From Brain Zaps to Fatigue: The Full Range of Effexor Withdrawal Symptoms
Effexor is a highly effective and widely used prescription medication that has helped people with depression, anxiety, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder manage their mental health conditions. Still, like many other prescription medications, it can cause side effects, including some unusual withdrawal symptoms if people stop taking it. The list of Effexor withdrawal effects includes things like so-called “brain zaps” and fatigue, to excessive dreams or difficulty concentrating.
That’s why people who take Effexor and other similar antidepressants are encouraged to continue taking the medication unless directed by their doctor. If they are quitting the medicine, slowly tapering off to smaller doses until eventually quitting is the best way to avoid these distressing possible withdrawal symptoms.
Let’s dive into the uses of Effexor, why it can cause withdrawal if discontinued, and how top Florida addiction treatment centers like WhiteSands Treatment can help patients manage withdrawal symptoms during drug rehab.
What Is Effexor?
Effexor is the brand name of venlafaxine, an antidepressant in the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) category. It’s available by prescription only and sold as a capsule or tablet. It’s most often prescribed to help patients manage depression or anxiety, and it works by increasing serotonin and norepinephrine (brain chemicals).
Like many other antidepressants, it can cause a range of side effects. Common side effects include:
- Sexual dysfunction
- Reduced appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue or weakness
- Change in sleep patterns
- Unusual dreams
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness or blurred vision
- Headache
- Faster heart rate
- Anxiety or nervousness
- Sweating
More serious side effects are much less common but can include breathing problems, racing hearts, itching or rash, stomach cramps, joint pain, difficulty swallowing, and swelling of the face, lips, mouth, throat, or tongue.
The most significant danger of antidepressants like Effexor might be the way they can increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some kids, teens, and young adults when they first start taking the medication or change dosages. That’s why doctors closely monitor how patients are doing as they get used to new drugs like Effexor and will check in with them frequently to see how their mental health is doing with treatment.
What Are ‘Brain Zaps’?
As previously stated, “brain zaps” are one of the intriguing possible withdrawal symptoms someone can experience when they quit taking Effexor or some other kinds of antidepressants. So, what exactly are brain zaps, and are they a scary form of drug-related brain damage? We don’t precisely understand what causes these brain zaps, but they don’t seem to cause permanent damage.
An article published by Psychiatrist.com explains that “brain zaps” is an unofficial term used to describe what might be called brain shivers, flips, or shocks that some people experience most commonly when they stop taking or reduce the dosage of certain antidepressants. This has been described as feeling like a jolt of electricity in the brain, buzzing sounds, bright flashes, and even a so-called “brain blink” when they briefly lose consciousness or feel confused for just a second.
Some researchers suggest these sensations are caused by the person’s brain responding to sudden changes in neurotransmitters like serotonin or norepinephrine levels or adjusting to changing receptor sensitivity in the brain. These changing neurotransmitter levels could affect how the brain handles electrical signaling, which could cause symptoms associated with antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, such as brain zaps.
The stats seem to back up their theory—about 40% of respondents said they had stopped taking their antidepressant before they started having brain zaps, while more than a quarter had begun tapering off the drug, and another 12.5% had skipped a dose of the medication. People who had been on the medication for more than two months but less than two years were at the highest risk of experiencing brain zaps when they quit or tapered off their antidepressant.
Another interesting finding is that people seemed more likely to experience brain zaps if they had been taking SNRIs like Effexor, as opposed to common SSRI antidepressants that have a longer half-life in the body.
How Soon Do Effexor Withdrawal Symptoms Start?
Effexor is an SNRI, which means it has a shorter half-life in the body than other SSRI antidepressants. That means Effexor withdrawal symptoms can start shortly after the last time taking the medication, just one to two days after the previous dose for most people.
The cause is the brain readjusting to new levels of neurotransmitters affected by the medication, in this case, serotonin and norepinephrine. Withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Agitation
- Irritation
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Appetite changes
- Nausea
- Nightmares or excessive dreaming
- Sweating
- Mood changes
- Headaches
- Brain zaps
These symptoms can occur just a day after the last dose of the medication. While they can be upsetting, they typically start to dissipate in a few weeks. Additionally, slowly tapering off Effexor, as based on your doctor’s recommendations, can help prevent or minimize withdrawal symptoms.
How Long Does Effexor Withdrawal Last?
While the symptoms of Effexor withdrawal effects will start relatively quickly, withdrawal symptoms can linger for several months, causing people to feel dizzy, confused, restless, distracted, or even nauseous. In addition to some physical effects like sweating, headaches, and brain zaps, people will likely feel “off” as their brains adjust to new neurotransmitter levels.
They can also feel like they’re in a fog for a while as they grapple with mental effects like confusion, anxiety, irritability, and agitation. Because they’re likely to dream more or experience nightmares, they might have difficulty getting quality sleep.
While these symptoms can be uncomfortable and distressing, Effexor withdrawal isn’t typically seen as a dangerous condition. However, the exception is severe changes to mental health that can happen when a person stops taking any kind of antidepressant.
If you or your loved one is taking Effexor and starts to experience delirium, suicidal feelings, or psychosis as you taper off or quit the medication, it’s a sign of a medical emergency, and you need to call 911 immediately to get help.
Get Help With Effexor Withdrawal Effects From WhiteSands Treatment
The list of Effexor withdrawal effects is long. It includes some surprising possible problems, including “brain zaps” and overall struggles with mood changes as the person’s brain gets used to new levels of neurotransmitters. However, slowly tapering off the medication and closely consulting with your doctor can help you avoid or minimize the worst of these withdrawal symptoms and safely adjust.
At WhiteSands Treatment’s Florida drug rehab with private rooms, we closely monitor our patients’ mental and physical health, ensuring that any medication changes are made correctly and done for their best outcomes. Our team of experts knows how important it is to help patients manage and treat underlying mental health conditions as they work to overcome addiction.
Learn how WhiteSands Treatment in Florida can help by calling us at 877-855-3470 today.
External Sources
- WebMD – Venlafaxine (Effexor) – Uses, Side Effects, and More
- Psychiatrist.com – What Are Brain Zaps?
- Verywell Mind – How Long Does Effexor Withdrawal Last?
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
