As promised, my successful tapering off Effexor (Venlafaxine)

Posted by sheffieldsmith @sheffieldsmith, May 31, 2020

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.

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

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 18 3:16pm

In reply to @mecsamer "What are brain zaps?" + (show)

@mecsamer, many members mention feeling sensations like "brain zaps" as they taper off selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They are more likely to happen if one tapers too fast or stops abruptly, which is why a slow tapering schedule is recommended.

You can read more about brain zaps here:
- What to Know About Brain Zaps During Antidepressant Withdrawal https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/brain-shakes

Are you currently tapering off Effexor?

depressedbutnotdead | @depressedbutnotdead | May 20 12:17pm

In reply to @colleenyoung "@mecsamer, many members mention feeling sensations like "brain zaps" as they taper off selective serotonin reuptake..." + (show)

I went cold turkey, and the zaps were maddening for about two weeks. This was followed by about two weeks of gradually diminishing symptoms, and within a month it resolved itself. I wouldn't recommend it, but for me, the drug had caused a flip. I'd been on it for about twenty years and it worked for a while, but the last five were a nightmare of suicidal depression and uncontrollable rages, and no other emotions. I just faked it that I was OK, because I didn't want anyone to know (although the anger couldn't be hidden). The depression has been lifelong, but the anger was new and had started to threaten my marriage. Within a few days, even as the head zaps hit me relentlessly, the depression subsided and the rages simply went away. I did subsequently shift to different class of meds, and I do think they're helping. But getting off Effexor was the key turning point for me, and I feel like the suffering was worth it. I'm 100% convinced the drug had flipped me, and my psychiatrist feels it's likely the case. Within two weeks I went from monosyllabic at counseling sessions to fully opening up. My counselor noticed a dramatic change, as did my psychiatrist, and most importantly, my wife. Our marriage is no longer on the rocks.

That said, I basically went against medical advice, and I wouldn't suggest others follow my path unless they're really determined and absolutely need to get off of the drug. And they should probably talk with their provider, which I didn't do. I wasn't expecting the outcome I've had when I quit it. I did it in anger. But that's what happened. It clearly wasn't treating my depression, and as it turned out, it was fueling it to maximum level. I had been hospitalized last year on the edge of suicide. I no longer even experience the impulse and wonder why I ever felt it. I cannot tell you how good it feels to be out of that place. It was hard as hell to quit, but I'll never touch that stuff again.

palomitica29 | @palomitica29 | Jun 10 11:30am

I just started this journey of tapering for the second or third time. I'm going to do my best to stick with it. This was my first night of reducing from 50mg to 25mg, and then I take my normal 50mg during the day. I woke up a bit panicky. I feel not myself. Will my body adjust to this new dosage or will the entire journey be this way?

njoys | @njoys | Jun 10 9:57pm

In reply to @palomitica29 "I just started this journey of tapering for the second or third time. I'm going to..." + (show)

It would be helpful for you to read earlier posts on this topic. Experts recommend a tapering schedule of no more than 10%, waiting for your body to adjust (i.e., to be sure you are not suffering withdrawal effects), and then tapering ten percent of the remaining dosage, a waiting period again, and so on. Every body is different, so you'll have to experiment to learn what works for you. Good luck.

looplu79 | @looplu79 | Jun 27 8:46am

I understood that cutting tablets of XL slow release Venlafaxine was not recommended
How did you get from
150 - 75 mg ? Was it by taking 37.5 less every two weeks
I am
Not sure I can get the small doses you suggest in the UK in your schedule

looplu79 | @looplu79 | Jun 27 2:22pm

In reply to @sheffieldsmith "Hope is on the Horizon, dear one. A glimmer of hope can be found in asking..." + (show)

Thank you for sharing your experience
However reading so many comments I am still puzzled how you reduce dosage of slow release tabs
Some readers suggest a10% reduction but these tabs only come in 37.5 75 150 mgs which is my usual dose
What system is used to slowly reduce dosage of slow release tabs ?
Should I drop my dose 0f one 150 m tab to one 75 plus a37.5 tabs for a few weeks
Then drop to just 75 mg ?
Please help

zainahelizabeth | @zainahelizabeth | Jun 28 8:24am

In reply to @looplu79 "Thank you for sharing your experience However reading so many comments I am still puzzled how..." + (show)

Hi, I suggest you buy the book:’The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines for Anti-depressants etc.’. I’m nothing to do with it; I’ve just bought it for myself as I’ve been trying to reduce my venlafaxine. Anyway, I paid £45.00 so it’s not cheap, but it’s excellent. It describes how to dilute the medication so that you can take smaller and smaller doses. From 75mgs., it says that you should go slower and slower in time, with much less of a drop in dosage each time. What ever you do, do not be tempted at any point to take an amount on alternate days. That causes huge problems as I’ve found out. I went from 300mgs to 75mgs over six months. Everything was fine, but as I only had tablets of 75mgs,, my next step was to take one every other day. I then experienced the most appalling withdrawals, am now back on 150mgs, and will probably have to go back to the full 300mgs to get rid of these terrible effects. Having stabilised, I’ll then be starting all over again. Neither my doctor nor their pharmacist has any experience with this, so the book is a must for me. Good luck!!
Regards,
Zainah-Elizabeth Lovell

looplu79 | @looplu79 | Jun 28 10:35am

In reply to @zainahelizabeth "Hi, I suggest you buy the book:’The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines for Anti-depressants etc.’. I’m nothing to..." + (show)

Thank you Just ordered book as suggested

edmundmerrick | @edmundmerrick | Jun 29 4:38pm

I am most worried about the possibility of a cessation of the importation of the drug's generic version, venefaxine and even name brand Effexor. I had a problem when one of my blood pressure medicines ceased production. Luckily there was a similar alternative and no withdrawal. If the drug, venafaxine, cannot be imported from China or India or wherever it is made, what happens then? What if it is not available? There will be a lot of suffering when we all have to go cold turkey. I am on 225 mgs and have been on it for more than 20 years. I am scared - very scared about this since the world is a powderkeg. I received no information and no warning from my psychiatrist about withdrawal and I think that is immoral and unprofessional. I know there are pluses to psychotropics but it was prescribed and is given to patients as if it were candy. This is my second day of lowering my dosage and I feel dizzy, angry and am dreading the future. If this is day two of withdrawal and I fear the future will get worse, I will have to go back to my original dosage. In addition, I had to fight my horrible Medicare Advantage Plan from Aetna as they sent me a letter that the drug plan is making it so I can only buy one pill each day even though I am taking three a day now. It seems that all I have done since I retired was to fight my insurance company because I have to depend on their Know nothing customer support people who all read prepared remarks from a script. What a foul system.

loribe7 | @loribe7 | Jun 29 5:42pm

In reply to @edmundmerrick "I am most worried about the possibility of a cessation of the importation of the drug's..." + (show)

It is awful to hear what you’ve been going through. Medicine is super tricky, never works the same for people. I will say that Effexor worked great for me and for cost saving reasons, I chose to take Venlafaxine. I’ve been taking Venlafaxine for 5 years and seems to work exactly the same, if not more. Having to lower dosages is even tougher, I know. Once you’ve made it through the tough days. You will feel so much better. The withdrawals can keep us from liking anything during those tough days…
Hang in there!!! You can do it!!!