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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 14 hours ago | Replies (6411)Comment receiving replies
A long time ago I was addicted to benzos but I had a doctor who knew how to get me off of them and he did but it was hard. Now I have doctor who gave me this Effexor XR who doesn't apparently have a clue to help me get me off of it and I'm going to be the one telling him how to do to by the advice I read on here. That is so sad. This doctor thinks I can go down from the 75 milligrams to 37.5 milligrams then to no milligrams and then I'm off of it. It's not that easy and I wish it were. They say the last 75 milligrams is the hardest to come off of and it really is.
Replies to "A long time ago I was addicted to benzos but I had a doctor who knew..."
You’re already more than halfway there since you now know the trick. It’s just a shame the doctors don’t know that you have to ween so very slowly! Please, go so slowly you do t have ONE withdrawal symptom! It IS possible! I took 18 months to week off the lowest dose but with no real withdrawal symptoms.
(Don’t get me wrong, I still use an antidepressant/anti anxiety drug. I think my body/brain need them - but I did not suffer withdrawal from Effexor. You CAN do this. )
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@suzy31
Hi Suzie,
it’s recommended by many people who have gone off Effexor, at least the people who seem to have the most problems that you shouldn’t decrease your dose by more than 10% every 3-6 weeks so your brain has a chance to acclimate and isn’t dependent on it. Your doctor is talking about a 50% cut. I have a few choice words I’d like to say about him or her but I’m not allowed. I think by the time he gets through with you you’re going to be a raving maniac. In my unprofessional opinion I wouldn’t take his advice. If your insurance will pay for a Compounding Pharmacy or if they deny it and you can afford to go to a Compounding Pharmacy that would probably be your best option. I have some injectable medication I have to get at that kind of pharmacy but it has to be a sterile compounding pharmacy which is even more expensive. If I remember correctly you’re on the extended release version in the capsule, if that’s correct and the compounding pharmacy doesn’t work out there are people here who have stopped by decreasing the number of little balls inside the capsules. hopefully one of them will be along with their recommendations. There is also a company in the Netherlands which now ships to the United States and they give you a decreasing dose on a daily basis but it's very minimal. if you want to check them out it’s called Cinderella therapeutics. i’m not sure if insurance would pay for it or not and I don’t think they have a price list on their website at least I haven’t seen it. i’ve told this story numerous times but there was a psychiatrist in Europe who was taking Effexor and he stopped taking it according to the instructions he give to his patients and he had all kinds of withdrawal affects. He is now an advocate of the 5 to 10% method. It’s not a fast way to get off this medication but it’s generally effective and withdrawal free
Wishing you the very best of luck,
Jake