Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for making your way to my post. I am in pretty bad shape as (I believe) a result of tapering down my Effexor prescription, and I am looking for support, advice, timelines, or suggestions to maybe help me get through this.

Background: I have been taking Effexor 300mg (2x 150mg XR capsules) for about 4 years now for MDD and GAD. I am currently 21. My life situations and state of mind have changed considerably in the last few years, and I've been truly happy for about a year now.

About 5 months ago, I was speaking to a behavioural health specialist about my habit of overeating, and I mentioned to her that it got a lot more frequent and I gained a lot of weight when I started Effexor. I also said that, since I had been doing pretty well mentally and had taken the medication for some time that I would be interested in talking to my regular doctor about coming off it it. I am still relatively young (21) and it sucks having to take medicine when I go on girls trips or to stay with a friend, so I figured why not. She said sure, and that if I feel like I don't need it anymore or at least such a high dose, that I could start coming off of it and even she can help prescribe the tapering amounts, but that we should start in summer. That brings us to now.

About 2.5 weeks ago, I started my first reduction in the dose. I went from 300mg XR to 262.5mg XR, a reduction of the smallest available capsule amount (37.5mg XR). I honestly didn't notice much of anything at all. I took that amount as per instructed for 2 weeks, and then about 3-4 days ago I began the second reduction as instructed of another 37.5mg for a new daily total of 225mg XR.
2 nights ago, shit hit the fan.

I started having terrible withdrawl symptoms. I was flooded with anxiety and nausea, and I was hot, hotter than the sun. I had diarrhea and shaking, too. I couldn't sleep at all that night, I was terrified. The absolute worst of it only lasted 10 hours thank god, before I settled into feeling only moderately physically uncomfortable and anxious. That's where I am now. I'm 4 days in to the 225mg XR and although the worst seems to be over I still don't feel right, I am anxious and shivery. My behavioural health specialist said the worst of it is probably over and each day I should continue to feel more comfortable on this dose, and I should stay on this dose this time for a month instead of two weeks, before another reduction of 37.5mg XR. But I am scared. I am scared of the sickness and pain and the sheer dread/anxiety that rushes over me. I am scared that in a month I still won't feel normal. And even if I do, that's when it's time to decrease it again, and I'm so scared to. I am lucky I am on summer break from University and not working, I can't imagine trying to carry on with life in this condition.

Please somebody, anybody, I would greatly appreciate any support, advice, tips, etc., because more than anything I'm just scared. Thanks.