Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Count the beads in the capsule. Calculate how many mg are in each bead. (For instance if there were 75 beads in a 75 mg capsule each bead would be equal to 1 mg.) Then take out enough beads to equal between 5 to 10 percent of your dosage (in this case between 3 to 7 beads, always err on the conservative side). Stay at that dosage for a few weeks at least, then you can repeat the process.
This is my second attempt at tapering. I'm on 150 mg and there are over 260 beads in each one of my capsules. Try counting those, if you arent anxious and depressed before you start, you will be by the time you're done playing with those tiny skittering little monsters! Lol. Honestly though, just pour them onto a dark towel to make it easy on yourself. Tweezers help immensely. You will get there slowly but surely.

I ran out of my medication for three days and experienced brain zaps, stroke like symptoms and very strange dreams. I know that when I do go off of this medication it will need to be slow.

What were the reasons many of you decided to go off? I am taking this for anxiety. I would like to get off of it sometime.

Thanks for sharing this information.

Totally, every human has different chemistry. All wired differently. That's why any doctors ideas around how to work with medications go out the window. Only thing I've found that they know is NOT to go off "cold turkey" which I so agree, because too hard on our system. All the doctors I've been to had zero idea about Effexor withdrawal, even my Top Rated Colorado psychiatrist, MD. However thankfully I recently found a nurse practitioner who does.
I was on Effexor XR- 75 MG for 20 years. I've recently Tapered along with a low dose of 20 mg Prozac, per my doctor. Went down to 17 mg then went off cold turkey from 15mg and I've been sick for 5 weeks now. Some days are OK, but most days nausea and a bit of vertigo. Holy shit Effexor XR I learned has Class Action Law Suits currently; one for pregnant women that have led to birth defects while taking it. There should be a Class Action for the insane withdrawal symtoms as well.

I agree! I am in the process of a slow taper from Effexor which I was on for 20 years too. I have been today some extensive research into this whole withdrawal thing, and what I have learned is appalling! Read the 2018 New York Times article in which they explain the results of their investigation into antidepressant withdrawal, doctors, and Big Pharma. I have also read a lengthy article by a Johns Hopkins psychiatrist in which he explains how little the medical profession has done to help patients because they simply do not know the current findings about withdrawal. Withdrawal must be very, very slow and deliberate, which is what I am trying to do. How are you doing now?

Do you have links for the articles? I’d be really interested to read them. Thanks!

I couldn't find the links for the NYT articles. Two were published in 2018 and one in 2019. If you Google "antidepressants withdrawal New York Times" you should be able to find them. I'll keep trying and send if I locate them.

https://www.nytimes.com › 2018 › 04 › 09 › opinion › antidepressants.html

Grin and bear it. I would cry over the stupidest things. I had to quit cold Turkey after being on it for 8 years? It didn’t jive with an antibiotic I was on. I had a provider get me on something asap because it was no bueno. Switches to Cymbalta and will never go back to Effexor again. It’s one of the hardest to get off of. Have your dr taper you down. Never do it cold Turkey

Grin and bear it. I would cry over the stupidest things. I had to quit cold Turkey after being on it for 8 years? It didn’t jive with an antibiotic I was on. I had a provider get me on something asap because it was no bueno. Switches to Cymbalta and will never go back to Effexor again. It’s one of the hardest to get off of. Have your dr taper you down. Never do it cold Turkey