Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Why not taper using the Efexor capsules which contain hundreds of tiny spheroids?
We could deduct the spheroids spheroids at a very slow pace?

Much easier to use liquid
Counting granules is a nightmare

Has anyone had itching and soreness in ears withdrawing from Venlafaxine ?

The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines explains why smaller doses are more difficult to stop, and why you must proceed slowly. It has to do with a "hyperbolic taper." To simplify, picture this: Dropping 10mg from 300mg is a small change, but dropping 10mg from 37.5mg is a huge difference. Thus, the smaller the dosage, the smaller the change that must be made in order for your brain to have time to adapt to that drop. Hope that makes sense.

I have been tapering off Effexor rather quickly from 225 mg. I am getting off the drug as quickly as I
can because it caused liver damage, so i cannot follow the recommended slow hyperbolic taper. Experiencing horrible withdrawal the entire way, which has been 5 weeks so far, with one trip to the ER. I'm so worried about protracted withdrawal later, but I didn't have a choice.
My husband and I just finished preparing my capsules for this week. We bought a pharmacy scale and empty capsules. We weighed the beads from 75 mg capsules and took the average (since they are not all the same, they are, on average, 227 mg, because they contain medication and filler. This week, I'm going from 75 to 64 mg starting tonight. By weighing the little beads, I am able to remain at a steadier XR dose, rather than switching to an immediate release and going up and down during the day.
My husband has a physics degree, and I trust that he knows what he is doing. I just feel bad putting the onus on him, but I don't see another option. I will switch to a liquid when I get to lower dosages, if necessary.
Always something to stress about!
Has anyone had success with this bead-weighing method? My pharmacist is supporting me, but I wish there was another way.

It is possible to do. Be aware that the beads inside a capsule may differ in number, they also differ in size. It is tedious to count them, and to return them to empty capsules before taking. But it is possible if one is sufficiently motivated.

Best wishes
I was able to get Effexor Slow release 37.5mg
This is in UK
I found it relatively problem free to decrease to that dosage
The real test is when you taper to smaller doses in my case 15 mg daily
It was only then that the withdrawal symptoms kicked in
Not sure why that is
Good luck

I find it less difficult to weigh than titrate. I don't return them to their capsule, I just tip them down my throat with a drink.
I understand the capsule contents do vary in weight which is a problem. Viatris is the marketing provider in uk. They insist all the capsules are identical in their drug load.....
I am on venlablue minus one mini tablet, each of which is 12.5mg. I can't take 12.5 steps, too big!; I tried cutting one of the mini tablets - never again. One is one eighteenth of my dose of 225 mg.
It took me months to reach 212.5mg. I was reducing with Efexor and that was rocky.
I've tried efexor tapering a few times since then but I can't make transfer from 212.5 venlablue.
Anyone have any thoughts on that please?
All I have to do is deduct one sixth from Efexor 75mg, the same as the current mini tablet taken from venlablue.
Thank you!

I’m so glad that you were able to help your friend.

I’ve had a horrendous skin problem where my entire body, including the insides of my ear canals, was covered with a thick exudate.