Looking for help and support in stopping Effexor

The way I got off 25 years of 150mg Effexor (venlafaxine) was:
Cold turkey. No! Had a long, terrible experience.
Started again at 75mg.
Once I had stabilised, bought a 4-weekly pill dispenser and a pack of empty capsules.
There are 6 little white pills inside a 75 mg venlafaxine SR capsule.
Set one pill aside for the first 10 days, leaving 5 little pills in each capsule, thus reducing from 6 to 5. (used the original capsule). Marked the dispenser on the day I reduced the dose. Very easy to forget.
Set two pills aside for the next 10 days, leaving 4 little pills in each capsule, thus reducing from 5 to 4. Marked dispenser on the day I reduced the dose.
Then set three pills aside for the next 10 days, leaving 3 little pills in each capsule. Marked the dispenser.
Then set four pills aside, leaving 2 pills and got a strong reaction. Google said, talk to your doctor, but he didn't have a clue. Fortunately a student doctor explained ratios and fractions in stepping down from 3 to 2, instead of the gap between 4 to 3, so I went back to 3 little pills for 10 days, and stabilised, followed by 2 1/2 for 10 days, then 2, then 1 1/2, then 1, then 1/2, (when I needed to use the empty capsules) then an approximation of 1/4, manipulated with eyebrow tweezers, followed by crumbs and kept on at that for a couple of weeks until I decided that this was silly, so I stopped. Clean!
I'm posting this because, back then, I really needed to know it was possible to stop, and found nothing. It is possible. I've done it.

The way I got off 25 years of 150mg Effexor (venlafaxine) was:
Cold turkey. No! Had a long, terrible experience.
Started again at 75mg.
Once I had stabilised, bought a 4-weekly pill dispenser and a pack of empty capsules.
There are 6 little white pills inside a 75 mg venlafaxine SR capsule.
Set one pill aside for the first 10 days, leaving 5 little pills in each capsule, thus reducing from 6 to 5. (used the original capsule). Marked the dispenser on the day I reduced the dose. Very easy to forget.
Set two pills aside for the next 10 days, leaving 4 little pills in each capsule, thus reducing from 5 to 4. Marked dispenser on the day I reduced the dose.
Then set three pills aside for the next 10 days, leaving 3 little pills in each capsule. Marked the dispenser.
Then set four pills aside, leaving 2 pills and got a strong reaction. Google said, talk to your doctor, but he didn't have a clue. Fortunately a student doctor explained ratios and fractions in stepping down from 3 to 2, instead of the gap between 4 to 3, so I went back to 3 little pills for 10 days, and stabilised, followed by 2 1/2 for 10 days, then 2, then 1 1/2, then 1, then 1/2, (when I needed to use the empty capsules) then an approximation of 1/4, manipulated with eyebrow tweezers, followed by crumbs and kept on at that for a couple of weeks until I decided that this was silly, so I stopped. Clean!
I'm posting this because, back then, I really needed to know it was possible to stop, and found nothing. It is possible. I've done it.

How did you break the tiny little pills in half or in quarters?

This is good to hear; that you finally got off of it. I’ve been on 112.5 for 7 weeks now and still don’t feel ready to drop again. Anxiety and trembling legs have improved but my FATIGUE is awful. Did anyone else have terrible fatigue with their withdrawal?
I’m decreasing by using the Dr Horowitz way. Going on compounded formula. Has anyone tried going from XR formula to regular tablet 2 x a day? Like going from 112.5 to 100?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.