Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects

12 years on effexor. Pooped out. Put on 50 MG of desvenlafaxine. The two are alot alike. I took my 150 MG of venlafaxine along with the desvenlafaxine 50 MG for 3 days then STOPPED the venlafaxine completely. Zero withdrawals. Now on 25 desvenlafaxine with zero withdrawals. Not sure after the 25 because I still need something. All this in 3 weeks. Just a thought.

After over 20 years, I stopped cold at 37.5 having realizing it was amplifying my depression, not relieving it. The withdrawal symptoms were miserable, but I rode them out. The first two weeks were the worst, then they slowly diminished and after about a month they had mostly resolved. Then I had a few months of being more emotional than normal (tears welling up mostly), but this was good in that a lot of dulled emotions that the drug had denied me returned. Best medical decision of my life. Under no circumstances would I resume use of it.

I am on Effexor. First was 75 mg. Now 150 mg. I have not heard any horror stories. I seem to tolerate it well no real side effects. I take it for depression. Weaning off it is exactly what your doing lowering the dose. Are you trying to get off antidepressants entirely or only Effexor? If I miss a day I do not experience any of the symptoms you have. Could you try a different antidepressant while weaning off the low dose of Effexor?

I want to discontinue Effexor. I’ve heard horror stories. Looking for answers, solutions that worked. I’ve been on it for about 16 years and am down to lowest dose available. If I miss a dose I get terribly sick with dizziness and nausea. It’s awful.

I want to discontinue Effexor. I’ve heard horror stories. Looking for answers, solutions that worked. I’ve been on it for about 16 years and am down to lowest dose available. If I miss a dose I get terribly sick with dizziness and nausea. It’s awful.

This is an eye opener for me. I know some antidepressants have unpleasant side effects. Most meds do. But to have withdrawals after taking this for a while seems to be contrary to the benefits of taking this med. I mean dealing with depression is hard but also dealing with Effexor withdrawal makes it even more difficult to manage your moods your health everything.

I am weighing the beads in the capsules with a mg scale I bought, then making new capsules with the smaller dose(mg). It's as accurate as I can be. It also preserves the extended release quality, as opposed to switching to immediate release and cutting pills.

I agree. I’m not happy with the doctor who prescribed this. I would never advise anyone to take it. He said nothing to me about the nightmare of missing a dose or to getting off it.

I want to discontinue Effexor. I’ve heard horror stories. Looking for answers, solutions that worked. I’ve been on it for about 16 years and am down to lowest dose available. If I miss a dose I get terribly sick with dizziness and nausea. It’s awful.

I'd like to get off antidepressants completely. I believe there are more natural supplements such as 5 htp with no withdrawals or side effects. I would be willing to take another antidepressant in the process of weaning off Effexor, however.