@bd1323
Good Morning,
Please do not take that attitude of just getting it over with. Withdrawal does NOT have to be so difficult if you are willing to take your time and do it VERY, VERY SLOWLY.
I certainly am NOT in the medical field, but I've been on Effexor for more years that I can remember.
I am not looking to get off this drug, just to reduce the dosage to a 'minimal' amount to keep my anxiety under control (whatever that amount may be).
I've been doing it at a snails pace.
I was taking 2-75 mg in the morning and at night.
It took me from November to about April to reduce my evening pills to 1-75 mg.
I've had NO withdrawal effects.
I am now staying on this dosage throughout the summer.
I have things going on and I don't want to reduce just in case I do have some withdrawal.
I am giving my body time to get used to this new dosage in the evening and after the summer, I will use my process to reduce my morning dosage to 1-75 mg, too.
Take it SLOW because the results can be dangerous it you go too quickly!

Good luck with your decision!
And remember, this is not liking yanking off a band-aid (as far as just getting over with it)
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@bd1323
It has been shown time and again that 50% cuts generally do not work, at least not for most patients. I don’t mean for this to sound cruel but withdrawals really are not necessary but an example of what happens when you take something away that you have made your brain dependent on. Your brain can’t adjust to the large abrupt changes your throwing at it. In my opinion if you want a smooth successful and effective taper you may need to increase your Effexor back to where you were symptom free and then reduce much much much slower. Your brain probably won’t even notice the SMALL! decreases and you’ll most likely be withdrawal symptom free.
Wishing you the best,
Jake