Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

From the experiences recounted on this forum, doctors routinely give/recommend to patients tapering schedules that are TOO FAST. Your doctor may be guiding you, but only you know how you feel; unless you're in a big hurry for medical reasons (i.e., Effexor is making your blood pressure spike dangerously, or you're pregnant), slow down–WAAYYYY down. You will know if you are tapering too fast–withdrawal symptoms are the big tip off.

I was only ever on 25mg regular-release Effexor/venlafaxine--it came as very small (approx 1/4 inch), flat, dry tablets; usually round, but occasionally my refills were 5-sided, or oval-shaped; color was usually pale pink/salmon, or yellow. These were all very easy to cut with a pill cutter. You could cut these into halves, quarters, or even smaller with a razor blade, or Exacto knife and mix-match to get smaller doses as you taper.

Folks have opened the capsules and counted/removed beads; it is tedious and is somewhat hit-and-miss as the number/sizes of beads within a capsule varies from capsule to capsule within a bottle of pills. Your doctor could specify a specific brand of capsule--@farm_mom found Teva had the most consistent size and number of beads within a capsule. See @sandij, or @doorman on how to count/throw out beads to taper.

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.

@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

It's no wonder I got sick. I think my doctor means well but honestly he does not know how to get me off of this. I'm going to have to explain to him that he must go slower and I'm wondering if he put me on the regular effexor so I could at least cut the tablets and put me back on Prozac if that would make it any easier. I'm on Social Security Disability so I can't afford to do anything else then what my doctor is willing to do.

There are physicians who deal in drug issues, primarily opioid issues, but I wonder if an opinion from one of these doctors, or just finding another doctor or psychiatrist wouldn’t be your best bet. I have no knowledge of your insurance issues, but you aren’t getting the help you seem to need. Pretty good advice from those who have been there on this site, but a supervising physician is really necessary.

I would compare it to benzodiazepine withdrawal as it affects the CNS in a similar manner and results in waves and windows during the withdrawal stage.

From the experiences recounted on this forum, doctors routinely give/recommend to patients tapering schedules that are TOO FAST. Your doctor may be guiding you, but only you know how you feel; unless you're in a big hurry for medical reasons (i.e., Effexor is making your blood pressure spike dangerously, or you're pregnant), slow down–WAAYYYY down. You will know if you are tapering too fast–withdrawal symptoms are the big tip off.

I was only ever on 25mg regular-release Effexor/venlafaxine--it came as very small (approx 1/4 inch), flat, dry tablets; usually round, but occasionally my refills were 5-sided, or oval-shaped; color was usually pale pink/salmon, or yellow. These were all very easy to cut with a pill cutter. You could cut these into halves, quarters, or even smaller with a razor blade, or Exacto knife and mix-match to get smaller doses as you taper.

Folks have opened the capsules and counted/removed beads; it is tedious and is somewhat hit-and-miss as the number/sizes of beads within a capsule varies from capsule to capsule within a bottle of pills. Your doctor could specify a specific brand of capsule--@farm_mom found Teva had the most consistent size and number of beads within a capsule. See @sandij, or @doorman on how to count/throw out beads to taper.

I would compare it to benzodiazepine withdrawal as it affects the CNS in a similar manner and results in waves and windows during the withdrawal stage.