Aug 18 2008
Effexor Withdrawal
If you are taking the anti-depressant Effexor XR or Venlafaxine for depression, anxiety, or another mental health reason, and you and your doctor ever decide it is time for you to try to come off of it, you need to know that coming off of Effexor can be very difficult. In fact, if your doctor or psychiatrist does not taper you off of the medication, you can experience severe withdrawal symptoms. I actually had this experience when one of my old doctors attempted to take me off of Effexor without tapering me off of it.
Effexor withdrawal symptoms may include:
-Irritibility
-Dizziness
-Headaches
-Fatigue
-Burning and/or tingling sensations
-Agitation
-Insomnia
-Confusion
-Anxiety
When my old doctor told me to stop Effexor without titrating me off of it, I knew I shouldn’t have done so, but I didn’t want to seem like an uncooperative patient, so I tried to do what she had asked. I didn’t even last two days without the medication. By 30 hours off of Effexor, I had a horrible, horrible headache, a little bit of nausea, severe dizziness, and I was very irritible.
It is important for you to be taken off of Effexor (XR) slowly, as it is with any anti-depressant medication. If your doctor does not give you a clear plan for getting off of your Effexor without withdrawal side effects, insist that he or she give you one. Alternatively, you can see an urgent care, ER, or another doctor in order to be properly taken off of the medication.
Remember, never suddenly stop taking your anti-depressant medication. There’s no reason for anyone to suffer from such severe withdrawal from an anti-depressant. Proper titration will allow you to get off of your anti-depressant medication without experiencing withdrawal. If you want to get off of Effexor (or any other anti-depressant), please talk with your psychiatrist or primary care physician about it and follow his or her instructions carefully for titration.
