Long term anxiety, panic and depression sufferer

[jules0173]

Hi,
I have suffered with Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Depression for around 20 years.
I am currently having an episode of all three. I was on 130mg of Venelfaxine and currently I have been switched to 60mg of Duloxetine.
Coming off the Venelfaxine is proving to be incredibly hard, the doctor said that I would have a rough time, but I didn't expect it to be this hard. It's probably the worse I have ever experienced.
Mornings are the worst, the shakes, sweating and sheer fright that I feel every morning is crippling, and just to get out of bed in the morning is a massive effort.

[alankay]

Yeah the SNRI'S are not always easy to stop just like paxil but in time the symptoms will diminish. I'm sorry that this will take some time depending on the person but it will.
The Duloxetine is also an SNRI but still an adjustment going off the effexor. Do you take the med in the morning?? If so maybe split the dose in the AM and then bedtime or dinner. Just a thought that might minimize the AM anxiety that might be due to the fluctuation in the blood level of the new med. Some docs would add a week or two of a low dose benzo for the AM anxiety while starting the new med if it proves not to be tolerable for you. Hang in there Jules and PM me any time. Alankay

[Ritch]

Welcome to the forum.

venlafaxine is the hardest one to come off of but it will pass :)

[Lin]

Hope you find the forum helpful and you get some helpful advice. Good to know you are not alone in the hard time of coming off some medications.
Hope the effects are getting better and you soon off it, and on something which helps you.