How long do the withdrawal symptoms from getting off effexor last?

There is hope for us. I was on Effexor XR 75mg for about 4yrs before losing my insurance and had no choice but to wean off properly. Like everyone else on this board I experienced the Brain zaps or Brain shivers and new this was a symptom of withdrawl. However, I have always been into nauturopathic medicine so I immediately started doing what I could to get the horrible withdrawls to end ASAP. Well it is close to a week since stoping the medication and I report that I have not had a "Zap" yet today. How did I do it. Well, I have combined high dose Omega3/6/9 EFA with this amazing supplement I recently bought at my health club called Neurolink. I kid you not I think this supplement is a god send for us folks and will post my knowledge of it on every blog site I find. Neurolink is about 44 dollars a bottle but it is well worth it!! It's like the supplement has completely rewired my brain in a good way...naturally. I will find the link for this product and post it. Also, I have being doing yoga, steamroom and aerobic exersise which has probably helped with the detox as well. Hang in there yall.

EFFEXOR WITHDRAWAL SOLUTION!

*** PLEASE READ IF YOU ARE HAVING WITHDRAWAL PROBLEMS ***

I have taken Effexor XR on and off for several years. Both time I stopped taking it, I suffered MAJOR withdrawal problems... I had the same list of side effects that many of you have described here... mine even included Out of Body experiences and general madness that made me question my own sanity. While on Effexor XR, I was taking 225mg-300mg and I will say that it is the only medication I have taken that did greatly help my anxiety issues... but what was I supposed to do, just stay on this chemical for the rest of my life? I don't think I'd live long shoveling toxic chemicals in my system every day. Rather than rant on about how much damage taking medication like this everyday is to your physical health, I wanted to share how I beat the withdrawal. I also want to REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TRY THIS TOO. As many of you have figured out by now, your doctor likely only knows what they are told by the drug company about what they are giving you. As a result, when you tell your doctor you are having withdrawal problems after taking Effexor, you'll likely be told that it isn't possible, or it will only last a few days or weeks. Like others have written here on this site, it can last a long time, believe me. So if you are having immense trouble with Effexor XR withdrawal, you may not get support from your doctor... the truth is, they don't take the medications themselves so they truly cannot understand some of the effects that the drugs they prescribe have on people. So here is what I did, and I STRONGLY SUGGEST some of you try to combat your withdrawal symptoms. It's time to break out the gold old herbs and supplements... now I know some of you might be laughing at the idea but that's what THE DRUG COMPANIES WANT YOU TO DO. They want you to not take natural medicine seriously... and why? So that they can make money by giving you drugs that cost pennies to make and they can sell for hundreds of dollars. So give this a try...

FOR A GREAT INEXPENSIVE NATURAL REMEDY: take strong Omega 3 capules, Vitamin B Complex, and a good quality general multi-vitamin. If you like, you can throw in some St. John's Wart too but DO NOT TAKE ST JOHN'S WART if you are taking any SSRI still as it may weaken the effects of the SSRI.

IF YOU ARE OK WITH STILL TAKING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION: In addition to the above, get your doctor to give you some Prozac. Just for a short time like 1 month. Your doctor will likely think it is not necessary but I've read many people's posts stating that it got rid of their Effexor withdrawal all together in a very short time. Some even claimed it worked as fast as one dose. Personally, I can say that it took me a few weeks before I was over the withdrawal. Don't worry about getting hooked on Prozac and it has VERY LITTLE DISCONTINUATION symptoms. I believe this is to do with the fact it has a short half life in your body.

I encourage you to try my suggestions but also continue your own research. Most of all, DONT FEEL ALONE... those of us who have taken these powerful drugs UNDERSTAND YOU WHOLE HEARTEDLY!

I will include my email in the event any of you wish to write.
Hang in there, Time (and a few vitamins) Will Heal Everything! :)

EFFEXOR WITHDRAWAL SOLUTION!

*** PLEASE READ IF YOU ARE HAVING WITHDRAWAL PROBLEMS ***

I have taken Effexor XR on and off for several years. Both time I stopped taking it, I suffered MAJOR withdrawal problems... I had the same list of side effects that many of you have described here... mine even included Out of Body experiences and general madness that made me question my own sanity. While on Effexor XR, I was taking 225mg-300mg and I will say that it is the only medication I have taken that did greatly help my anxiety issues... but what was I supposed to do, just stay on this chemical for the rest of my life? I don't think I'd live long shoveling toxic chemicals in my system every day. Rather than rant on about how much damage taking medication like this everyday is to your physical health, I wanted to share how I beat the withdrawal. I also want to REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TRY THIS TOO. As many of you have figured out by now, your doctor likely only knows what they are told by the drug company about what they are giving you. As a result, when you tell your doctor you are having withdrawal problems after taking Effexor, you'll likely be told that it isn't possible, or it will only last a few days or weeks. Like others have written here on this site, it can last a long time, believe me. So if you are having immense trouble with Effexor XR withdrawal, you may not get support from your doctor... the truth is, they don't take the medications themselves so they truly cannot understand some of the effects that the drugs they prescribe have on people. So here is what I did, and I STRONGLY SUGGEST some of you try to combat your withdrawal symptoms. It's time to break out the gold old herbs and supplements... now I know some of you might be laughing at the idea but that's what THE DRUG COMPANIES WANT YOU TO DO. They want you to not take natural medicine seriously... and why? So that they can make money by giving you drugs that cost pennies to make and they can sell for hundreds of dollars. So give this a try...

FOR A GREAT INEXPENSIVE NATURAL REMEDY: take strong Omega 3 capules, Vitamin B Complex, and a good quality general multi-vitamin. If you like, you can throw in some St. John's Wart too but DO NOT TAKE ST JOHN'S WART if you are taking any SSRI still as it may weaken the effects of the SSRI.

IF YOU ARE OK WITH STILL TAKING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION: In addition to the above, get your doctor to give you some Prozac. Just for a short time like 1 month. Your doctor will likely think it is not necessary but I've read many people's posts stating that it got rid of their Effexor withdrawal all together in a very short time. Some even claimed it worked as fast as one dose. Personally, I can say that it took me a few weeks before I was over the withdrawal. Don't worry about getting hooked on Prozac and it has VERY LITTLE DISCONTINUATION symptoms. I believe this is to do with the fact it has a short half life in your body.

I encourage you to try my suggestions but also continue your own research. Most of all, DONT FEEL ALONE... those of us who have taken these powerful drugs UNDERSTAND YOU WHOLE HEARTEDLY!

I will include my email in the event any of you wish to write.
Hang in there, Time (and a few vitamins) Will Heal Everything! :)

First answer by ID1248193531. Last edit by Masonsh2002. Contributor trust: 2 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 23 [recommend question].