Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Bondon251, effexor is one of the most diffucult drugs to withdraw from. It is common to withdraw gradually. I can see how you are tempted, but you are past the three and close to the four week window of usual withdrawal. There are other medications that are used sometimes to lessen withdrawal symptoms. Duloxetine is one, but it seems like you are accomplishing this difficult endeavor successfully.
Like Leslie, I would wish or hope that you have medical resource for alternative prescribing. You don't seem to be in danger from depression, but it is one of the usual withdrawal effects of effexor.
Compliment you on your 3 week (so far) success. While I'm cheering for waiting another week, and think the worst is over, you may need that pill. If you are on EX don't break that pill in half. You can break the immediate release pills.
There is an otc serotonin uptake inhibitor SAM-e that would help your levels of serotonin and might alleviate some symptoms.
If you feel at risk, don't wait to call your physician.
wishing you success

So glad my insight helped! I hope you are doing better! Depression can be hell - we didn't choose this, but are stuck with dealing with it! I wish you well! Let me know if you have any questions.

I don’t have tips because I’m only 5 days into my weaning off process. I’ve tried numerous times in the past, but always gave up due to the withdrawal side effects. I’ve successfully gone from 225 to 150 mg without any effects at all. 5 days ago I went from 150 to 112.5mg and the unpleasant physical effects started appearing yesterday. My brain feels like it’s in a vice grip and no painkiller is alleviating the discomfort. The vertigo and nausea have also begun.

I’m really disappointed that here in Canada (I don’t know if this is the case in the US as well), immediate release Effexor tablets are no longer available; I was counting on using them for this process. How I’m going to wean with capsules is beyond me.

Right now I want to die and it’s only the beginning. Ugh.

I’m a 45 year old woman who has taken 375mg Effexor for 12 years. I have been tapering off Effexor for the past three weeks in response to some blood test results that show I have to stop taking the drug. I’ve gotten down to 37.5mg in three weeks with no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever. If this is still an active thread, I’d be happy to share the protocol I’ve been following. If there is a desire out there to learn the details (dosages, brands), leave a reply and I’ll post more. Thanks!

Hi 👋🏻 I’ve weaned myself off 225 mg of Venlafaxine over the last two months. I have been completely off for the last two. I am now experiencing sweats and weird budding in my head. I really don’t feel well. Any suggestions?

Hi everyone!

I'm new to this forum and just stared tapering off of Venlafaxine 300 mg. I wanted to document and share my experience. Maybe it helps someone 🙂 (Also I have major brain fog, so it's good for me to write it down along the way).

It's been a ride to admit needing help, find the right therapist and the right medication. I've been prescribed different drugs in different dosages and then some others to combat the side effects of the anti-depressants while being in therapy. Some worked okay, some did nothing and others made me feel terrible. At times i felt like i was just a test dummy: "Pop in a drug and see how she turns out. Did it not work? Just try another!" But at the time I felt so low that I accepted that trial and error was the only way to find what worked for me...
Sidenote: I'm a 29 y/o female from in Netherlands. I am curious to hear about other people's experience with being prescribed different mental health related drugs.

I've been on Venlafaxine/ Effexor for over 6 years now for anxiety, depression and dysthymia. Before that, other antidepressants. I wanted to lower my dosage a few years ago, but the psychiatrist at the time said something that held me back. Over the years we've established that I experience a lot of side effects when changing meds/ dosage. Therefore, the psychiatrist told me that I'd basically have to schedule a month off work etc., to be able to cope with the withdrawal symptoms. In this month, his plan was for me to lower my dosage with 75mg each week.
Even though I wanted to lower my intake, taking a month off seemed impossible (in my mind I went "in THIS economy?" :') ). I was scared to lose my job and even more so, what withdrawal would do to my mind and my body. This held me back for a loooong time.

Fast forward some years later to the present. I'm doing better. I moved cities and therefore had to find a new doctor as well. I talked to the new doctor about wanting to taper off. I don't want to have to take this drug, solely because lowering it seems impossible. I don't think I need as high a dosage as I needed 6 years ago. Besides, I'd love to experience less side effects from the Venlafaxine.
_____________________________________
Now, let's get to the tapering off part:
She suggested lowering my dosage by the smallest dose available here (which is 37,5 mg) every two weeks. Check in with her every two weeks if needed.
So for the past two weeks I've been taking 262,5 mg daily, instead of 300 mg. After that, 225 mg for two weeks. Then 187,5 mg for two weeks and so on. It is not necessarily my goal to be completely off the drug (tho I'd love it if that's possible!). I just want to start by taking less.

- Week 1, 262 mg:
The first few days I've noticed nothing out of the ordinary. No changes in my mood. I mainly felt happy and almost excited to finally lower this stuff. Just the occasional headache and fatigue, but I thought that was just stress. I also feel a bit slow in processing information, communicating and slower in thinking in general.

Week 2, 262,5 mg: I am not sure if this is because of the withdrawal, but for the past few days I've been extremely tired. Not able to get out of bed when my alarm clock goes off-tired. Barely able to keep my eyes open-tired. The headache got worse and causes me to frown and squint all the time. I cannot stand loud voices or noises in general. It's like my brain fog has turned into brain smog: much more sense and heavy and a struggle to navigate in. It costs a lot of energy to engage in anything and conversation doesn't come naturally anymore. I feel nauseous and have trouble eating enough, though I try to do so.
Again, not sure if it is withdrawal or if it's just a bad cold/ flu... Has anyone else experienced this several days after lowering?

Later this week I'm supposed to lower the dosage again from 262,5 mg to 225 mg. Maybe for week 3 I can try 262,5 mg on Sat, Mon, Wed, Fri and 225 mg on Sun, Tue, Thu, Sat to taper off more gradually. Week 4 can be 225 mg.

I'm open to hear anyone's experience and advice 🙂

Why are you tapering so fast? What is the rush? I am trying to taper down off paxil (I'm told it is the hardest to get off) after 22 years.
I tried to taper too fast and crashed. Do some research on tapering and give yourself a fighting chance. I am doing 10 percent or less if I can find a way every 90 days (I get a 90 day supply each refill). Just for full disclosure, I think it had stopped working due to increased stress or just time used. I was having extreme diarrhea and thought it was caused by my Paxil. My doctor didn't warn me about withdrawal.
After crashing, (physical symptoms were anxiety tingling from tip of my toes to tip of fingers and "sunburn" feeling on back and shoulders, not to mention no more than 15 minutes of sleep at a time for 3 months and mental torture, fear,....) I went back on Paxil . Still not feeling great and I don't think paxil.is working. I was given Gabipentin and it helped with the "sunburn " feeling but now I'm trying to taper off it as well. After 5 months I am down from 40mg to 30. Yesterday I started my next taper because even though I'm not feeling great....I want.off.this drug!! I hope the medical system is better in the Netherlands than here in the States? I have yet to see a Phyciatrist...all I get is a nurse who can prescribe. All she will discuss is drugs. I am seeing a therapist now (finally got appointment after being told the next available is 1 year away) but this person is a LCSW or Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Talking to him has helped. To wrap up, I am 67 years old so, luckily I have been able to not work during these hellacous days. Don't rush it. I suggest very small tapers at least 90 days apart.