Venlafaxine withdrawal - aaargh

[SisterImpera]

Not posting for help, just wanted to moan!

Thought I’d be absolutely fine discontinuing venlafaxine, my depression’s been great, I’ve tapered really gently, and I’ve made sure to read other people’s accounts of withdrawal on here so that I’d know what to expect.

But holy shit! Stopping that last fragment of a tablet is doing a number on my brain. I am constantly in tears, dizzy and fuzzy, getting the brain zaps etc. In just two days I have pissed off friends and family, and I just wrote “Get your own fucking dinner as I couldn’t give a shit” on our weekly menu board (I realised I was out of order and wiped it off before anyone saw). Emotionally feel so sad and worthless, like the worst of my depression, but I have to have faith this will pass.

Even though I’m self employed might have to take the week off sick, this is awful. That said, I’m grateful for the drug for all it’s done for me over the last 10 years - best antidepressant for me by far.

So why stop it? I don't get it, there's no long term effects. With no NHS why not try and stay well?

Dp feels awful if he forgets to to take one dose. He's got down to 37.5, but when he tried to drop to every other day he had to give up, he's going to try again when he retires

@Valerianandfoxglovesoup

I don't know about op, but it's in short supply and I spend hours every month tracking it down (he works away a lot, online pharmacies have failed too many times)

I've done the withdrawal before (because i needed an op) and it took 3 weeks to completely get over the brain zaps. They were less frequent after the first week though. I've been back on it a few years and would rather take it forever than go through it again. Massive hugs op

I stopped chorale for 2 weeks for my surgery, they gave me fluoxetine temporarily which meant no zaps.

@Valerianandfoxglovesoup
Sadly I experience a bad side effect to the Venlafaxine which I need a second medication to mitigate, and that particular medication is not great for the kidneys and should only be taken short term really.

While my depression was so bad the balance was in favour of me continuing the Venlafaxine but now I’ve been stable for some time, it’s really in my best interests to try coming off it so that I can stop the other med too.

Since I posted, I had a bit of a cry when youngest asked me how I was, so all three of my teenagers have come downstairs to keep me company and cheer me up with Horrible Histories. I am very grateful!

That's so unfair, I'm really sorry to hear that. Have you tried asking for a different one? I have been on cipralex for years and since menopause have been a bit nuts and they added seroxat for the flushes and I, like you, have so much gratitude for them x

Aw, your kids are wonderful! You are probably a bit hormonal/per/menopausal as well and the combo of that and Venlafaxine withdrawal has made you a bit weepy. You have a great attitude though and it will pass.

What lovely kids x

Is the side effect nausea? I used to have metroclopromide to combat it and they didn't want me to continue taking it. I've got myself down to 37.5 mg and am happy I might need to stay here as it is the highest dose that doesn't make me feel as if I've got morning sickness worse than when I am pregnant. I found switching to the XL (modified release) really helped.

Sorry to hear OP. I came off sertraline in the summer, struggled with the same at first, then the symptoms settled. I had two good months and then a MASSIVE relapse of my anxiety and depression. Back on it now. Hope it works out for you but have you considered switching to a different one?

If you don’t mind me asking what our operations requires you to come off venlafaxine? I would never want to do that for something 😐

No problem, I had my gallbladder removed but I've no idea if it was the type of surgery or the general anaesthetic tbh!