering if its safe for me to drink alcohol beverages?
hoap
9 April 2017
Brain shivers? That is a good description. I always told my mom that my head felt like it was nauseous.
Crazy lady 2029
13 Dec 2017
I have been on Effexor XR for over 11 years I have not been off my medicine years. When I was it was cause I couldn't afford them, so I ask my doctor if there was anything he could do to help. He did. Now a days there are ways the drug companies can help. Check with your Doctor.
DaynaR
9 Jan 2018
I have been on 275mg of Effexor for years and I want to stop taking it. It makes me sweat al the time . I have stopped taking it’ completely I started tapering off a few weeks ago and I am not taking any at all now. The withdrawals are making me so sick! I’m nauseous, dizzy , depressed hot flashes chills! I’m miserable but I do not want to keep taking it. I’m just wondering how long this will last
Inactive
30 Dec 2012
I'd say if you've gone 4 days without you're doing great! When I go several hours past my regular dose time I start feeling anxiety. Yes, nausea can be a withdrawl side effect. It's best to see your doctor and slowly decrease your dose.
Related topics
effexor, nausea/vomiting, side effect
Further information
- Effexor prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Effexor (detailed)
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