How long does Effexor withdrawal last?

Question

Personal experience preferred

Answer 1

I have been taking Effexor for many years and I tried coming off all at once and that was a trip. What I did was cut back one a week for about a month, the one every other day, then one every two day, so on, so forth. Your Dr. can tell you how to do it, but different things for different people.

Answer 2

I know you are asking for experience with Effexor, but I took Zoloft for 5 years and it is very similar. I have been withdrawing from it for literally almost a year! It's alot better now than at first but I am still not completely over it. At first I honestly thought I would die or something, it was horrible. I didn't stop taking it all at once either, I weaned off it very very slowly.

Good Luck coming off it. Hopefully it's not as bad as what I have been through.

Answer 3

It is best to go off of effexor with the help of your physician. He/She will help minimize the possibility of withdrawal from the medication. Withdrawal does not occur in all cases but does happen about 75% of the time. Even though you may be going against your doctors advice by going off of the medication it is still best to include him/her. Your physician is not there to force medication on you but to be your partner in improving your health. The withdrawal process can be as short as a few days to about a month depending on dependency and other factors.

Answer 4

I recently tapered (although too quickly) and discontinued Lexapro, 20 mg. The withdrawl symptoms were "moderate" in severity -brain shivers, headache, dizziness, night sweats and an overall achy feeling (simliar to a bad hangover). The moderate stage lasted about two weeks. It was never so bad that I needed to take off from work, but I certainly was miserable. I did the bare minimum at work and home. Now, about three weeks out, I still have all the symptoms, but they are improving. I actually feel rather good today - no Advil so far! I wish you the best of luck. If you really start to feel worse, please consult your doctor. Hang in there!!

Answer 5

personal experience.
I was on depression meds for 3 years and effexor was the last one I was on when I made my final decision to stop the meds altogether. It was cold turkey with barely any withdrawal. The only real "withdrawal" were the challenges of having had deferred my issues to medications.

Answer 6

For me, with the regular release tablets (I don't even know if it still is sold this way) it was a couple of weeks. With the extended released form, I didn't have any noticeable/memorable withdrawal symptoms.

Answer 7

I am on effexor and have been on it for 11yrs I am on the extended release now .....you just cannot stop you need to be taken off graduallyby the Doctor who prescribed them ...just call and he will tell you kara

Answer 8

I had flashes for more than a month, and was down to opening the capsules and taking a few grains a day in the last weeks of it.

Answer 9

I didnt have any bad effects. But you shouldnt just stop it abruptly. Your doctor can tell you how to wean off of it. Like you take a little less each day till you are off it. That way if you do have any effects they wont be as bad.

Answer 10

not personal experience- but im in a very good health class.
usually lasts a few days - a week.
you may see allusions, haulucinations, shake, etc. weird thigs happen to you. thats why in rehab they go in a white padded room, so they cant hurt themselves.