This article was co-authored by Padam Bhatia, MD. Dr. Padam Bhatia is a board certified Psychiatrist who runs Elevate Psychiatry, based in Miami, Florida. He specializes in treating patients with a combination of traditional medicine and evidence-based holistic therapies. He also specializes in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), compassionate use, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Dr. Bhatia is a diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA). He received an MD from Sidney Kimmel Medical College and has served as the chief resident in adult psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York.
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Venlafaxine HCl (commonly known by the brand name Effexor) is an oral medication commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, and social phobias. Unfortunately, patients who stop taking Effexor (intentionally or accidentally) commonly experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include nausea, headaches, irritability, hives, vertigo, twitches or shakes, and others, and can range from mild to quite severe. By tapering your dose (ideally under doctor supervision), and by taking steps to cope with your withdrawal symptoms, you can ease yourself off of the drug. Alternatively, if you have missed a dose by mistake, you can get in touch with a health care provider right away for a temporary prescription.
Steps
Coping with Withdrawal Symptoms
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1Familiarize yourself with the symptoms. Symptoms of Effexor withdrawal may include dizziness, fatigue, agitation, anxiety, chills, nausea, headaches, irritability, twitches or shakes, hives, a clicking or buzzing sound in your head, sweating, feelings of unease, muscle pain, and insomnia. These can range from mild to severe. You may experience all of these symptoms or only a few.[1]
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2Drink water. If you are in the throes of a withdrawal from Effexor, there are a few simple ways that you can cope. First, you should drink a lot of water. The more quickly you can flush toxins from your system, the sooner you can begin to feel better.[2]Advertisement
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3Eat nutrient-dense food. If you are experiencing Effexor withdrawal, chances are you will not want to eat; however, allowing yourself to get too hungry is a drain on your immune system, and will not help you to bounce back. Instead, try to nibble on nutrient-dense food, like fruits, vegetables, or nuts.
- Ask a friend to bring you a fruit smoothie made with strawberry, banana, almond milk, and coconut oil.
- Alternatively, eat a handful or trail mix or a couple pieces of beef jerky when you feel up to it.
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4Get some rest. The best way to deal with an Effexor withdrawal is to sleep right through it. Do your best to clear your schedule and get as much sleep as you can. Even if you cannot fall asleep, simply taking it easy and getting some rest will enable your body to heal.[3]
- This should only be done if you are well-hydrated.
- Drink water before and after doing any intense sweating.
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5Do some deep breathing. Try to relax and take long, soothing breaths. This will help move oxygen through your bloodstream, lowering your heart rate and stabilizing your blood pressure. Deep breathing can reduce anxiety, panic, and even nausea. Deep breathing has also been shown to help with restlessness and headaches.[4]
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6Wait it out. Although the symptoms of an Effexor withdrawal may be uncomfortable or even painful, they won't last forever. In fact, most people report relief in as little as 24 hours (or 72 hours at the most). If detoxing from Effexor is your goal, you are on the right track. Your withdrawal symptoms will be gone in a few days or less.[5]
Tapering Off to Avoid Severe Withdrawal Symptoms
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1Talk with your doctor or psychiatrist. Before you decide to wean yourself off of Effexor, you really should speak to your doctor or psychiatrist. Effexor is a difficult medication to stop taking, and doing so can bring on intense emotional reactions, including suicidal thoughts. It is best to undergo this transition under advisement from a professional you trust.[6]
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2Switch from XR to IR. Most people are prescribed Effexor XR (extended release), however these pills are difficult to split for tapering. Effexor IR (immediate release) tablets come in 25mg, 37.5mg, 50mg, and 100mg doses, which makes the dose easier to control. Talk to your doctor about switching to IR tablets for a smoother tapering experience.[7]
- With a pill splitter you can split your pills in half when necessary.
- Splitting tablets like this will enable you to have more control over your dosage.
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3Create a timeline. Some doctors recommend cutting your dosage by 37.5 to 75 mg, taking that amount for one week, and then cutting the dose by another 37.5 to 75 mg. For a more gradual program, cut your dosage by just 10%, stay at this dosage for a week, and cut by 10% again. This method can take several months, but it is less likely to induce withdrawal.[8]
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4Introduce a different medication. If your goal is to stop using mood-altering medication, then this step will seem counterintuitive; however, many doctors recommend substituting a different antidepressant medication (usually 10 – 20 mg Prozac) to help you transition off of Effexor. Prozac is less likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, so introducing it (at your doctor’s request) may help stabilize your mood and prevent withdrawal as you wean yourself from Effexor.[9]
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5Check in with your doctor regularly. Once again, it is important to stay in contact with your doctor when you are altering your dosage, medication, or treatment plan. Such changes have been shown to bring about sudden, dire mood swings, and may cause you to do something dangerous. Furthermore, staying in touch with your doctor will help keep you healthy and happy and you undergo this change.[10]
- It may be a good idea to keep a log of how you feel and each stage of your tapering.
Avoiding Accidental Withdrawal
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1Contact your pharmacy. If you find that you have unintentionally run out of Effexor, call your pharmacy and inquire as to whether you have any refills left. If you do, all you may need to do is go over and pick up your new pills.
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2Contact your doctor. If you have no refills, contact your doctor or psychiatrist immediately and let them know that you need a new prescription. Make an appointment for as soon as possible.
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3Go to a hospital emergency room. If you are unable to get an appointment with your doctor any sooner than 72 hours, it is advisable to go to the nearest emergency room. This may sound unnecessary, but Effexor's withdrawal symptoms can present as soon as 24 hours after a missed dose.[11]
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4Talk to a nurse. Once in triage, tell the nurse about your condition (what you are being treated for with Effexor), how long it has been since your last dose, and what dosage you are on. Some nurses are unaware of how serious Effexor withdrawals can be, so be patient and explain to them that missed doses of this medication can cause you to become very ill.[12]
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5Get a temporary prescription. Inform the doctor of when your next appointment with your doctor/psychiatrist is, and they may be able to write you a prescription for a small quantity that will hold you over until you can see your doctor.[13]
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6Fill the prescription right away. When you leave the emergency room, go straight to the pharmacy and fill the prescription. This way, you will not lose the prescription or forget to fill it.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow hard is it to get off of psychiatric medication?
Padam Bhatia, MDDr. Padam Bhatia is a board certified Psychiatrist who runs Elevate Psychiatry, based in Miami, Florida. He specializes in treating patients with a combination of traditional medicine and evidence-based holistic therapies. He also specializes in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), compassionate use, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Dr. Bhatia is a diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA). He received an MD from Sidney Kimmel Medical College and has served as the chief resident in adult psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York.
Board Certified PsychiatristDiscontinuing psychiatric medication is often portrayed in movies or TV shows as the worst thing you could possibly deal with, and there's this idea that patients can become dependent on medications. The reality is a lot less dramatic in most cases. Just talk to your psychiatrist or doctor about why and how you want to get off of the medication. They'll be able to taper your medication slowly over time and help you with any side effects from getting off of the medication.
Warnings
- Sudden discontinuation of Effexor can cause tremors, dizziness, "brain zaps" (the feeling of electric shocks going through the brain,) and nausea. Some individuals are at risk of experiencing a stroke or cardiac event. For this reason, it is very important to seek assistance if you run out of your medication.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Do not alter your dosage or discontinue Effexor, or any other medication, without notifying your doctor.[14]⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0801/p449.html
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
- ↑ http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/rest-relaxation-and-exercise
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/antidepressant-withdrawal/faq-20058133
- ↑ http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0801/p449.html
- ↑ Padam Bhatia, MD. Board Certified Psychiatrist. Expert Interview. 3 April 2020.
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/antidepressant-withdrawal/faq-20058133
- ↑ http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/anti-depressants-withdrawal/successful-venlafaxine-reduction-programmes/
- ↑ http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/anti-depressants-withdrawal/successful-venlafaxine-reduction-programmes/
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/venlafaxine-oral-route/precautions/drg-20067379
- ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1681629/
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/antidepressant-withdrawal/faq-20058133
- ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1681629/
- ↑ Padam Bhatia, MD. Board Certified Psychiatrist. Expert Interview. 3 April 2020.
About This Article
If you're dealing with effexor withdrawal, you may be suffering from a wide variety of symptoms, including dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, and headaches. To manage your symptoms, drink a lot of water to flush the toxins from your system. Additionally, eat nutrient-dense foods, like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. You should also get as much sleep as you can, which will enable your body to heal faster. If you find it difficult to relax, try taking some long, deep breaths to reduce your anxiety. To learn how to avoid serious withdrawal symptoms, like suicidal thoughts, keep reading!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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