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

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sunshinerin | @sunshinerin | Aug 19 7:46pm
In reply to @njoys "A tablet or capsule? Unless you can obtain titrating strips (available from Holland, I believe), or..." + (show)
@njoys

A tablet or capsule? Unless you can obtain titrating strips (available from Holland, I believe), or obtain lower doses from a compounding pharmacy, then a 25mg tablet or a 37.5mg XR (extended release) capsule are the only options. A tablet requires splitting to lower the dose, and a capsule requires opening, counting the contents, and reducing them according to your tapering schedule (recommended to be no more than 10% over time). We should all be filing online complaints with the FDA that they do not require pharmaceutical companies that manufacture these drugs to make them available in decreasing dosages so as to facilitate withdrawal from the drugs! My pharmacist showed me how to open a capsule, empty the contents, count the beads into a tiny tray, and pour the appropriate number of beads back into the capsule for taking. One can obtain empty capsules for holding discarded beads. It seems ridiculous to me that we are required to do this. If anyone knows of another way, I would love to hear it. If I obtain titrating strips from Holland, I will let you all know--I'm not ready yet to decrease my dosage from 25mg two times per day.

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Thank you for this info. I have the 37.5mg entended release tablet currently. I also still have 75mg ER capsules that I was taking prior to the decrease. So maybe it would be an option to use then75mg capsules to split open and count beads… I have read about that on this thread but haven’t tried it myself. Yes- I’m pretty angry with big pharma currently. I would have opted for a different treatment/ antidepressant option had I know how terrible this is to come off of. Thanks again for sharing.

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1 reply
njoys | @njoys | Aug 19 7:56pm
In reply to @sunshinerin "Thank you for this info. I have the 37.5mg entended release tablet currently. I also still..." + (show)
@sunshinerin

Thank you for this info. I have the 37.5mg entended release tablet currently. I also still have 75mg ER capsules that I was taking prior to the decrease. So maybe it would be an option to use then75mg capsules to split open and count beads… I have read about that on this thread but haven’t tried it myself. Yes- I’m pretty angry with big pharma currently. I would have opted for a different treatment/ antidepressant option had I know how terrible this is to come off of. Thanks again for sharing.

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I used to take 75mg, then 37.5mg capsules, so I have those on hand, too. Only trouble is--counting beads is not fun! and I am guessing that your 75mg capsules would have twice as many beads as the 37.5 capsules? But I don't know, as my pharmacist emptied a 37.5 capsule--and I forget how many beads were inside--80? 120? You should be aware that capsules by different manufacturers may contain differing numbers of beads, as well. The capsules in one pill bottle may be the same, but if the next refill is by another manufacturer, one would have to re-count the contents. Yes, I am angry, too. Sorry you are having to go through this!

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Aug 19 8:13pm

@njoys
The place in Holland is Cinderella therapeutics. cinderella therapeutics. Thank you for mentioning that option as well as the compounding pharmacy.
Unfortunately, doctors often refuse to write a prescription to a compounding pharmacy for whatever stupid reason, Also, insurance companies don't usually pay for compounded drugs. I go to a sterile compounding pharmacy to get an injection medication and my insurance doesn't pay a dime towards that which is very expensive.
Best of luck to you,
Jake

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looplu79 | @looplu79 | Aug 20 2:36am
In reply to @sunshinerin "I’m so grateful to have found this message board. I’ve been reading about others’ experiences and..." + (show)
@sunshinerin

I’m so grateful to have found this message board. I’ve been reading about others’ experiences and recommendations over the last few weeks. I’ve been fortunate to have an easy time titrating to 37.5mg, and my regular dose was just 75mg ER for about 2.5 years.

I’m now scheduled to take the 37.5 every other day for two weeks, potentially longer if needed. Saturday (two days ago) was my first skip day and I had some dizziness, felt disconnected, trouble focusing, tingling in my face, and pretty severe pain in my muscles and joints. The worst was my hips and legs.

Ibuprofen, naproxen, and Benedryl have been helpful.

Sunday, I took 37.5 but my symptoms were worse than Saturday. Tosay was a skip day, and I feel dizzy, nauseous and achy. And very disconnected. It’s challenging to hold a conversation. And I ended up taking a half day off work due to the symptoms.

I have a new symptom today and I cannot find anything online and it’s freaking me out some. I’m having vision issues where my floor in my house looks like it is swirling. My floor has a light marbling pattern and it is swirling around. Has anyone else experienced this? I got really fearful and started worrying that I was losing touch with reality/ having a psychotic break. I’m laying down now and trying to focus on my breathing but still feeling very panicky.

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I understood alternate days are a very bad idea
Have you considered using liquid for and reducing smaller doses
It is not slow release so necessary to take twice daily

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pammiedon | @pammiedon | Aug 20 10:52am
In reply to @sunshinerin "I’m so grateful to have found this message board. I’ve been reading about others’ experiences and..." + (show)
@sunshinerin

I’m so grateful to have found this message board. I’ve been reading about others’ experiences and recommendations over the last few weeks. I’ve been fortunate to have an easy time titrating to 37.5mg, and my regular dose was just 75mg ER for about 2.5 years.

I’m now scheduled to take the 37.5 every other day for two weeks, potentially longer if needed. Saturday (two days ago) was my first skip day and I had some dizziness, felt disconnected, trouble focusing, tingling in my face, and pretty severe pain in my muscles and joints. The worst was my hips and legs.

Ibuprofen, naproxen, and Benedryl have been helpful.

Sunday, I took 37.5 but my symptoms were worse than Saturday. Tosay was a skip day, and I feel dizzy, nauseous and achy. And very disconnected. It’s challenging to hold a conversation. And I ended up taking a half day off work due to the symptoms.

I have a new symptom today and I cannot find anything online and it’s freaking me out some. I’m having vision issues where my floor in my house looks like it is swirling. My floor has a light marbling pattern and it is swirling around. Has anyone else experienced this? I got really fearful and started worrying that I was losing touch with reality/ having a psychotic break. I’m laying down now and trying to focus on my breathing but still feeling very panicky.

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I found that if I didn’t have skip days but instead took a smaller dose every day.
Example; taking 1/2of the 37 mg dose every day instead of 37 every other day is MUCH better.
I hope this helps. Hugs.

Ps. I just opened the capsule a poured out half. Easy peasy.

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1 reply
sunshinerin | @sunshinerin | Aug 20 11:02am
In reply to @pammiedon "I found that if I didn’t have skip days but instead took a smaller dose every..." + (show)
@pammiedon

I found that if I didn’t have skip days but instead took a smaller dose every day.
Example; taking 1/2of the 37 mg dose every day instead of 37 every other day is MUCH better.
I hope this helps. Hugs.

Ps. I just opened the capsule a poured out half. Easy peasy.

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Thank you for your encouragement. Unfortunately, I have a 37.5 extended release tablet-- not the capsule. I have a message in to my doctor though and am curious if she could order the capsule for me. How long did you take 1/2 of the 37mg? I am seriously considering just going off of it altogether, but also know this is probably not a good idea. Everything I read says, "don't rush it." Thanks again for your encouragement and input.

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1 reply
pammiedon | @pammiedon | Aug 21 10:27am
In reply to @sunshinerin "Thank you for your encouragement. Unfortunately, I have a 37.5 extended release tablet-- not the capsule...." + (show)
@sunshinerin

Thank you for your encouragement. Unfortunately, I have a 37.5 extended release tablet-- not the capsule. I have a message in to my doctor though and am curious if she could order the capsule for me. How long did you take 1/2 of the 37mg? I am seriously considering just going off of it altogether, but also know this is probably not a good idea. Everything I read says, "don't rush it." Thanks again for your encouragement and input.

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You could go off of it but…you could possibly have a very sick day.
I am actually down to pouring out a few dippy dots from the capsule onto the tip of my finger. Getting off of this is hell.

I have tried several times to be “done” but I end up with the feeling of my eyes not being connected to my brain, so delayed visual tracking and thus, a sick stomach.
It is gross. I am particularly sensitive to titration from antidepressants.
The best of luck to you.
It won’t hurt to try just going off of it, you may be just fine as most people are. You can always take one later than normal if you feel too crummy.
P.s. you can break your pill in half. I do that all the time as well. If you need you can use a pill cutter or use a kitchen knife to snap it.

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Aug 21 4:26pm

@sunshinerin
Just to let you know a potential danger of stopping all at once.
When lady had a stroke when she stopped cold turkey, although she was on a larger dose and seizures are another possible withdrawal effect.
Best of luck with your taper,
Jake

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ravendeadlocke | @ravendeadlocke | Aug 22 9:30pm

I'm doing decently coming off venlafaxine after many years. Here's my biggest problem: I fall asleep okay but wake up literally dripping in vinegary sweat. If I wake up slightly while turning over I can feel it dripping. It's gross and the absolute worst part. I can deal with the minor nausea and brain zaps. Does anyone have any solutions for the sleep sweating? Please? Cause at this point I'm thinking of wrapping my bed in plastic LOL

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njoys | @njoys | Aug 27 12:51pm
In reply to @njoys "According to my extensive reading on the topic, alternating days is not recommended. Dr. Mark Horowitz..." + (show)
@njoys

According to my extensive reading on the topic, alternating days is not recommended. Dr. Mark Horowitz explains why in his new book, The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines. I don't have my copy handy, or I would copy the text which warns against skipping doses, but this might help for now: https://learn.outro.com/c/preparing-to-taper/tapering-when-and-how-to-stop

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Here is a summary which might prove helpful for some: https://www.madinamerica.com/2024/08/maudsley-deprescribing-guidelines-taylor-horowitz/?mc_cid=06dbbe3726&mc_eid=471abdc030

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