1. < Depression & Anxiety

Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

I have been taking Effexor/Venlafaxine for years and tried to get off it a few times but each time I try to give up the chemical withdrawal symptoms are a horror story and I give up giving up. Anyone got any tips or tried and tested strategies? Thank you

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Dec 16, 2018
In reply to @melissamae82 "Hi there! Looking for some advice... I have been on venlafaxine (generic Effexor) for years I..." + (show)
@melissamae82

Hi there! Looking for some advice... I have been on venlafaxine (generic Effexor) for years I have tapered down to 37 mg and as far as I know that’s the lowest dose. This weekend I decided I was going to quit that last 37 mg. I didn’t take it on Friday and I was fine all day but when I woke up Saturday I started to feel the withdrawal symptoms creeping in... I was a mess but I made it through the day then Sunday comes and it hadn’t gotten better and I couldn’t take it anymore and gave in. Does anyone have any tips on how to get through quitting the last taper?

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@melissamae82
There is a 25mg tablet available but I believe that is only available in the brand name. The generic version (I believe) only goes down to 37.5mg.
Some people have taken out x number of beads but not sure how successful that was.
Best of luck,
Jake

REPLY
texasduchess | @texasduchess | Dec 16, 2018
In reply to @melissamae82 "Hi there! Looking for some advice... I have been on venlafaxine (generic Effexor) for years I..." + (show)
@melissamae82

Hi there! Looking for some advice... I have been on venlafaxine (generic Effexor) for years I have tapered down to 37 mg and as far as I know that’s the lowest dose. This weekend I decided I was going to quit that last 37 mg. I didn’t take it on Friday and I was fine all day but when I woke up Saturday I started to feel the withdrawal symptoms creeping in... I was a mess but I made it through the day then Sunday comes and it hadn’t gotten better and I couldn’t take it anymore and gave in. Does anyone have any tips on how to get through quitting the last taper?

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@melissamae82 I was on generic Effexor (venlafaxine) at 25mg in a non-extended release tablet (not capsule full of beads). It is easier to reduce your dose if you change over to the tablet form (which can be cut), or use a compounding pharmacy to make reduced dosages (costs some and may not be available in your area).

From one of my posts (8/15/18)--If you cannot cut pills, or a compounding pharmacist is not available to you, or too expensive–you can dissolve your dose in juice and not drink all of it. "Venlafaxine (Effexor) can be tapered ... with approximately 1% dosage reduction every 3 days. Stahl (a prescriber’s guide–Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology) recommends dissolving the tablet in 100 mL of juice, discarding 1 mL and drinking the rest. After 3 days, 2 mL can be discarded, etc."--https://www.mdedge.com/psychiatry/article/103869/depression/venlafaxine-discontinuation-syndrome-prevention-and-management

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notaround | @notaround | Dec 16, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "@notaround i’m sure that @merpreb did not mean to offend anyone, she is just concerned and..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@notaround i’m sure that @merpreb did not mean to offend anyone, she is just concerned and wants to make sure that no one is doing anything risky. For most people a slow withdrawal is an absolute necessity.
JK

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@contentandwell and @jakedduck1 are right. Sorry. That's the frustration of wanting nothing more than to help people and not only can I not help but I can't even fix myself. And there are many things more important than a degree - I had to learn that the hard way.

I may never be what I wanted to, but I can work on not taking that frustration out by refusing to see the good in someone's words. Sorry. That's the frustration of wanting nothing more than to help people and not only can I not help but I can't even fix myself. And there are many things more important than a degree - I had to learn that the hard way.

I may never be what I wanted to, but I can work on not taking that frustration out by refusing to see the good in someone's words.

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3 replies
grandmaR | @grandmar | Dec 16, 2018
In reply to @tdeal "I have been taking Effexor for over 5 years . 150 mg and stopped taking it..." + (show)
@tdeal

I have been taking Effexor for over 5 years . 150 mg and stopped taking it cold turkey on Sunday . The week was horrible .. body aches, diarrhea, chills , sweats , brain zaps , you name it . I almost caved on Thursday but kept fighting . I took a sleeping aid at night and Advil for body aches . Today Is a week and I feel amazing !!! Still a few brain zaps and upset stomach but nothing I can’t handle 😋I’m so glad I stuck with it . I feel so clear minded and HAPPY!!

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@tdeal

Congrats! So happy for you!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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grandmaR | @grandmar | Dec 16, 2018
In reply to @merpreb "@grandmar @mjsmimi @tdeal @marleneaceI @notaround @jakedduck1 As a former Effexor taker and present Zoloft and Wellbutrin..." + (show)
@merpreb

@grandmar @mjsmimi @tdeal @marleneaceI @notaround @jakedduck1

As a former Effexor taker and present Zoloft and Wellbutrin taker I have to tell you that I am worried about all of you who are trying to get off of antidepressants without weaning yourselves off slowly. Without a proper weaning phase your symptoms can come back and slap you on the butt. You are playing with fire, and suffering side effects needlessly. When you begin taking chemicals that are for your brain you are altering your neurotransmitter connections- they are chemical messengers that influence activity in your brain and other parts of your body as well. If you get off them too quickly you are throwing your entire body and its chemicals out of sync. This can be extremely dangerous and put you right back in a depression that is worse than the one you were experiencing. And what are your plans for when your depression does come back, because it will no matter how quickly you get off your meds.
Here is a link with more information: https://www.addictioncenter.com/stimulants/antidepressants/withdrawal-detox/

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@merpreb
Thank you for your concern.
I cannot speak to others, but as for me, I am weaning very slowly.
I was taking two 75 mg in the morning and two 75 mg at night.
I started by taking 1-3/4 pills every other night and 2 whole pills alternate nights. I did this for 3 weeks. I now take the same dosage every night. I will do this for 3 weeks before I reduce the dosage again by a 1/4 every other night for 3 weeks, then nightly for 3 weeks after that, etc.
I don't think this is fast. I did it years ago under the guidance of a doctor and it was a disaster.
So far, so good!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 17, 2018
In reply to @notaround "@contentandwell and @jakedduck1 are right. Sorry. That's the frustration of wanting nothing more than to help..." + (show)
@notaround

@contentandwell and @jakedduck1 are right. Sorry. That's the frustration of wanting nothing more than to help people and not only can I not help but I can't even fix myself. And there are many things more important than a degree - I had to learn that the hard way.

I may never be what I wanted to, but I can work on not taking that frustration out by refusing to see the good in someone's words. Sorry. That's the frustration of wanting nothing more than to help people and not only can I not help but I can't even fix myself. And there are many things more important than a degree - I had to learn that the hard way.

I may never be what I wanted to, but I can work on not taking that frustration out by refusing to see the good in someone's words.

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@notaround- Thank you I think that I hit a sore spot and for that I am sorry. I really only meant to ensure that everyone protect themselves against further harm. And education or not, there are some people who are not familiar with drugs and how they work. I will try and rephrase my approach this in a different way in the future,
Connect is a place for support, yes, but also a place to help guide you in the healthiest way possible.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 17, 2018
In reply to @grandmar "@merpreb Thank you for your concern. I cannot speak to others, but as for me, I..." + (show)
@grandmar

@merpreb
Thank you for your concern.
I cannot speak to others, but as for me, I am weaning very slowly.
I was taking two 75 mg in the morning and two 75 mg at night.
I started by taking 1-3/4 pills every other night and 2 whole pills alternate nights. I did this for 3 weeks. I now take the same dosage every night. I will do this for 3 weeks before I reduce the dosage again by a 1/4 every other night for 3 weeks, then nightly for 3 weeks after that, etc.
I don't think this is fast. I did it years ago under the guidance of a doctor and it was a disaster.
So far, so good!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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@grandma-That's how I weaned off too. I was taking the extended release 37.5 by the time that I actually stopped. It was a long time ago so I don't remember what my highest dosage was. I had no withdrawal symptoms because I tapered off very slowly with a doctor's guidance. I applaud you for your determination and success.

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 17, 2018
In reply to @melissamae82 "Hi there! Looking for some advice... I have been on venlafaxine (generic Effexor) for years I..." + (show)
@melissamae82

Hi there! Looking for some advice... I have been on venlafaxine (generic Effexor) for years I have tapered down to 37 mg and as far as I know that’s the lowest dose. This weekend I decided I was going to quit that last 37 mg. I didn’t take it on Friday and I was fine all day but when I woke up Saturday I started to feel the withdrawal symptoms creeping in... I was a mess but I made it through the day then Sunday comes and it hadn’t gotten better and I couldn’t take it anymore and gave in. Does anyone have any tips on how to get through quitting the last taper?

Jump to this post

@melissamae82- Hello. How long were you down to 37.5 mgs? My doctor had me take it every other day, then every 3rd day, etc. Maybe that would help?

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Dec 17, 2018
In reply to @notaround "@contentandwell and @jakedduck1 are right. Sorry. That's the frustration of wanting nothing more than to help..." + (show)
@notaround

@contentandwell and @jakedduck1 are right. Sorry. That's the frustration of wanting nothing more than to help people and not only can I not help but I can't even fix myself. And there are many things more important than a degree - I had to learn that the hard way.

I may never be what I wanted to, but I can work on not taking that frustration out by refusing to see the good in someone's words. Sorry. That's the frustration of wanting nothing more than to help people and not only can I not help but I can't even fix myself. And there are many things more important than a degree - I had to learn that the hard way.

I may never be what I wanted to, but I can work on not taking that frustration out by refusing to see the good in someone's words.

Jump to this post

@notaround Honestly, I doubt there is a person alive who does not have some regrets about something in their past. That's life. We have to move forward from there. Try to not be stressed over what you can't change. I am sure there are options available without advanced degrees where you could be helping people. Could you possibly start a support group for people going through a similar situation to what you are going through?
I know it's very frustrating for people who want to be able to "make a difference" to not be able to for one reason or another.
JK

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 17, 2018

well said @contentandwell And you are right, each of has a history- some shameful and some mind blowingly sweet, nice and make a difference to someone's life. It's not important to help the world. You couldn't anyway. Our world is too complex and ridiculous for anyone person to fully understand. Reach out to one person. Adopt a pet, volunteer. When things are overwhelming we lose sight of what's positive and possible. You have already taken a first step with a doctor's appointment Could your next step be to figure out how to straighten out your finances? That would be a great relief to you.

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