Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Hello. I was put on Effexor 75mg. ER for PMMD(....beyond PMS, evil woman) Worked great, but now it's time. I too have tapered. From 75mg er to 37.5...now to 1/4 of the 37.5 ( opening, counting, putting in empty gel caps. Is there a point to just go for it and delete it completely. It was a rougher tapering to get to the 1/4 dose of the 37.5. A bit of vertigo, diarrhea, not sure if nauseated or low blood sugar. Although the nausea / blood sugar thing can be differentiated by the last time I ate. I'm not diabetic, just think my normal metabolism is coming back

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For Leonard too. Just came back from the Doc’s and I am in remission. 90% at least. Its not curable but I’ll certainly take that all day. Great Xmas present!!!! Not a very religious man but I know there s a God. However still have 3 more Chemo sessions to go!!!!!!!

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@cwis Usually the point is so that you don't suffer unnecessarily. You don't say how long you've been on Effexor, or how long you've been tapering, nor how long at 1/4 of 37.5mg. Are you in a big hurry (no refills on prescription, insurance running out, etc.)? Why not stay here until you don't have any symptoms (the vertigo, diarrhea and nausea) and then go to 1/2 of the 1/4 37.5mg for a few weeks, then stop? Slow and steady wins the race.

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Oops left that out. Been on it for at least 15 yrs. I'm still adjusting to the 1/4 of 37.5 and have no intention if reducing any more until February. Neither Rx or insurance is an issue. I guess my end question is, does any know where the "not worth taking dose" amount is?

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Oops left that out. Been on it for at least 15 yrs. I'm still adjusting to the 1/4 of 37.5 and have no intention if reducing any more until February. Neither Rx or insurance is an issue. I guess my end question is, does any know where the "not worth taking dose" amount is?

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@cwis I was on just 25mg for 18 years. Tapered off slowly and did fine for 6.5 weeks--then, kerbluey! That's when my body figured out it didn't have any more Effexor stored in nooks and crannies. At that point, it was too late to go back on any dose. It's been eight+ months since my last dose and although good days are outnumbering the bad, I'm still taking supplements to feel "normal"--Effexor is powerful stuff and if you're one of the ones to experience withdrawal symptoms, it can take a loooong time to get over.

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@cwis Usually the point is so that you don't suffer unnecessarily. You don't say how long you've been on Effexor, or how long you've been tapering, nor how long at 1/4 of 37.5mg. Are you in a big hurry (no refills on prescription, insurance running out, etc.)? Why not stay here until you don't have any symptoms (the vertigo, diarrhea and nausea) and then go to 1/2 of the 1/4 37.5mg for a few weeks, then stop? Slow and steady wins the race.

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@texasduchess
Howdy Tex,
If using the 5-10% method it’s 5-10% of the current taper dose, not 5-10% of the max dose to zero.

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@jakedduck1 Yes, I would assume you'd reduce 5-10% (or less) from the current taper amount. Re length of time on Effexor--I didn't see very much mention of this (unless someone was just on Effexor for a few weeks, or days) re tapering--mostly it was dosage amount you were on and how to taper. The discovery that because I'd been on it for so long that it was stored in body fat came as a very unpleasant surprise as did finding out it messes with your brain chemistry. I didn't have to "ramp up" to the dose I was on and once I started taking it, I never felt any different than I had--except that it stopped my hot flashes from the first pill. At the time, I had had three surgeries in three weeks, then done six chemo treatments, started taking Tamoxifen and was undergoing daily radiation treatments--didn't have the bandwidth to even question, or look into Effexor--it eliminated one of the very annoying problems I was having from being treated for breast cancer and that was enough. I've said if I had known I would have the problems I've had because I quit Effexor, I would have stayed on it.

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