@farmboy
Hi!
I'd like to add to @texasduchess
I am currently tapering down, too. I have no intention of coming off the Effexor 100%, just reducing my dosage to a lesser amount.
I'll tell you what I am doing.
I've been on Effexor for over 10 years. Can't tell you when I started but it has been a long time. It saved my life during very difficult times. However, at the last increase, my memory became worse than before and I felt like my head was in a cloud.
Here's the drill....
I was taking two 75 mg in the morning and at night. I've ALWAYS broken my dosages into an AM and PM, otherwise it was too much. So, that is a total of 300 mg a day.....way too much as far as I am concerned.
I have NOT touched my AM dosage, yet. Everything I tell you is what I am doing with my PM dosage only. I will follow the same pattern when I get down to 1/2 a pill in the PM, I will begin with my AM dosage.
The time frame I give myself for each decrease is 3 weeks. If I start to have withdrawal symptoms, I will go back up 1/4 and remain there for 3 more weeks or as long as needed.....
Remember, this is just my PM dosage of two 75 mg pills.

I cut 1/4 off of 1 pill. I alternated that dosage every other night for 3 weeks (2 pills, 1-3/4 pills, 2 pills, 1-3/4 pills, etc.).
I felt fine so I took the 1-3/4 pills EVERY night for 3 weeks. I felt fine.

Next, I cut off an additional 1/4 off one pill. I took 1-1/2 pills every other night for 3 weeks (1-3/4 pills, 1-1/2 pills, 1-3/4 pills, 1-1/2 pills, etc)
I felt fine so I rook 1-1/2 pills EVERY night for 3 weeks. I felt fine.

Then, I cut off another 1/4. I took 1-1/4 pills every other night for 3 weeks (1-1/2 pills, 1-1/4 pills, 1-1/2 pills, 1-1/4 pills, etc.).
I felt fine, so NOW I am taking 1-1/4 pills EVERY night for 3 weeks. So far, so good.

If I continue to feel good, my next dosage will be 1 pill every ohter night for 3 weeks (1 pill, 1-1/4 pills, 1 pill, 1-1/4 pills, etc).
After that, as low as I doing well, I'll be taking 1 pill EVERY night.

I am not sure what I will do after that. My though Is to continue with the 1 pill at night and start the same pattern with my morning dosage. Of course, everything depends on how I feel. You can see that this has been a long process, so far. I am in no hurry. I once started to come off the pills altogehter at the advice of my PCP. I believe I was at 37.5mg, at the time. She had me stop one who pill entirely. Within a couple of days, I had a HORRIBLE anxiety attack while I was at an enjoyable workshop. I know now I have to take it very slowly!!!!!

By the way, when I went to the psychiatrist after the fiasco of trying to come off the Effexor, she told me that going right back on would not work. I tried, and guess what, it didn't! She told me it would take at least 6 months before I could try it again. So, in the meanwhile, I tried a couple of other meds. None of them helped. When I hit the 6 month mark of being off the Effexor, I asked to go back on it. I did. It never worked as well as it did the first time, but it did help me a lot. I has been my choice to remain on it. I just felt it was time to 'downsize' a bit.

I hope this helps you!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

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