SLOWLY and with help from your pdoc!

I titrated down my Effexor and switched to Cymbalta and slowly increased it as I downed the dosage of Effexor. I had no problems at all.

I agree with spacekat.

There is a website called "The Road Back" that deals with Effexor withdrawals. I don't know the URL but you might Google it.

The only withdrawal symptom I had was sleeplessness this time and that seemed to disappear in two weeks. I did start out on only 37.5 mg so maybe that had something to do with it. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it's working, but man do I feel the loss of it now that it's been a month. (I'm pregnant and can't go back on right now or else I would.)

Here it is. They tell you to work with your doctor as well. http://www.theroadback.org/effexor.aspx

.. going off put me into a manic like never before, then left me depressed for very long...(probably what I had done during manic). ... soaking in epson salts baths, taking fish oil omega suppose to help....good luck it was hard...very hard ... the roadback is great

I'm going through Effexor withdrawal right now. Like you, I felt it wasn't working anymore and tried to go off of it years ago but could not go through with it and had to stay on it.

My pdoc is currently trying to help me wean off by bridging with prozac. It has eased symptoms somewhat while taking it but the symptoms came back full force once I stopped. I think some docs are not aware of how horrific the withdrawal symptoms really are and how long it takes to come off. The Prozac seems to help some but not others. Even the ones who are taking it slow, month by month and gradually reducing doses are having a hard time.

I'm experiencing tremors, involuntary twitching in my legs and neck, severe nausea, brain zaps, dizziness, bouts of crying, losing my balance, brain fog. I have missed many days of work and have been unable to drive.

There have been quite a few lawsuits against the makers of this satanic drug....surprise, surprise.

If your interested there is a group on face book called "Effexor (Venlafaxine) Support Group" that I have joined, with members who have gone through and are currently going through withdrawal from this drug. They are very supportive.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/EffexorLawsuit/

Btw, hotdogalice is right about the fish oil. It helps ease the brain zaps.

I just recently started on Effexor XR (112mg) so I have no advice about getting off of it. But I'm glad you brought up the subject, as I might end up in the same situation at some point, if it stops working. I was desperate to try it because I was having severe panic and anxiety attacks during the winter... and it did stop the panic attacks very quickly. It's good to read others' advice about titrating off very carefully. I hope your pdoc can help you achieve your goal without terrible withdrawal symptoms. :-)