I counted about 350 beads in one 150 generic venlafaxine XR. so I'm taking 20 beads off for 6 weeks than 40 beads etc. If it gets a bit rough I'll just cut back on the amount as the dose gets smaller. Naturally 40 beads subtracted from 350 not the same as front say 200. I'm going to strive to make each drop about 6% of whatever the current dose is. So basically I'll be talking 310 beads a day for 42 days then 270 for the next 42 days. Then 296 for 42 days then 280 then 256 ,240 ,225,210,198,186,175,165,155 ,146,137,129,121,116,109,102,96,90 ,85,80,75,70, 64,60,56,52,50,47,34,32,30,28,26,24,22,21,20,19.18,17,etc

@nseidel
Good Morning!
No reason to be so pissed at yourself!
I don't know how long you've been on Effexor.
I've been on it about 20 years.
Back then, there was no such thing as the internet, so I just took the meds and it helped me!
I did take a break, once, under the guidance of my PCP.
I was weaning off when the original symptoms came back, full force!
When I had my first anxiety attack (when I was coming off Effexor), it happened when I was at a work function.
It was then that I decided I wanted to go back on.
That night I took my full dose and the following morning I took my full dose, too.
Only problem, they didn't work.
The psychiatrist who was monitoring my symptoms, told me that once you get off Effexor, you need to use something else for at least 6 months.
I went on 2 or 3 different meds but nothing worked.
When I hit the 6 month point, I asked to go back on Effexor.
I did go back on, but it never worked the same way.
I decided to stay on the Effexor because the other meds I tried did nothing.
Those days, my dose was VERY low.
I don't remember what it was but compared to what I take now, it was much less.

I really don't like to take these meds or other meds for such a long period of time, especially since the side effects for coming off are so horrible!
I have a few other issues that are going on, including my psychiatrist, who left the practice.
I also have at least one more surgery.
I don't want to do two things at once, so I will wait until I am done with the surgeries.
It should take me to the new year.
I am going to go VERY slowly.
I take 150m in the morning and at bed time.
Even if I don't get off totally, I want to see at which amount I can go to and still have it help me without all the effects.

Have a great day!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)