Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Hi there!

Sorry to hear that you are experiencing all these symptoms 🙁 I commend you for continuing to taper and I hope you feel better soon!

In an older comment someone also mentioned diarrhea as a result of an antidepressant so you might be right that the Paxil is causing it. I think they considered taking medication for it...

Dang it's not okay for your doctor to not warn you about withdrawal symptoms 🙁
It also pains me to hear when (mental) health care systems are "overburdened" in other countries too (I'm not sure if I'm using the right word here, but I mean when there are too little professionals available to the many people that need help, causing these waiting lists. ) So I am glad to hear that you finally have a therapist after waiting for so long!

Having a connection with and talking to the right person about it can sometimes do wonders. That being said, thank you for sharing your story and advice!! You're absolutely right about not needing to be in a rush.

It's funny since I'm currently on a slower tapering plan then the first doctor suggested, so I automatically thought this would be "slow enough". But my body and brain agree with you that the adjustment feels to fast, so I will slow down the tapering plan 🙂

I hope this next taper goes a bit more smoothly for you and you have kind people around you too support you (in any way possible 🙂 )
All the best!

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 🙂

I have been on Venlafaxine for 2o years
I now want to come off as it may have contributed to recent sleep disorder
I am in 150 mgs slow release
What dose is best Do I get a prescription for 75 mg first rather than alternate days?
Welcome anyone sharing their path with me

I am taking Effexor 300mg for about 8 years for depression. My question is if it is working for you, why are you wanting to taper off it ???

I have been on Venlafaxine for 2o years
I now want to come off as it may have contributed to recent sleep disorder
I am in 150 mgs slow release
What dose is best Do I get a prescription for 75 mg first rather than alternate days?
Welcome anyone sharing their path with me

Hi kratz5,

Great question :)! Thank you for asking. Sorry in advance for the botchy English, I'll try to make something coherent 😉

The past six years a lot of things have changed. All these changes made me realize that I'm in a very different place than where I was when I got prescribed the 300 mg at the time. I felt I'd no longer need as high a dosage anymore. Also the side-effects of anti-depressants are no fun.
I wanted to know how I'd feel at a lower dosage. I've consulted this with my doctor and she agreed with me tapering off it.
Below are the first things coming to mind when I think about the changes that helped me come to this decision.

1. Therapy and understanding my mind a lot better:
- I've learned and worked through a lot in therapy (although it took a while before finding the right type of therapy). Especially Schema Therapy and EMDR really helped. I've learned better ways to cope with my depression and anxiety as well as things to be mindful of in order to not exacerbate it.
- Two years ago I was diagnosed with ADHD-i(nattentive type). It explained sooo much and helped me understand myself much better.

2. Self-compassion and daring to be vulnerable:
- Allowing my emotions as well as practicing self-compassion (still a tricky one for me ;)!) have gotten better as well. Trying to be kinder to myself, instead of the usual anxiety driven perfectionism and judgments towards myself, played a major role in getting "better".
- Learning that it's okay to open up or to ask for help - and that you're not a burden for doing so! - made me feel less alone. At times it was like I didn't have to carry all the struggles by myself - like a bit of the weight I felt on my chest all the time was lifted.

3. Change in environment
- Among many things, my study, job, housing, relationships, are different from where I was six years ago. In a good way.

I don't intend to taper off fully right away. It would be nice if possible, but it is not my goal 🙂

Hope this answers your question!

-------------------------------------
Update in tapering schedule:
After consulting my doctor, right now I'm alternating 225 mg and 187,5 mg a day for two weeks. She told me this way I take an average of 206,25 mg daily.
After this, I'll go to 187,5 mg daily for two weeks. After that, alternating 187,5 mg and 150 mg for two weeks. Then 150 mg daily for two weeks.
This way, in theory, I'd taper 18,75 mg every two weeks because 37,5 mg every two weeks was definitely too fast!

Current side effects are dizziness, fatigue, headaches and major brain fog. Perhaps I'm still tapering too fast.

Thanks for the tip @njoys about the tapering strips! I'll look into them!

Hi there!

Right now I'm alternating between two different doses, suggested by my doctor. I'm alternating 225 mg and 187,5 mg for two weeks, because from 225 mg to 187,5 mg in one go was to fast for me (see post below).

I'm still unsure if this is not too fast, because I'm still experiencing quite some withdrawal symptoms, though they're less severe then before alternating.

Either way I'd suggest to taper off in the smallest steps possible to minimize withdrawal symptoms. I have 37,5 mg capsules (slow release), but maybe they're even lower dosages in capsules. I still have to look into that as well as the tapering strips.

Thanks
37.5 is the lowest slow release
However it is possible to get the drug in liquid form with a special prescription
Another member of the group suggested a book by The Maudsley Hospital and I will attach the regime recommended by them
Best wishes

Hi there!

Right now I'm alternating between two different doses, suggested by my doctor. I'm alternating 225 mg and 187,5 mg for two weeks, because from 225 mg to 187,5 mg in one go was to fast for me (see post below).

I'm still unsure if this is not too fast, because I'm still experiencing quite some withdrawal symptoms, though they're less severe then before alternating.

Either way I'd suggest to taper off in the smallest steps possible to minimize withdrawal symptoms. I have 37,5 mg capsules (slow release), but maybe they're even lower dosages in capsules. I still have to look into that as well as the tapering strips.