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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.
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I was on Venlafaxine for 20 years
I read Deprescribing guidelines by Maudsley Hosp which gives very good information.
I got my doctor to prescribe Venlafaxine solution
I have very slowly reduced to 30mg today from 150 mg daily using a syringe to
Measure small doses
I stick with a specie up to two weeks
37.5mg /5 mls solution
It has been very successful
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3 Reactions@cistus, I moved your question to this existing discussion:
- As promised, my successful tapering off Effexor (Venlafaxine)
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/as-promised-my-successful-tapering-off-effexor-venlafaxine/
I did this so you can read past posts and connect with members who have successfully tapered of Effexor (venlafaxine).
Here is a list of related discussions: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/depression-anxiety/?search=effexor+and+taper#discussion-listview
I've just ordered the Maudsley book on deprescribing that you reccomend. I'm on venlafaxine and mirtazapine. I'll never make the mistake of taking these again but right now I'm getting awful side effects (brain fog, short term memory loss, nausea, disturbed vision etc) and no input barring repeat prescriptions .
Thank you for your post xx
Sorry to hear
Are you following the guidelines ?
I did not get any effects until I went down to 37.5mg
I would only reduce one drug at a time
Stop reducing doses until you stabilise and feel better
Everyone is Different Don’t rush just take it slowly
Thank you.
The book will arrive early next week.
One at a time and very, very gradually, yes. Both drugs give me severe side effects - disabling dizziness, shaking, loss of energy and more, so I never do feel better or stabilised. I am seeing a neurologist on Jan 8th bec the dizziness just gets worse and worse. A psychiatrist told me that venlafaxine is a risk factor for P.O.T.S.
(Tests were negative.) Maybe it's a risk factor also for M.E /C.A.F.S.
I know I'm extremely sensitive to drugs and need to proceed ever so slowly. The local doctor is used to people tapering by simply moving from one dose to the next. She has told me "you have to go through hell for a few months". Out of the question.
In the past year I have only reduced from mirtazapine 45 to 37.5 and from venlafaxine 225 to 212.5; one at a time . I feel very rough.
I have tried using Efexor (UK product) but that is notoriously unreliable and therefore unsuitable. I can't take the cutting and weighing approach with venlafaxine as I must have the XL form. (I have the scales.)
I apologise if going into detail like this is a pain. I wanted to cover the various angles which block me.
I want to be myself again - joyfully active, full of life..... I was interrupted by the buried effect of childhood trauma of which I am no longer a victim.
Moderator:
Please post this to all the relevant Mayo Clinic groups. I'm not adept at online work.
The long acting Effexor XL is available to 37.5 mgs
I advise you seek medical supervision if your side effects are so severe
Stop at the dose when side effects start and maintain dosage until you feel
Better
It does get better
Why did you decide to go off of Effexor and what did you replace it with?
You have to go to a compounding pharmacist to have it made into a liquid
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1 ReactionIf UK my GP prescribed it and pharmacy supplied it
@jeffc16 down to 40 pellets of a 37.5 daily and thought I could stop. Stopped and had the worst anxiety attack. Are you better now? Are you completely off Effexor. Any others experience.
I did notice I was Facebook scrolling and missing old friends and it's Christmas time with parents gone and my wife is older and showing signs of aging (hips, knees, cane, hard to wake up)