Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

I was only ever on 25 mg a day, instant release—but, keep in mind, that I was prescribed Effexor for an off-label (but well-known) use: to control menopausal hot flashes. At this small dose, Effexor works very well for this purpose and my hot flashes were controlled from the first dose!

So I just met my pharmacist, and given I've been taking venlafaxine for only a total of 6 month (started in september of last years, at 37.5mg, gradually up to 225mg, then quickly went down again to the current 37.5mg), we agreed to taper this final 37.5mg dose off in three decreasing increment of 25mg, 12.5mg, then 0mg, over the next 20 days.

So she gave me a 10x 37.5mg supply (total of 30 mini-tablet), that I'll take as follow:
-25mg for the following 10 days (total: 20 mini tablets)
-12.5mg for the next 10 days (total: 10 mini tablets)
-then 0mg

total: 30 mini tablets and 10 empty capsules. (I'll reorder 20 more just to get those empty capsules in 10 days I guess)

I hope you don't believe tapering a dose is as simple as asking yourself how to mechanically split it... extended release system involve a lot of techs and complexity that you need to consider... That's the very reason why tapering off is a shit to deal with when monography alone never provide the reason why they advice not to split/crush/break their original form..

Dammit. So complicated:(
Going off Paxil doc had me cut pills and drop 5 mgs every two weeks which I discovered later was too fast and I’m still reeling 8 months later😞
Docs have recommended cymbalta, remeron or Effexor.
I’m freaked out about tapering off any of them if they don’t work or I have side effects.
But….I need something for my mental health and hoping for something that would be easier to cut doses. Reading about counting beads makes me crazy to think about. I don’t understand any of your photos but it all looks terribly complicated.

Tapering off 37.5 mg in just 20 days is a very fast taper. If you start experiencing withdrawal symptoms you can't tolerate, people here have found relief by going back to a dosage where they weren't having symptoms, staying there until they stabilize (may take weeks) and dropping by a smaller amount at the next taper. Generally, commenters on this forum have found a gradual taper (dropping only 5–10%) over a longer period of time is a more successful strategy and is much less stressful.

My experience with Cymbalta has been good. I plan to stay with it unless it stops being effective so I don't know what a taper would be like. The Effexor taper was so god-awful I wouldn't ever go on it again unless there was no other option. I should say, too, that I also take metoprolol, a beta blocker which an emergency room physician prescribed when I was there for a really bad panic attack. I was already on it when I started the Cymbalta and my doc said there was no conflict so I've stayed on it.

I think the cymbalta taper would be just as bad!
Did you count beads with Effexor?
Isn’t cymbalta also beads?
Are you on for depression and anxiety?
That’s what I need something for but so afraid to taper if they don’t work…..my Paxil WD was cutting tabs and WD was horrible

I did count beads with Effexor. And the Cymbalta taper might be just as bad; I don't know because I haven't done it. I suppose it is beads; again, I don't know because I haven't opened a capsule. I take them for depression and anxiety. The depression is bad, but it's manageable. The panic attacks, however, come out of nowhere and they're what I want to prevent. I don't know how long you have to take a drug to see if it will work. If you haven't been on one for too long, the taper may be bad, but you know you can get through it. I'd been on Effexor for 25 years, with an increasing dose over that time. I don't remember the amount I was taking when I tapered. I do know it was higher than the 60mg of Cymbalta I take now.

Effexor and cymbalta have been recommended to me for depression and anxiety, 8 months after a horrendous withdrawal from 25 years on Paxil (which worked great all those years until depression crept in)
My depression and anxiety are through the roof and all I can do is obsess over these two drugs.
What if it doesn’t work? Side effects? Trying to go off???
Which one has worked better for you?

I tapered by decreasing my dosage. I tapered down in a short amount of time about a month. It was way to fast. I got awful side effects both physical and mentally. It was one of the worst experiences in my life. I call it the poison pill.