venlafaxine withdrawal- please help!!

Treatment and medication
1

Hi there, ive just joined on here to get some advice and support... i was prescribed venlafaxine xl (modified release) 10 yrs ago for severe depression after my daughter was born, over the years this has been increased to 225mg a day. My partner and i want to have another baby and was aware of the effects venlafaxine has or could have on a unborn child so i went to my psychiatrist to ask for there help to come off it, they drew up a plan where i would gradually reduce my amount by 37.5mg each week. This was 6 wks or so ago and am now on day two of no venlafaxine what so ever.... but im suffering really bad withdrawal symptoms.... excruciating headaches, shaking and shivering, nausa. This evening i had a major breakdown and couldnt stop crying. I had to be prescribed diazepam! I feel worse as each day goes by, dont think i can do this for much longer if this carries on.... i really want to get off this drug but i dont know how long the withdrawal will last and when ill start to feel better, does anyone have any ideas??

I feel like im in living hell at the moment...i have been feeling so bad that ive been house bound now since i started this regeime, i just need to know when its goin to end.

2

hiya tg,

sorry to hear your having such a bad time tg, but youve come a long way, did you have much of a problem when you were reducing the dosage or has major withdrawl just started?? you can extend the reduction further by cutting the 37.5 mg tabs in half if you really cant stand the complete cessation of venlafaxine, however that only prolongs the whole process, all be it with lesser nasty effects, if you can hang on in there :O)

were all different but the really bad effects should dissapear within a week or two, after ten years of use minor effects MAY occur from time to time for several weeks, but nothing like you are experiencing now, but the good news is you should notice POSITIVE changes in your personality over the weeks, wooooooohoooooooo, oh and obviously only take the diazepam when necessary as it is very addictive, only take it continuously for a few days max :O)

ive put up another post with a very usefull guide to venlafaxine, ive kept it separate in case the mods need to approve it, goood luck hang on in there, keep us poasted,

Ken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :O)

3

heres the link tg http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/anti-depressants-withdrawal/

Ken~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :O)

4

Hi ken thanks for replying, well i had some withdrawal symptoms when i first started the reduction but now im not on any venlafaxine its is sooo much worse. I feel out of it, my head spins when i move and feel so dizzy, and still have the shivers, i feel (and look) like a junkie!! i cant even look after my daughter so she has had to go stay with her dad. :-(

I forgot to mention before that ive also been on 15mg zoplicone for 10 yrs too!! When i was prescribed it nobody told me it was addictive the docs just kept prescribing it, and im also trying to come off this, im supposed to be starting the reduction this wk but cause im suffering so much from lack of venlafaxine i cant begin to come off zoplicone yet.... god knows what the withdrawals from that will be like!!

You said my mood should lift soon or even out, i hope so cause im really anxious and cant stop crying, my partner is finding it hard :-( im trying to be brave but sumtimes i just feel like ending it all ( crying as i write this).

5

hiya again tg,

the flu like symptoms you are experiencing, shivering etc, should disappear very soon now, leaving you on lesser withdrawal symptoms which are a pain in the bum but a lot more manageable, the dizziness and electric 'brain zap' like feelings are very weird but are totally harmless so dont panic :O)

as regards stopping the zopiclone at the moment, dont even think about it, you have been on quite a high dose for a long time now, im afraid it wont be easy, so just concentrate on the venlafaxine at the moment, if you try to do both at the same time, theres a very high chance that you'll fail on BOTH counts.

oh for the record ive successfully come off venlafaxine and zopiclone myself in the past at the first attempt, all be it not both at the same time, so hang on in there you can do this :O)

cheers,

keep in touch,

Ken~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6

Hi Ken, thank u very much for getting back to me i really appreciate the support. Well yesterday i had a emergency docs appt because i was not doin very well at all, they have decieded to put me on fluoxetine (prozac) 20mg for one week only to help the withdrawal symptoms, it is apparently not goin to be used as a anti depressant or replacement to the venlafaxine it is just to get me through this wk. I myself wasnt aware that goin on prozac would help?! im goin to try it tomoz and see how i get on. But i certainly dont want to take it long term to get off one drug only to go on another! They also increased my trazodone to 200mg at night, which im tolerating.

So Ken please tell me what dose of zoplicone were u on? how was it to come off? and how long did it take? im dreading doin that one lol.

7

hiya tg,

i didnt mention the prozac substitute as some doctors dont use it to help withdrawal, i think its a relatively new method to help come off venlafaxine (both meds are of the same family/type but prozac has a very long half life) as little as one tab of prozac is said to be effective, dont worry bout becoming dependant on prozac, after a few days use its not gonna happen :O)

i was on up to 15 mg of zopiclone a night, as i dont recollect having serious withdrawal from it, so it cant have been that bad, the main effect usualy is rebound insomnia, ie. not being able to sleep well again for a while, i stopped by tapering the dosage over a period of time just like the venlafaxine, the doctor may taper the dose and add in diazepam (valium) over a long period of time as you have been on it a very long time, again zopiclone has a very short half life where valium has a long half life, as you are also on trazodone presumably for depression and also to help you sleep, your doctor may adjust that too :O)

anyhooooos hows it going at the moment tg ??

cheers,

Ken~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

8

Hi tg, I was on 225 mgs of Venlafaxine for about two years and my GP took me off it way too quick. I had seriously bad withdrawal, hallucinations the lot and ended up in hospital until they brought me down to 37.5 mgs. I stayed on that dose for six months because I was so scared to try to stop completely given my previous experience. However, last week I realised I had forgotten to take it for three days and haven't taken it since. So far nothing and that's over a week. I've come off many a-ds over the years but nothing like venlafaxine so you're not alone. Don't beat yourself up. This med has more posts on this forum than any other. I've found with other a-ds that I couldn't come off them the first time I tried but when I was ready it was a lot easier but you're probably past the worst now. As for Zopiclone, I have come off them too and it's been nothing like as bad as coming off of other sleeping tablets.

Like Ken, I have another bit of experience but the moderators might not want to post it as it's still in early trials.

Good luck, Christine

9

I don't know if it's just coincidence, but I was recently put on a drug called Baclofen for pain caused by muscle spasms which have trapped a nerve. I'm on a good research database because of my job and when I get prescribed something new I always check it out. While licensed only as a muscle relaxant there is currently a fair bit of research going on into it as a treatment to lesson cravings in alcohol, cocaine and other drug addictions. I have to wonder if being on this has helped me stop venlafaxine so easily this time. Just a thought! C

10

Hi Peep's,

My Partner was on Venlafaxine for three years. 350mg at night was her dosage for her depression. We have both tried to wean her off the Venlafaxine for 1 year now dropping the dose as advised on the Venlafaxine/effexor forums. We eventually got to the lower advised dose of 37.5mg. This was dreadfull: Vomiting, Brain zapps, Tingling/Pins and needles all over her body, Severe Headaches, Suicidal, Crying uncontrolably, Severe sweating and Shaking like a heroin addict.

As most the UK Medical proffession dont accept there are ANY withdrawal symptoms from Venlafaxine/Effexor, i went on the American forums for Venlafaxine/Effexor.

Advice i followed from there was to take Benadryl Hay fever medicaction. After getting back down to the 37.5mg of Venlafaxine my partner started getting the same above withdrawal symptoms, so we both decided to use the benadryl at TWO 10mg capsules THREE times daily with stopping the Venlafaxine immediatly. Within 2 hours ALL withdrawal symptoms had subsided and she was quite happy. We continued the Two 10mg Capsules Three times daily for 2 weeks, Two 10mg capsules for one week, 1 10mg capsule for one week and then stopped the Benadryl capsules. My partner has had NO WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS AT ALL now since stopping the 37.5mg Venlafaxineand taking the Benadryl.

We tried for 1 year to get her off the Venlafaxine with no help, or acceptance from her Doctors that there are any withdrawal symptoms from Venlafaxine. We both had nothing but heartache my Partner suffered Dreadfull Withdrawal symptoms from the medication prescribed by her Doctor/Psychiatrist and no warnings of Withdrawal or the dreadfull time she was going to have getting off the medication.

With the thought that all it took was a simple HAYFEVER capsule taken correctly, to combat all the withdrawal symptoms from this ridiculous Venlafaxine medication, my partner and i were very angry. If only the UK Doctors and "Medical Proffessionals" would only admit and accept that there IS withdrawal symptoms from Venlafaxine/Effexor, Just as the American Medical Prroffessionals do, Life would be a lot easier for Venlafaxine/Effexor withdrawal sufferers here in the UK.

I feel and think the UK "Medical Proffessionals" WONT admit or accept the Known withdrawal symptoms from Venlafaxine/Effexor medication is because they KNOW there ARE and could possibly be sued for the suffering caused by the Doctors prescribing the Venlafaxine/Effexor medication so willy nilly as if it were an asprin. Both my Partner and I have considered Suing the Doctors involved but, Being in the UK, the Medical Proffession would still deny there are any KNOWN Withdrawal symptoms from ANY anti-depressant medication.

My partner is now a very happy person, at the moment, and we are both hoping the Depression does not return. If and when it does, She will not accept Venlafaxine/Effexor from her Doctors and will use the American Forums to "Investigate" any anti-depressant that may be prescribed by her "Doctor".

Benadryl May not work for everyone and we are not suggesting anyone should run out and buy Benadryl and stop the Venlafaxine/Effexor but, It worked perfectly for my Partner who has been off Venlafaxine/Effexor and Benadryl now for three months with NO withdrawal symptoms at all.

John.

11

(I believe) US Benadryl has a different active ingredient from that that's sold in the UK but regardless if a generic Antihistamine can help some patients then that's cool smile

12

I really feel this is an evil drug to come off. My psychiatrist gave me no warning and my GP doesnt seem to know what I am talking about. Miss a dose then its brain zaps, flu like symptoms. On it my heart all over the place, bad tinnitus, dry mouth and my optician says it is causing dryness in one eye. I hate the drug but can't get off it. Thought about writing to the makers to tell them to add a warning. Really don't know what is worse, my lifelong depression or these vial meds.

13

I too have been dismayed by my doctor's disbelief about my side effects in spite of me being able to prove it to her, and horrified by what I've read on several forums re not only withdrawal symptons from this drug but also side effects experienced. I am grateful to everyone who has shared their experiences on these forums and only wish I'd started checking them out a long time ago. If I hadn't by chance had to take my Venlafaxine prescription to a different pharmacy and thus been given Venlafaxine by a different manufacturer, I would never have experienced instant relief from all the neck, shoulder and back pain I had been suffering from - and I did go back to the Venlafaxine from the usual manufacturer just to test it out because I couldn't believe it myself. The only reason I hadn't associated these symptons with the drug was because the job I had been doing was a job where back ache was a common occurence and I had had back problems before (and ironically, after what I read on other forums re other anti depressant drugs I had been taking then, I'm now thinking it was those other drugs that gave me those back 'problems' rolleyes)I am now tapering off the drug and am grateful for the posts on this forum as now, armed with more facts, I am prepared. I will post how things are going as the weeks go by. I also read about the low dosage of Prozac being used to reduce withdrawal symptons after the final dose of Venlafaxine on another forum.

14

Hi pixz,

I would try the benadryl when coming off the venlafaxine. My Mrs used it when coming off the venlafaxine and had NO WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS at all. We had been trying to "wean" her off the venlafaxine for a couple of years, with terrible results with withdrawal symptoms. I read on other forums and on here about the benadryl. My Mrs is now free of ALL anti-depressants and a very happy lady. She did have a couple of tearfull days but, she took the benadryl capsules and within 4 hours she was fine.

She has never looked back since coming off the venlafaxine and she has lost nearly all of the weight she put on when taking the venlafaxine.

Some good exercise will help when coming off them as well.

I now have back the Beautifull and lively wife i had before she went on the venlafaxine and although she still has the depression, she and i have learned to cope with it without the dreaded anti-depressants.

John.

15

Re the Benadryl issue. Venlafaxine is distantly related chemically to amphetamines. Benadryl is also

related to amphetamine (in fact it is one of the main ingredients of methamphatamine).

If it gives any relief, I would guess that the above might be the reason. The active ingredient in Sudafed non drowsy Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride might have a similar effect.

16

He again folks, I have to report that despite thinking I'd cracked it with the Baclofen and with forgetting a few days, in both cases after a week or so I started to have the nightmares again - so vivid, if I wasn't a bit better now, I couldn't have differentiated from dream and reality. The 37.5 mg was such a low dose it was having no antidepressant effect and I needed something so have gone on Duloxetine. Only available from a psychiatrist not from a GP. Didn't even notice coming of the Venlafaxine. However have heard reports from the US that Duloxetine is a difficult drug to come off too. If ever I need to - no messing about this time, I'll have one go on my own and if all hell breaks lose, I will be begging for inpatient care while I come off it!

17

Now off the Venlafaxine after going 2 weeks cutting 37.5 in half and then taking every other day. Depression is not good and still getting "brain zaps" and "whooshes" but not quite so bad. GP just want me on sanything from Citalopram to going back on Venlafaxine (don't they ever listen) So I just agreed and now keeping my head down

18

Can anyone help, please? I have been on venlafaxine for 4 years, 150mg. Three weeks ago it was put up to 225mg. Unfotunately it didn't help. After seeing another gp he advised I should change to another anti-depressant. I was immediately put back to 150mg for a week, then 75mg for the following week then I was to change to my new tablet 50mg taking it every other day for one week,. I have taken three of these tablets but I am feeling sick, have had a constant upset stomach. I take Tamoxifen for breast cancer and am worried that my body is not getting enough of this. Collapsed at work, before changing tablets. GP not concerned but I am absolutely drained and not sure whether I should stop taking new tablets. Fed up feeling ill.

19

Hi there is a lot of evidence on the net about how difficult it is to come off this drug. It needs to be done very slowly.

Take care

20

I have just read with interest all the information you have reported on your experiences with withdrawl from Venlafaxine so I feel I must share my experience. I was swapped to this medication 3 months ago from one i'd been on for years as I wasn't sure it was working anymore. Once on them I found I got lots of suicidal thoughts, irregular periods, dry mouth and other things so I asked my GP to come off them, which she agreed and supported. However, I have been AWFUL with the side effects some of which you mention here: vomiting, nausea, tearful (which I suppose you could expect coming off an antidepressant), headaches (which THANK GOD) have now passed, but the continuing symptom is nausea and "brain zaps" as people on here have been calling them. I can be sitting in a meeting and it's like my brain is wobbling inside. It has been a truly frightening experience which I hope doesn't last much longer. I have now ended the taking of the tablets but as I say the symptoms are still lingering. I am fortunate I have a very support GP. I am also very grateful for all the people above who have shared their experience as I did start to think I might have a serious illness...... Tracey