Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)?

I went off 150mg of Effexor in January. I had NO withdrawal symptoms because I used a Prozac bridge. I gradually switched to Prozac until I was only on Prozac. Then going off of Prozac was very easy. I have no idea why this isn't recommended to everyone going off Effexor? Ridiculous. You do not have to suffer.

For me, I have gone off Prozac a number of times with no problem whatsoever. Every doctor I have spoken to agrees that Prozac has a long 1/2 life which makes it much easier to go off of. Effexor has a short 1/2 life which is why it is so hard to go off of. For me, if I missed a dose, after 6 hrs. I would start feeling dizzy and nauseous. I have never found a source saying Prozac is difficult to get off of. I would question your sources.

For me, I have gone off Prozac a number of times with no problem whatsoever. Every doctor I have spoken to agrees that Prozac has a long 1/2 life which makes it much easier to go off of. Effexor has a short 1/2 life which is why it is so hard to go off of. For me, if I missed a dose, after 6 hrs. I would start feeling dizzy and nauseous. I have never found a source saying Prozac is difficult to get off of. I would question your sources.

@hoping25 I am not familiar with this medication but I would ask your doctor is the prozac bridge would work for you with this medication. If not, is there another medication you can use as a bridge. I first searched the internet and found the Prozac bridge for Effexor worked well for others so I told my doctor I wanted to try it. Search the internet for your medication and what bridge may work. Going off these medications is insane and brutal. Hopefully, you will be lucky and find something like I did. Prozac is pretty versatile and easy to get off of. These withdrawal systems are almost inhuman. Doctors are so afraid of being sued they won't offer meds without a protocol. For some reason, they don't seem to care about the withdrawal symptoms. They have obviously never been through it.

@sallyo42yes Drs dont seem too concerned ...maybe thats why they rather you stay on them! Effexor is apparently similar to coming off of Pristiq, according to local pharmacist. He said have compounding keep making lower doses. Dont go slowly from 50mg to 5mg then stop after few weeks.....go to 3.75mg. Who'd want to be on this stuff again! Expensive too, compounding.

@cas2001 From hat I read, Pristiq has similiar side effects but Effexor is more difficult to get off of. I'm sure most Drs have not gone through withdrawals so don't really understand how horrific it is. I agree that if I bring using Prozac they don't seem concerned and they agree with me that prozac, with it's long 1/2 life is quite easy to get off of. They are just not going to offer and I'm sure it is for liability reasons. I found even going off just 5mg of Effexor is going to cause very uncomfortable symptoms. I replaced 37.5 Effexor with 20-40mg of Prozac which worked like a charm and caused no side effects.