[Abby]

I've been taking effexor (venlafaxine) 150mg for 11 months and the side effects are getting worse. I went to the dr the other day to discuss constant tiredness, pains in my stomach and that i want to come off effexor. I didn't manage to discuss this though as he seemed to want to discuss the weather and make assumptions - like i drink alcohol - does he not realise i'm on a drug that you aren't allowed to drink alcohol with?! Perhaps it was a flippant comment but it made me feel like he didn't understand anything if he thinks i'm on this strong AD and yet go out partying every night!

He ordered a blood test for the tiredness but simply suspected it is a flu symptom that is not fully blown or something. I booked the blood test for yesterday but forgot to go (yeh i know bad me!) but to be honest i couldn't see the point anyway - i feel worse for wasting nhs time than missing for any personal reasons!

Anyway...getting to the point, i've decided i want to get off the meds without speaking to the dr again because since moving home i've been 2x and i don't wanna go again. I know everyone says you should do this under a dr but why? Does anyone have any tips? I know this is the right time physically...it does scare me slightly emotionally...but if anything that just proves that i'm psychologically addicted - bad, bad!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I'd look up the side effects of getting off. Some are easy; some are really hard--like Paxil sounds like getting off heroin. In 1-2 years my husband will retire & we will be moving to another state (sunny weather almost all year) with great hiking, outdoor lifestyle which is what we came from & helps my mood tremendously so I'm planning to check into a well-known hospital there to try to wean me off my psych meds as much as possible (bipolar 1--take 6 meds & do need them now), but want to try getting off some & lowering dosages of the ones I can't get off. But I wouldn't attempt it without medical supervision as I've been on these meds for 10 years.--Suzy

[splitimage]

You seriously do not want to come off Effexor without it being tapered slowly by a Dr., Effexor is well know for having some of the worst discontinuaiton syndrom of all the AD's. AKA physical withdrawl from hell.

If you want to come off, I'd suggest going back to the Dr., and demanding a script for the 37.5 mg pills (I assume that they're available where you are) and very slowly decreasing your dosage.

I've never tried to come off it personally so this is all second hand, but I've heard of nausea, a feeling of electric brain zaps, shaking, and just generally feeling like crap. My pdoc has even told me it's a really hard drug to come off of.

--splitimage

[tracy33]

Originally Posted by Abby

I've been taking effexor (venlafaxine) 150mg for 11 months and the side effects are getting worse. I went to the dr the other day to discuss constant tiredness, pains in my stomach and that i want to come off effexor. I didn't manage to discuss this though as he seemed to want to discuss the weather and make assumptions - like i drink alcohol - does he not realise i'm on a drug that you aren't allowed to drink alcohol with?! Perhaps it was a flippant comment but it made me feel like he didn't understand anything if he thinks i'm on this strong AD and yet go out partying every night!

He ordered a blood test for the tiredness but simply suspected it is a flu symptom that is not fully blown or something. I booked the blood test for yesterday but forgot to go (yeh i know bad me!) but to be honest i couldn't see the point anyway - i feel worse for wasting nhs time than missing for any personal reasons!


Anyway...getting to the point, i've decided i want to get off the meds without speaking to the dr again because since moving home i've been 2x and i don't wanna go again. I know everyone says you should do this under a dr but why? Does anyone have any tips? I know this is the right time physically...it does scare me slightly emotionally...but if anything that just proves that i'm psychologically addicted - bad, bad!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Abby, Effexor is HELL to come off of. Do a search on Effexor withrawals. I'm sure you'll find something. I was only on it for 6 weeks and had a very difficult time coming off of it. I even tapered down very slowly. Like the other poster said, ask for the 37.5 mg., if you do not already have them. And break them in half as well. It was years ago when I was on it so I think they were capsules if I remember correctly?? I kinda remember opening the capsules and divididing the dosage.
I'm serious when I say it's hard going off. Terrible headaches and moods. Some people get brain zaps. good luck.

[(JD)]

Anyway...getting to the point, i've decided i want to get off the meds without speaking to the dr again

NO NO NO!!!!!! Effexor is a specific drug that works in the brain and it's one nasty item to wean from, even WITH a doctor's assistance/monitoring. DO NOT do this on your own
It isn't like stopping aspirin regimen or such, you are messing with brain chemicals. These modern medications are nothing to play with! Please, it's ok to want to stop taking a medication, but you must be adult about it and tell the doctor and ask for help in doing so.
Being psychologically addicted to a drug that is providing relief for you because your own body is not making that needed drug??? I don't think so.

Best wishes

[skeeweeaka]

Originally Posted by _Sky

Anyway...getting to the point, i've decided i want to get off the meds without speaking to the dr again

NO NO NO!!!!!! Effexor is a specific drug that works in the brain and it's one nasty item to wean from, even WITH a doctor's assistance/monitoring. DO NOT do this on your own
It isn't like stopping aspirin regimen or such, you are messing with brain chemicals. These modern medications are nothing to play with! Please, it's ok to want to stop taking a medication, but you must be adult about it and tell the doctor and ask for help in doing so.
Being psychologically addicted to a drug that is providing relief for you because your own body is not making that needed drug??? I don't think so.



Best wishes

I went off it with the help of the pharmacist... Call them and they will tell you what to do... I did have the horrific withdrawal...brain zaps...etc.

TJ