Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

While tapering down on Effexor, I had just cut my dose in 1/2, so I was at 125 mg. I could not function at all. I just sat at my computer in a fog, crying. My cognitive ability was decreased. I called my doctor and she said to start the Prozac immediately instead of waiting until I was completely off. Well Prozac did nothing for me at that point. I had to go back to 225 mg. I have been Effexor XR since 1998 or 1999. This medication is the only one that works for me. When I was a teenager, Prozac worked but not now.

PS I don’t know if I’ll ever get off this med

Me either. Its been over 20 years for me now.

@smurf
Saw this formula on https://www.depressionforums.org/forums/topic/107532-coming-off-of-effexor-with-prozac-bridge/--
When you cross-titrate between two antidepressants, as you go down on the antidepressant you want to quit, you go up on the antidepressant you are titrating to--so as you go down on Effexor, you go up on Prozac. Then if you want to quit Prozac, it should be easier than quitting Effexor because Prozac has such a long half-life it creates its own tapering effect.

So if you started on 300 mg Effexor + 20 mg Prozac, your titration would look like the following:
300 mg Effexor + 20 mg Prozac
225 mg Effexor + 40 mg Prozac
150 mg Effexor + 60 mg Prozac
75 mg Effexor + 80 mg Prozac
Discontinue Effexor + 80 mg Prozac (or 100 mg Prozac if your pdoc is willing to go above the max dose, which is common to do)

Or if you down-titrate by 37.5 mg:
300 mg Effexor + 20 mg Prozac
262.5 mg Effexor + 30 mg Prozac
225 mg Effexor + 40 mg Prozac
187.5 mg Effexor + 50 mg Prozac
150 mg Effexor + 60 mg Prozac
112.5 mg Effexor + 70 mg Prozac
75 mg Effexor + 80 mg Prozac
37.5 mg Effexor + 80 mg Prozac (90 mg)
Discontinue Effexor + 80 mg Prozac (100 mg)

If you have issues with anxiety/irritability/etc., then you can take a benzo temporarily, like Xanax, Ativan (short-acting), Klonopin, or Valium (long-acting), etc.

Or alternatively--
You could try a much slower taper off Effexor and when you get to the lowest dosage possible on Effexor, replace, or “bridge” it with Prozac. Surviving Antidepressants recommends tapering by 10% of your current dose with at a hold of at least four weeks before your next decrease. Some people may have to taper at an even more conservative rate as they are very sensitive to even the smallest drops.
Then, you taper off Prozac; withdrawal symptoms are consider unusual when discontinuing Prozac.

Hi there! Just wanted folks to know after 6 months of tapering from 225mg of Effexor (been on it since 2003) I just finished a wonderful day 2 of zero Effexor! I had some minor bumps- a little dizziness, very brief irritability session first thing this morning but overall great. Yesterday, day one at zero was a nightmare of rage and headaches, feeling like I wanted to crawl out of my skin etc. but today I felt more clear headed and happier than I have felt in well, I honestly don’t know how long!
To those of you who are in the process: hang in there! There may be bumps ahead for me in the coming days and weeks but I know that I will have a lot more days like today (and better) in my future!
Good luck.

I really need support here, I have a MRSA infection so I can’t take Effexor with the antibiotics I’ve always wanted off of this but the side effects are hard on meWhats harder, no support.i can’t tell a family member because they like to use your crazy on me, Nice huh.Its day 5 and I hate the brain seizures. I want off , I’m pissed I take a medication that makes me so sick to get off ofI believed the damn doctor, myself oh it’s me, well I got off of seroquel by myself and guess what I sleep I’m not crazy and I just need off of this shit. Thanks for listening.

You’ll get off . I got off in 2 months , was very sick but it all passes . Just keep saying “ I don’t need it “ fight all side affects.

Hi Everyone. I just wanted to tell you all that I am officially on day 28 without effexor. It has been a rough road. I am doing ok but still have a few bouts of nausea. Also, my sleep cycles are all askew, as I was used to sleeping at least 10 hours a night on effexor, and now I wake up after only six hours. It leaves me feeling sleepy for most of the day. I am working on this and I know things will get better after I get this problem worked out. This forum helped a lot. Thank you.

Thank you, worst part is being called a fucking psych bitch by my son

I’m on week two of cold turkey due to MRSA infection. I got off of seroquel I can do this