Coming off venlafaxine/effexor

I suffer from headaches a lot since March now, and I'm hoping they were a side effect of all these meds...hopefully when I'm off them the headaches will stop! Fingers crossed anyway

I've noticed that unless I take my meds literally when I wake up I feel the effects of it. It used to take until about lunchtime if I forgot to start to feel bad. I guess my body isn't appreciating the lower dose and wants it asap... Well it's gonna have to get used to it...!

I can't work out if I'm ill or if its just the meds reduction. I've been feeling sick, freezing cold and killer headache. What do you think? Meds or ill?

Secret my friend sorry you are struggling so bad with this process. I know how hard it is, I hate SSRI withdrawal, having been through Paxil withdrawal myself I can truly understand what you are going through. From what I've read, one thing you can do to help with Effexor withdrawals is to get your doctor to give you some Prozac/Fluoxetine, the withdrawals aren't as bad as they are with Effexor for some reason. Wishing you speedy recovery either way, whether its a physiological or withdrawal disturbance to your system. If you are very concerned about your health, be sure to check with your GP. Doctors don't really know much about withdrawal though unfortunately, because they've never taken these drugs themselves.

I've had an AWFUL experience. Never had trouble coming off anything before. Was on 375mg ven, been reducing it for months and months now. I can't remember exactly how long but about 8 months at least maybe even more, am at 37.5mg now. Should have been off it completely last week but the reduction to 37.5 has left me SHing again, feeling awful, mood through the floor etc etc.

I see my GP again on Thursday to go down to 37.5mg, so I'll see how things go by then I think. Even though it will be hard it's tempting to just stop altogether and get it out my system now.. So over it!!

My bf takes fluoxetine...maybe I could steal some of his

Sorry it's been so hard for you I hope this week is easier for you

Down to 37.5mg now. And I feel so sick and spacey today! In a weeks time I will be off this altogether....I'm sure thats when the real fun starts! Can't wait for this to be over, definitely never taking this med again!

Today is the first day of not taking it at all! And my god, I feel so ill already! I feel like I might throw up at any moment. Brain zaps are in full force. I'm dizzy. Keep getting hot and cold. And I am just generally spaced out.

How long does it take to be over this? I though it was gonna be easier this time as I've been reducing but apparently its made no difference

Hey there Healing is a slow process that comes in bursts. You may feel better one day, but worse--from another symptom-- the next. My first few days off, I felt insanely dizzy but also full of energy. It's three weeks out for me, and I'm slowly going through emotional and physical symptoms.

Emotional symptoms? I hadn't even considered them, which is stupid considering thats what its for in the first place. What kind of emotional symptoms?

Like emotional symptoms of withdrawal are easily angered or annoyed, feeling apathy or bleak, numbness. Irritability/ impatience is a big one, as are mood swings. Removing the drug really does throw your nervous system through a loop.

Oh I sure am feeling the irritability!! Having to bite my tongue a lot today so I don't say anything I regret.

omg! It's so good to find this thread!
Being on effexor made my doctors realized I wasn't depressed, I was bipolar II. It had sent me into a mixed state. I've been on it a year, and I took my last pill last Saturday night. I was at 200 and had decreased over 6 months. It took forfckingever. Here's how my rundown was:

Day 1 without: not too bad, a little emotional. headaches.

Day 2 without: Uncontrollable sobbing from 8-10am. Someone was like "hey! how are you?" and I just started sobbing and had to leave work. Took benadryl and slept all day.. headaches. dizzy. brain fog.

Day 3 without: Fine in the morning, uncontrollable crying from 7-11pm. This was the worst day. I felt like nothing would ever be better. I would always feel like this. headaches, body aches, dizzy, woozy. Took benadryl and passed out.

Day 4: Emotional all day. Constantly trying to keep myself from crying. Grumpy, agitated, snappy. headaches. dizzy. I had to fight the emotional symptoms all day, but it didn't take over like it did on day 3.

Day 5: Emotionally a lot better. Still dizzy and foggy and some headaches, but I felt like myself for the first time in a long time.

Day 6 (today): I had a great day. Truly. I am still feeling some general body/headaches, and some slight like... electrical pulses through my body, but I can see the light. I'm feeling hopeful.
Anyway, I'm currently going through it if anyone has any questions. It does get better.

Thanks I'm on day three now and mine has mainly been physical symptoms. Which is better I think, if I end up an emotional mess I would probably end up doing something stupid. Hopefully the worst of this passes before the new week and I can actually be productive at work, the last two days definitely weren't!

I have been successful several times just like that. Have been on 150-75 mg for over ten years. Be prepared for some bizarre side effects. I have quit three times, on third now because I am a a lot better and I have developed sexual side effect. First time I quit-- metal taste in mouth like chewing in foil. Head ache, general feeling if kind if flue like.

Second time quit 5-6 yrs later, intense ringing in ears. Limited to no foil

This time- quitting because finally kicked booze. Wondering if biozing caused depress or vice versa. Only w/d now is can't sleep.

Hang in. Effexor was a wonder drug for me for a long time, but some do better to no good at all on the stuff. I will probably try sometime new but need to normalize w/on the booze.

This a great video for coming off prescription mental help medication: