Effexor Withdrawal- any suggestions?

was on 150mg for a year.people only seem to google when they have withdrawals and don't leave replies when the are done with withdrawals.they are bad enough you have to step down to 75 then lower 37.5 and then every second day .after 2 weeks of the last tablet the withdrawals will be well gone just like a cold.hope this helps the zaps are nasty got them real bad but after the 2 weeks which is nothing there gone..

Terri wrote:

<quoted text>
The only thing I would caution...(should you be as "lucky" as I was with getting through the physical withdrawals) is to not make any hasty or super important decisions about your life for a while.... Although I was physically without the withdrawal symptoms after 4 months, I did make some really bad decisions shortly after quitting the effexor. When looking back, I was not in my "right mind" when I made these decisions, and I think my mind was still altered by the effexor. These were life-changing decisions and really bad decisions. I am still paying for them in some ways today. So just be sure to not get hasty with making decisions for a while. Just my 2 cents.

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT advice! I did the same thing and didn't realize it was part of withdrawal until about six months later, after my withdrawal was complete (as complete as withdrawing from Effexor can be).

BTW, I'm baaaaack. Hope to see some of the oldies still here.

I have tried to post 3 different times and it has an error so I have to start all over and try to remember what I wrote.........Grrrrr

Retired and Smarter, thank you for answering! What were your waves like? Did you feel the physical tension also and cry? I feel so weak when it happens, like I'm crazy and have no control. How long did it take you to go from 27 beads to 0? How often did you drop down and how much each time? I am super sensitive to everything now also.

I thought it would be easier the less I took but it is still hard! I was feeling this when it was time to take the effexor again that's why I thought once I was off it then it would go away. I never had anxiety before in my life until withdrawing!!

I did drop 2 more beads at Christmas and it is just now 6 wks later which is how long it takes to feel the full effect of withdraw but darn it was only 2 beads!!! How long did you wait in between drops? How much did you drop when you got this low? Was it harder the less you took?

I was like this EVERY DAY,ALL DAY LONG with my first withdraw for about 6 months! Talk about mental torture! I was mentally back years ago and thinking everything that ever happened was my fault. From a strong confident person to a crying self hating wreak! I was always the strong one who took care of everyone else before this. People came to me for help.

I lost all of my family and friends and work. I went from having a house full of people all the time to having no one..... You are right the mental is the hardest....I feel so rejected.... for the first time in my life I'm afraid to be alone .....and I am.

How have other people handled it? And their family? I think it would be nice to have someone who could hug you when the shaking starts and who would not condemn you or make fun of you or put you down when you cried. My boyfriend at the time saw me as weak and crazy and unable to control my emotions. I tried to tell him I couldn't help it but ......everyone is gone now. that hurts the most.


I want to be around people so I won't be so scared.
Wish there was a hospital or something to go to till this was over. Maybe someday there will be when more Dr's understand it. If they hired people like BTDT and you who knew what it was like.

That's why this forum and people like Retired and Smarter and BTDT who have been through it are so important. Thank you.

btds wrote:

<quoted text>
Interesting:
Pyroluria
There is a urine lab test available which measures levels of kryptopyrroles. Any alcoholic, or anyone with symptoms indicating the possibility of this condition should have the lab test done.
Histadelia can't find a test for it
Thyroid we know as well as vit B12 deficiency.

I never saw this till now. I did ask my Dr for the test for Pyroluria.Even printed out the pages to show her. She was furious!!! I never saw a Dr so mad! I was in withdraw from Effexor and this was the first time to see this Dr in order to start back on the Effexor and slowly taper. She said "how dare I come in her office and ask for a test like this!" She said there was no where in the United States who does the test.[there is several places] She yelled at me and refused to give me the Effexor. She thought I was abusing drugs and wanted to put me in a drug addition program!!! I tried to tell her it was withdraw from Effexor! I was in tears when I left and never went back! That's WV Drs for you. Has anyone else asked their dr for this? I know now that you don't need a Dr to order the test. You can order it yourself. Drs don't like it cause it involves taking vitamins and not their poison drugs so they can't make money from it. After all I have been through I do not trust any Dr anymore.

I am actually taking the medication myself and can honestly say how hard it is too cope without them.
I sometimes have been down too my last pill and forgot too ordered them and the side effects are hurrendous.
You are totally in another world as if your brain has been taken over by some alian lol. The dizziness is so bad when turning your head with really disturbing pictures. Like hundreds of snakes you see coming towards you, colours, pictures of alsorts of things that really scare you and can burst into tears at anytime.
I have been on it for years now through depression and have too say has helped in ways but at the same time when without them you can't cope so you don't know what too do.
I would love too come of them really but right now am going through the menopause so the doctor feels it would be best too stay on them for now as they will help for that too.
Has anybody suffered these things too or sim too mine that would like too share theres as like yourself would really like too come of them too evenally as even feel that in a way they take your nice real bubly personall away.

Sally ann wrote:

.... I would love too come of them really but right now am going through the menopause so the doctor feels it would be best to stay on them for now as they will help for that too....

...and you believed that? Is he a gynecologist? Get some more information.

hmariewv wrote:

I have tried to post 3 different times and it has an error so I have to start all over and try to remember what I wrote.........Grrrrr
Retired and Smarter, thank you for answering! What were your waves like? Did you feel the physical tension also and cry? I feel so weak when it happens, like I'm crazy and have no control. How long did it take you to go from 27 beads to 0? How often did you drop down and how much each time? I am super sensitive to everything now also.
I thought it would be easier the less I took but it is still hard! I was feeling this when it was time to take the effexor again that's why I thought once I was off it then it would go away. I never had anxiety before in my life until withdrawing!!
I did drop 2 more beads at Christmas and it is just now 6 wks later which is how long it takes to feel the full effect of withdraw but darn it was only 2 beads!!! How long did you wait in between drops? How much did you drop when you got this low? Was it harder the less you took?
I was like this EVERY DAY,ALL DAY LONG with my first withdraw for about 6 months! Talk about mental torture! I was mentally back years ago and thinking everything that ever happened was my fault. From a strong confident person to a crying self hating wreak! I was always the strong one who took care of everyone else before this. People came to me for help.
I lost all of my family and friends and work. I went from having a house full of people all the time to having no one..... You are right the mental is the hardest....I feel so rejected.... for the first time in my life I'm afraid to be alone .....and I am.
How have other people handled it? And their family? I think it would be nice to have someone who could hug you when the shaking starts and who would not condemn you or make fun of you or put you down when you cried. My boyfriend at the time saw me as weak and crazy and unable to control my emotions. I tried to tell him I couldn't help it but ......everyone is gone now. that hurts the most.
I want to be around people so I won't be so scared.
Wish there was a hospital or something to go to till this was over. Maybe someday there will be when more Dr's understand it. If they hired people like BTDT and you who knew what it was like.
That's why this forum and people like Retired and Smarter and BTDT who have been through it are so important. Thank you.

I would like to suggest to you that you need a beak to get stable withdrawal does not have to be painful like this... the reason to taper is so that it is NOT like this... you do not get this constant upheal with a 10% drop and hold type taper please read effexor taper schedule and reasons to taper slowly
I keep saying this a feel like a broken record...

this is back to the bead method verses slow drop wait taper method the drop wait is the one I recommend... tired of saying it.

There is so much more to withdrawal than meets the eye... this is just the very beginning bit the least complex to get you started there is so much more if you can't get this down... how are you going to do the rest... it is the easy bit. drop wait repeat. that is about the only easy part of withdrawal that i have heard of.

Sally ann wrote:

I am actually taking the medication myself and can honestly say how hard it is too cope without them.
I sometimes have been down too my last pill and forgot too ordered them and the side effects are hurrendous.
You are totally in another world as if your brain has been taken over by some alian lol. The dizziness is so bad when turning your head with really disturbing pictures. Like hundreds of snakes you see coming towards you, colours, pictures of alsorts of things that really scare you and can burst into tears at anytime.
I have been on it for years now through depression and have too say has helped in ways but at the same time when without them you can't cope so you don't know what too do.
I would love too come of them really but right now am going through the menopause so the doctor feels it would be best too stay on them for now as they will help for that too.
Has anybody suffered these things too or sim too mine that would like too share theres as like yourself would really like too come of them too evenally as even feel that in a way they take your nice real bubly personall away.

Women have been going thru menopause for many years without any pills ... the longer you stay on the drug ethe harder it will be to get off ... your life your call... by the time menopause it over for some women it can be 10 years you will be in much more trouble then menopause can cause you. really sorry to hear this women still lab rats really sad

I don't know how much slower I could taper. I drop down 2 beads then wait 6 wks , then 2 more wks to get stable. That's 2 beads , wait 2 months then drop 2 beads again. Isn't that drop, wait, taper?

hmariewv wrote:

I don't know how much slower I could taper. I drop down 2 beads then wait 6 wks , then 2 more wks to get stable. That's 2 beads , wait 2 months then drop 2 beads again. Isn't that drop, wait, taper?

I did not hear you were waiting. I just talked to a lady on the thread marriages destroyed by ssri who did the bead method who is having protracted withdrawal I don't think she mentioned a wait period either. I do not know how this will work. Please keep us posted. That is slow your right. I have nothing to add if you waiting the six wks. I wish you well.
You are actually waiting 8 wks between drops? Right? 6+2... if you have found this is what works for you then stick with it listen to your own body it is the smart one in all this.

hmariewv wrote:

I have tried to post 3 different times and it has an error so I have to start all over and try to remember what I wrote.........Grrrrr
Retired and Smarter, thank you for answering! What were your waves like? Did you feel the physical tension also and cry? I feel so weak when it happens, like I'm crazy and have no control. How long did it take you to go from 27 beads to 0? How often did you drop down and how much each time? I am super sensitive to everything now also.
I thought it would be easier the less I took but it is still hard! I was feeling this when it was time to take the effexor again that's why I thought once I was off it then it would go away. I never had anxiety before in my life until withdrawing!!

I was like this EVERY DAY,ALL DAY LONG with my first withdraw for about 6 months! Talk about mental torture! I was mentally back years ago and thinking everything that ever happened was my fault. From a strong confident person to a crying self hating wreak! I was always the strong one who took care of everyone else before this. People came to me for help.
I want to be around people so I won't be so scared.
Wish there was a hospital or something to go to till this was over. Maybe someday there will be when more Dr's understand it. If they hired people like BTDT and you who knew what it was like.
That's why this forum and people like Retired and Smarter and BTDT who have been through it are so important. Thank you.

Hi there, after reading your post, I feel so bad for you. I know what you are going through. BTD's advice is good, she knows how to taper. it does take time, but you have lots of that. What's the hurry. Once off the drug, you are still going to get withdrawal, it's been a year since I took my last 2 granuals. I remember I was away with my husband on vacation and remember thinking how fantastic I felt - then back home started getting panic attacks at night. I got a prescription from my doctor, I KNOW, another prescription...why? I knew I wouldn't get hooked on yet another drug. He gave me 30 clonazapin, and as of today, I still have about 20 left. But, just knowing I have them is a "healing comfort" to me. It's my relief if/when I got the panic attacks. haven't had one in 5 months...still get the occasional feeling like I could have one, but now I take GABA before I go to bed. They relax you....it's all natural and Melatonin to help me sleep and for the most part I'm sleeping much better. During the day, I feel Fantastic. I exercise...(very important) and don't eat any junk, caffeine, very little alcohol, only on special occasions.
(on a side note,,,,did anyone else almost become an alcoholic? I could drink more than most of my friends while on Effexor - didn't realise how much until after I went off, now I can not tolerate much at all)
So in answer to your questions:
I tapered a bit faster than you I think. Well, I started tapering in Sept of 2010 and finished in Feb of 2011, from 37.5 to nothing.
I had times when I had to go back up a dose, cause of a panic attack, which told me I was going too fast. But regardless of how long it takes, you will still have withdrawal symptoms for quite a while...not so much the physical, but the mental, panic, mood swings, your emotions are very unstable. But. FIGHT, Fight and keep on fighting. You are a stronger person for it. You can do this and perhaps finding yourself will help you to find a new start in your life. Keep on posting on this site and we'll keep helping you through.
God Bless.

Sally ann wrote:

I am actually taking the medication myself and can honestly say how hard it is too cope without them.
I sometimes have been down too my last pill and forgot too ordered them and the side effects are hurrendous.
You are totally in another world as if your brain has been taken over by some alian lol. The dizziness is so bad when turning your head with really disturbing pictures. Like hundreds of snakes you see coming towards you, colours, pictures of alsorts of things that really scare you and can burst into tears at anytime.
I have been on it for years now through depression and have too say has helped in ways but at the same time when without them you can't cope so you don't know what too do.
I would love too come of them really but right now am going through the menopause so the doctor feels it would be best too stay on them for now as they will help for that too.
Has anybody suffered these things too or sim too mine that would like too share theres as like yourself would really like too come of them too evenally as even feel that in a way they take your nice real bubly personall away.

MY S T U P I D Former Doctor (A woman too) put me on Effexor becauwe of the menopausal symptoms I was having. Night Sweats, lack of sleep, and panic attacks....all hormonal stuff. She could have put me on Natural stuff, but didn't- told me that this "New drug" was really effective for menopausal symptoms. Within a week, all of the symptoms went away. and of course I thought I'd discovered the "wonder drug" and even suggested it to some women at work. One of them is still on it. I feel so bad, but I have spoken to her about my experience.
I was on it for 4 years until my NEW doctor told me to get off of it. that it is like Heroin to get off of and through him and another doctor (female) who was also on it, I got really good coaching and advise on how to get off of it. There are some doctors who do know about this drug and are very hesitant to prescribe it unless it is a last resort for depression/anxiety.
But most doctors don't have a clue how horrible this drug is to get off of.
And yes, my nice bubbly personality has come back. At least my friends tell me it is.
Do yourself a favor, don't keep you experience a secret, I have told so many people about mine....the more people who know about Effexor and SSRI's...the risks and side effects, the better for everyone. When you are open about it, it's amazing how many people you will find who've gone through a similar experience.
I can't believe how many people who've said...I'm on that stuff too. Scary.
Good luck. Keep in touch.

My husband tried coming off of the venlafaxine (generic for Effexor). He takes 150mg, he has been off of it for 5 days. He put on the computer screen saver, that he just wants to feel like his old self again on the inside. I didn't know what was going on and then he told me last night that he had been off of the med. for 5 days. He was crying and describing all the side effects. I told him that I would help him to wean himself off of the med. by decreasing his dosage at 3 week intervals. I would do this by gradually cutting the tablet and weighing it, so that he gets the right dosage that he needs.

I was on lexapro for about 2 years and the withdrawals were bad. I still to this day from time to time have like a brain zap during my sleep that it will wake me up. I just hope that I can help my husband come off of the venlafaxine and still be able for him to go to work knowing that he is going to have these side effects. When I spoke with his Dr. he said to have him take it every other day until he weaned himself. The Dr.'s are not really any help when it comes to coming off of med's. Thanks for this forum where we can seek help from others who are going through the same thing.

Cathy wrote:

My husband tried coming off of the venlafaxine (generic for Effexor). He takes 150mg, he has been off of it for 5 days. He put on the computer screen saver, that he just wants to feel like his old self again on the inside. I didn't know what was going on and then he told me last night that he had been off of the med. for 5 days. He was crying and describing all the side effects. I told him that I would help him to wean himself off of the med. by decreasing his dosage at 3 week intervals. I would do this by gradually cutting the tablet and weighing it, so that he gets the right dosage that he needs.
I was on lexapro for about 2 years and the withdrawals were bad. I still to this day from time to time have like a brain zap during my sleep that it will wake me up. I just hope that I can help my husband come off of the venlafaxine and still be able for him to go to work knowing that he is going to have these side effects. When I spoke with his Dr. he said to have him take it every other day until he weaned himself. The Dr.'s are not really any help when it comes to coming off of med's. Thanks for this forum where we can seek help from others who are going through the same thing.

Cathy I am sorry you are still feeling the withdrawal effect it is not unusual to still feel it at two years if you have come off the drugs incorrectly. I am not sure how it all came about but there is now an understanding of how to come off these drugs that do not cause the long term effects or the severe withdrawal most people suffer from.
I have made a couple of posts here on topix which explains the methods and reasons. You can find them by searching taper in the search box below.
please read these titles
Reasons to taper slowly
and
Effexor taper schedule

I am sorry to say that most doctors attempt to taper people faster than most people can stand.
If you need more help to get your husband off Effexor please go to paxilprogress.org

I have had to taper off of several anti-depressants in my lifetime and I know that it takes me longer than most to taper. I have to go very very slowly. Sometimes tapering just 1/4 of a tablet at a time.

I know my withdrawls are coming but first must taper off of trazodone.

They have me on so much shit I can't function!!! And 5 of the medications I take actually cause depression!! What the Hell!!

i believe this is the 18th day for me. i feel much better, but am still a bit dizzy and pukey feeling. effexor withdrawal is not for sissies!

I weaned myself off Effexor - took my last one just over 2 weeks ago.
At first the brain zaps, disorientation and dizziness were a killer but the worst of that only lasted a week or so.
So now I'm at 2 1/2 weeks ish.
I'm pretty grumpy most of the time and I cry AT THE drop of a hat.*wail*
It's pretty frustrating but each time I've stepped down I've had to go through this so it kinda makes sense that this stage would be the worst.
Anyone got any advice?

I think I have an idea. How about as many people on here as possible get in touch w/Dr. Drew and ask him, since he is focusing now on RX drugs and how they are so dangerous and killing people like Whitney Houston et als, how about all of us contacting him and requesting that he do a series if not an investigation on how widespread this withdrawal problem is?
What do you guys think?

Anonymous wrote:

I think I have an idea. How about as many people on here as possible get in touch w/Dr. Drew and ask him, since he is focusing now on RX drugs and how they are so dangerous and killing people like Whitney Houston et als, how about all of us contacting him and requesting that he do a series if not an investigation on how widespread this withdrawal problem is?
What do you guys think?

I think that's a wonderful idea. I've already sent in something to him, but if we all do it, it might have an effect.
Can you get us an e-mail address. Let's DO IT!!!!

Retired and Smarter wrote:

<quoted text>... I have told so many people about mine....the more people who know about Effexor and SSRI's...the risks and side effects, the better for everyone....

Excellent! I do the same.