Venlafaxine Withdrawal, Please Help

Treatment and medication
1

Hi everyone, I've registered to this forum just so I can ask this question- I'm so sorry if any of this comes across as offhand, I've just typed something up as quickly as possible in an attempt to get some help. Thanks x

I came off Venlafaxine last Thursday and since then I have experienced numbness in my hands, severe headaches, nausea, diarhoea, and the sensation that someone is pushing on my forehead when I am walking. Today the numbness and headaches have subsided somewhat, but I feel so sick and I experience mini-blackouts when I am talking- I don't actually lose any time, but I feel as though I keep falling asleep and then waking up mid-sentence. I am also finding it difficult to know if I am asleep or awake. I can't go outside without getting really confused or feeling like I'm going to pass out. I'm constantly feeling like I want to vomit, but since last Thursday I haven't been sick once (which is probably good).

I just want to ask how long will this last for, and is it something I need to go to A&E about? Is there anything I can do besides taking obscene amounts of painkillers? Please help, I feel embarrassed to keep calling up my doctor just to say I have a 'headache'.

For some additional info, I'm 23, female, have been taking 75mg of Venlafaxine twice a day for three months, I declined the 'interim' between V and going cold turkey as I've had prozac and fluoxetine before and they didn't sit well with me. Been taking various antidepressants for six years, decided to see how I am off them, and V especially because of the side effects I had from taking it.

2

the symptoms you're experiencing are very likely from the venlafaxine withdrawal.

how did you start stop using them? from 100 to 0? if so you shouldn't have done that. antidepressants must be weaned off slowly and gently.

there is no book on how to say how long this will last... it could be days, weeks even months

you should never be too embarrassed if something concerns your own health and if a doctor treats you like a nutcase because of it then you have to change your doctor or at least tell him to be respectful.

it's not very wise to take obscene amounts of painkillers for a lots or reasons.

if I were you I would do the following:

- talk with the doctor that prescribed you venlafaxin (I hope it is a psychiatrist) and sort out a weaning off strategy (the current one does not seem to be appropriate)

hope this helps

3

Hi Dr.D, thanks very much for your response. I did just come off straight away without weaning, as my doctor (he's not a psychiatrist) had advised that doing so wouldn't cause a problem. I'll have to go back and see him some time this week because it's getting a bit unbearable. Thanks though.

4

Hi,

I just took a look at the info from our therapeutic goods administration (it's only available in german or french).

It is common and known that the withdrawal of antidepressants is accompanied with different kinds of symptoms and therefore withdrawal should be done gently over time in order to reduce these symptoms to a level one can handle.

I'm surprised your doctor did not advise so.

I hope you get well soon!