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Looking for help and support in stopping Effexor
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Apr 1 1:38pm | Replies (68)Comment receiving replies
I am terribly fatigued during withdrawal. I go between the bed and the couch for a few weeks, and consider it progress when I actually sit upright in a chair!
I am currently on 55 mg effexor (weighing the beads in the ER capsules). I have been at this dose for 3 weeks, and are starting to feel a little more like myself. This is my cue that it's time to reduce the dose again, unfortunately. I have been reducing by 12% lately, but am sure the percentage will get smaller the lower I go.
FWIW, I asked my pharmacist about switching from ER to IR, and he didn't recommend it. He felt it could exacerbate the withdrawal symptoms, due to fluctuations in effexor throughout the day.
I need to stop the effexor because it has damaged my liver, but I don't know if I can do it completely. The severe withdrawal has been a nightmare.
Good luck to all of us as we try to navigate life during effexor discontinuation.
Replies to "I am terribly fatigued during withdrawal. I go between the bed and the couch for a..."
Dear mmsm,
Re Fatigue & Venlafaxine / Effexor w/drawal.
Extreme fatigue symptoms do not end after titrating off. I am 2 years clear after taking 4 yrs to titrate off from 75mg. I still get waves of extreme fatigue like you. Plus, other allergic side effects that come & go & return. Little evidence on the INTERNET, but it seems these legacy drug effects of effexor still in your system, can last for years after stopping. The average timeline being 4 years according to feedback iv'e seen. Question for MAYOCLINC subscriber's = Have you any feedback to offer on how long you have experienced legacy (post titration) side effects? after titration off. Regards
You should be on another med that's much less potent while you taper. I stopped taking effexor in 4 days. Why are people suffering for months when they don't have too.
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I’m sorry you’re having such a difficult time. I hope you get through this soon. I’m planning to lower the dose soon and work to get off. I’m on 37.5, so I’ll have to either get tablets, liquid, or take some of the beads out of the ER capsules. I’ll talk to my doctor about it soon to see what he can do to support me in this. I just want off.