How Long After Discontinuing Effexor Will Withdrawal Symptoms Resume?

Posted on Sat, 8 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 8 Aug 2015 Answered on

Fri, 4 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I ran out of my Effexor xr today. If I take Zoloft 100mg today and Sunday and resume Effexor on Monday (pharmacy closed on weekends and closes at 6pm weekdays......I forgot to p/up) will I be less likely to suffer from withdrawl symptoms?? I have been on Effexor xr 75mg for 2 months,

Answered by Dr. Alok Sinha (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
take other SNRI like Duloxetine (Cymbalta/Delok)/ Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome to health care magic.

It is a wise decision to ask a query here.

Withdrawal of Effexor (Venlafaxine) is severe and it can occur within few hrs.
Better to substitute with Duloxetine/Desvenlafaxine which is another drug of same group (SNRI).

75 mg of venlafaxine= 50 mg of desvenlafaxine =20 mg of Duloxetine. Substitution with these medications may cover the withdrawal effect of Effexor up to great extent.

Do not go out for this weekend and avoid driving. If needed you may take a tablet or two of clonazepam 0.5 mg along with substitute medicine to reduce anxiety.

On Monday you should take the usual dose of Effexor at the earliest.

All the best.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar