I feel you, I'm currently on week 4 is hospital after stopping - It's absolutely destroyed me beyond anything I could ever imagine

Hi mate, im 44 and have tried to come off venlafaxine many times and failed. I managed 4 months off once but it was absolutely hell on earth, like you i can barely explain how horrendous it was and the bizarre feelings and symptoms that occurred. Ultimately, it was so bad that i had to go back on them. I then weaned over a year to get off, but even then i had to start on another at the end. I believe i would have to have taken 6 months to a year off work from that point if i was to stay ssri free. Youre welcome to reach out to me mate, I think i probably have some tips that may help. Nathan.

Hi, I highly recommend you to pray in family. God has become my healer number one, I started to frequent the Sacraments like Confession and Communion and life changed for good. I also suggest you to avoid video games, they cause more anxiety. Hope you read this, I’m glad you have a loving wife by your side

I'm left with permanent neurological damage from Effexor i took 11 years ago. Severe muscle tension all over my head and neck. The drugs cause brain damage.

It's the worst thing imaginable. I am tapering from Lexapro and yes you would honestly give your leg away in trade for some relief.

I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. My daughter (special needs adult) was put on Effexor about 5/6 weeks ago and we’re desperate to get her off….praying that after this short of time it’ll be easier for her, and we plan to go extreeeeeeeeamly slow. I’ll pray for you. This is just miserable. I think drs should go on this junk before they’re allowed to prescribe. :(

Hi, 1. Were you're hamstrings also stiff? Were you able to do some running, if not, why? Did your legs give up on you? Sorry my english. But my brain is f...d.

I feel your pain 😢 im going through hell with withdrawals

What is it with this drug, people from all over go thru the same thing. Are they trying to get rid of us. I felt this way getting on them. I started on 37.5 mg for 2 weeks then I I basically spent the next month on 75 mg. But I spent the month in bed. I was nauseous. I was dizzy. I felt like I was out of my body. I didn’t feel human. I started thinking about who I should give my stuff to. Then I thought that’s it I am done with these. I went back down to 37.5 mg 2 days ago and still feel crappy. I get shivers, first I am cold, then I am hot. I have a head ache. It’s horrible. All I want to do is sleep. What are these supposed to do to be good for. I know what the bad is like. Never felt any good. Wasted all of Feb. and March on the 19th is still bad. Peace to all and be careful with this medication. I can easily see how one would end up in the hospital.

I know you are probably thinking, if I am taking this medication, then I admit to having a disorder. Or you may think wow I have to take this medicine to feel okay, something must be wrong with me. But that is the wrong way to think about it. Taking the meds will always be the right choice over stopping suddenly.

stomach bug? might just be more withdrawal symptoms. i had symptoms of a bacterial infection going off olanzapine

Hello, I'm training to become a psychiatric specialist who provides psychiatric medication tapering services. I would encourage you to look up the work of Mark Horowitz, to guide your tapering journey. Given your substantial history taking this medication, your body and brain have adapted to the presence of the drug. It would be beneficial for yo to form realistic expectations around the tapering process which will likely require 18 + of slow micro tapering to achieve successfully. Warmly, Joseph

It took me 6 months to come off 75mg

Sorry 6 months to get off 37.5mg

Why did you stop? That is the question? Whatever benefits you will gain from stopping do not outweigh the benefits of just taking the damn medication. Albeit, you are probably wondering how you would have been if you NEVER began the medication in the first place. What IF you never took a single Effexor EVER? You don't know. The meds will make you feel better literally as soon as you take the first dose.

If the meds are working stay on them.