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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (6449)Comment receiving replies
I want to be sure I understand, as it is my plan to drop VERY SLOWLY from 75 to 37.5 mg, then stop for a while. IF I want/need to completely get off the effexor, I will do it extremely slowly in the future. Does anyone know if protracted withdrawal can still happen if I'm on a small dose of the effexor? This is a big concern of mine, as I know I reduced dosages quite quickly, even though I suffered withdrawal during the process.
FYI - With guidance from my GP, I first dropped from 225 to 150 (33%), and ended up in the Psych ER. I then dropped by 37.5 mg to 112.5 (25%). This was more manageable. The next reduction was again 33% down to 75 mg. I have been at this level for two weeks so far, and continue to struggle a great deal. I plan on weighing the beads in the capsule to slowly drop to 37.5mg. The effexor has caused very concerning liver enzyme levels. While I want to protect my liver, I also want to protect my brain!
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I have bought the book ‘ The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines’ by Mark Horowitz and David Taylor. It is not cheap; I paid
£ 40.00, but it is excellent, and worth every penny. It will tell you everything you need to know, and includes charts of decreasing doses and timelines, starting at various dosages. The Maudsley is a renowned hospital in London in the U.K., which specialises in mental health issues.
Before I bought this book, I had attempted to reduce from 300 mgs per day, having taken velafaxine, (effexor) for the previous 20 years+. I managed to lower my dose to 75 mgs per day. On reaching this level and having no smaller dosage tablet, I tried taking one 75 mg tablet on alternate days. This was it turned out, the worst thing I could have done. Instantly I was hit with appalling withdrawal effects. Unfortunately, my G.P. announced that she had no experience with this, and that I knew more than she did on this subject. Fortunately I discovered the Maudesley book. Nevertheless I ended up back on the full 300mgs of venlafaxine per day. Despite that I have had a severe skin problem over the entirety of my body, including for example, my ear canals. This was roughly one year ago. I have now, four weeks ago, started again to reduce my venlafaxine dosage. This time however using the guidance of the Maudsley book. The chart I am using is one which starts at
300 mgs daily. After my previous experience, I shall be deliberately taking the longest recommended times between doses. I do not want a repeat of what happened before. I will keep posting about this second experience as it continues. I hope it may help someone.
By the way, I have nothing whatsoever to do with either the Maudsley hospital, the authors of the book, or anyone else. I am recommending the book purely in a personal capacity.