@maryathome

There are too many variables--body type, activity level, incentive/reason to get off, male/female, weight, type of Effexor, dosage, time on the drug, etc. You're fine until you're not--some do great at whatever tapering they've decided on, then wham, all h*ll breaks loose. At that point, you go back to the last dosage at which you were doing fine, stay there for a period and then, try decreasing less.

From what I’ve read most happen near the end or after it’s stopped. Many had no effects.
Jake

I agree -- there are many variables -- but I'm tapering off from 150 mg, which is 486 beads, according to something I read on another blog (it gave the number of beads for 150, 75 and 37.5). I started off slow, with 20 beads/wk for a few weeks, then got impatient and started taking out 50 beads/wk (which is a little more than 10% of my original dose). I'm down to 245 this week and so far, no problem with the brain zaps, dizziness, etc. I'm tired, unmotivated, sometimes cranky, etc., but I think that's inevitable. (I don't always eat regularly either, so that could also be low blood sugar.) The way I have it planned from here on out is continuing to drop down 50/wk until I get to 45. Then I'll go down to 30 for a wk, then 25 for a day, then keep dropping down 5/day for that last wk until I get to zero. If that stops working ok for me at any point, I'll post about it on here. But so far, in terms of those god-awful, debilitating physical effects -- which I've experienced several times previously when I forgot to refill my scrip in time -- no problem. Knock on wood!!

Last night I slept 10 hours (as usual). Started at 112 mg. Been around 12 years on 37.5 and increased 3 years ago to
112 mg. I also take 150 mg Wellbutrin.

I feel like I’ve been wasting my life away. I only do things when I have an appointment or a function or important errand to perform or the flowers I planted will die if they don’t get watered.

I know this is the beginning of my journey and have a long way to go. Four capsules remaining (105mg).
After that I move on to 97.5 mg.
I sit here unmotivated. I need to do some errands and housework but don’t want to move. Tearyeyed that I feel like a piece of furniture in my home. I take a good quality Omega 3, magnesium and B complex.

Once I get off these pills, will I get my motivation back.

@maryathome, I know /understand the feelings you are describing all too well. For me, part of the trick is figuring out if this is depression or what? And i dont really know the total answer. I was on the same drug combo of effexor and wellbutrin for about ten years. The last six months i had been put on Pristiq, a longer metabolizing version of effexor. But it suddenly stopped working and I was in a terrible state. Back then, I was originally diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and after menopause, major depressive disorder. I was on cymbalta, then vibryd, and then cymbalta again. So after 5 years of that, I had a full blown manic episode in 2015, at the age of 61! In retrospect, my Dr. thought I was actually likely to have really been bipolar type 2, and some changes in meds possibly would have prevented the mania. Tho it could have also been triggered in part due to steroid injections for my RA. I know this is all about me, but I am just trying to share that some of us face a lifetime of chronic mental health challenges and others have a more acute situation. So thats where the rubber meets the road: is it chronic? Is it the meds need adjustment or something else? 3 years later, I am still struggling to understand my own lack of motivation. Between that, RA, and aging issues, it's so complicated. Like you, Mary, i can also force myself going to/participating in a few activities but left alone, I have a terrible time getting myself to do Anything. Not cleaning or reading or crocheting or cooking or laundry. The t.v. is my constant companion! Not good. I wish you all the best on your journey!
Cathy