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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doorman | @doorman | Oct 20, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@doorman Always feel free to ask any questions you wish. The scale is a good idea..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@doorman
Always feel free to ask any questions you wish. The scale is a good idea if it's sensitive enough. Since you've been on it for such a short time and a low dose you might be able to reduce quicker.
Jake

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Just a small math tapering question......I’m not counting beads in my Effexor XR capsule. This method will not work as the beads are different sizes and numbers. But I am weighing the beads...correct? I will weigh a bunch and use the average weight. Which means a particular weight corresponds with a certain number of milligrams, correct? So I will be taking the 5-10% off the weight in grams.....I hope that’s right. I hope this is not too confusing!

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1 reply
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Oct 20, 2019
In reply to @doorman "Just a small math tapering question......I’m not counting beads in my Effexor XR capsule. This method..." + (show)
@doorman

Just a small math tapering question......I’m not counting beads in my Effexor XR capsule. This method will not work as the beads are different sizes and numbers. But I am weighing the beads...correct? I will weigh a bunch and use the average weight. Which means a particular weight corresponds with a certain number of milligrams, correct? So I will be taking the 5-10% off the weight in grams.....I hope that’s right. I hope this is not too confusing!

Jump to this post

@doorman
Good morning Doorman,
The first mistake of the day you made was to ask me a math question, lol
I'm far from a math expert so I'd talk to a pharmacist. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't much help. They may think of any advice as a potential liability issue.
Are you going to crush the beads into a powder? I think your new dose would be 0.0675g, is that right? If so does your scale measure such a small amount. Have you considered stepping down to 37.5mg just to see how it goes?
Jake

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1 reply
doorman | @doorman | Oct 20, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@doorman Good morning Doorman, The first mistake of the day you made was to ask me..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@doorman
Good morning Doorman,
The first mistake of the day you made was to ask me a math question, lol
I'm far from a math expert so I'd talk to a pharmacist. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't much help. They may think of any advice as a potential liability issue.
Are you going to crush the beads into a powder? I think your new dose would be 0.0675g, is that right? If so does your scale measure such a small amount. Have you considered stepping down to 37.5mg just to see how it goes?
Jake

Jump to this post

I was not thinking of crushing the beads. They have a timed release coating that would be compromised. I thought it would be a matter of weight, depending on how much , for example, 75 beads weigh. Don’t know if the scale will work....just bought it on Amazon. As far as 37.5, I’ll talk to my Psychiatrist on Nov. 8. Ps.....I also hate math!

REPLY
1 reply
johnhans | @johnhans | Oct 20, 2019
In reply to @doorman "I was not thinking of crushing the beads. They have a timed release coating that would..." + (show)
@doorman

I was not thinking of crushing the beads. They have a timed release coating that would be compromised. I thought it would be a matter of weight, depending on how much , for example, 75 beads weigh. Don’t know if the scale will work....just bought it on Amazon. As far as 37.5, I’ll talk to my Psychiatrist on Nov. 8. Ps.....I also hate math!

Jump to this post

@doorman I also hate math. 😀

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sandij (Sandi James) | @sandij | Oct 23, 2019

I reinstated just shy of 6 months. The withdrawal was too hard on me and on my family. I had started self medicating with 2 or 3 mg of ambien in the early afternoon just to hold off my symptoms and scared myself by doing that. I would rather take an AD than become a drug abuser. I had a NP tell me he didn't think I was experiencing withdrawal and that I should start taking a mood stabilizer called vraylar. And to just stop taking the effexor I had restarted at 75 mg. I read the pkg insert and decided not to take a medication that is indicated for schizophrenia and bipolar given to me bysome nitwit who had free samples. So today I saw a psychiatrist who suggested 150 mg of effexor xr instead of 75 mg because 75 isn't enough for most people. And said I am probably not bipolar and for sure not schizophrenic. He said if my goal is to get off the medication or switch to something else, that would be my decision but I would need a much slower supervised taper. We agreed to get me stable on effexor for now. I have suffered so much in the past six months and worse I caused my elderly parents great concern, as well as my husband. I was in a great deal of denial saying I was ok with my taper and I apologize for giving anyone here false hope or bad advice. It was a matter of ego and I learned my lesson. You know what they say, pride goeth before the fall.
Wishing everyone well on this journey.

REPLY
2 replies
texasduchess | @texasduchess | Oct 26, 2019
In reply to @sandij "I reinstated just shy of 6 months. The withdrawal was too hard on me and on..." + (show)
@sandij

I reinstated just shy of 6 months. The withdrawal was too hard on me and on my family. I had started self medicating with 2 or 3 mg of ambien in the early afternoon just to hold off my symptoms and scared myself by doing that. I would rather take an AD than become a drug abuser. I had a NP tell me he didn't think I was experiencing withdrawal and that I should start taking a mood stabilizer called vraylar. And to just stop taking the effexor I had restarted at 75 mg. I read the pkg insert and decided not to take a medication that is indicated for schizophrenia and bipolar given to me bysome nitwit who had free samples. So today I saw a psychiatrist who suggested 150 mg of effexor xr instead of 75 mg because 75 isn't enough for most people. And said I am probably not bipolar and for sure not schizophrenic. He said if my goal is to get off the medication or switch to something else, that would be my decision but I would need a much slower supervised taper. We agreed to get me stable on effexor for now. I have suffered so much in the past six months and worse I caused my elderly parents great concern, as well as my husband. I was in a great deal of denial saying I was ok with my taper and I apologize for giving anyone here false hope or bad advice. It was a matter of ego and I learned my lesson. You know what they say, pride goeth before the fall.
Wishing everyone well on this journey.

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Sandi--Getting off Effexor is HARD! My last dose after tapering over two+ months from a 25mg tablet was 4/14/18--I still am struggling with the withdrawal effects!

You tried really hard. You figured out this attempt is not working. You've got a plan to deal with the now. You might try again later. "Better to have tried and failed, than never to have tried at all." Others on here have gone back to the drawing board; we're all trying to figure out how to get off this stuff. Hope you are feeling better soon.

REPLY
2 replies
doorman | @doorman | Oct 26, 2019
In reply to @texasduchess "Sandi--Getting off Effexor is HARD! My last dose after tapering over two+ months from a 25mg..." + (show)
@texasduchess

Sandi--Getting off Effexor is HARD! My last dose after tapering over two+ months from a 25mg tablet was 4/14/18--I still am struggling with the withdrawal effects!

You tried really hard. You figured out this attempt is not working. You've got a plan to deal with the now. You might try again later. "Better to have tried and failed, than never to have tried at all." Others on here have gone back to the drawing board; we're all trying to figure out how to get off this stuff. Hope you are feeling better soon.

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How long were you on it and at what dose? Thanks.

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2 replies
sandij (Sandi James) | @sandij | Oct 26, 2019
In reply to @doorman "How long were you on it and at what dose? Thanks." + (show)
@doorman

How long were you on it and at what dose? Thanks.

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Over 20 years started at 150 then increased to 225.

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1 reply
sandij (Sandi James) | @sandij | Oct 26, 2019
In reply to @texasduchess "Sandi--Getting off Effexor is HARD! My last dose after tapering over two+ months from a 25mg..." + (show)
@texasduchess

Sandi--Getting off Effexor is HARD! My last dose after tapering over two+ months from a 25mg tablet was 4/14/18--I still am struggling with the withdrawal effects!

You tried really hard. You figured out this attempt is not working. You've got a plan to deal with the now. You might try again later. "Better to have tried and failed, than never to have tried at all." Others on here have gone back to the drawing board; we're all trying to figure out how to get off this stuff. Hope you are feeling better soon.

Jump to this post

Thank you. I feel so much better. I'm about 75% improved. Still less than a great day, few of which I had during the withdrawal. But so much better than the worst days. I'm on the 4th day of 150 mg and plan to stay here unless something changes.

REPLY
doorman | @doorman | Oct 26, 2019
In reply to @sandij "Over 20 years started at 150 then increased to 225." + (show)
@sandij

Over 20 years started at 150 then increased to 225.

Jump to this post

So a high dose for a long time. No wonder it was hard.

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