@searchgirl
Good Morning,
I have also been on various dosages of Effexor for more than 10 years.
This past November I decided it was time to reduce the amount I have been taking for the last 4 or 5 years.
Effexor has been the one med that has worked for me, so I have no intention of going off completely, I just want to be on what I consider to be a reasonable amount.
I was on 75 mg tablets, 2 in the am and 2 in the pm (total of 300 mg at day).
Now, I do take tablets.
I no longer take capsules.
As I said, I began in November and based on what I read about weaning, I came up with the following method.
So far, so good.

I started with the pm dosage:

I cut one pill into 1/4s and took away only one of those 1/4s.
(PM dose was 1-3/4 pills)
I took the reduced amount every other day for 3 weeks.
I felt fine so I went on to take the new dosage (1-3/4 pills) every evening for 3 weeks.

Next, I took away another 1/4 of the pill.
(PM dose went to 1-1/2 pills)
I took the new reduced dosage every other night for 3 weeks.
(1-3/4 pills and 1-1/2 pills)
I felt fine so I took the new dosage for 3 weeks (1-1/2 pills).

Next, took away another 1/4 pill.
(PM dose went to 1-1/4 pills)
I took the new reduced dosage every other night for 3 weeks.
(1-1/2 pills and 1-1/4 pills)
I felt fine so I took the new dosage for 4 weeks.
Although I wasn't getting any withdrawal, I did feel a little different, so I stayed on this dosage a little longer.

I am now on 1 pill in the evening.
This was my first goal.
I've been on this dosage for several weeks.
I will probably NOT start to reduce my PM dosage until after the summer, although I am not 100% sure.
I have hopes to do several things while my grands are off from school and I don't want to take a chance of not feeling well.

So, if I was confusing (after all it is around 3am) I will summarize what I am doing:
I reduce one pill 25%.
I alternate the older dosage with the newer reduced dosage every other day for 3 weeks.
If I feel fine, I take the newer reduced dosage every day for 3 weeks.
If I feel fine, I take away another 25% and follow the same pattern.

I hope this helps....
Good luck!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)