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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BrightCloud | @brightcloud | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @nancy54 "@dickygray. Yes! We can get off this! I’m doing better - I’m taking 25 mg cut..." + (show)
@nancy54

@dickygray. Yes! We can get off this! I’m doing better - I’m taking 25 mg cut in 1/2. Taking 1/2 of the 25 in a.m. and the other half in evening. That was a smart move by my dr. Now I’m having less of the nasty withdrawal. I’m going to take it super slowly. I take 5,000 ofVitamin D because I also live in a cloudy place. I’m not averse to going onto something else but nothing with this difficulty of weaning. Simply evil!!

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@nancy54
I only have 75 mg extended release capsules. I wish I could cut them in half, but I've always been told not to break open meds that are time released. Today is my 12th day at the lower dosage. My head is splitting, and I'm nauseous. I want to throw the rest in the garbage! But I will take it for at least a few more days.

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2 replies
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @brightcloud "@nancy54 I only have 75 mg extended release capsules. I wish I could cut them in..." + (show)
@brightcloud

@nancy54
I only have 75 mg extended release capsules. I wish I could cut them in half, but I've always been told not to break open meds that are time released. Today is my 12th day at the lower dosage. My head is splitting, and I'm nauseous. I want to throw the rest in the garbage! But I will take it for at least a few more days.

Jump to this post

@brightcloud
If you can open up the capsule you could put some in applesauce. You can buy empty capsules too.
Sorry about your headache.
Jake

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1 reply
nancy54 | @nancy54 | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @brightcloud "@nancy54 I only have 75 mg extended release capsules. I wish I could cut them in..." + (show)
@brightcloud

@nancy54
I only have 75 mg extended release capsules. I wish I could cut them in half, but I've always been told not to break open meds that are time released. Today is my 12th day at the lower dosage. My head is splitting, and I'm nauseous. I want to throw the rest in the garbage! But I will take it for at least a few more days.

Jump to this post

Stay longer at your lower dose. Your symptoms will lessen. They have to lessen because the meds are at a lower level. Be patient with your body. Take as long as it takes to keep symptoms tolerable. Only go down again when the headaches and nausea are either gone or almost gone. That’s my 2 cents!

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1 reply
BrightCloud | @brightcloud | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@brightcloud If you can open up the capsule you could put some in applesauce. You can..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@brightcloud
If you can open up the capsule you could put some in applesauce. You can buy empty capsules too.
Sorry about your headache.
Jake

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@jakedduck1
Thank you for being sympathetic. I'm going to open one capsule and take a look at what is inside. You are the 2nd person who recommended this. Stay tuned...

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1 reply
BrightCloud | @brightcloud | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @nancy54 "Stay longer at your lower dose. Your symptoms will lessen. They have to lessen because the..." + (show)
@nancy54

Stay longer at your lower dose. Your symptoms will lessen. They have to lessen because the meds are at a lower level. Be patient with your body. Take as long as it takes to keep symptoms tolerable. Only go down again when the headaches and nausea are either gone or almost gone. That’s my 2 cents!

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Thank you!

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kbmayo | @kbmayo | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @brightcloud "@jakedduck1 Thank you for being sympathetic. I'm going to open one capsule and take a look..." + (show)
@brightcloud

@jakedduck1
Thank you for being sympathetic. I'm going to open one capsule and take a look at what is inside. You are the 2nd person who recommended this. Stay tuned...

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I successfully tapered off by opening the XR capsules, counting beads, and making a schedule to cut the number I took. I haven't responded to any of these recent posts because some folks on this forum are totally opposed to doing that and I didn't want the hassle. But it worked for me. It took several months and some online research about the number of beads in an XR dosage -- you can google to get that information -- and I took supplements, too, but it worked. Good luck!

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 14, 2019

@kbmayo- These chemicals are so tough to get off of I do believe that if you can do it safely and with your doctors say so (if possible) then go for it.. Please do not worry about what others oppose doing. You have a right to make comments and voice your story and opinions as much as anyone else.

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cwis | @cwis | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @kbmayo "I successfully tapered off by opening the XR capsules, counting beads, and making a schedule to..." + (show)
@kbmayo

I successfully tapered off by opening the XR capsules, counting beads, and making a schedule to cut the number I took. I haven't responded to any of these recent posts because some folks on this forum are totally opposed to doing that and I didn't want the hassle. But it worked for me. It took several months and some online research about the number of beads in an XR dosage -- you can google to get that information -- and I took supplements, too, but it worked. Good luck!

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I'm am also currently tapering this way. You can buy empty capsules at health food/supplement stores and divide your doses

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kbmayo | @kbmayo | Jan 15, 2019

That's what I did. The counting and dividing is so very tedious, but it was worth it!

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sandij (Sandi James) | @sandij | Jan 15, 2019

Looks like I'll be staying at 75 mg for a while. I've been on this dosage for about a month now, with no major wd symptoms, but today I'm really dizzy on top of some nausea. Bearable but definitely a message to hang out at this amount till things stabilize. Good luck to all of you on this journey, we can do this thing.

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