Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Sadly, many on here can attest that many doctors do not know how to taper someone off Effexor. Trying to taper by skipping days means that the levels of Effexor in your body yo yo dramatically; this drug has a very short half-life already which makes it hard to get off of. You'd do better to reduce the amount of drug you take at each dosing.

You may need to go back to 37.5 daily (or even more) until your withdrawal symptoms ease and hold there for some weeks before trying to taper again. When you do try tapering again, reduce by a small amount (5–10 percent), stay there for weeks before making another small step down.

Your doctor can prescribe a different formulation–I was on 25mg regular-release tablets that could be cut, or he could specify a certain brand of capsules (@farm_mom found Teva had the most consistent size and number of beads within a capsule–helpful to those counting and throwing out beads to taper–see @sandij, or @doorman on how to do this). Or your doctor can write a prescription for a compounding pharmacy to make tapered doses for you (the extra cost may well be worth it because you can glide down in incremental amounts, rather than make rather large jagged drops).

Ask your doctor about a "Prozac bridge"–essentially, the Prozac cushions the effect of no Effexor and lets you "ride out" the withdrawal process.–https://natashatracy.com/treatment-issues/withdrawal/antidepressants-effexorpristiq-venlafaxinedesvenlafaxine/. See also https://www.depressionforums.org/forums/topic/107532-coming-off-of-effexor-with-prozac-bridge/.

OTC medications and supplements can help with some of the withdrawal symptoms. Ben*dryl, Bon*ine, or other seasickness remedies can reduce/minimize the dizziness/vertigo. Here's a good article re how to mitigate withdrawal effects with supplements–https://www.4mind4life.com/effexor-withdrawal-symptoms. (Fish oil may be more helpful than krill oil.) Do NOT take l-tryptophan, or 5-HTP while still on Effexor.

Thank you for your reply, I will ask my doctor about reducing the amount over time, rather than skipping days. And hope that helps.

I slowly weened off 37.5 mgs over the course of 18 months. My choice to go that slow, but, had ZERO side effects. I took out beads from the ER capsules a bit at a time.

I was med free for 6 months but my anxiety and depression crept back in. However, I’d been on SSRI’s and SNRI’s for about 20 years.

I am currently not med free but I am Effexor free, successfully.

It’s not you, it’s the drug. I like a lot of meds (I guess, I’m not a doctor) Effexor has a very short half life so it won’t ween itself out of your system. That’s why every other day is like torture.

I’m glad you found this forum. It means the docs advice was not working for you!

S

@20gordy
“ I will ask my doctor about reducing the amount over time, rather than skipping days. And hope that helps.”
I hope so too gory but according to your doctors track record I don’t have a lot of confidence that it will.
Countless members here have said when reducing Effexor to go SLOW or SLOWLY or GRADUALLY, but how many people have listened, virtually none obviously because these pages are full of people wanting to get off of it quickly as soon as possible or after reading our suggestions about slowly will cut their dose by 50% and come back here and can’t understand why they are suffering withdrawals. Some choose to quit quickly and are willing to endure whatever withdrawal symptoms that come along and then return and complain what a horrible drug it is and it should be taken off of the market. Well in my opinion it’s not a horrible drug and it shouldn’t be taken off of the market because those who use and taper responsibly seldom if ever have a problem with it. But you have to get off of it responsibly which admittedly is difficult to accomplish since few doctors know how to successfully taper from it. But they should know based on the half-life and type of drug it is.
You mentioned you went down from 75mg to 37.5 without any side effects which not everyone can do but I am quite confident from 37.5 down you’re going to notice a significant differences unless you go slowly but 50% is far from slow.. I’m going to tell you a true story that will hopefully demonstrate how doctors prescribe and advise patients even though they don’t know what they’re doing. There was a psychiatrist in Europe who is putting his patients I need Effexor and then taking them off and they were all suffering from withdrawal symptoms. The psychiatrist was also taking Effexor and when he decided to stop he used the same method that he was telling his patients to use. Well he started having withdrawal symptoms like his patients. He had heard about the 5 to 10% method where you reduce your dosage by 5 to 10% every 2-6 weeks. So he tried it and guess what, no withdrawal symptoms. But bottom line this doctor knew he was telling his patients to stop too quickly. Now he is an advocate of the 5 to 10% method.
Of course some people are able to stop more quickly than others. Some with fewer or even no withdrawals. For the people who want to stop by a certain percentage method the best way is to use a compounding pharmacy but this can be more expensive if it’s not covered by your insurance.
If I were you I would ask your doctor if s/he was on this medication. did you ever stop it, did you have withdrawals coming off it. But I doubt very much s/he was ever on it. I would ask s/he how do you know the advice that your giving me won’t cause me to suffer withdrawal symptoms? Normally, I’d ask for articles that support his/her Effexor discontinuation practices but unfortunately most documentation will support his practice and you'll suffer because of it. Please don’t put your doctor on a pedestal and think s/he is a God. Doctor’s are human and are capable of making mistakes although they refuse to admit it. But unfortunately this happens all the time as you obviously know. Medical errors in the United States are the third leading cause of death in the United States. I’m sure my doctor feels by the time she leaves the room she’s been through an
intense interrogation. It is obvious that likely none of the people advising you on how to come off this drug except those on this forum) have never been on it.
Good luck Gorgy and PLEASE go slow, you won’t regret it,
Jake

Hello all,
It's been a long time since I posted anything personal but its time...
My son died march 12th.
I'm really suffering. We still dont have autopsy results but it was probably heroin. 46 years old
I'm working hard to pull out all my tricks to fight depression, I'm not going back on any pills.
So I sit and feel the pain and sometimes I cant even breathe.
This one is going to take some time to pass.
Bright Wings, floundering.....

My heart breaks for you. I hope you can find some comfort from all the good people here on this forum.

Hello @brightwings-My sincerest sympathy on the loss of your son. I can't imagine the grief one suffers from the loss of a child. Perhaps you might like to connect with other members in the Loss & Grief support group here:
- Loss & Grief https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/loss-grief/

There is nothing I can say, I’m sure, that would even come close to help what you must be feeling. I hope, however, that knowing there are people out here who truly care for you, somehow, comforts you, if only a little. So so sorry for your loss. You have helped so many of us. For that we are so grateful.

You said it all so well. I thank you so much.
It's like this is my home group and that's what I need right now, my homies.
We do not have autopsy results yet but probably heroin overdose. 46 years old....
I think I've been coming here working with all of you for almost 3 1/2 years.
Laughing but not, cuz I help others heal only this time I need the words.
Being an RN, I have helped countless folks heal from loved ones deaths. But this really sucks....

We all Send You our Love and Blessings!
Richard