Effexor Withdraw

I have been completely off of Effexor for almost 7 weeks now after only taking it for a little over a month. The more intense withdrawal effects, such as brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, etc. have passed but I am still having some weird cognitive issues. My memory seems to only be at about 50% of what it usually is, I'm having a really hard time focusing on things, it feels like I can't translate my thoughts into words and I generally feel emotionally "flat." Will this pass with more time? Is this common for Effexor withdrawal? I was taking Effexor for a bout of insomnia that I believed to be anxiety-related. I am not depressed. ## Yes, this type of withdrawal effect is very common. When I stopped Zoloft, a few years ago, after being on it for about 6 years, it took about ...

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I was perscribed Effexor XR 75MG for one year after suffering from depression after the death of a family member. 10 days ago I stopped using this medication and I have had strange side effects I contribute to withdrawal. I get waves of tingling throughout my body. Like an electric shock feeling. I wanted to know if anyone else has had this feeling after discontinuing Effexor XR. ## i was on effexor for nearly 4 years, a dose of 150mg i had somewhat intense withdraw that lasted for a couple of weeks. i had to comae of them slowly. ## I know EXACTLY what you're going through, Lori. I'm not exactly drug-compliant, I forget easily depending on my stress levels and I take 150mg 2x daily. If I miss a dose I feel the same as you which I've called twitchy. However, recently I reali...

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My daughter has been trying to taper off effexor for 6 months. She has had nausea, vertigo, brain zaps. A couple days ago she says she felt like crying for non reason. Yesterday she had these feelings off and on all day. How long does this it last? Is there anything for these crying spells? Please help. ## HI, Lexy! I'm very sorry about your daughter is going through. What type of taper is she doing? Is her doctor helping her? The crying could mean that she's trying to do it too fast, because that's what usually causes such rebound effects. Learn more Effexor details here. If someone has been on them for a long period of time, these medications must be very slowly tapered. ## Thanks for repkying Verwon, She has been tapering slowly, except when she cut her dose from 150mg (o...

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It has been 6 months since I stopped taking effexor. It is really hard to think back of all the details because the last 6 months seem very foggy in my head. I had a bad drinking problem and wanted to stop drinking so my doctor gave me something to deal with the alcohol withdrawals for a couple days. Then I was immediately prescribed effexor for depression and social anxiety. I thought to myself what could it hurt trying this stuff? I started at the lowest dose and didn't feel like it was doing anything, so of course a month later I was taking the highest dose of 300 I believe it was. I was taking effexor for 4 months when I realized that I had become completely numb and very irritable at things that would never usually bother me. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I just wanted t...

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I started Effexor XR 75mg in July of last year. I had insomnia for a month, and continuous dry mouth until I bought some a dry mouth oral rinse. I was brought up to 150mg in December or January. I started sweating a lot at night. Changing my clothes 3 to 4 times a night. Insomnia lasted about a month. During all of this time, I also experienced weight loss as it suppressed my cravings. I have tried twice to cold turkey it, and both times it ended in disaster. Suicidal thoughts being the main one. I went to the doctor, and I am now on 75mg daily. (i did get the wonderful brain zaps and mood swings for about a week) What my main concern is: when I upped the doses, certain side effects would calm down after a month. Night sweats and insomnia. They would still be there, just a lot less. Now...

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I quit taking Chantix a few days ago and I am having a very hard time. I am very very sad and can't stop crying. I take Prozac and Effexor. It has been two days and I think I feel a bit better now, but haven't been able to leave the house and have been asleep for most of the last 48 hours. Does anyone know how long this will last? I think I am feeling a bit better. ## Have you consulted your doctor? Has it improved at all, yet? In this case, it is difficult to say if it is from stopping the Chantix, from the other medications, or from a combination of both. It could be a rebound/withdrawal effect from stopping, or a backfire effect from one of the others, so you do need to consult your doctor to get to the root of the problem. ## Hi. I am having similar symptoms. I stopped takin...

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hello, my husband is on Effexor and he recently ran out and he started very scary. ive been raeding on the side effects of going without for a few days and this is terrible. is there anything that will help with the pain or something i can do as his partner to help him. he is angry all the time i dont know if i should be there for him or leave him alone? ## Unfortunately, those can be side effects of stopping it abruptly. Why didn't he see his physician for refills? Other withdrawal effects, as reported by the FDA, may include fever, chills and rebound depression. It may take a month, or so, for them to all ease off and for him to feel better. There really isn't a whole lot you can do, though if he has body aches/pain, a hot shower or bath may help.

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My doctor says these meds are part of the same family therefore I can easily transition from the 75mg dose of Zoloft to 75mg on Effexor. What difference should I be noticing? Or any other useful info I can get? ## They are NOT THE SAME FAMILY. Your Dr. is either ignorant or a liar. Zoloft is an SSRI, Effexor is an SNRI. ## Jeff is correct! You may experience some withdrawal symptoms that could include rebound depression, anxiety, body aches/pain and diarrhea, when you make the switch. You may also experience side effects from the new medication that could include nausea, dizziness, headache and dry mouth, as reported by the FDA. You may be miserable for a couple of weeks, but things should settle down, once your body adjusts. Is there anything else I can help with? ## it varies from per...

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Hi all - I have been taking Effexor for well over a decade. In June, I reduced my dosage from 225mg/day to 150mg/day which I continued until the end of Feb this year. For the last 10 days I have been taking 75mg/day instead and I have had some bad side effects. Will this pass while my body adjusts to the new dose? If so, how long will I feel crappy for? Was just wondering if anyone had tried a similar reduction and had any expereince to share?? Many thanks ## Yes, things should improve, once your body adjusts to the new dosage, but you may experience other withdrawal effects, such as rebound depression, anxiety, pain, diarrhea, and body aches, according to NIH reports. Why are you tapering so rapidly? Has your doctor told you to do it this fast? Are you on any other medications? ## Hi V...

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I am taking 37.37.5mg of venlafaine,I want to stop taking venlafaine.and my doctor gave. .me 80 mgs of propranolol twice a day for 2 weeks and he said I shouldn't get withdrawals from venlafaine.is this true. ## Hello Denise! How are you? The typical withdrawal effects of Venlafaxine, as listed by the FDA, may include nausea, rebound anxiety, rebound depression and diarrhea. The Propranolol may help alleviate the anxiety and depression that you may experience. Its typical side effects may possibly include nausea, dizziness, headache, increased urination and hypotension. Have you stopped the other medication, yet?

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I have taken Effexor XR for many years-it stopped working, so I weaned myself off and took nothing since this past July. I do take Xanax 1mg 3xday. Well-Life took a left turn on me and started on Viibryd. Bad Move! I'm very sensitive to meds-I took the 10 mg for 3 days and cut it down to 5mg for 2 weeks. I did 2 days of 2.5 then stopped. My Dr put me on 3mg Xanax ER ( per my request) and here's what's happening. No viibryd for 3 days now and I have TERRRIBLE nightmares and sleep in what feels like clips. The Xanax I guess is wearing off while I'm sleeping and I am Miserable!! Anyone know how long it takes to get viibryd out of your system?? Any experiences with Xaxax ER? I'm not sure which one is doing the most harm. Help please!!! ## Hello, Shari! How are you doing?...

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I guess you could say at the moment I am kind of freaking out and need something to focus on. I have been on Effexor for 18 years. I have a bathroom anxiety phobia? I guess you could say. I am not to sure if there is an actual scientific word for this but hopefully I am not the only one that suffers from it. Basically I am afraid that I will get diarrhea somewhere in public. Maybe in rush hour traffic? Maybe if I go camping? On a plane? Pretty well anywhere. I need to know where we are going, the way we are going there. If a bathroom will be around and where it is. That being said I haven't felt that way in 9 years.I don't actually have a bathroom problem like colitus or IBS. But for some reason when i was 16 i started having anxiety problems with it. I started taking a stool ha...

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I've been on Effexor for 8yrs and have decided it's time to stop! My doctor has decreased my dosage starting and ending 150 all the way down to 37.5 and then nothing!!! The withdrawals are horrendous, zaps every step, can't focus, nausea, extreme irritability and blow ups!!! Please give me advice to help this!!! I would never, ever tell anyone to take this medicine!!! ## Hi, glad I saw this! I can help. I have been on Effexor for over 10 years and decided to go off about a year ago. The key is to wean off SUPER SLOW. I mean it's been a year now and I'm finally down to 5mg, reducing 1mg per week. I'd recommend going down 10mg/week for a few weeks and then 5mg/week and when you get to around 37.5, go down only 2mg/week. This slow reduction will keep the withdrawal ...

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Hi, I've been prescribed brintellix for the treatment of depression almost a year ago. I took 5 mg for a week, then up to 10 mg for two weeks, then up to 15, itching started so went back to 10 and then I got sick of this med so I dropped it alltogether. All in all, I took for 4-5 weeks. When I stopped taking it I started experiencing withdrawal symptoms similar to withdrawal from Effexor: Brain zaps, permanent agitation, permanent anger, inability to concentrate, stiff muscles. I think that these symptoms decreased somewhat but they're not fully gone and I'm still experiencing them almost a year later(!). Did someone else react in a similar manner? Was permanent brain damage caused? I don't know what to do and I certainly can't go on living this way. Thank you ## How...

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Hi there I have been on citalopram for 6 years. I recently withdrew from that and started taking 75mg with 10mg of citalopram last week and was feeling ok. Now i have stopped the citalopram and am on 150g of effexor. For the last few days I have been feeling a lot worse than i originally was I am not motivated and feeling very depressed. Is this normal? will it start workinng. I really don't want to try another one I have already tried 4 different ssris. Fingers crossed this goes away ## You are most likely experiencing a bit of a double whammy, side effects from starting the Effexor, as well as withdrawal effects from stoping the Citalopram. It will likely take 4 to 5 weeks for things to settle down and for you to be able to tell how well this will work for you. The FDA lists its t...

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I have been on Effexor XR since like a month after it was fda approved which is about 24yrs now. I was on 300mg a day for many years. I then was lowered to 150mg a day for many more. Recently I started lowering my dose by 37.5mg every 2 weeks and am currently taking only 37.5mg. No withdrawal symptoms, but worsening depression. I spoke with my doctor and she added Prozac 20mg. I am supposed to come off the Effexor completely in 7 days but am terrified of the withdrawals... I’ve felt them many times in the past and they are hell. Anyone have any experience with this? ## It is always best to follow your doctor's instructions, and the Prozac should help prevent the withdrawals, both medications are used to treat the same types of issues, such as mental health issues, and never pa...

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I've been diagnosed with major depression and adhd since I was 10. I started taking anti depressants when I was about 17. After trying a slew of different medications we settled on effexor. I went a long time without a PCP or psychiatrist and insurance so was basically stuck on effexor out of a fear of the brutal withdrawal symptoms. I was also a drug addict so didn't know what, if anything the meds were doing to my already altered brain chemistry. I have now been clean and sober for over one year and in therapy. I wanted to get off the effexor as it was the last vestage of my old life and try something new. My psychiatrist dropped me from 150mg to 112.5 to 75 to 37.5 in about a months time and I'm in my third day of nothing at all. I feel like absolute crap. Brainzaps/pulse...

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Ive been on Methadone maintenance (150 mgs) for 3 yrs now, and started taking Wellbutrin about 1 yr ago. Everything had been going great for awhile, but then the Wellbutrin seemed to stop working as well. So last week my Dr. put me on Effexor 75mg once a day. As soon as i started taking it I started feeling REALLY WEIRD. My depression seems to be better, but the side effects are freaking me out! Starting out it would give me energy, then after a while I become very lethargic; then came the restless leg when i got into bed (cant stand!). + Most of all is the sweating! I have a problem with sweating as it is (the Methadone makes it worse on its own), and now the Effexor is giving me MAJOR COLD SWEATS throughout the day! I figured it might be me withdrawing from the Wellbutrin, so I starte...

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I had a heart attack on 9-26-16...I was doing decent afterward for several weeks. I decided to go off effexor 150mg. after 10+ years. The reason is because effexor can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and weight gain, all in which I have problems with and especially now I need to control them more. I've been tapering for a month with mild withdrawal, some days better or worse than others. Mostly irritability, vertigo, brain fog, tired all the time, yet I cannot sleep. Headaches come and go and quite a bit of body, muscle, joint aches. What's concerning me at this point is my chest is very sore, left side. I'm wondering if the tapering is causing discomfort? As of 2 days ago I decreased again and am down to 37.5. I thought I'd be feeling a lot worse, maybe tha...

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I tapered off Effexor XR and onto 10mg Brintellix. No withdrawal symptoms - seamless transition. I have been on Brintellix now for about 3 weeks. I have to say I feel more alert, my anxiety is low, my sleep is better. So far so good. I had to stop taking Tramadol and Buspar to avoid the interaction but have had no need for the Buspar since and I can just take another opiod pain killer if I need to. Did not experience the nausea that seems to be the most common side effect. Keep your fingers crossed. ## Awesome! I am very glad that it's working so well for you. Can you post back and update me? Thanks! Do you have any questions or concerns? ## Hi I will be trying Brintellix soon to get ease the depression and anxiety from tapering Effexor. How are you doing now. I need help desperatel...

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