Completely stopped taking 225grams.

Mental health
1

I had been taking 225 grams of Venlaxifine for several years, for quite severe depression.

This was the highest dose available.

I decided to stop taking this medication in March 2017.

I did not visit my Doctor for their advise, I just went cold turkey.

I felt SO much better, more energy, not having to have a 2 hour nap most afternoons, waking earlier in the mornings, having a clearer head etc.

I did get a few brain zaps, which were very mild, and not a problem at all.

However, after about 6 weeks, I started to get quite severe joint / muscle pain.

I put up with it for quite a few weeks, but, as I was preparing to move house, from a very large house, to a much smaller house, I started to take a lesser dose, ( 175 mg ).

The stress involved in the move, made it not a good time to cease this medication.

Last October, I decided to stop taking it again.

Previous to this, I had been feeling awful, I felt I couldn't cope with simple tasks, such as cooking the dinner!.

Also, waking up in the morning with such a foggy brain.

Plus, I was having to sleep in the afternoons again.

Once again, I felt, initially, SO much better.

But, as before, the aches and pains have returned, after several weeks of withdrawing.

But, this time, I am not going to return to taking them.

I take some strong pain killers in the morning, ( only over the counter ones ), and they help with the aches.

If  necessary, I take less strong ones in the afternoon / evening.

My emotional state has been good, considering that I was taking Velaxifine for depression.

One significant difference in not taking it, was that I no longer have negative thoughts, which I had ALL the time I was taking it!.

Whatever is THAT all about.

 

2

Hi

I'm currently take venlefaxine 225mg and I am desperate to come off or at least reduce as I'm not the same person I was years ago before I room these pills. The problem is as soon as even so much as miss a dose I get severe discontinuation symptoms.. really bad brain zaps.. anxiety and my mood plummets to the point where I literally stop caring about anything which is a dangerous place to be if u already have suicidal thoughts. However I don't feel much on the drugs either of you know what I mean.

It's good to hear of someone else who has been unable to successfully reduce or stop.

I know what you mean about the muscle aches.. If I've missed a dose I also get this symptom

Best wishes

L x

3

Fantastic news! Venlafaxine is horrendous it was the worst AD I have ever had & the withdrawal when I came off them was awful I felt like I was detoxing from heroine I was ill for weeks.

It's great that you've been so pro-active & taken control, you're doing really well. Thank you for sharing .

4

Hi Lisa,

I felt the same when I missed a dose, the withdrawal symptoms would take effect so quickly. Coming off them is the best thing I ever did. Maybe speak to your doctor about gradually reducing your dose as going cold turkey can be extremely difficult. Good luck x

5

Thank you so much Yasmine, it has not been easy at all, as you know.

One thing I forgot to mention, was, the reason I stopped taking Venlaxifine in the first place, was because I had run out.

It was on a Saturday, and the chemist had shut at 12.30.

I could not get anymore until the following Monday.

However, I did not feel bad at all, for not taking them for a couple of days.

So, I thought I would see how I felt, and continued not to take them for weeks.

After I had gone back to taking Venlaxifine for a couple of months, I decided I would have another try at giving them up.

This was about June time, last year.

On that day, I could not stop crying, anything would set me off, it was VERY strange, so I took one in the evening, and continued until last October.

It has not been easy at all, I have been very irritable, and my home circumstances have not helped.

My Husband developed Parkinson's disease over 2 years ago, and, when we moved  to this house, in August 2017, our daughter moved in with us, plus her dog, due to a marriage break up.

But, I am determined not to take them ever again.

I am no longer depressed, and I do wonder how long it has been since I was not clinically depressed, all the time I was taking that medication.

I had been taking it for over 7 years.

 

6

Nope it's never easy but no-one knows you better than you know yourself & you're amazing for going through it & not giving up.

It seems like you've also managed to change the way you think so even though your home situation is tough right now your mindset is in the right place which is fantastic.

I know meds work for some but I do not believe they are universal, some people are better off without them. Keep going strong!

7

Thank you for your communication.

I kept taking Venlaxifine for years, and never thought about not taking it.

It was a mindless routine, popping the pills every morning.

I was terrified that I would return to the state of mind that I was in when I first had to take them.

I now realise that they turned me into someone that I was not.

It does seem, that some  Doctors don't seem to encourage patients to try to cut down, and eventually cease taking this drug.

I realise that they are extremely over stretched nowadays, and haven't the time.

My personality has returned, although the aches and pains, which move about my body, from day to day, sometimes it is in my legs / feet, are a nuisance.

I can be quite intolerant, also.

I hope that this won't go on for too much longer.

My best wishes to all of you.

I hope my experience will in some way, give hope to others.

Lately, they have been in my shoulders, and arms.

I think that I have got off quite lightly, compared to the awful side effects that you, and others are suffering.

I wish that I could help you, and others, to cease taking this drug.

It seems that all the people trying to stop, have very different experiences, as to the side effects of not taking it.

Venlaxifine helped me, when I was in a very bad place mentally.

There was no reason why I suffered from depression.

At that time, there was nothing in particular that caused the depression.