Venlafaxine (usually known by the trade name of Efexor) is an oral drug that is generally prescribed to treat anxiety, depression and social phobias. Unfortunately, patients who stop taking Efexor (intentionally or accidentally) typically experience withdrawal symptoms. Possible adverse effects include nausea, headache, irritability, hives, dizziness, twitching or tremors, and other moderate or high intensity ailments. By decreasing the dose (ideally under a doctor's supervision) and taking steps to manage withdrawal symptoms, you can be able to stop taking Efexor without taking any health risks. If you have run out of medication by mistake, the best thing to do is go to a pharmacy or emergency room immediately to get a temporary prescription pending contact with your psychiatrist or primary care physician.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Managing the Symptoms Caused by Withdrawal
Step 1. Understand what the possible symptoms are
When you stop taking Efexor you can experience several negative effects which include fatigue, dizziness, restlessness, anxiety, chills, nausea, headache, irritability, twitching or shaking, hives, ringing in the ears, intense sweating, agitation, body aches and insomnia. Symptoms generally range from moderate to severe and can occur singly or simultaneously.
Step 2. Drink lots of water
If you experience withdrawal symptoms from Efexor, try taking simple steps, such as drinking plenty of water, to get the toxins out of the body as quickly as possible. It is important to be able to feel better within a short time.
Step 3. Eat nutrient-rich foods
If you're experiencing withdrawal symptoms from Efexor, chances are you don't feel like eating. However, it is important to avoid fasting in order not to further weaken the immune system. If you want to recover quickly, you need to make an effort to at least snack on highly nutritious ingredients, such as fresh or dried fruit and vegetables.
- Ask a friend to make you a smoothie with strawberries, banana, almond milk, and coconut oil.
- Alternatively, eat a handful of dried fruit or a couple of pieces of jerky when you feel comfortable.
Step 4. Rest
The best way to cope with drug withdrawal symptoms is to try to sleep. Do your best to cancel all commitments and try to sleep as long as possible. Even if you can't sleep, avoid getting tired; resting will allow the body to heal faster.
- Remember that it is essential to properly hydrate your body to recover.
- Drink plenty of water before and after sweating heavily.
Step 5. Do some deep breathing exercises
Try to relax and take slow, long breaths to find relief. In this way the amount of oxygen in the blood will increase, the heartbeat will slow down and the blood pressure will return to normal. Taking deep breaths can help you control anxiety, panic, and even nausea. Studies have shown that it is also useful for relieving restlessness and headaches.
Step 6. Wait calmly
Withdrawal symptoms from Efexor can cause discomfort or even pain, but fortunately they won't last forever. Most people begin to feel better within 24 hours (or at most 72). If your goal is to detox from Efexor, you are on the right track. Withdrawal symptoms will fade in a few days, if not hours.
Part 2 of 3: Gradually Reduce Doses to Avoid Severe Symptoms
Step 1. Talk to your doctor or psychiatrist
Before deciding to stop taking Efexor, it is essential that you discuss the hypothesis with the person who prescribed the treatment for you. It is not easy to stop taking venlafaxine and the emotional reactions can be intense; some people even go so far as to have suicidal thoughts. It is best to undergo this transition under the supervision of a professional you trust.
Step 2. Switch between extended-release and normal-release Efexor
Most people are prescribed extended-release Efexor, which is taken as 75 mg hard tablets, which are difficult to break down to decrease doses. Instead, the normal-release version of the drug is also available in tablets of 25, 37, 5 or 50 mg (in addition to those of 100 mg), which allow you to more easily control the dosage. Discuss with your doctor the possibility of switching to normal-release Efexor for a gradual discontinuation.
- With a pill cutter you can split the tablets in half, if necessary.
- Splitting the tablets allows you to have more control over the dose.
Step 3. Schedule a timeline
Some doctors recommend reducing the dosage progressively, starting at 37, 5, or 75 mg less for a week, then decreasing further by another 37, 5 or 75 mg. To proceed more gradually, reduce the dosage by only 10% each week; this will take several months to completely stop, but you will be less likely to experience side effects of withdrawal.
Step 4. Introduce a different drug
If your goal is to stop using a mood stabilizer drug, this step will seem unreasonable to you. Nevertheless, many doctors recommend taking a replacement antidepressant drug (usually Prozac in a dose of 10-20 mg) to help stop Efexor. With Prozac, you are less likely to experience withdrawal symptoms, so your doctor may prescribe it to help you keep your mood stable and prevent unwanted side effects from stopping Efexor.
Step 5. Regularly update your doctor
Again, remember that it's important to stay in touch with your doctor (or psychiatrist) whenever you alter a dosage, medication, or treatment. Experience and studies show that mood swings could happen abruptly and lead you to engage in dangerous behaviors. Being in touch with your doctor will help you stay healthy, calm, and get through this change properly.
It might be a good idea to keep a record of how you feel at each stage of the break
Part 3 of 3: Avoid Accidentally Stopping Medication
Step 1. Contact the pharmacy
If you find that you have accidentally run out of the drug, go to your local pharmacy and ask if it is currently available. If you are lucky, all you have to do is go get it and take it as normal.
Step 2. Contact your doctor
If you are unable to find the drug at the pharmacy, contact your doctor or psychiatrist immediately for a new prescription. Try to get an appointment as soon as possible.
Step 3. Go to the emergency room
If you are unable to meet your doctor within 72 hours, the advice is to go to the nearest emergency room. You may think it is not necessary, but withdrawal symptoms from Efexor can show up even after just 24 hours of not taking it.
Step 4. Talk to a nurse
Once in the emergency room, describe your situation to the medical staff, specifying the reasons why you were prescribed the drug, the usual dosage, and how long it has been since you last took it. The person who welcomes you may not know that withdrawal symptoms from Efexor can be severe, so try to explain patiently that missing a dose could make you very ill.
Step 5. Get a temporary prescription
Let the emergency room doctor know when you can meet the psychiatrist. He or she will likely be able to prescribe a small amount of the drug which will allow you to have no problems until then.
Step 6. Go to the pharmacy right away
As soon as you get out of the emergency room, go to the pharmacy immediately to get the Efexor. This way you won't risk forgetting or misplacing the recipe.
Warnings
- Stopping the drug suddenly can cause tremors, dizziness, electric shock sensations in the brain, and nausea. Some people may be at risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack. For this reason it is very important to seek help if you run out of stock of the drug.
- Whatever the reason, do not stop taking Efexor or alter its dosage without first consulting a doctor. This applies to any type of drug.
