Venlafaxine withdrawel

[brit]

Hi everyone, i have just signed up here.
I have been on Venlafaxine for about 7 years now, up until 6 months ago i was on 75mg daily, then i managed to drop it to 37.5mg daily. (That was a tough week! )
I got sick and tired of feeling fuzzy headed, tired and detached all the time on these drugs, which is why i decided to start the long hard road to being drug free.

Anyway, last week i decided it was time to kick them once and for all so i went to see my Dr. He advised me to skip a pill every other day for a week, and then stop completely.
Today is the second time i have not taken one, and i feel i cant go on anymore.
I feel horrendous, i keep breaking down in tears, its just horrible!
I cant describe to my wife how im feeling because i just dont know how to

I'm desperate to get off these pills, but i feel i cant do it this way.
I have read about people going onto Fluoxetine/Prozac and withdrawing from that. Apparently because of the longer half life the withdrawal symptoms arent nearly as bad. I did mention this to my Dr but he dismissed it.
I have scoured the internet trying to find help, i feel stuck in a trap that i cant get out of...
Not sure why i have posted here, im sorry to go on but i really dont know what else to do.

[iamspartacus]

try paxilprogress.org....the site is primarily for paxil (seroxat) withdrawal, but they also cater for venlafaxine.

[KK77]

Firstly, welcome Brit - I'm sorry you're having such a rough time.

I think your doc's approach stinks, to be frank. Venlafaxine has a very short half-life (as you probably know), hence it's metabolised and excreted from the body very quickly. This is why its withdrawal symptoms (or psycho-speak: 'discontinuation symptoms') are renowned for being so harsh (even the XR version). Skipping a day to slowly reduce and discontinue is OK for drugs with long half-lives (eg fluoxtine) but asking for trouble with venlafaxine. It's best to take it at the usual times, but gradually reducing, rather than letting your body go into a constant withdrawal cycle.

Fluoxetine sometimes helps but only after you've gradually tapered to a very low dose and then completely withdrawn, as there can be interactions between the two meds.

Go back to your doc and explain that skipping a day is making you feel worse and if necessary get a referral to see a psychiatrist who will be more qualified to help you.

I hope you feel better soon. I was on Seroxat for 7 years and coming off it was a nightmare - so I understand how you feel.

[brit]

Thank you guys.
I have been to see another GP today, as im going downhill quite rapidly. I've had 3 panic attacks today, one of them was actually in the Dr's surgery - at least they know im not lying about them now!

This Dr actually seemed to listen to me. I have been given some Prozac and told to alternate these with the venlafaxine every other day for 2 weeks and then go back to see her.
Ive also been given Diazapam for the panics, but im loath to take them unless i really need to.

I cant believe how this drug has completely taken over my life, i live, breathe and sleep trying to get free of them, and i wish i had never started them all those years ago (although i guess they did lift me out of a very dark place).
When i am finally off them i swear to god im going to do my best to help others get free of them too, this is the hardest thing i have ever had to do.
Thanks for your support.

[deepreason]

I spent a couple of years on VFX at a pretty high dose (300mg) and coming off it was pretty horrible so I sympathise a lot. It DOES get easier though. I've been off them completely for about a month now and the withdrawal has gone.

Hang in there, it gets easier and easier as the time ticks by

[brit]

Thanks deepreason, how did you manage to get withdraw from them?

[deepreason]

Do it slowly, don't start making the next reduction in does until you feel solid on the previous one.
I found exercise helped a lot, as did have my room filled with tea tree / eucalyptu vapours from one of those burner things.
I also have a supportive family around me which helps.

I totally agree about the alternating days advice being complete rubbish. VFX has suxh a short half life that all you do is give yourself multiple withdrawals from it. I thin there has to come a point where you can't reduce the dose any lower so you have to says "sod it" and just go for it. Expect some horrible weeks but they do pass eventually.

It can take months and months after you've totally quit though before all the residual symptoms go away, but these are just minor niggles and not worth worrying about.

[shoegal]

Hi. I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time coming off your meds. When my boyfriend was coming off Venlafaxine he was told to take a lower dose each day because of the half shelf life. Please don't be scared to take Diazepam when you have a panic attack. I know it has a bad press but it's harmless if used wisely. Taking the odd Diazepam to relieve panic attacks when you're coming off another drug won't lead to addiction. And I speak from experience. Diazepam is only addictive if used non stop over a period of several weeks, and even then I've had no problems coming off it myself.

Good luck. I hope you feel better soon.

[brit]

Thanks for your help guys, it is comforting to know that there are people out there who understand.

Well, progress report. I decided to not alternate between the 2 drugs, and just start on the Prozac.
I'm on day 3 now, and to be honest i'm very surprised at how i'm feeling.
Minimal Venlafaxine withdrawal symptoms!
Im very light headed and spaced out, but its nowhere near the hell that taking nothing is like.

Obviously i'm taking it 1 day at a time, but so far i'm feeling very positive.
The first day was harder, but yesterday i managed to go out for a walk, i'm feeling calmer and that maybe, just maybe, there is hope.
I will update this thread daily and let you know how i am getting on.
Thanks again.

[deepreason]

Not sure if your ultimate goal is to withdraw the prozac as well or if you're happy on that one now, but if you do it's worth knowing that prozac is available in liquid form. This makes it easy to do reductions in really small steps by using a syringe to measure out your dose.

When the time comes, ask your doctor about getting the liquid form then you can follow a really smooth curve as you titrate down the dose.

Well done for making the switch though. Getting off VFX can be horrible so kudos for what you've achieved