How To Reduce Effexor Withdrawal Symptoms

Can anyone help me? I accidentally took my fiancée effexor xr 150mg last night. My brain felt like it was on fire. I was nauseous dizzy, blurred vision you name it. I went to the er this morning because the feeling just won't go away. They sent me home. Now I feel the brain shivers and I have no coordination. Is this permanent from one dose. Please help!

Hello, After reading through many years of post I am enlightened with the experience of so many and thought it would be only fair to share my own. The common question seems to be 'how long will it last?' Maybe I can provide some insight. I'm late 20's male being on Effexor xr for approx 8 years (75 - 150mg, 75mg for the past 2 yrs). After a few unsuccessful attempts at 'quitting' and many doctors giving me unsupportive responds when I said I wanted to get off. One doctor even said 'just stay on it, it's fine'. Am I paranoid to think there is some insentive by drugs corps or was he just to lazy to assist in any way. Either way, that discouraged me for a while longer. For the past 6 months I've been in a lucky situation (traveling the world for 12 months - completely stress free) and after missing two doses I thought I would give it a try to completely kick the drug. I've had most of the side effects described - day 3/4 were the worst - now being day 6 and I'm feeling better already. I'm certain I can pull through it. I have the benefit of not having to work and no one around me knows me well enough to notice any difference. The headaches and dizziness is subsiding and I'm positive I'm going to be fine. It goes without saying that even if you're not attempting to drop an addiction - exercise, healthy eating and lots of water will help anyone feel 1000% better. So definatly will help with ridding the body of effexor. One last note: for those who are very angry at the drug company, 'evil drug' was mentioned a few times, I have to say at the time I started taking effexor I was really in a bad state and it really pulled me from a deep depression. The disappointing part was the support from the health professionals that followed - a lack of interest in helping me to free my body of drug addiction. If you can get a week off work and make it through, then you too can do it. Just occupy your mind and stay positive. Good luck to everyone.

OMG I simply cannot believe this drug is legal. And is RECOMMENDED by doctors.

I've read and read thru tonnes of posts and I sit here crying. I'm on day three of withdrawing from Effexor 37.5. It's positively hellish. I thought I was going to die yesterday...and I don't say that lightly. If not for these posts and reading other people's experiences I would've gone to hospital.

I'm taking mega doses of
Vitamin B
Omegas
Magnesium
St Johns Wort

I'm also eating primarily protein when I feel like eating. And (sorry for graphics boys) I'm having a really painful period - which is really odd because I'm pretty much not having a cycle anymore due to birth control methods. Apparently Effexor affects your endocrine and hormone systems...go figure.

I'm also thinking I need something else...something to calm the raging ratlling brain and symptoms. I can hear my eyelids blinking from the inside. It's like I'm the lead in a sick horror movie and I can't get out of it because it's in my own head. I'm just so miserable.

I cry all the time. At anything. My brain sings and zaps and feels like it's rolling around in my head. I feel completely disoriented. I'm nauseaus on and off but thankfully not badly. I'm really cold though and shivery...like when you've been talking about something really unpleasant. But I'm constantly sad. It's just awful.

Good luck to everyone...it's just revolting but listening to others who have come out the other end is inspiring and keeps us all strong.

Let's know if anyone reads this and thinks something else can help. Bring on this time next week.

Phenergan is used by us to help induce a good night's sleep. I'm not sure how it would go to assist with withdrawals and don't know if I'd take it through the day in case of just not being able to stay awake! But you get so desperate...I'm wondering if prozac or valium would be the go. Good luck! Have you finished with your withdrawals?

Wearing a patch over one eye greatly reduced the brain zpas for me.

Please listen carefully. This will pass. No one was able to give me a definite time. It might take 6-8 weeks to get completely out of your system, but by the 2nd week you'll be able to function. It's the demon drug of the universe, and I beg you to have hope. I found every food that is antioxidant: Blueberries, avocados, walnuts, salmon, kale (look 'em up..there are a lot of foods that will help you.) Plus, keep taking the supplemental doess....I ate nothing but these foods, and I think it was the foods that helped. Plus, and most importantly, drink gallons of water. Flush it out.
Sleep as much as you can. I am on my 8th week and I'm at 95% of my former self. Exercise, if you can, or if you can't just stretch your muscles. Yoga might help. I just beg you to keep thinking about getting healthy, and you will. But it will take time. Big hugs. You are not alone.

I came upon this site while looking for answers to why my 22 year old son was having such a bad time while his doctors reduced his Effexor.

As I read the post by all of you I became aware what a nightmare of a drug my son was on. I had no idea it was so bad for him.

First off he has been on this c**p for almost three years and I can't say that it helped him much if at all. He was on 300mg and tapered to 150 for a week then 75mg for a week then 37.5 mg for a week then 0 now.

With each step he had the withdrawals as most all of you described. This last week is when I found this site and read where some of you tried Omega 3 and Vitamins with some success.

Two night ago he was in such bad shape we were going to go to the emergency room. Instead we tried what you had mentioned and gave him 2 Omega 3 capsules and a multi vitamin. Within 30 to 40 minutes he started feeling a bit better. The next morning we gave him the same. Also at lunch time then again in the evening.

Today my son is much better, got up took a shower and is even in my spare room playing a video game with my visiting grandson.

I want to thank all of you here and tell others that might be Leary of trying the Omega 3 and vitamin, don't hesitate, try it, it can't make things worse, but it can make things better.

He is not 100% better, but only about 90% which is a miracle.

BTW he also has tourette syndrome which the Dr. prescribed some concoction the a drug rep said was the next best thing. That was a load of c**p as it made him a very violent person. I had the Dr. take him off that and tried my own therapy and let him smoke two small hit of marijuana from my pipe. In about three days he was no longer yelling or jerking. Since it works on the neurological system it worked and his tourettes is all but gone.

Again thank you all on this site and good luck to you all. Joe

OMG how could they send you home. Are you O.K. now? I would ring the poisons information centre if you are worried I don't know what else to suggest except maybe ring your fiancee Dr and ask him. He would be more informed about the drug than a GP.
Kind regards Deb

Call your local pharmacist and ask them. They study this stuff and would know what to expect. It may last a day or two since you just took one pill.

You should have nothing to worry about longer term (-: although you may feel a bit 'off' for a couple of weeks. While your body may experience some short-term symptoms, venlafaxine (effexor) isn't a drug that can knock you out or kill you in high doses in the way that certain narcotics or street drugs can. Think of it as just something you ate that caused a bad reaction. You wouldn't want to take it again, but so long as you don't, you'll be fine, and your body will have eliminated all if not most of it within 2 weeks. If you're pregnant, especially if you're in your 3rd trimester, it's a bit different and you'll want to talk to your ob-gyn. (I'm guessing you're not pregnant, which is a good thing in this case.) Disclaimer: I work in the pharmaceutical chemicals industry, and am in the process of withdrawing from venlafaxine myself. Venlafaxine probably saved my life 4 years ago. I'm very thankful for what it did for me, so I'm not going to knock it. It also helped my brother enormously. But enough is enough, and I'd like to be off it before the hubby and I try to have a kid. Signing off now to take some more Omega 3 for those brain zaps! All the very best to all of you who are coming off it!!!!

Can you please tell me how you did? I have taken only 8 doses of Effexor and am just now reading of the side effects. I want to of course, stop but now I am terrified!

I have been on Effexor for 3 years and has worked. Recently I got a job working grave shift and was able to perform for close to 3 months then slowly I began to feel anxious and dizzy which I believe to be vertigo. I believe what i did wrong was change the times I take this medication by the end of my shift the last day I got brain zapps and could not function. I went to the dr. and they couldnt figure what was wrong and just thought anxiety was it. its been a week and I raised my dosage to 150mg i still have bad migraines feel vertigo dizziness can anybody help or suggest anything thanks.

Hey everyone. I'm only 3 months into Effexor. I started at 75mg when I first took the drug and now I'm on 225mg, taken in the morning. It may or may not also help to note I take Trazodone 100mg and Xanax .25mg at night to help with sleep. The first month, I took Effexor XR, I could not really tell if it was working..this is pretty natural anyway, happens with most drugs. Plus, I was in the hospital for a month after a suicide attempt. (broken leg) after I started to feel the effects of the drug, I felt a little better. I could definitely tell that my happiness had increased. Today is April 8th, 2013. Within the past couple weeks, I have become blank. I am completely flat and emotionless. I cannot cry. This is strange because I'm a very, very emotional person. Also, it has started to interfere with my sleep! This is even with my sleep meds! My dreams are strange and uncomfortable. I feel very irritable and angry if I do feel emotions. Suicidal thoughts have increased and am also having thoughts I really should not be having. Tomorrow I am seeing my psychiatrist. I see her once a month, because I have psychotherapy once a week. so anyway, my medication is going to be changed whether it's a reduction or a complete change.I will keep you updated on this withdrawal process as it is happening.

Hello All,

 I have been on Effexor XR for just over a year and decided to quit after months of having some less than wonderful side effects (ie: No sexual desire/inability to orgasm, 20 lb weight gain, I think that should be enough to deter anyone from using this drug...). Today is day 5 of cold turkey from 150mg day. After reading through many blogs about this type of withdrawal I felt scared and hopeless. I was worried that I would be subjected to up to a year of withdrawal symptoms.

The first four days were HELL. All of the classic withdrawal symptoms that others post about, with the addition of having my mother-in-law staying the week at my house. (Need I say more?) I have a full time job at a nationally renowned hospital in Little Rock, AR and am surrounded by other physicians that were able to advise me on how to overcome these terrible withdrawal symptoms. I wanted to share this because it has made a significant difference in how I feel.

These suppliments have been an essential part of my day 4/5 transformation:

CoQ10

Omega 3 Oil Supreme (contains fish, and other essential oils to help "lube the brain" and decrease "brain zaps")

Multi vitamin designed for 50+ years of age (I know this sounds weird, but the extra vitamin D and biotin are really worth it.)

Super B complex (helps with energy and will make your pee neon yellow!)

I bought all of these suppliments at Target and took the first dose with dinner (which consisted of raspberries and blueberries because I have had no luck keeping any food in my stomach for long). By bed time I was starting to notice a slight difference. I WAS ABLE TO SLEEP WITHOUT HORRIFIC SWEATING!! I still had some itching and restless leg stuff happening, but it was TOLERABLE! The strange and complicated dreams continued, but I got more sleep last night than all three of the previous nights! I woke up, had a protien shake (which was also reccomended by the physicians) and took another dose of the suppliments.

I am very happy to say that while I am not at 100%, I feel much better! A little nauseated and dizzy, but less frequent "brain zaps" and I am much less fatigued! To me this feels like a miracle! 

I wanted to post this to give you guys hope! You can overcome this withdrawal, but you MUST TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF and give your body and brain what it needs to function to be best of its ability!! After almost a week of torture, these suppliments have been a lifesaver.

Best of luck to you all. I wish you peace and a good support system to help you through this difficult time. Stay positive and stay strong. YOU CAN DO THIS!!

Hi mate Im from Sydney and just read your post. Your not alone mate...thanks to you and everyone on here for the advice!