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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 hours ago | Replies (6411)Comment receiving replies
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)
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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.