Effexor Withdrawal - The Final Step
It was a scientific process deciding when I should bite the bullet and take the final step from 37.5mg Efexor (Venlafaxine) to nothing. We wanted to wait until after our trip to Canberra and after the kids went back to school. On Monday, the first day of term, we ended up having to leave early for Lleyton’s ultrasound appointment and I forgot to take my meds before we left. So I figured it was as good a time as any to take the plunge into the final step of withdrawal.
Very scientific indeed.
NOT!!!
And maybe not as well thought out as it should have been.
With the stress of Lleyton’s injury and having him home constantly meaning I haven’t had time to myself (not that he’s any trouble), it probably hasn’t been the easiest of times to go through this withdrawal.
Still, it hasn’t been too bad, all things considered.
The worst moment so far would have to have been during the second night when I woke up feeling like someone had just turned the power on for my nervous system. You know what it’s like when the power has been off and it suddenly comes on and you can hear the hum of the fridge and anything else that was on when it went off? Everything seems louder until your brain adjusts to the small background noises things like fridge motors make.
It was a horrible feeling - almost like I’d imagine it would be like to stick my finger in a power socket (not that I’ve ever tried to know for sure).
Fortunately it only lasted a few hours.
Other than that, my head constantly goes in waves of a kind of dizziness/headiness. It’s hard to describe but I sure hope it goes away soon.
TIPS FOR COPING WITH EFEXOR/EFFEXOR/VENLAFAXINE WITHDRAWAL
For anyone who finds this via a search for coming off of effexor (or any readers that might go through this), here are a few things that I found have helped my process so far:
- Exercise. It’s not always the easiest thing to do but it REALLY does help. I find at least 30 minutes and at a level that causes you to sweat (intervals of higher intensity and then lower intensity seems to work well).
- Be Kind To Yourself. Try not to take on too much at the same time as your body is adjusting (I’ve totally broken that this time around).
- Know What Makes You Feel Good. Before you start the withdrawal process, have some ideas of things that will make you feel good and help pass the interim time. I have a few girlie movies that have been great for when I need to rest and have something to distract me.
- Eat Healthily. Another tough one when you’re feeling shocking.
- Paracetamol. Paracetamol has been my best friend during the withdrawal process. It even seems to help with the head spins and dizziness.
Sidenote to Regular Readers
At the time this post goes to publish, I’ll be in Adelaide visiting a specialist with Lleyton. At this stage (before we leave) we’re unsure what the outcome of that visit will be. Best case scenario is that we’ll be home again by tonight and you won’t even know I’ve been gone. Not so best case scenario is that he’ll need some sort of treatment for whatever is causing his problems, in which case, I may get delayed and there’ll be a lack of posts for a few days. If this happens, keep an eye on the comments in this post for any news.
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Thanks for this. I was wondering how you were going on your meds with all this other stuff happening.
Am about to start withdrawing from my meds and am actually scared stiff….. especially at this busy time of year, but who knows, maybe I will find myself again.
Thanks for your tips too.
Pray you are back real soon and able to have some time to yourself.
Praying for mediacl wisdom in this and that there are no long term side effects for your son.
Hope everything goes well with the ultrasound and that the med withdrawels disappear soon.
You’re in my thoughts. Hope all goes well with the meds and the ultrasound….. Keeping fingers and toes crossed for you xxx
***Update from Lightening***
Hello Lightening blogreaders…
Jodi has asked me to update you on Lleyton’s progress, as you may have guessed she hasn’t returned home yet.
Lleyton had surgery last night (Monday), he is in quite a bit of pain but will make a full recovery.
I’m sure she would appreciate your thoughts and prayers, as you can imagine this is pretty tough on a Mum. No one likes to see their kids in pain. And Jodi being a nicer Mum than most (well, than me!) she is really feeling for him.
The good news is he will be ok. The operation went well and he will make a full recovery.
Cheers
Sharon.
Ohhh thanks for the update Sharon. If you see this and talk to her again, please let her know that she is in my thoughts as is Lleyton for a full recovery. Having one of your kids having an op is no fun at all.
Injury?? Did I miss something in my reading? Hope Lleyton is okay.
And coming off the meds by “jumping in the deep end” ? Well done.
If you’ve got time while in Adelaide find a Ray’s Outdoors store and check out their camping washing “machines”. They’re small, look like a mini compost tumbler, you put your day’s clothes in, add a small amount of water and soap, (I’d think liquid soap would be the thing here) turn the handle a few times and your washing is done. Not sure how well they’d cope with family sized loads, but good for “smalls” and you could do the big things, jeans, towels, etc in a laundromat. You could probably use one of these just by letting the motion of the travelling do the agitating part.
I heard from Jodi again yesterday. She was doing much better than Monday. I will be sure to pass on your regards if I speak to her again.
Hi Jodi
I know exactly what you’re talking about. Especially the dizzy, floor suddenly fell out from under you feeling. I’ve gone off effexor-xr twice now. The first time I went off it, I made the mistake of going from 150mg a day to nothing! The quezy sick feeling lasts much longer when you go from a higher dose. Second time I wasn’t so stupid. I went off at 75mg, which is suggested by doctors anyway. Not so bad, but still…dizzy yukky head feeling if I moved my eyes too quickly.
Anyway, it will pass. It always does. Sadly, I know that there will be a next time…so at least I am well prepared!
Boo
I hope everything’s well with you. Take care.
The particular medication you are on can have some unpleasant withdrawal effects but it sounds as if you are doing it sensibly Jodi. Not that I have tried coming off it but I have forgotten for two days in a row a few times and boy do I know it. You describe the feelings in so well - it is like a power surge in the head. I have read of them being called brain explosions.
To be honest I am afraid to come off the things and my doc reckons I should be on them for the rest of my life because of a genetic condition I have. Long term use like this is a worry too though.
I had to edit this because a message came up saying that the name of the medication, ef…or could be flagged as spam
Good luck with it ALL!
I am currently at week three of going cold turkey from a 75mg dose of Venlafaxine. It has been a very unpleasant experience but today was a turning point and I am through the worst. I did some checking so I knew what was coming and it was as bad as they say - I have had all the symptoms. I found some internet people recommending the following to alleviate the withdrawal; Benadryl cough syrup; St johns Wort; Vitamin B; Omeaga oil; Orange juice. I tried them all and I have to say I did notice some benefits, but the experience was nonetheless very nasty. I liked the St Johns Wort best - it made me quite mellow. If you do come off Venlafaxine you must set aside a month with no work or any chores and just deal with the horrors. It is great out the other side.
First thanks to Lightening for borrowing your site. Well another ten days has passed since stopping a 75mg Venlafaxine dose and my previous post here.
There were two reasons I stopped taking. The first was because I was 99% sure the underlying issue that was dogging me and making me depressed had been resolved. It is a long story and I won’t bore you with it - but for the ladies out there, it is a love story that stretches 35 years and 12000 miles.
Secondly I had developed a degree of anger and sense of frustration in recent months and I put that down to my inner self wrestling with a drug which I no longer needed. In essence I felt I was a well person being given mind altering drugs and the whole thing was now working against me.
I decided to stop without my doctor being involved because my experience of being someone who is depressed is that you essentially have no voice. What I mean by that is that whatever you say to anyone regarding a theory or idea is received with polite disdain. “Oh really, that’s nice” kind of thing. You may know what I mean. This way I can deliver my doc a “fait a complit” without his tut-tutting.
I have had no return of my depressive state or symptoms, which indicates my theory about being no longer depressed is 100% correct. Truly I feel no depression symptoms at all. I do still feel occasional brain zaps and a little dizzy still, but I am functioning quite well and enjoying life again..
This leads me to talking about the the time-line for withdrawal. I can find no information, anecdotal or otherwise, about just how long does the withdrawal take to finally be over. My experience was a dreadful initial three weeks and then a week of diminishing effects to a point where I basically have no withdrawal symptoms. As I mentioned though I still have a zap or two and do feel a little tired, and I guess it would not be unrealistic to feel so after coming off a very powerful drug.
If Lightening or anyone else can shed some light on the total time taken to feel no ill effects from withdrawal I would love to know.
If my posting is helping anyone - you are very welcome. I feel for anyone who is depressed and relying on pills. It really sucks.
Thanks.
Good luck to all of you. I am coming off Venlafaxine75 after being on it for 7-8 years.
The withdrawl comes in waves since I am using the “bead method”. I have had severed digestive problems for the last 2 years and have lost a huge part of my life. My problems all seem to be coming from being on Effexor. Test after test show normal for the past 2 year, all digestive.
Since I have been weaning off, I am seeing new symptoms: More severe nausea, brain fog, brain zaps and I haven’t slept in days.
There is alot I would like to say but I know you have heard it all.
P.S. I traveled 5 hours away from home to a hospital that I thought may be able to help me. I’ll know something about all the test for digestive disorders tomorrow, but I think they will not find anything either…it’s the Venlafaxine, I’m sure of. I just want my life back.
God Bless
I am hoping someone on here can help me. I have read all of the posts on here and on many other sites and have not gotten the answers I have needed. My doctor is a prick and knows nothing about the withdrawls of SSRI’s so I turn to the online community for support. Here goes…
I have been on 150 mg of Efxr for almost three years. three months ago, I managed to get down to 37.5 mg which was complete HELL. After I adjusted (sort of) I found out I was pregnant. (I am now 7 weeks) and at 5 weeks I went from 37.5 to nothing. I swear I almost became catatonic from this. I felt like a robot with serious depersonalization and many many other horrible symptoms. I then decided to open up the capsule and take a few mg (about 6-10) just to get through the day.
I am down to literally 2mg a day and I just can’t do it. I feel so unreal and am beginning to have feelings of wanting an abortion just so I can stay on them. I look in the mirror and picture killing myself. I am completely lost as to what to do because I don’t want to stay on it and harm my baby, but at the same time, coming off of it is making me hate what is growing in my tummy. I feel like a complete psychopath and need to get off this safely.
The other MAJOR problem is that I am almost positive I have developed Serotonin Syndrome. I have been on all different doses of Efxr, I used to drink large amounts of alcohol, use cocaine and MDMA all while being on it a couple of years ago.
Any help is VERY much appreciated. Please keep in mind that I am pregnant and cannot take St. John’s Wort or anything else for that matter. I really just need to know if I am ever going to be the same again without the pills or If I am going to feel like this forever.
I can’t find a straight answer about healing Serotonin Syndrome anywhere. To be honest, I really don’t even understand what it is. Am I not making my own Serotonin anymore or is my brain making too much?
PLEASE HELP!!!!
thank you
Tiff
I am currently trying to get pregnant and on 75mg’s a day. My doctor said that it is completely safe. Also, with your case in point, the little risk’s that you have in taking the pill’s is better than the emotional turmoil of a newly pregnant woman.
I feel a bit like you. I now feel like I should just stay on my low dose forever because the low’s when I go off the pill’s are just too hard for the family to deal with. But I’m also getting counciling and I hope that you’re getting more help than just the pill’s.
Find a dose that is good for you, that is not too high. 37.5mg is good. And stick to it. Don’t be playing with the level’s too often because it’s not good for your head.
And I suggest finding a different doctor. It’s awful to think there is a doctor out there who is unwilling to put a mother’s mind at ease, especially since she has depression.
PLease talk to someone. Please write it down and let someone know exactly how you’re feeling. You need a better doctor and you need someone to support you heavily through this. There are some good online forums for depression as well as places like babyfit.com where you may be able to find a support group to get you through.
Boo
Hi
I have been on Effexor for 10 years at 300mg per day (xr). I am trying to cut back and have been taking 150mg daily for the last few weeks. I also have rheumatoid arthritis, so I am not really sure as to whether my symptoms of aching joints are related to RA or withdrawal from Effexor. The brain zaps are bearable, but I seem to be experiencing some weird thoughts. My dreams are so vivid and I can remember each and everyone of them the next morning. I am also very tired and am sleeping most of the time. Has anyone else experienced the same thing?
Hi Stephanie,
300mg is considered quite a high dose. I was on it for a short time but my brain just couldn’t cope. The most difficult thing can be working out whether you’re having some kind of withdrawal reaction or whether symptoms are depression returning. Make sure you communicate everything you notice with your health professionals. {{{HUGS}}}
Thanks for that. I have an appt with my Rheumatologist soon and I also need to get my fatigue under control. Apparently one of the withdrawal symptoms of Eff. can be fatigue!!!