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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wandasophia | @wandasophia | Nov 17, 2019
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@brownikl1 Did you stop abruptly?" + (show)
@jakedduck1

@brownikl1
Did you stop abruptly?

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I was on Effexor for many years at 150 mg I told my doctor I wanted to go lower so he put me on 75 for about a year and then I had to have a step test that I could not take Effexor for 7 days before the test my doctor put me on 37.5 I went off at for the seven days before the test and I am now 6 weeks out with no side effects I am not going back on it

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1 reply
rascal1 | @rascal1 | Nov 18, 2019
In reply to @wandasophia "I was on Effexor for many years at 150 mg I told my doctor I wanted..." + (show)
@wandasophia

I was on Effexor for many years at 150 mg I told my doctor I wanted to go lower so he put me on 75 for about a year and then I had to have a step test that I could not take Effexor for 7 days before the test my doctor put me on 37.5 I went off at for the seven days before the test and I am now 6 weeks out with no side effects I am not going back on it

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What test did he put you on please?

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annedodrill44 | @annedodrill44 | Nov 18, 2019

Never took this drug, but am titrating off Lexapro to try Prozac on doc’s advice. Has anyone had success with Prozac for taming anxiety. I have no depression, just nasty anxiety attacks. Thank you for any input!

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secretwhitepop | @secretwhitepop | Nov 18, 2019
In reply to @brownikl1 "It's definitely like you describe I think. Like a swooshing sound of the blood flow to..." + (show)
@brownikl1

It's definitely like you describe I think. Like a swooshing sound of the blood flow to the heart beat. Not loud. The part that makes me crazy is the dizziness and also the throbbing seems to be on the back of my head usually more in the evening. On my way home from work many days I feel like I need to hold my head with my hand or arm to "stabiluze".....VERY VERY weird.

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Exactly the same with me. Weird.

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anne2019 | @anne2019 | Nov 18, 2019
In reply to @doorman "Effexor xr has approx. 75 beads in a 75 mg. Capsule. That means 1mg. Per bead...." + (show)
@doorman

Effexor xr has approx. 75 beads in a 75 mg. Capsule. That means 1mg. Per bead. Count out the number of beads YOU HAVE, after getting an average, and take that number as your starting point. I’m going down about one bead every few days. That way, 73 beads means 73 mg. 69 beads equals 69 mg. And so on. I hope this is not too confusing! You see, if you START WITH different numbers, you’ll always be going up and down.

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Thanks doorman! I understand. I think you're saying that one capsule may have 71 beads in it while another one has 75. I have to account for that as I take out beads. Got it!!

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1 reply
doorman | @doorman | Nov 18, 2019
In reply to @anne2019 "Thanks doorman! I understand. I think you're saying that one capsule may have 71 beads in..." + (show)
@anne2019

Thanks doorman! I understand. I think you're saying that one capsule may have 71 beads in it while another one has 75. I have to account for that as I take out beads. Got it!!

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You got it!

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doorman | @doorman | Nov 18, 2019

I tried going off Effexor in daily steps....60,58,57,54, 52 etc. Turns out it was TOO FAST. Feeling horrible. Did Ok down to 60....will have to go back to 60 for a while...what an awful drug. Now I’ll go down 10% a month, like most advise. Will take longer, oh well.

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anne2019 | @anne2019 | Nov 18, 2019

Thanks for sharing this doorman. I plan to start tapering in another 2 weeks or so. Does anyone else have a successful experience tapering by removing capsules? If you went down 10%, which seems logical, how long did you stay at each new level? A week, 3 weeks, a month?
And I agree, what a horrible drug!

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1 reply
doorman | @doorman | Nov 18, 2019
In reply to @anne2019 "Thanks for sharing this doorman. I plan to start tapering in another 2 weeks or so...." + (show)
@anne2019

Thanks for sharing this doorman. I plan to start tapering in another 2 weeks or so. Does anyone else have a successful experience tapering by removing capsules? If you went down 10%, which seems logical, how long did you stay at each new level? A week, 3 weeks, a month?
And I agree, what a horrible drug!

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I believe 3 weeks. But everyone is different. Most advise 10% / month. But I’m the impatient type.

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2 replies
anne2019 | @anne2019 | Nov 18, 2019
In reply to @doorman "I believe 3 weeks. But everyone is different. Most advise 10% / month. But I’m the..." + (show)
@doorman

I believe 3 weeks. But everyone is different. Most advise 10% / month. But I’m the impatient type.

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Ha! Me too!

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