Taper Venlafaxine (Effexor) after two months & going on Trintellix

I did a short taper with another antidepressant Paxil, I was on it for just under a month, based on the Doctor’s recommendation I would only need about two weeks every other day and then stop, his reasoning was that I was only taking 2.5 mg for a short period. I wished that I hadn’t taken them and the side effects were horrible, it’s been just over a month and I’m improving but the short taper caused me serotonin withdrawal syndrome, the symptoms were as bad as the side effects but different. I don’t think you’re going too fast and also starting a new medication will probably help you feel better soon, I haven’t started anything new yet because frankly I’m just too tired to take on new side effects, best wishes.

@frouke
I was just prescribed this medication and refused to take it after I read that it is one of the hardest anti-depressions to get off of. I read, too, that it causes anxiety and depression, like dah. I am so sorry you both had to go through this and having my own horrendous experience with benzos and trying to find a taper i can live with and get off it. Every place I've been proposes what I consider a too rapid taper with too larger decreases over a short period of time. In the meantime, I cannot stop it without a decent plan. I read there are tapering strips which go very slowly, but they may only be available in the Netherlands!!!

@gunshy - will you explain more about tapering strips: What they are and how they work?

They have pouches for 28 days meds depending on your needs, but I haven't heard back from the email I sent to the Netherlands asking if they were available in the US.

No longer an issue. The Trintellix trial lasted a whole of 3 days. On day 3, nausea, vomitting. Now am on zero anti-depressants, and may stay that way after so many failures.