1. < Depression & Anxiety

Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

I have been taking Effexor/Venlafaxine for years and tried to get off it a few times but each time I try to give up the chemical withdrawal symptoms are a horror story and I give up giving up. Anyone got any tips or tried and tested strategies? Thank you

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | May 14, 2019
In reply to @canadaanj "Thank you so much for your advice! I just couldn't understand why I felt nothing for..." + (show)
@canadaanj

Thank you so much for your advice! I just couldn't understand why I felt nothing for the first 3 or so days after my last dose and then suddenly started having these symptoms on about the 4th day after stopping. Anyway, I went back to taking 37.5 mg and the depersonalization feelings have disappeared so I know they were from the withdrawal. It's a pain in the ass though, to have to divide all the little beads inside the 75 mg pill in half...lol. But I will take 37.5 mg for a month or so I guess, then go down to 85 beads. (Half of a 75 mg pill is about 97 little beads), and see how I feel then I guess.

Jump to this post

@canadaanj
Hi,
Be sure to take it SLOW, very SLOW don’t get impatient. Your chance for withdrawal are reduced the slower you go.
Good luck,
Jake

REPLY
1 reply
sheffieldsmith | @sheffieldsmith | May 14, 2019

Research the use of tapering strip dosages with your doctor. It could the guesswork out of how to successfully wean you off Venlafaxine with minimal side effects.

REPLY
sheffieldsmith | @sheffieldsmith | May 14, 2019
In reply to @canadaanj "Thank you so much! I went back to 37.5 mg. The pill is 75 mg and..." + (show)
@canadaanj

Thank you so much! I went back to 37.5 mg. The pill is 75 mg and it's full of tiny beads so I have to count the beads inside and divide them in half. Such a pain in the arse! So I guess I'll just stay on that dosage for a couple of weeks and then maybe go down 10 beads. Oh, and the derealization episodes stopped so now I know they were from withdrawal.

Jump to this post

Thank you for posting the number of beads in a Venlafaxine 75mg capsule. I may be using “Count the beads out” if my weaning plan ending over the next two weeks doesn’t yield the desired results.

REPLY
2 replies
sheffieldsmith | @sheffieldsmith | May 14, 2019
In reply to @betsyjane "A year ago I started taking my 75 mg Effexor every other day. I had no..." + (show)
@betsyjane

A year ago I started taking my 75 mg Effexor every other day. I had no problems unless I forgot to take one. About 6 weeks ago, per doctor's suggestion, I began this schedule: 75 mg - none - 37.5 mg - none - then repeat.. So every 4th day - the evening of the second "none" or the morning following the second "none," I have the brain zap crap. Sometimes worse than others; even had a day when I had no symptoms at all. This is the primary withdrawal symptom I have. It's pretty annoying, feels like it wants to be debilitating, but I usually just push through and function, as little as possible!

Appreciate the suggestions re CBD Oil.

Jump to this post

Perhaps you were tapering off too quickly. My internist suggested the following plan for me to taper off over a period of 6 weeks: first two weeks: alternate taking 75mg Venlafaxine one day, and 37.50 the next day; Weeks 3,4: take 37.50 mg each day; Final Weeks, 5,6: take 37.50mg every other day. I’m currently on week 5 of the tapering and I appear to be tolerating it very well. I will be near the end of this weaning schedule next week when I see my doctor for a follow up visit. If I need to I’ll resume the tapering For another 6 weeks by beginning with 37.50mg. Yes, I’ll be counting out beads for the smaller doses, but I’m determined to wean myself off from taking what my doctor says is the most difficult anti-depressant/anxiety on the market. Good luck!

REPLY
2 replies
notaround | @notaround | May 14, 2019
In reply to @sheffieldsmith "Thank you for posting the number of beads in a Venlafaxine 75mg capsule. I may be..." + (show)
@sheffieldsmith

Thank you for posting the number of beads in a Venlafaxine 75mg capsule. I may be using “Count the beads out” if my weaning plan ending over the next two weeks doesn’t yield the desired results.

Jump to this post

Not to burst anyone's bubble but the number of beads varies by manufacturers as well as dosage. So double check each time the prescription is refilled.

Just don't want anyone to rely on counts for one version that don't hold consistent.

REPLY
2 replies
notaround | @notaround | May 14, 2019
In reply to @secretwhitepop "Good luck, and please let us know about the ketamine. Thinking about that myself if I..." + (show)
@secretwhitepop

Good luck, and please let us know about the ketamine. Thinking about that myself if I don’t stop crying so much!

Jump to this post

Definitely will be celebrating if I can get into a clinical trial. Would be happy to share some good news if I ever get any.

Otherwise, it's at least $500/treatment, in cash, since it isn't covered by insurance. Also I would need someone to drive me home from each treatment and it's 3 days a week for the first two weeks. Logistical headache.

But the efficacy rate for people like me who have been given up on is very good. Especially those who also are chronically suicidal. Barring that, I will reapply for disability, this time with a lawyer.

REPLY
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | May 14, 2019
In reply to @sheffieldsmith "Perhaps you were tapering off too quickly. My internist suggested the following plan for me to..." + (show)
@sheffieldsmith

Perhaps you were tapering off too quickly. My internist suggested the following plan for me to taper off over a period of 6 weeks: first two weeks: alternate taking 75mg Venlafaxine one day, and 37.50 the next day; Weeks 3,4: take 37.50 mg each day; Final Weeks, 5,6: take 37.50mg every other day. I’m currently on week 5 of the tapering and I appear to be tolerating it very well. I will be near the end of this weaning schedule next week when I see my doctor for a follow up visit. If I need to I’ll resume the tapering For another 6 weeks by beginning with 37.50mg. Yes, I’ll be counting out beads for the smaller doses, but I’m determined to wean myself off from taking what my doctor says is the most difficult anti-depressant/anxiety on the market. Good luck!

Jump to this post

@sheffieldsmith
Sounds like you may be trying to quit to quickly. Take your time getting off this medication. Going slow and you will decrease your chances of withdrawal. I wouldn’t take this medication on an every other day basis. Slow and consistent is your best hope to avoid withdrawal symptoms. This medication has such a short half life taking a 100% dose then a 50% cut back to 100% etc doesn’t sound like it will work. If that’s what your going to do I wish you luck.
Hang in there,
Jake

REPLY
1 reply
sheffieldsmith | @sheffieldsmith | May 15, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@sheffieldsmith Sounds like you may be trying to quit to quickly. Take your time getting off..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@sheffieldsmith
Sounds like you may be trying to quit to quickly. Take your time getting off this medication. Going slow and you will decrease your chances of withdrawal. I wouldn’t take this medication on an every other day basis. Slow and consistent is your best hope to avoid withdrawal symptoms. This medication has such a short half life taking a 100% dose then a 50% cut back to 100% etc doesn’t sound like it will work. If that’s what your going to do I wish you luck.
Hang in there,
Jake

Jump to this post

Any recommendations on the percentage of cutbacks on alternate days, Jake?

REPLY
1 reply
sheffieldsmith | @sheffieldsmith | May 15, 2019
In reply to @notaround "Not to burst anyone's bubble but the number of beads varies by manufacturers as well as..." + (show)
@notaround

Not to burst anyone's bubble but the number of beads varies by manufacturers as well as dosage. So double check each time the prescription is refilled.

Just don't want anyone to rely on counts for one version that don't hold consistent.

Jump to this post

Thanks...I hadn’t thought of the variance between manufacturers. Advice heeded. Will count each and every capsule for number of beds.

REPLY
sheffieldsmith | @sheffieldsmith | May 15, 2019
In reply to @sandij "Today marked day 20 of effexor free. Also no ambien, which is great since I was..." + (show)
@sandij

Today marked day 20 of effexor free. Also no ambien, which is great since I was one of those who experienced the "ambien walrus", doing things I was completely unaware of after I'd taken it (usually shopping on amazon and surprised when packages were showing up). Benadryl 25 mg is helping with the shivering, I take it usually morning and evening, sometimes also mid day. CBD products, Chinese herbs prescribed by the acupuncturist, melatonin at night, increasing my water intake, and sleeping when I need to. Today is the first day I've actually felt like sewing and I consider that a win.
I hope everyone had a great day and another one follows.

Jump to this post

What dosage were you on when you started tapering off, and what dosing schedule did you use, Sandi? I’d be interested to know your timeframe for tapering off Venlafaxine. Thank you!

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.