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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 15 hours ago | Replies (6411)Comment receiving replies
Your post has given me some hope. I am on my second day of lowering my dose of Venlafaxine. I have been on 600 mg of Venlafaxine a day for about two years now. In 2016 I went through a terrible episode of depression. I have been doing well on the 600 mg. But now insurance has denied this amount of medication. They will only cover 325mg or less per day. My doctor had me start on 300 mg yesterday. Today has been bad. This morning I was dopey, lethargic, and nauseous. This evening it has really hit me. Extremely nauseous, diarrhea, tired, and the tears have started. Kind of scared. Need advice.
Replies to "Your post has given me some hope. I am on my second day of lowering my..."
Cant tell anyone else what to do, but I would be taking a dosage closer to 600 until I could get to another doctor. And then start a reasonable taper.
@shellyz
Good Morning!
I am so sorry you are going through such a bad withdrawal. Seems to me that your doc cut your dosage too much, too fast. You have been cut almost 50% in one shot. That, in my opinion is not only cruel, but dangerous.
First off, I was told when I reached 300 mg a day, that was the highest recormmended dosage (and you took a dosage that was doubled that).
I understand your insurance issue. I am surely not in the medical field, but may I suggest that if you still have some of your other pills left, that you use them to reduce your dosage. Or, ask your doctor for something else to supplement your Effexor dosage.
As frame as reference, I can tell you that I have been on 300 mg (I take two 75 mg tabs in the morning and evening). I started by reducing one 75mg by 1/4. I took the reduced dosage every other night for 3 weeks. I felt fine, so now I am taking that dosage every night. My goal is 3 weeks. If I feel fine, I will reduce it another 1/4 (for a total of 1/2 of one 75mg pill) every other night for a goal of 3 weeks. If I am fine, then I will go to that dosage every night. Etc.
I do not have a goal as far as how long this process will take. The only goal I have is to get down to a reasonable dosage that will clear my head and keep my anxiety under control. I'm thinking about 37.5 mg, twice a day.
Good luck to you!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
Welcome @shellyz. That is a huge drop, 1/2 of your daily dosage to start your taper. Perhaps he could supplement this with another type of antidepressant like Wellbutrin, or something like that. I'm not sure why he had you one such a high dose. Have you been chemically tested for other illnesses other than depression?
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@shellyz
Hi shell,
This is only my personal opinion.
Jeez almighty what kind of quack doctor are you going to?
Good for your insurance company.
He cut your Effexor down 50%, very irresponsible even if you were on a normal dose.
Best advice I have is change doctors, yours is an idiot.
Jake