How long do the withdrawal side effects last?

Treatment and medication
1

after about 6 years taking ven i stopped altogether about 5 days ago! which is great and mentally i feel fine but the head rushes and dizzy feeling is unbearable. i was only taking 18.5mg per day for the last couple of months so in comparison to some people a very low dose but the withdrawal is still almost unbearable

anyone else who did it, how long did the withdrawal side effects last? any tips?

PSA

23 yrs

2

hiya PSA :cheerup:

i was on venlafaxine for about 4 years, i came off it a couple of years ago, it has a very short half life (24 hours) therefore the onset of withdrawl is very quick :? it can last quite some time, but we are all different, i found that the brain 'zaps' were the worst and very annoying :shock: but thats all, only annoying not dangerous :ok:

try not to worry and try and relax PSA :mrgreen:

Ken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :run: :rainbow: :peace:

3

:D Thanks Ken, appreciate your comment....

it didn't go so well This morning, day 6 of stopping taking ven I had quite a severe anxiety attack which wouldn't go away so I had to take another half 37.5mg tab. I still don't feel right now and am conisdering either taking a diazepan or another ven but will try fight it.

Do you think an anxiety attack could be brought on because of withdrawal or do you think this means I should need to take it on a daily basis for longer.

I honestly had begin to think that after 6 years I could stop this time

I honestly don't think i'll ever be depression free

4

hiya PSA :cheerup:

i wouldn't bother with the diazepam PSA, they will only mask the withdrawl effects :? and indeed can be addictive themselves and a damned site harder than venlafaxine to come off :shock:

have you had a talk with your doc/psychiatrist, what was your maintainance dose, has your depression cleared up fully :huh: if you cant manage on 37.5 mg go to 75 mg for a week or two, then 37.5 mg for a couple of weeks and so on :ok:

the anxiety attack could have and probably was due to withdrawl :? if you haven't fully revovered from your depression, it's not a good idea to come off anti depressants as the depression could come back with a vengeance :shock: that's the nature of the beast i'm afraid PSA :wink:

take care, relax and let me know how you get on :mrgreen:

Ken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :run: :ok: :rainbow: