Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

@thinks2much
I don’t think a 50%reduction of something your brain has become dependent on was a wise choice. How would you like to get a full 8 hours of sleep, food or other things you’ve become reliant on. It’s no wonder your suffering the effects that you are.
Did your doctor give you that advice. I would assume had you decreased SLOWLY you may not of had any withdrawals and perhaps your depression symptoms might have shown up more slowly giving you more time to adjust to them. You said
“people might not really like me”
why does it matter what others think of you? Love yourself and treat others the best you can and I think others will respect and like you provided your not giving them reasons not too. Who says everyone has to like everyone else.
My own personal opinion (not that it matters) but I think your accelerating your symptoms by tapertto quickly.
Perhaps you need a counselor to help you deal with life.
Maybe you need another medication to help you cope with life although I believe in using pharmaceuticals as infrequently and as sparingly as possible and I often refuse prescriptions doctors give me.
I wish you luck and please slow your yor taper VERY substantially,
Jake

Thanks, Jake. Yes, I decreased by 50% as per my doctor’s orders, but I agree that I wish I had tapered more slowly. Good advise- I don’t generally care what others think; that is why I think this type of sensitivity may be related to the chemical changes as I taper down. Thanks for your feedback! I welcome all opinions.

I weaned off 2 years ago and I'm still confused, lack concentration, have no patience with activities that require attention to detail, etc. I have never been like this in my life!
I went thru a year of the "brain zaps". Now I just have zero power of concentration. My life is ruined.

I don’t believe your life is ruined. What dose were you, how many months/years did you take Effexor and how long did you take it?

Yes correct.

6 years on Effexor. I felt fine, then started getting extremely pessimistic and cynical. 150mg, I think. My brain can't even remember, and I'm a PhD! My brain is totally fried.

@linamend
As @sears says your life isn’t ruined although that's a choice you'll have to make.
If you don't want to be bothered with the taper process you can get a prescription from your doctor, preferably a 10% cut every 14-21 days. Then take it to a compounding pharmacy and they will do all the detail work for you.
Jake

What???? I've been off it over 2 years! Why in the world would I want to go back when I had bad side effects while ON it?

@linamend
Obviously I forgot that fact. What does your doctor say to do? Did you ask them
Jake

Of course I asked my primary care physician, my internist, my neurologist, and my psychiatrist. It was an hysterical round-robin of: "That's not my expertise, ask so & so". Losers. All of them. After a bunch of "Tsk, tsk, never heard of that happening to anyone before..." I presented all 4 of them w PubMed literature from NIH (where I worked in 1980s w Anthony Fauci).
That got me nowhere, except for offers to change my Rx....have I mentioned they're LOSERS?!