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As promised, my successful tapering off Effexor (Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (209)Comment receiving replies
Hope is on the Horizon, dear one.
A glimmer of hope can be found in asking your doctor to give you a prescription for an inexpensive, non-addictive drug called Buspirone. At a minimum 10mg dose taken up to 3 times a day, it calms your mind and dramatically eases the anxiety so you can think more clearly and cope without falling to pieces. I found it to be my own bridge to finally recreating a functional nervous system once again. As you realize you forgot to take a dose or even two, you’ll know you’re finally on the path to final healing. And then one day you’ll realize you’re down to only taking it at night, and eventually even stop taking the night dose altogether (which I religiously took to avoid waking up with night terrors). I had to go on Buspirone at the end of July 2020, and finally took my last dose in November 2021. I have been fine ever since then and know my nervous system has been finally reset. I hope this helps you and gives you renewed hope that All Can and Will Be Well again in your life.
Blessings Always,
Barbara Sheffield Smith
🕊🙏
Replies to "Hope is on the Horizon, dear one. A glimmer of hope can be found in asking..."
I appreciate so much your willingness to share your experience and knowledge. I am looking forward to further investigation of the Buspiron being that it is not addicting.
My experience with Venlafaxine is from 1/2 yrs of being on it daily at the 37.5 mg ER.
I was first prescribed antidepressants when my late husband was diagnosed with brain cancer and after I had 'lost of lot of sleep and extremely tired' for the purpose of getting me some sleep. Well, a little sleep anyways.
I had no clue on prescription use so listened to the doc.
For some time, about 1 1/2 years I stayed on those drugs. The time is a blur so can't remember which ones exactly. I just did what the doc prescribed.
After his passing I weaned myself off of those meds. (7yrs ago)
Then about 1 1/2 yrs ago, (after being forced into retirement and not ready) I started on Venlafaxine at 37.5 mg ER. I did lose 50 lbs in 2 months, slept a great deal so I guess there was a reason the doc felt I should be on something.
As of 2 1/2 weeks ago, I decided, that since I never felt any type of 'betterment' from it, I would wean myself off of it and reading about its side effects and addictiveness.
I am now in my 3rd week of 'every other day' at the 37.5 mgs.
I read here that one shouldn't do the every other day but didn't know that when I started.
As of now, I am having really bad hot flashes that I didn't have before, some tiredness but that has been for a much longer time that the tapering off and some dizziness. No brain zaps. I don't even know what that is and no nausea, thank God.
I am wondering if I should continue with the every other day and for how long before stopping. These are capsules with the beads so more difficult to taper lower but would do that if important.
Blessings to you as well,
Gail51
Thank you for sharing your experience
However reading so many comments I am still puzzled how you reduce dosage of slow release tabs
Some readers suggest a10% reduction but these tabs only come in 37.5 75 150 mgs which is my usual dose
What system is used to slowly reduce dosage of slow release tabs ?
Should I drop my dose 0f one 150 m tab to one 75 plus a37.5 tabs for a few weeks
Then drop to just 75 mg ?
Please help
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Hi, I have been on Effexor XR 150 for twenty years. It saved my life, but it is so difficult to get. Pfizer had a plan then they sold it to Viatris which I’m finding it is so difficult to connect with them. No prescription insurance will pay and a 3 month supply is $900. I’m afraid to go off since I’m 70 and recently divorced. I don’t really think I have any side effects but scared that the drug might be bad for me after so many years. I’m not able to take the generic because I tried about 10 years ago and after a week started feeling extremely depressed and couldn’t stop crying. How can people afford this financially? Not sure who I should turn to. Carolyn