I took 300 mg of Venlafaxine for 4 years, until I decided to stop and start wellbutrin. It took me 2 months to go from 300 mg to 37.5 mg. Then I cut the 37.5 in half and took half a pill in the morning and afternoon for another week, and then only half of 37.5 everyday until I stopped. I have not been taking it for 2 weeks but feel nausea everyday plus headaches of course. Of course no doctor believes this is caused by Venlafaxine , so it is useless to discuss with them. What can help with the nausea, I feel sick all day long.
Any suggestion is appreciated.
I have heard other people complain of nausea coming off of venlafaxine so I believe you! I have also heard that ginger tea or candy, smelling peppermint and lemon essential oils are helpful. Also ginger, peppermint and chamomile tea. Taking vitamin B6 is also known to control nausea. Hope this helps!
Claudia you've dropped your dose really fast and it sounds like you're in withdrawal. I've heard it said it's harder to come off venlafaxine than heroin. Check the support groups on Facebook, you'll get lots of help there. One of the groups I'm on recommends dropping 10% of your dosage and waiting 3-4 weeks to ride out withdrawal before any further reductions. There are also tips on supplements which will help you through this. Hope this helps a bit.
Thank you so much. And this was 2x faster than the doctor suggested. The funny thing is that the worst part was the last 37.5 mg.
If anybody can stay away from this medicine, please do. This should be the last resource. It didn't help me any better than other anti depressants.
This med is sure hard to stop. I just went from 150 to 112 mg’s and even though I was only on 150 for a week I feel like crap. I’m going to wean myself off this completely — at least thats the plan!!!! Good luck folks!!!!!
Hi Claudia.
I think your experiencing prolonged withdrawal. I was nauseated for a few days and restless after I weaned off. It's a long story, but I'm taking it again... And feel like my old self. That being said, the gastric flu and the sore throat, aches, fever flu is really bad right now. So if you have a fever, you're probably experiencing something else.
I would suggest you get as much exercise as you can and drink lots of water. That worked for me. The medicine takes a while to build up in your system, so it makes sense it's going to take a while to leave it! And when I weaned off, it took me two months, also. Hope you have better luck on Wellbutrin. Take care!
Hi John,
i was up to 150 for a week and realized I was done with this drug. My blood pressure went wild. I weened back to 112.5 for a month. Then down to 75XL. While in Houston saw a psychiatrist and I am now cross tapering to an ssri Lexapro. Was on 75XL for a month along with Lexapro 5 mgs for 11 days. Then a week ago the Lexapro was raised to 10mg and I went down to 37.5 xl venlafaxine yesterday. The doctor told me for a lot of people this med is wonderful, but if it doesn’t work it is very difficult to withdraw from. Today is day 2 for me and having bad waves of nausea, headaches, dry throat and anxiety< but first day of no Klonipin so the Lexapro must be starting to work slowly. Take the withdrawal very slowly. Finally found a psychiatrist an hour and a half away in Vermont and she will continue to help me transfer off one drug onto another. Keep in touch.
Hi Lynn. Good for you. I also feel this drug is not for me anymore. I’m to see my Dr next week and I will speak to her about coming of AD’s altogether. I also do accupuncture which really helps. I figure if I’m gonna feel crappy I may as well be drug free. Lol. I have a good caring Dr now so I will go on her advice. But withdrawing slowly will be the path I will be taking. Hope all works out for you and good luck. Please stay in touch as well and let me know how you are doing!!!!!
I get extreme nausea even reducing by 10% so it's definitely a thing. I completely lose my appetite. It's almost like motion sickness.
Hi John,
i am down to 37 venlafaxine and 25 days on 10 Lexapro. Sleeping and eating better. Still exercising everyday. Hopeful that the Lexapro will kick in, in a few more weeks. How are you doing on your coming of venlafaxine. Keep in touch.
Hi Lynn. I’m not doing too bad thanks. Still feel a little down somedays but I’m determined to get off this drug. I’ve started take magnesium before going to bed as I have a hard time with staying asleep. Supposed to calm you. So far so good. Heres to hoping I dont need it for long. Well time for my morning walk. Hope you have a great day and you keep in touch as well!!!!!
Hi Claudia
I hope you're well.
I've startedone weaning off venlafaxine does it get easier? I was on it twice a day 37.5 from June last year til March 2018. I went down to 1 day so far so good I've gone down to one every two days and I've been so I'll vomitting diarrhoea feeling tearful I made the decision to come off them cos mentally I'm better but the physical side is awful can anyone advise? I'm waking up every morning to vomiting and diarrhoea I've started a new job things are great with myself and my partner just I feel sick all of the time. Will it get better? Has anyone been to GP about withdrawal too? Thanks Jenny