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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (6299)
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@texasduchess

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.

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Replies to "Tapering off 37.5 mg in just 20 days is a very fast taper. If you start..."
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Apr 1, 2022

@rosa66
I wanted to suggest you perhaps speak to your doctor regarding taking a medication with a longer half-life and see if s/he would recommend a longer half-life. Supposedly they make withdrawal symptoms easier.
Here are some half-life times for you.

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors

DRUG……….HALF-LIFE
Paxil………24 hours hours
Lexapro..27 to 32 hours
Celexa…..36 hours
Prozac……..4-6 days

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

Effexor……..3-5 hours
Cymbalta….12 hours
Pristiq………..12 hours

Dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

Wellbutrin……21 hours

The problem, I believe is that people have a different idea of what slow is and don't take into account their dose, age, sex, time on the drug etc.
I also think exercise and a healthy diet are important.

Best of luck,
Jake

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