Coming off Venlafaxine and wondering what the hell is in this drug?

[earlymidlifecrisis]

Anyone else had the misfortune to have been saddled with this drug without knowing how utterly awful it is? I've been on it for a year (GAD). At the peak of it I was on 300mg a day. I've gradually reduced it and finally have stopped altogether. The brain shocks are the worst side effect but I'm exhausted and tearful. I've been having blackouts, drinking too much (immediately this has ceased now I'm not taking tabs, thank goodness), been dripping with sweat all night and unable to sleep in the small hours.
Now I've done a bit of research and discovered a world of shit on health forums berating this drug (alcoholism, gambling to point of bankruptcy, divorce, drug addiction to name but a few of the side effects mentioned). Supposedly some of the neurological changes can be permanent.
I'd like to find out as much as possible before I demand answers from my doctor, such as why the hell such a drug is licensed in the UK and prescribed so readily without dire warning. It's likened to heroin for withdrawal for crying out loud...
I have also been forgetful and scatterbrained/disorganised - the opposite of what I'm normally like.
Anyone? Perhaps we can support each other.

I had the same as you but you will be pleased to know it does all go away around 3 weeks after taking the final dose, sometimes quicker.

The brain zaps were horrid, I had them when I missed or took a dose later, that was the main reason for stopping them altogether tbh

Get yourself a nice notepad and pen and keep them by you. I need to do the same.

Are you replacing them with anything? I have bad night sweats coming off mitrazipine, I keep my curtains shut and windows wide open during the day.

I've stopped googling meds but remember reading some shocking things about these but they seem to be the main anti-anxiety/depressant the gps use just now.

I hope you start to feel better soon

The withdrawal was horrible. I was on 525 mg a day ten years ago. I tried to stop it four times but I just could not take the withdrawal symptoms. Then I started another AD while slowly stopping Venlafaxine. That was successful. I haven't encountered anything like with other ADs. And the bloody drug did not even work.

I was on it a very long time ago (came off about 9 years ago having tried twice before). I can't remember the details TBH but I do know that it took me about a year to be back to what I would call 'normal' and it made me feel v strongly that I'd never take A-Ds again if I could help it. Having said that, it did help enormously at a very difficult time.

Only details I recall were bad sweats, terrible dizziness and general mood swings. Very best of luck coming through it all

Hi there WimpyMum - yes I am in complete agreement, my main reason for stopping is also the brain zaps. I am not currently planning on replacing with anything, my body needs a break! I hope monsoon start to feel better too, night sweats are just horrible.

Hello GoldenJackal , sorry to hear things were as bad for you. I totally agree they don't bloody work either!

Thanks Bitzer - you're quite right, I'm worried too about the length of time it might take to feel like me again.

Dancingqueen a big well done! Very happy for you, wow how lovely to manage eight hours in a row. I will look forward to that!! Thanks to all of you who've commented, very helpful to know I'm not going slightly mad...

monsoon ?? you , obviously. Bloody phone. Or brain!!!

It's now Day 7 and I am a crying mess. Goodness knows what I'm crying about... anything can trigger it! The brain zaps are still with me, but I think they're beginning to lessen a teeny weeny bit. I still haven't felt the need to attack the red wine, which is a total relief. I've managed to work, drive and look after the kids through the past week so I'm feeling quite pleased with myself. However, the scariest thing is that I've been looking at some photographs from the past 12 months and some of them are a blank in my memory. Did anyone else find that they 'lost' time?

I've been on these for a few months but only a low dose and found that my side effects went after about 3 months. Last time I came off them it felt like a 3 week hangover (which it kind of is). There are a whole spectrum of drugs available depending if they are needed more for anxiety or depression, you just have to find the right type for you. There are also ones that interact differently in the brain (SSRIs and SNRIs and others). Did you have any therapies? I'm supposed to have CBT but have been waiting for months

Sorry, haven't checked in for a few days.
I've stopped completely, DancingQueen - a gradual reduction from 300mg. Yes Faerie I had CBT and it was brilliant. I really do hope you don't have to wait much longer. I managed to get my GAD score from 20/21 to 3/21 by the end of my course. Best of luck to you and hang in there!
I cried twice today - the silliest of things really, but a baby seagull fell off the roof and I felt so sorry for it and the parents. The other time was a bit daft too.
My memory is shocking, but i suppose the good thing is that I'm actually realising it now!
Thanks again to all of you who have taken the time to read and post. Wishing you all the best of luck with your anxiety, keeping it at bay is tricky isn't it.