79th Effexor Update - Feeling Bad

August 11, 2026··

Posted in:Effexor (Venlafaxine)Support

As I mentioned before, I underwent severe stress last week when meeting with a new psych NP. It really did a number on my nervous system. The past couple days - after taking both Levothyroxine and Effexor in the morning - I have experienced severe activation a couple hours after my doses. I think the stress caused extra CNS sensitization. Both Levo and Effexor are very activating drugs. This has happened before, and I did experience some relief when lowering my Levo dose. I have consulted with my best friend (who is very knowledgable) about this, and we think it's best for me to reduce my Levo dose to 20 mcg starting tomorrow. In 6 weeks I will then reassess things. If things settle down by then, then I will reduce another Effexor bead and also do another 5 mcg reduction with the Levo. We also think that reducing the Effexor is causing my thyroid to become more functional, thus making the Levo dose too high. It's very hard to deal with this severe activation, and I'm enduring the best I can. Hopefully by reducing the Levo tomorrow will bring me some relief. I'll take anything I can get at this point. I'm getting blood work done on Thursday to check my thyroid and Vitamin D, so I'll keep you posted on the results. Sending healing vibes to everyone today! It's nice to see so many new members. Catina 🌸

Catina’s taper progress

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Dose (mg)

Mood (/10)

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

7 Replies

guava378Aug 11

Community AnchorAbilify · active

👍👍👍

- Aripiprazole / Abilify:
17-May-2026 (15mg -> 10mg)
11-July-2026 (10mg-> 7.5mg
17-Aug-2026 (7.5mg -> 5mg)
28-Sep-2026 (5mg -> 3.6mg)
10 months - actively tapering
- Procyclidine 5mg - 10 months - actively tapering
- Propranolol - 20mg - 13 months - holding
- Xanax - 0.25mg - 8 months - holding

guava378Aug 11

Community AnchorAbilify · active

Good luck with your dose reduction!

⭐

CatinaAug 11

Community AnchorEffexor

"Good luck with your dose reduction!" — @guava378

Thanks so much! 😊

Polly's FarmAug 11

Trusted VoiceTrintellix · researching

I'm glad you have a knowledgeable friend to discuss it all with. Very interesting that reducing the Effexor could be helping your thyroid. Fingers crossed for the reduction tomorrow. Take care.

Trintellix — 15mg — 4 years, 9 months — researching taper | Risperdal — 0.35mg — 4 years, 9 months — actively tapering | Depakine — 1000mg — 12 years — supporting others | with clinician

⭐

CatinaAug 11

Community AnchorEffexor

Thanks. I think all the antidepressants over the years have caused my hypothyroidism. Most long-term AD users end up on thyroid meds. Another gift from these wonderful drugs!

Polly's FarmAug 12

Trusted VoiceTrintellix · researching

I had no idea, that's terrible! I've definitely never been told that by a doctor... though if they went through all the effects and side effects, nobody would take them!

⭐

CatinaAug 12

Community AnchorEffexor

"I've definitely never been told that by a doctor... though if they went through all the effects and side effects, nobody would take them!" — @Polly's Farm

Yes, if people received true informed consent about these drugs, no one in their right mind would want them.

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