Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Definitely going to go the dissolving route if I can't get a proper taper. Made a doctor's appointment. Thankfully I have enough pills to last me till then (not skipping a day). I only tried that because I felt ready to step down again. Two weeks seemed to have been enough to step down to 37.5mg. I just got new insurance so I'll ask them about compounding pharmacies.

It was the drop to nothing that did it. I guess juice will go on my shopping list, along with a graduated cylinder. Feels a little bit like I'm planning to make drugs lol. Hopefully it dissolves nice and evenly so I don't have to try to swallow a paste. It's why I find vitamin powders gross - the gritty stuff at the bottom of the glass that is important but hard to get it all.

Dividing doses into two doses a day may be a good route. At 75 mg each evening, I find myself looking at the clock around 4 pm. This is a new development for me. I'm going to try dumping half the beads into an empty capsule and taking 37.5 twice a day. After I stabilize here I'll most likely do the liquid method. I have enough capsules stockpiled now that I should be ok. It is great that there are options for us to do a safe taper and that we can learn from each other. One thing I do know is not to do an every other day thing, because the half life of effexor is so short you'll be going into withdrawal every other day. That would be torturous!

I am curious why everyone wants to get of Effexor. I have not read every post, most of the pages I have checked the posts are about how and I want to know why. Thank you for your input.

@2011panc
I asked the same question. I think the reasons were all different. As we became more familiar with the addictiveness of Effexor, we wanted to get off even more.
Reasons have varied from weight gain to physiological affects to psychological affects,, etc.
For me, it is the large dose I am taking, the head fog, forgetfulness and weight gain to name a few of my reason.
It is NOT mu intention to come off 100%, but down to a 'reasonable ' amount. I was taking 300mg (2-75mg in the morning and at night). At one point it was probably an appropriare dose, but not now.
Hope this answered your question...
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@2011panc Some us who were taking Effexor simply don't need it any more (I was on it for hot flashes and those days are passed); some folks have side effects they can no longer tolerate (high blood pressure, vision changes, impotence, digestion issues, etc.); some are young women who want to get pregnant, or are (it may cause birth defects); some find Effexor is no longer working for their mental issues; and some are thrown off the drug by loss of insurance, or can't find a doctor to renew their prescriptions.

Good morning @2011panc- I was originally put on Effexor for menopausal symptoms. They were pretty bad- hot flashes, depression- the whole gamut. Years later (I forget how many) it stopped working and I became depressed, again. I had to get off of it.

I’m in the third week of switching from venlafaxine to sertraline, had my last venlafaxine Thursday and first Sertraline yesterday and not having an easy time, got the favourites of dizzy, feeling a bit queasy and obviously the depression creeping back. Reading other people’s comments have been helpful with some suggestions and of course knowing I’m not alone in having to deal with these withdrawal symptoms, very bored with it now.

Are these problems with Effexor common with other anti-depressants or drugs in the same class? The side-effects and difficulty weaning off of Effexor are frightening.
JK

Welcome to @glosrobbo, I'm glad reading through the comments of this discussion have been helpful. It's good to know that you're not alone. In addition to this discussion, you'll find other members talking about sertraline (Zoloft) here:

> depression/anxiety https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/depressionanxiety/

I hope things get better as you switch from venlafaxine to sertraline. Keep us posted.

@contentandwell- Yes, it's very common with other anti-depressants. In affect anti-depressants change the chemical composition of your brain, either trying to stop a certain action or enhancing it. Over a span of time it is essentially your new brain composition, akin to prednisone. Your brain tries to maintain homeostasis and in affect fights the change. This is way over a simplification. I'm not a chemist.