Effexor is a medicine that you can only get with a doctor’s prescription. It comes as a pill that you swallow. There are two types of this pill, one that works right away and one that releases the medicine slowly. They are not fancy brand-name pills; they are the basic kind that usually cost less.
Doctors use Effexor to help people who are feeling really sad (with the quick-acting pill and the slow-acting one). They also use the slow-acting one to help with being too scared around other people. Sometimes, doctors give this medicine along with other medicines to make it work better.
Even though Effexor is not supposed to make you addicted, some people can’t stop taking it, and their minds get used to having it. If they stop, they might feel sick.
What’s the most important thing to know about Effexor
Don’t stop taking Effexor, even if you start feeling better. Your doctor will decide how long you need to take it.
- If you miss taking Effexor, your symptoms might come back.
- If you suddenly quit Effexor, you might have some uncomfortable symptoms like feeling upset, sick to your stomach, dizzy, or having bad dreams.
- Some people with bipolar disorder who take Effexor might switch from feeling very sad to feeling too excited.
- Signs of this include being really happy, not needing much sleep, talking a lot, thinking fast, getting easily distracted, and doing risky things like spending too much money.
If you think you have serotonin syndrome, get medical help. Look for signs in the serious side effects section.
Effexor Withdrawal
When some people suddenly stop taking Effexor, they can start feeling strange and uncomfortable within a few hours. This is called Effexor withdrawal.
To avoid this, doctors often suggest starting with a small amount of the medicine and slowly reducing it when you want to stop. But even with this slow approach, you might still get withdrawal symptoms.
Common Symptoms of Effexor Withdrawal
Effexor withdrawal can make you feel:
- Like your tummy is upset, you might not want to eat, and you could throw up or have diarrhea.
- Mentally not right, like feeling nervous, worried, confused, sad, or restless.
- Physically off, like having trouble with balance, feeling dizzy, having a dry mouth, or your body twitching.
- Sleep can become a problem, with trouble falling asleep, bad dreams, or feeling very sleepy.
You might also feel tired, like you have the flu, get headaches, have weird feelings in your body, sweat a lot, or feel dizzy.
Effexor Withdrawal Timetable
Effexor withdrawal can happen quite fast. This is because the medication venlafaxine stays in your body for about five hours before it starts going away. The “half-life” of a drug tells us how long it takes for half of the drug to leave your body.
If you take the fast-acting kind of venlafaxine, you might begin feeling withdrawal symptoms on the same day or the next day after you miss a dose. If you miss a dose of the slow-acting kind, withdrawal symptoms could start in a day or two.
Although there’s not a lot of research on the exact timeline for Effexor withdrawal, some people have mentioned when they felt symptoms. But it’s not clear if they were taking the fast or slow kind of venlafaxine. Here’s what some people have said:
- After missing a dose for 8 to 12 hours: Withdrawal symptoms show up.
- After 18 hours of missing a dose: Withdrawal symptoms get worse.
- Within three days of missing a dose: Withdrawal symptoms start to get better.
The good news is, if you start taking Effexor again, even with a lower dose, your withdrawal symptoms can go away within a day.
What is the Effexor withdrawal “Wet Finger Method”
The “Wet Finger Method” is one way some people use to help reduce the side effects when they want to stop taking Effexor. It’s like this:
- First, you open up the capsule and put the medicine on a plate or in a bowl.
- Then, you touch the medicine with your wet finger and take a little bit. This is your first step.
- After three days, you try taking a bit more, like five wet finger touches from the capsule. If you feel okay, you move to the next step.
- In the next step, you take even more, like seven wet finger touches from the capsule, for five days.
- If you still feel okay, you can try to stop taking Effexor altogether, with fewer side effects, hopefully.
Another way some people do it is called the “Bead Counting Method.” It’s like counting the tiny balls in the capsule to figure out how much medicine is in there. Then, you reduce the number of balls you take every few days.
Does the wet finger method for Effexor withdrawal work
The “Wet Finger Method” for Effexor withdrawal is not supported by scientific studies, and there’s no clear evidence that it works. In fact, using Effexor in this way is not recommended, and it can be risky. It may lead to more side effects and the chance of children or pets accidentally getting the medication.
Misusing antidepressants like Effexor can cause problems like poor coordination, confusion, fainting, dizziness, and even seizures. Taking too much of an antidepressant can also result in a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome, which can be life-threatening if not identified and treated. It’s important to follow your doctor’s guidance when coming off this medication.
Check Out More: Wet Finger Method for Effexor Withdrawal: Does it Work?- Do Shrooms Go Bad Over Time?
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