2 weeks since I've slowly tried to taper off this crazy drug and I feel terrible really anxious almost had a panic attack a couple times shaky nervous body aches and pains any suggestions of how long this might last and what more to expect???????
I am not a professional, I am simply posting things off respected websites and sharing my own nightmare from hell tappering of Zoloft.
Effexor info... Everyday concerns, as reported in a Wyeth study, include nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, insomnia, constipation, nervousness, sweating and blurred vision.
Here is a list the following withdrawal symptoms as "serious": agitation, anorexia, anxiety, confusion, impaired coordination, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, dysphoric mood, . .
a noticeable change in mood, dizziness, and nausea. She experienced a sensation in her head as if electrical discharges "popped" and could not concentrate to the extent that she was unable to drive her car the popping" in her head had become worse and she vommited.
Those are the basics I found online. Best thing to do is just research this on the actual website for whatever Pharaceutical makes it.
I took 150mg for 18 years, I quit taking it cold turkey, I had zero side effects.
I am going through horrible horrible side effects from stopping Zoloft. Don't ever take that drug, it is so TOXIC. And I was only on 200mg. I went to fast when tapering off.
Hope this helps a little. I ended up just searching the internet for Zoloft side effects when stopping .... etc, you just type Effexor which is the original pill, not the generic Venlafaxine.
Good luck. I would not ever go on SSRI's again. EVER. Zoloft
Have you talked to your doctor about what you are going through? I am still taking venlafaxine and mirtazapine and that combo works very well for my MDD. I wish I could be more helpful with your withdraway experience. Keep using this site and talking about your feelings and symptoms. It is a great place to talk to others who understand
your struggles. Also please talk to a health care professional.
Take care,
Phyll8s
Hi there. I don't know if this will help, but I tapered off Ven this past summer VERY slowly -- took my last dose in May. For a few months, I felt great. Then I hit a wall -- I was so depressed for two months I couldn't leave the house. Then I started taking another antidepressant, Luvox, which took weeks to kick in -- but then it DID kick in and I was doing much better, getting out and about. However, for the past several weeks, I have had the shakes and panic attacks and bouts of crying. I am wondering if it's still the Ven in my system? Who knows.
Can you be more specific about what your view point of very slow is. Also what's your dose and how long have you been taking it? All of the above can be determining factors.
Hiya, you did the right thing by tapering because I went cold turkey and went into what I could only describe as psychosis. Have you stopped taking it completely now or what dose are you down to? And how long did you take it before you stopped and at what dose? Everyone is different with how they metabolise medications but it depends how far you have tapered.
Thanks for your input Laurie greatly appreciated
Thank you Phillis I have not talked to my doc I decided to just quit I suffer from gad and pd also ocd with checking my heart rate and the medication helped but started making things worst plus it doesn't treat the underlying cause of my anxiety so that I have to do by myself no drugs, but thanks for your reply it does help a lot to chat here with fellow sufferers lol
Hi Elizabeth congrats on getting off this terrible drug and I'm sorry to hear you are suffering with another maybe take my approach and quit all drugs and try to find the underlying cause of your problem remember these help just help but don't cure the problem thank you for your reply hope you do better
Hi cheryl I've been taking 75mg for 6 yrs and now I'm taking it 6 hours late everyday for two weeks then going to 8 hrs later and so on good Ideal or no and thanks for your responce
Hi shtutty I'm tapering off of 75mg by taking it 6hrs late everyday for 2 weeks and adding two hours more every two weeks after that what do you think and thanks for your reply
Hey, I would say you are better off reducing the dose rather than adjusting the time you take it. So you could either cut the tablets up or go to the doc and get some lower dose pills to taper with. Don't just quit though, trust me, I thought it would be best to get it out my system quick as possible but it was the worst thing I've ever done!
charly, the best way to taper off AD's is by tapering the dose not the time taken. If you are on the effexor xr, this is time released through a 24 hour period meaning you need to take it the same time each day.
a 10% reduction of current dose every 4-6 weeks is what is recommended (Some individuals do 5% cuts to go slower) So right now if you are at 75mg you would cut down to 67.5 mg. then 4-6 weeks later a 10% cut of that dose would be 60.75mg and so forth etc.... As you go down lower the 10% cuts will become smaller.
Great info thank you much cheryl I think I'm gonna stick to this method as it is working and once I go on to take it once every other day I will switch to the 37.5mg ones but if this does fail I will most definitely take the route you mentioned thanks once again for your response and help!
Hi that would be ok if you can get the drug in liquid form xx
Ellie xx
Lowering the dose I agree with I'm lowering mine in manageable 18.75mg increments
But everyone's body (brain) is different and handles tapering differently ALSO I must add that when you get to Tablet form it isn't time release , therefor, the half life of the drug(the time it takes to wear off out of the bodies system) is shortened exponentially
Please remember this when you get to the 37.5mg Charly ☝️️
Ellie
Your right and yes I know it's terrible just tapering off I can imagine just going cold turkey n thanks for the advice
Thank u ellie I will most definitely remember that lol thanks for the advice
What made you decide to stop Venlafaxine? I have decided because I feel I can manage my depression myself. Mindfulness is good for me and my yoga classes. :-)
Hi Iyoga just the fact that it doesn't fix the underlying cause of my anxiety, that I need to fix by myself and without putting drugs in my body that who knows what it might bring in the long run negatively to my body but yes mindfullness and exercise do help for me also, congrats on beating your depression by yourself thanks for your reply and hope for your continued success