Connect
As promised, my successful tapering off Effexor (Venlafaxine)
Below you will find the tapering plan that I used to successfully wean myself off Effexor (Venlafaxine). Feel free to share this with your doctor If you would like. I researched and came up with this plan, which was approved by my doctor, although she thought I could probably have weaned myself off sooner. But the reality is that we all have differing tolerance levels for tapering and weaning off this powerful drug from our bodies. Some people can taper faster, but usually not those who have been on this drug for years (like myself, since October 2002). I tapered off EffexorXR 150mg capsules about 5 years ago down to 75mg, and was on that maintenance dosage for a couple of years until I started weaning off the 75mg a year ago in April 2019. As of October, 2029, I’ve been withdrawal symptom free, but I still have occasional periods of anxiety when triggered. But I realize these waves of anxiety will soon pass, and I cope by deep breathing, taking a walk, having a cup of chamomile tea, etc. Cutting my exposure to watching upsetting news has really helped a lot as well. These days I seek things that bring joy and peace in such a turbulent world. Wishing you all a successful weaning off this powerful drug.
Weaning off Venlafaxine XR 75mg (Effexor-(extended release)capsules:
Weaning plan off plan that worked for BSS:
1. Inform your doctor you are tapering down from 75 mg Venlafaxine and ask them to prescribe 37.50 tabs to help with tapering doses (1/2 dosage down from 75 mg Venlafaxine capsules). The tabs are easier to cut into halves and quarter dosages than counting out beads from the capsules.
2. Begin your taper only after you are on a non-withdrawal symptomatic dosage level. If you were having w/d symptoms at 75 mg, you’ll need to go back to the level at which you were symptomless and stay there for 2-3 weeks before deceasing to a slow taper. NOTE: after successfully tapering from 150mg Venlafaxine down to 75mg for a month, I was unable to tolerate a drop cold turkey from a daily dosage of 75mg down to 37.50mg (50%) without having bothersome withdrawal symptoms of dizziness, brain fog, brain zaps, and nausea. So after researching various tapering plans, I came up with a slower tapering schedule my body could tolerate to finish the tapering from 75mg to 37.50mg, and then on to complete the tapering. Your body may even need slower tapering, so adjust according.
3. Week 1-2: Take 75mg caps MWFSu; take 37.50mg tab on alternate days Tu,Th, Sa. At the end of week 2, if you only have relatively mild to no withdrawal symptoms, proceed to week 3. IMPORTANT: If you have intolerable symptoms, adjust to a slower tapering schedule by adding an additional 1/2 tab on the alternate days (or take a total of one and a half 37.50 tabs on alternate days). You’ll then have to tweak the rest of your tapering schedule. If all goes well, proceed with week 3.
4. Week 3-4: Cut a few 37.50 tabs in half with a pill cutter or exacto knife blade to create quarter pieces. Take 37.50mg tab on MWFSu and take 3/4 tab on alternate days Tu, Th, Sa.
5. Week 5-6: Take 3/4 of a tab MWFSu, and take 1/2 tab on alternate days Tu, Th, Sa. If only mild symptoms, proceed to week 5.
6. Week 7-8: Take 1/2 tab on MWFSu; and take 1/4 tab on alternate days Tu, Th, Sa. If no symptoms, continue to week 7.
7. Week 9-10: Take 1/4 tab on MWFSu; and take 1/8 tab (cut 1/4 tabs in half) on alternate days Tu, Th, Sa. *Notice the quartering of doses into crumbs now...very important to keep small dosage tapering to remain withdrawal symptom free.
8. Week 11-12: Take 1/8 tab crumb on MWFSu; take none on alternate days Tu, Th, Sa. *If skipping alternate days produces symptoms, stay on 1/8 tab crumbs for a couple of weeks before alternating skip days for a couple of weeks.
You’ll find that this schedule may have to be tweaked for you by extending the time you stay on a taper...possibly up to 3-4 weeks before beginning a new tapering down. It all depends on how you tolerate the first two weeks.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.
Connect
My new psychiatrist said the same thing to me today. Unfortunately she is my new psychiatrist and not my old one because it's been 5 months since I stopped Effexor. For two months I was nauseated. Then for two months I was CONSTANTLY nauseated and started losing weight. For the past 4 weeks even drinking fluids makes me nauseated and my heart palpitations are there to remind me I'm miserable when the nausea subsides.
She just gave me a limited prescription of Prozac to try to handle the withdrawal symptoms and wean off of it as well as another med to help with anxiety. Going off of my other symptoms but not wanting to overdo it she gave me 2.5mg of olanzapine.
I'm going to start them today. I'm hoping beyond hope for some relief.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsJust because it's dangerous doesn't mean it can't be very helpful. In this case it's the withdrawal that's the worst part. Getting off of it is extremely difficult. Everything has the same warnings about stopping medication, but countless testimonies (including my own and my friend's) indicate how much worse Effexor is to stop than loads of other meds.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI've only been taking 37.5 for 2 months. Are the withdrawals less intense? How do I taper on my dose?
I am back on. Thank you 🙏🏻 for your note. After years of investigation I found I was never diagnosed when I was placed on ZOLOFT in the mid 80s. I was going through a very difficult time in my life and I needed help. I am confident the doctor who prescribed ZOLOFT believed he was doing the right thing. We are simply fortunate medicine has advanced and will continue to advance as more and more tools become available.
My experience with doctors is, “they want to do the right thing” Facing them is the pharmaceutical industry, attorneys, hospital owners and the administration of the hospitals. Liability is a dirty word and every step will be taken to minimize exposure.
The roots of medical problems began from conception through my birth. Since my retirement in 2006 at 59 I have spent a good part of time researching my life. My purpose was to answer who am I am and what factors impacted why I behaved as I did. My research is largely complete.
I wanted any readers to have my background information so they can understand why I carry no hard feelings.
I do my best to keep my eye on what’s immediately before me. The Dali Lamas said, There Are Only Two Days In the Year That Nothing Can be Done. One Is Called Yesterday and the Other Is Called Tomorrow.
I recently came off 450mg of Effexor/Venlafaxine that I had been on for fifteen years. Effexor can and does cause just about anything you can come up with. I have avoided most of the discontinuation effects except sleep disturbances. The medication causes sleep disturbances when on it and when discontinuing it. I only sleep two hours at a time.
As for the other discontinuation effects, yeah Effexor causes them. Google it when you get a chance.
I avoided most of the worst effects by dramatically changing my diet and exercising everyday. My doctors have confirmed that good nutrition and regular exercise are the best things anyone can do for their mental health. I of course wonder why no one, during the fifteen years I've been prescribed toxic medication, ever mentioned to me that I should change what I eat and get some exercise. From my point of view not informing me of the importance of these two interventions was negligence bordering on malpractice.
All my docs tell me how important nutrition and exercise are now that I have made these changes myself. During my recent crisis they told me how happy they are that I am off Effexor. Why did no one suggest getting rid of this poison before?
I believe if I wasn't sick before, Effexor has so changed my biology, that I am sick now.
The changes I made are simple; no refined sugar or fast foods. More protein. More complex carbohydrates and good fats. I eat pretty much as much as I want to eat, generally around two thousands calories a day. I exercise two hours a day, though that is more than I need to. As little as thirty minutes is probably enough.
I've lost thirty five pounds. My blood sugar is great. My blood pressure is terrific and I am much stronger.
There is no pill I can take that has as much effect on my biology as what I eat and how much I do or do not move. If I am unwilling to do what I can to get better than how can I expect some magic pill to make me better. If I had taken responsibility for my physical and mental health fifteen years ago I might not have lost everyone and everything that mattered to me.
If one wants to avoid the discontinuation effects of any medication, good nutrition and exercise is a must.
I know it is not alway easy but it beats the hell out of the alternative; at least for me.
May you live in peace and good health.
My doctor is tapering me off Effexor and putting me on pristiq. Anyone out there doing this
May I ask why?
I’ve been on Effexor for at least 20 years with really no change. I changed psychiatrists and she felt I might do better with pristiq
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI am coming off Effexor xr 150 that I took for 15 years. My dr. Put me on 50 of pristiq as I come off Effexor. I’m angry, impatient, depressed, anxious and crying. I guess I have to wait until the crossover is done to make a final judgement. But I absolutely hate how I feel and who I am now. I hope these symptoms are temporary
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction