MS2023:Effexor 37.5mg withdrawal...felt fine for a month but now feel terrible?

[MS2023]

I began taking Effexor 37.5mg extended release for 1.5 years before deciding to get off. My doctor told me to take it every other day for two weeks and then stop. For the first 4 weeks after getting to 0mg, I felt fine. Then I began to get very bad anxiety and insomnia which has persisted for the past month and a half. Has this been anyone else's experience? 

[Frogie]

@MS2023

 

 

Welcome to SA. We are a volunteer ran site helping people taper off psychiatric medications or have tapered off and are now healing.

 

 

This is your introduction page where you will receive information, ask questions and meet other members. We ask that you only have one introduction page so we can keep all your information in one place.

 

 

Please add a signature.  Include drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can. 

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Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications:

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

The way I am reading this, you have only been off Effexor for a month? Is that correct? If so, you could do a small reinstatement of 1 mg and see if that helps. Then you would hold for quite a few months before beginning to taper again.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?
 
About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

 

 

Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

 

 

We don't suggest a lot of supplements on here as they can be stimulating to the central nervous system (CNS), except 2. If you would like to try one, try a small amount and wait a few days before introducing the other.

 

 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

 

After you have read the links provided, please reach out with any questions you may have.