Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

@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

@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)

@grandmar
Just a quickie question. Are you having any symptoms?
Happy trails,
Jake

@contentandwell
Hello there JK,
Oh yeah right, and his/her name is..............
I see your having a nice delusional day.
Jake

@contentandwell
Hello there JK,
Oh yeah right, and his/her name is..............
I see your having a nice delusional day.
Jake

@contentandwell
You said “Thankfully, I find there are many more really caring doctors”
My response was my sarcastic sense of humor indicating 1 caring doctor.
“What’s his/her name.” It was a joke, bad as it was.
Enjoy your day,
Jake

@jakedduck1 gotcha. I really love my gynecologist but that wouldn’t help you! He’s the best.
JK

@maryathome
Good Morning!
I'm with you! Read your own body and do what works for you! As I said before, when docs give you advice about how to taper off, I believe they give us the 'book' answers. After all, unless they have gone through it themselves, how can they possibly know? Wouldn't it be nice that after they make their recommendation that they say, 'however, if you don't feel comfortable, wait until you do.' I think in that way, many of us would not feel pressured to reduce at the pace the doctor gives.

Have a wonderful day!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)