Venlafaxine is an antidepressant used to treat millions of people. It is prescribed for depression, anxiety and panic disorders. Since it is sold by prescription, it is important to follow your doctor's directions for taking it and to determine if you should stop using it. You can stop taking it by gradually decreasing the doses and relieving withdrawal symptoms.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Decrease Doses
Step 1. Contact your doctor
Whatever your intentions, you should always consult your doctor first if you think it is time to stop taking the medicine. Maybe you feel better, or you have discovered that you are pregnant or have another disorder. However, leaving the medicine out of the blue can have serious side effects. Your doctor can help you make a good decision so you know whether to choose an alternative treatment or to stop using it altogether.
- Do not stop taking or decrease doses until you have talked to your doctor. Continue to follow the directions he gave you when prescribing.
- Explain the reasons why you want to stop taking. Make sure you are completely honest, so that I can consider alternatives that would actually work for you. There are several reasons why you want to stop taking it: improved health, pregnancy, breastfeeding and interactions with other drugs.
- Be sure to listen to the advice of the specialist. If you have questions, ask them. Learn about the benefits and risks of stopping treatment. Find out if there are alternatives to your doctor's suggestions. If necessary, you can always ask for a second opinion.
Step 2. Be patient
Regardless of when you started taking venlafaxine, take your time to stop using it. You may be tempted to quit out of the blue, but you risk having a difficult and annoying deprivation syndrome, so you may feel even worse. Depending on the dosage, you have to wait for a period of time between one week and several months. Based on your ailment and prescribed doses, your doctor can help you make a rough estimate.
Step 3. Plan the dose decrease
You have to slowly reduce the dosage. There are no universally valid rules, it all depends on your situation. As a result, the reduction in doses and the frequency with which to decrease them vary enormously based on factors such as personal health and withdrawal syndrome. Talk to your doctor about what a feasible plan would be for your needs.
- If you have been taking the medicine for less than eight weeks, you will need to stop using it within a week or two. If you have been taking it for six to eight months, however, you should wait at least a week between dose reductions. If you are in the maintenance phase, you should adjust your dosage much more gradually. For example, don't reduce doses by more than a quarter every 4-6 weeks.
- Write the plan on a piece of paper or a notebook where you write down more information about your mood or the problems you face. For example, you can write the following plan: "Starting dose: 300 mg. First reduction: 225 mg. Second reduction: 150 mg. Third reduction: 75 mg. Fourth reduction: 37.5 mg."
Step 4. Divide the pills
After talking to your doctor and coming up with a plan, you need to make sure your doses are okay. You can ask the specialist to prescribe tablets that have a specific dosage for your needs. You can also go to your pharmacist to split the pills or do it at home with a pill cutter.
Buy the pill cutter at a drugstore or health care store. Ask your pharmacist or shop assistant which one is right for your tablets
Step 5. Check yourself
During the reduction phase, it is important to keep mood and somatic symptoms under control. You can also do a weekly assessment. In this way, you will be able to observe any problems and understand if it is necessary to make the reduction even more gradual.
- In the plan, integrate a weekly diary. Write down the doses and describe how you feel. If you are well and the withdrawal syndrome is very mild, you can continue decreasing the doses according to the established schedule. Remember not to rush to prevent withdrawal attacks.
- Try keeping a daily "mood calendar". To identify any problems or recognize recurring symptoms, you can rate your mood on a scale of 1 to 10.
Step 6. If necessary, stop the program
If symptoms worsen or you face a bad withdrawal, it may be necessary to retrace your steps. You can always partially or fully recover the dosage until you start to feel better. At that point, you can continue reducing your doses at a slower pace.
Step 7. Stay in touch with your doctor
During the process, it is important to inform the specialist of all your progress. If you are having problems or withdrawal symptoms, you need to know. He may suggest a new plan or alternative treatment for you to cope with the difficulties that may arise with stopping venlafaxine.
Part 2 of 2: Relieving the Withdrawal Syndrome
Step 1. Recognize withdrawal symptoms
Venlafaxine is among the drugs most likely to cause withdrawal symptoms. With the reduction of the dosage, not everyone reacts in the same way, but it is good to know how to recognize the typical symptoms of withdrawal. Ask your doctor what he recommends to relieve them. Here are some of them:
- Anxiety.
- Dizziness.
- Fatigue.
- Headache.
- Vivid dreams.
- Insomnia.
- Stomach problems.
- Flu-like symptoms.
- Depression.
- Suicidal thoughts.
Step 2. Get help now
If you suffer from depression or have suicidal thoughts during the break, try to see your doctor as soon as possible. It can help you relieve symptoms and avoid harming yourself.
Step 3. Get help
During the hiatus phase, it will do you good to get all the support you can get. There are several methods that can help you combat withdrawal and other possible side effects.
- Keep your doctor constantly updated. During the withdrawal phase, you may start psychiatric or psychological treatment, as an alternative to medication. This can control your symptoms and also allow you to acquire new techniques for coping with the disorder.
- Tell your friends and family: they should know that you are stopping taking venlafaxine and that you may be suffering from withdrawal. Make it clear how they can help you.
- If necessary, take sick days from work. Talk honestly with your boss. If this is not possible, ask him how to help in case of withdrawal or recurrence of symptoms.
Step 4. Keep moving
Exercise helps produce serotonin and can have a powerful antidepressant effect. If you stop taking venlafaxine, you can compensate for the medicine's action by exercising regularly. It can also help you manage withdrawal and make you feel good.
Aim for moderate weekly physical activity for a total of 150 minutes, about 30 minutes a day. Exercises such as walking, running, swimming, or cycling can be good for your mood. Consider yoga or pilates, which will not only keep you moving throughout the week, but can also be good for mood and relaxation
Step 5. Eat nutritious foods
You can enhance the effects of physical activity and rest with a healthy diet. Eat regular meals from the five food groups, which can stabilize glucose levels, fight nausea, or prevent other stomach problems.
- Eat foods belonging to the five food groups. Choose a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins and dairy products.
- Try to eat more foods rich in magnesium, which can help control anxiety. Some foods that are rich in them: almonds, avocados, spinach, bean sprouts, black beans, salmon, halibut, oysters, peanuts, quinoa and brown rice.
Step 6. Keep stress under control
If you suffer from it, it is important to manage it better. Tension can worsen withdrawal and even cause anxiety.
- Avoid stressful situations whenever you can. If this is not possible, deal with them by breathing deeply and isolating yourself from time to time under the guise of going to the bathroom or making a phone call. Even a little break can help fight stress.
- Give yourself regular massages to relax.
Step 7. Rest as often as possible
During the break period, you may witness several symptoms related to the withdrawal syndrome. To stay healthy and fight stress, it is essential to get enough rest. You need to have regular habits and take naps to feel better.
- Every day, go to bed and wake up around the same time. You should sleep at least seven hours a night. Maintain these habits on the weekend to limit symptoms.
- Take 20-30 minute naps whenever you need them. They can recharge you and combat withdrawal symptoms.
Warnings
- Don't stop taking venlafaxine on your own. Consult your doctor before changing doses. You should also avoid taking other medications without first discussing them with the specialist.
- Keep taking venlafaxine, even if you feel better. If you stop treatment, you may start feeling sick again.
