Venlafaxine Withdrawal Effects: Physical and Emotional Signs
Venlafaxine, or Effexor, is a widely used prescription antidepressant available in oral tablet form. If you stop taking this medication, you may experience physical and emotional side effects that can last for a few days and up to a few weeks. Common withdrawal symptoms include, but are not limited to, anxiety, tiredness, confusion, diarrhea, nausea, sweating, and nightmares. A Florida prescription drug addiction treatment center can offer you a structured withdrawal schedule, supportive medical professionals with antidepressant withdrawal expertise, and the latest medications for minimizing venlafaxine withdrawal symptoms.
Table of contents
» What Is Venlafaxine Used for?
» How Venlafaxine Works?
» How Long Does Venlafaxine Withdrawal Last?
» Can You Overdose on Venlafaxine?
» Key Takeaways on Venlafaxine Withdrawal Symptoms
» Resources
What Is Venlafaxine Used for?
Antidepressants, such as venlafaxine, are among the most addictive prescription pills since licensed physicians prescribe them to address a variety of mental health issues. Venlafaxine is commonly offered to individuals needing help maintaining mental balance and improving their mood. However, it can sometimes address chronic pain conditions that have not responded to more traditional treatments. Conditions that venlafaxine may be prescribed to address include:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Most often characterized as persistent low mood, MDD can cause a loss of interest in everyday activities. Venlafaxine can help increase your brain activity by promoting the healthy growth of brain cells. A healthier environment can support brain activity and, eventually, help improve your mood.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): SAD is best described as a chronic fear of social situations that allow others the opportunity to judge or humiliate you. Venlafaxine can be prescribed to help you build confidence speaking publicly, meeting new people, and pursuing the things you enjoy outside your home.
- General Anxiety Disorder (GAD): GAD typically causes constant feelings of dread and fear that can cause symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, and trouble sleeping. Venlafaxine isn’t often a first-line treatment. This medication will likely be an option if other antidepressants have not worked to treat your GAD.
- Panic Disorder: Recurring, unpredictable panic attacks are the trademark sign of panic disorder. Your doctor may prescribe venlafaxine for panic disorder if they believe an antidepressant will positively impact your overall mood and mental health. Venlafaxine can work to create a healthier environment for the reuptake of many neurotransmitters.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): While it is not an FDA-approved treatment approach, venlafaxine has been shown to help treat OCD. OCD causes patterned, unwanted thoughts that get in the way of living your life. Venlafaxine may help regulate central nervous system (CNS) processes that support everyday tasks.
How Venlafaxine Works?
When looking at prescription pill statistics, Venlafaxine is one of the more popular serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). SNRIs are often prescribed to individuals needing relief from symptoms of depression, anxiety, or chronic pain. This type of medication works by increasing the levels of the two most critical neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin and norepinephrine.
- Serotonin: Serotonin works to regulate your moods and plays a role in your sleep-wake cycles. Low serotonin can also cause digestive troubles and irritability.
- Norepinephrine: Norepinephrine helps regulate your cycles, boosts your attention, and increases your arousal. In addition, this neurotransmitter plays a role in your stress response and ability to concentrate.
As an SNRI, Venlafaxine blocks the absorption of these two neurotransmitters to ensure you have an adequate supply throughout the day. Increasing the abundance of serotonin and norepinephrine has been shown to boost your mood and jumpstart the growth of healthy brain cells. SNRIs are typically prescribed as a second line of treatment when serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) don’t have the desired effect.
How Long Does Venlafaxine Withdrawal Last?
Venlafaxine withdrawal symptoms, such as headache, nausea, and anxiety, can last up to four weeks. Most medications take about four to five half-lives to fully exit your body. The shorter the half-life of a drug, the more severe the withdrawal symptoms and the sooner they appear. Venlafaxine has a half-life of about five to 13 hours and causes a stronger response.
The intensity and length of your withdrawal will also depend on how long you’ve been taking venlafaxine and the amount you have been taking before deciding to quit. Because SNRIs affect your CNS, stopping use can seriously impact your ability to go through your day-to-day life. Slower discontinuation of the medication is a safer method of withdrawal, and will typically be supervised by your prescribing physician.
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Can You Overdose on Venlafaxine?
It is certainly possible to overdose on the drug venlafaxine. SNRIs should only be taken at the level and frequency that your physician has prescribed. If you take more Venlafaxine than prescribed, then you will be susceptible to a range of adverse side effects. A Venlafaxine overdose may present as excessive drowsiness, repeated seizures, or even cardiac arrest.
If you overdose on Velafaxine, there is a serious risk of death. Taking too much of this medication is life-threatening and requires rapid medical attention. If you believe you or someone you love may be experiencing a venlafaxine overdose, you should seek emergency medical services immediately.
Key Takeaways on Venlafaxine Withdrawal Symptoms
- Most Common Symptoms of Withdrawal: Each person’s venlafaxine withdrawal symptoms will be unique. However, the most common side effects include drowsiness, digestive issues, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and sweating. FDA-approved detoxification medications can manage these side effects in a professional rehabilitation environment.
- Venlafaxine is an SNRI (Also known as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). SNRIs help increase brain activity by boosting serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Your doctor may prescribe you an SNRI if they believe SSRIs were not effective in addressing your specific condition and related symptoms.
- Conditions Venlafaxine Treats: Depressive, anxious, and obsessive disorders are commonly treated using venlafaxine. This medication is typically the second line of defense against the majority of mental health and other chronic conditions.
- Withdrawal Timeline: Withdrawals from Venlafaxine are best estimated by the amount of time you’ve taken the medication and at what daily dosage you have been prescribed. Your doctor can help you taper off of Venlafaxine to ensure you experience the best possible withdrawal over the course of several weeks.
- Risk of Overdose: Venlafaxine does pose a risk of overdose when taken in excess. Seizures and death are common side effects of taking too much of this particular SNRI. If you believe you are experiencing a venlafaxine overdose, you must seek medical care as soon as possible to limit the adverse effects of the overdose.
Venlafaxine withdrawal symptoms can interrupt your daily routine, as well as make you question your ability to stop taking the medication. At WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab, we understand your mental health journey is unique and requires personalized planning and services. That’s why our compassionate team is prepared to help you navigate withdrawals from SNRIs, such as venlafaxine. If you would like to know more about the services available at our detox center, you can give us a call at 877-855-3470.
Resources
- National Library of Medicine – Venlafaxine and Serious Withdrawal Symptoms: Warning to Drivers
- Forhers – Venlafaxine: Uses, Doses, and Potential Side Effects
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
- National Institute of Mental Health – Generalized Anxiety Disorder: What You Need to Know
- Yale Medicine – Social Anxiety Disorder
- Mayo Clinic – Depression (major depressive disorder)
- Drugs.com – How long do venlafaxine withdrawal symptoms last?
- National Library of Medicine – Venlafaxine overdose treated with extracorporeal life support
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.
