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Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects

Posted by gaile12 @gaile12, Aug 22, 2022

I am tapering off Effexor after being on it for over a decade. I've noticed my stomach gets queasy & I have digestion issues. Has anybody else had this problem?

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david707 | @david707 | Jun 28 1:25pm
In reply to @tisme "@david707 isn't that a bit of up and down?? how do u know how many beads..." + (show)
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@david707 isn't that a bit of up and down?? how do u know how many beads your getting?? say ( just for a number ) 100beads in one half of the capsule and 40 in the other half ??

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@tisme I think the difference is insignificant. Remember the med is in your system for a long time and I doubt you would notice a change. I've been doing this for weeks taking approximately 1/2 capsule every day. It is more important that you get the sleep you need to better deal with the stress you are going through.

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nomoreconf | @nomoreconf | Jul 15 8:19am
In reply to @trenxt "I was on 112.5mg of XR for chronic pain. I started to taper from it over..." + (show)
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I was on 112.5mg of XR for chronic pain. I started to taper from it over 20 weeks ago by cutting every 2 weeks. It was changed to IR in liquid form and I split it into 3 doses a day. Problem is I never did the math on how much the psychiatrist was cutting every time. I wasn't having issues at first as soon as I came down to around 60mg I'm getting stomach pain constantly, lost weight because can't eat due to pain, insomnia is horrible 3 4 days no sleep. I'm at 31mg and I can't keep going like this. I did the math and if I ask for an adjustment to cut 10% of the last dose every 2 weeks will take me another year or so to get off this horrendous drug. Is there a way I can ask to be given another medication that can cover effexor so I don't have to take it anymore and taper off that other one then. This is too painful.

Will I face withdrawal if I cross to another antidepressant? Please inform me.

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Thank you for sharing this!! I just began with drawl from Effexor XR 225g after 20 years. After reading posts like yours I wonder why…my MD is having me begin (2 days ago) at 180.5 mg. I’m expecting a very slow w/d. you do not deserve a loss of health like you describe!! Perhaps it’s too quick? Please get help from your MD!’

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debjg | @debjg | Jul 21 9:05am
In reply to @trenxt "I was on 112.5mg of XR for chronic pain. I started to taper from it over..." + (show)
Profile picture for trenxt @trenxt

I was on 112.5mg of XR for chronic pain. I started to taper from it over 20 weeks ago by cutting every 2 weeks. It was changed to IR in liquid form and I split it into 3 doses a day. Problem is I never did the math on how much the psychiatrist was cutting every time. I wasn't having issues at first as soon as I came down to around 60mg I'm getting stomach pain constantly, lost weight because can't eat due to pain, insomnia is horrible 3 4 days no sleep. I'm at 31mg and I can't keep going like this. I did the math and if I ask for an adjustment to cut 10% of the last dose every 2 weeks will take me another year or so to get off this horrendous drug. Is there a way I can ask to be given another medication that can cover effexor so I don't have to take it anymore and taper off that other one then. This is too painful.

Will I face withdrawal if I cross to another antidepressant? Please inform me.

Jump to this post

I was so worried when I decided to go off Effexor that I would experience all of the awful side effects I read about. It wasn’t as bad as I anticipated. Sleep was rough for about a week and I had these “flashes” on occasion that were weird but not intolerable - like mini electric shocks. All in all I think I was fine after about 6 weeks.

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