Venlafaxine withdrawal

[tallulah56]

Can anyone help??? I have been on venlafaxine for 4 years and  after my recent visit to the doctor she advised me to cut down for three weeks on the venlafaxine and then start on mirtazapine 15mg. In my infinite wisdom I thought I would cut down the venlafaxine in my own way and not bother with the mirtazapine. I thought what is the point of cutting out one med to go on another as I'm keen to be med free. This is now third day without any medication I  feel ill. I am experiencing every withdrawal symtom in the book. Should I carry on with this or should I take maybe half of the mirtazapine tablet ????? If I knew how long these symtoms would last I could maybe see it through.

[ramion25]

I was put on venlafaxine for 18 year and on 225mg on feb of this year M pdr told me to stop taking it because Of sweating a lot but she didn't tape me the right way for one week one yes and one day no then on the second week two no and one day yes and the third week nothing and she put on mirtazapine which I never received after a month at that time I started to have panic attack, anxiety couldn't sleep fear of death heart racing foggy mind, pressure on my left temple I on my second week of mirtazapine some day I feel good but other day I feel like crap I am wonder if this medication is going to work or how long it take to kick in.

[tab15]

effexor with drawl is no fun, dizzy, flu like symptoms, tummy up set, sweats, chills, vertigo, and more..I have all these and I am not going to go back to taking this drug.
I take vitamins, minerals, hot chocolate, green tea, homeopathy is helpful, otherwise, I think sleep helps, it ***** to sleep so much, but better than feeling ill.
I will try and post weekly or when i think of it to check in and share my feelings. I am going to go to whole foods and check out some other things to try and help the with-drawl until i feel better.  
I just started checking on line for other experiences and see nothing about someone who has stopped it for good. I am going to be that person i am looking for and hopefully help others here. Any questions feel free to email me.
I have been on this drug for many years..not sure how long..I started with prozac, then wellbutrin.
I took in in the beginning for postpartum depression(14yrs ago) and then anxiety..kept on it for anxiety
Thanks

[Paxiled]

Effexor can be very hard to stop taking, and should be done slowly, tapering off carefully for as long as is needed for the particular person.  The other issue is, did your doc think the mirtazapine was going to ease your quitting effexor, or just permanently switching you? Remeron is quite sedating, so she might have though this would help you through the withdrawal, but as its mechanisms of action are completely different than those of Effexor I don't know if that works or not.  This is why you should always see a psychiatrist who has a lot of experience of and understanding of withdrawal when you want to quit a med.  Most docs don't know, and even most psychiatrists don't.  It's golden when you find one who takes this seriously and helps you through it step by step.