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@grandmar

Good Morning All!
After reading all that everyone has gone through trying to come off Effexor, I wonder if the doctors really know and understand what a good schedule would be to taper off the drug.
I know 'one size does not fit all,' but it seems to me that we probably need to come off even slower than the recommendation.
I have at least one surgery (the next one in 2 weeks) to have done before I even attempt to taper off.....One thing at a time.
As I have mentioned before, my psychiatrist is leaving so I will be looking for another one to manage my meds.
I will listen to this new person but my PCP tried to get me weaned off years ago on a schedule that was not good for me.
I am at the point that I am willing to take as long as necessary in order to try to minimize the impact of this this drug.
FYI.....I take 150 mg in the am/pm. I have been on Effexor for many years and this top dose for about a year.
The way I see it, I've been on it for years, it may take me a year or more to get off it.
Anyway, I am NOT suggesting this to anyone, I am just thinking, out loud, that this might be a good way for me to taper off.

Here is to a good day.......
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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Replies to "Good Morning All! After reading all that everyone has gone through trying to come off Effexor,..."

Ronnie - are you taking immediate release - or XR? Also you are taking 150mg BID (2x day?).

As a starting point here's been mine: and I was taking 150mg of Effexor XR once a day for about 15 years.

Week 1: 112.5mg side effects - none.
Week 2: 75mg side effects - 1 day with facial numbing (fleeting)
Week 3: 37.5mg side effects - one night of crazy dreams - really draggy for a day.
Week 4: 37.5mg side effects - one day with nausea, dizziness and headaches for a few hours. However, may have been heat and/or allergies and that I hadn't slept the night before - so had about 90min of sleep in 24 hours (which was yesterday)

I am going to titrate down to zero on Monday or Tuesday and see how things go. I rescheduled my psychiatrist appointment today because I still have a lingering headache and didn't want to take the 90 minute commute in the heat both ways....also had spent hour on phone arguing minor legal process details with the person unlucky enough to have gotten my call - but who deserved it for hanging up on me last month 🙂 Actually - it made me feel better.