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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (6450)Comment receiving replies
I quit smoking last October then, this last February started weaning myself off effexor (which I have been taking since 2004). I've gone from 150 mg to about 25 mg since Feb. It's been okay--my only concern is mood swings. However, I feel smoking pangs all of a sudden. I wanted to be off both smoking and effexor. Now I feel like I should have done it the other way around. I feel like I should smoke until I'm off the effexor for a month or two then quit smoking again. What are your thoughts?
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@2degrees, I agree with @brightwings. Everyone is different. You need to do what is right for you. That may mean tapering off Effexor and quitting smoking at the same time or one after the other. Only you know what you can handle.
If I read your message correctly you quit smoking October 2019 and have not started again. That's great. This is just my personal opinion, but I wouldn't start smoking again to support the Effexor taper. You've quit. Congratulate yourself for that. You can make it stick and stay quit. If you need support with staying quit, post in the Addictions & Recovery group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/addiction-recovery/
Concentrate on the Effexor taper. You've gone from 150 to 25 mg in less than 3 months. If I've learned anything from this discussion group, it is GO SLOW. There's no rush or gold medal for tapering fast. If you mood swings are of concern, why don't you stay on 25 mg a little longer than planned until your body adjusts? What dosage were you taking prior to decreasing to 25?