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As promised, my successful tapering off Effexor (Venlafaxine)
Below you will find the tapering plan that I used to successfully wean myself off Effexor (Venlafaxine). Feel free to share this with your doctor If you would like. I researched and came up with this plan, which was approved by my doctor, although she thought I could probably have weaned myself off sooner. But the reality is that we all have differing tolerance levels for tapering and weaning off this powerful drug from our bodies. Some people can taper faster, but usually not those who have been on this drug for years (like myself, since October 2002). I tapered off EffexorXR 150mg capsules about 5 years ago down to 75mg, and was on that maintenance dosage for a couple of years until I started weaning off the 75mg a year ago in April 2019. As of October, 2029, I’ve been withdrawal symptom free, but I still have occasional periods of anxiety when triggered. But I realize these waves of anxiety will soon pass, and I cope by deep breathing, taking a walk, having a cup of chamomile tea, etc. Cutting my exposure to watching upsetting news has really helped a lot as well. These days I seek things that bring joy and peace in such a turbulent world. Wishing you all a successful weaning off this powerful drug.
Weaning off Venlafaxine XR 75mg (Effexor-(extended release)capsules:
Weaning plan off plan that worked for BSS:
1. Inform your doctor you are tapering down from 75 mg Venlafaxine and ask them to prescribe 37.50 tabs to help with tapering doses (1/2 dosage down from 75 mg Venlafaxine capsules). The tabs are easier to cut into halves and quarter dosages than counting out beads from the capsules.
2. Begin your taper only after you are on a non-withdrawal symptomatic dosage level. If you were having w/d symptoms at 75 mg, you’ll need to go back to the level at which you were symptomless and stay there for 2-3 weeks before deceasing to a slow taper. NOTE: after successfully tapering from 150mg Venlafaxine down to 75mg for a month, I was unable to tolerate a drop cold turkey from a daily dosage of 75mg down to 37.50mg (50%) without having bothersome withdrawal symptoms of dizziness, brain fog, brain zaps, and nausea. So after researching various tapering plans, I came up with a slower tapering schedule my body could tolerate to finish the tapering from 75mg to 37.50mg, and then on to complete the tapering. Your body may even need slower tapering, so adjust according.
3. Week 1-2: Take 75mg caps MWFSu; take 37.50mg tab on alternate days Tu,Th, Sa. At the end of week 2, if you only have relatively mild to no withdrawal symptoms, proceed to week 3. IMPORTANT: If you have intolerable symptoms, adjust to a slower tapering schedule by adding an additional 1/2 tab on the alternate days (or take a total of one and a half 37.50 tabs on alternate days). You’ll then have to tweak the rest of your tapering schedule. If all goes well, proceed with week 3.
4. Week 3-4: Cut a few 37.50 tabs in half with a pill cutter or exacto knife blade to create quarter pieces. Take 37.50mg tab on MWFSu and take 3/4 tab on alternate days Tu, Th, Sa.
5. Week 5-6: Take 3/4 of a tab MWFSu, and take 1/2 tab on alternate days Tu, Th, Sa. If only mild symptoms, proceed to week 5.
6. Week 7-8: Take 1/2 tab on MWFSu; and take 1/4 tab on alternate days Tu, Th, Sa. If no symptoms, continue to week 7.
7. Week 9-10: Take 1/4 tab on MWFSu; and take 1/8 tab (cut 1/4 tabs in half) on alternate days Tu, Th, Sa. *Notice the quartering of doses into crumbs now...very important to keep small dosage tapering to remain withdrawal symptom free.
8. Week 11-12: Take 1/8 tab crumb on MWFSu; take none on alternate days Tu, Th, Sa. *If skipping alternate days produces symptoms, stay on 1/8 tab crumbs for a couple of weeks before alternating skip days for a couple of weeks.
You’ll find that this schedule may have to be tweaked for you by extending the time you stay on a taper...possibly up to 3-4 weeks before beginning a new tapering down. It all depends on how you tolerate the first two weeks.
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To Mimilov: Are you still taking Effexor or are you completely off it?
@honeycomb01 what is the CBD you take? Ima try. I’m going off Effexor again and my anxiety will get bad the less mg I’m on. Thanks!
I understand completely. Still trying to get completely off Lexapro ( on 12 yrs ) Down to 5mg. my Psych says I am more concerned about going off then actually stopping it. Go figure...
I have been dx with ??? autoimmune disorder aggravated by the covid vacs. Rheumatologist thinks I have scleroderma. Also getting off Diltiazem which seems to be reducing my symptoms.
I take. Cycling Frog Cannabidiol soft gets (100mg each) 2 in AM - cycling frog.com
CannaAid CBD 150mg + CBN50mg at night to sleep, along with one of the above. sleep well
Phytocet nanoparticle cannabinoids - support@silversparrow.com
This might seem like too much but I have been experimenting over the last 2 years and this , at the moment to be right for me. I will cut down if necessary as I improve.
Max about of CBD daily 1,500mg- 6oomg safe
CBN whatever you need, no restrictions
start out slow and see how you do. Where are you with dosing your Effexor?
Good luck, my true feeling is they will help you. Get online and read about these before you start.
Thank you @sheffieldsmith.
I have been on Effexor 150 mg for many years, and thought it was a great medication until I began experiencing terrible eye pain. Having never read about the side effects, I finally did and saw that eye pain was one of the more serious side effects. I contacted my doctor and he lowered my dose to 75 mg. After a day or so I began to feel quite sick, but attributed the feeling to my disease. Last night I finally went on line and read an interesting article in the Lancet, which describes Effexor as one of the more difficult antidepressants to taper off. I send a note to my doctor advising that I would not normally question his discretion, I thought that perhaps cutting my dose in half was too much and that I wanted to discuss a tapering schedule when I see him this coming Monday.
I read your post with great interest, as is very helpful information. I had no idea the ramifications of taking this medication, although it worked for me until it did not. In fact, I would read posts by other people on this platform who complained about Effexor, and I would think to myself, " I wonder what the problem is, as I have no problem." Obviously the drug is not the right choice for me, and in all honesty I am trying to get off of many of my medications in an effort to avoid further damage to my liver.
Thank you
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3 Reactions@honeycomb01 hello. Thanks for all that info. So the CBD help with anxiety? I tried them years ago. Ok ima look into those you mentioned. I went from 150mg to 112 mg and ima stay here for 3 mos at least. (1month in). Ok. It’s when I get to the lowest dose I’m not
Looking forward to. But I’m going REALLY slow this time. Maybe a year. I feel fine I want to go down but I’m not going to do what I did 5 times before. It sneaks up on you. I’m tricking my brain this time. Lol.
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1 ReactionHello and thank you so much for your response to this! Very helpful. The only issue I have is that I am currently taking 37.5MG XR capsule form and they cannot be split in half. I have to come up with a plan to wean off this last amount once and for all. It is a very unpleasant drug to come off of unfortunately, as you were saying.
Hi, I was on this for three years. I bought a jewelers scale and some clear capsules. Opened the 37.5 mg capsule snd weighed the beads in one capsule. Note the beads were different sizes. I was then able to deduct 10 percent of the weight to establish new dose to put into new capsule. I changed dose every two to three weeks. Each new reduction was based on the weight of previous dose and not “original” dose size. You may want to start with dose change every four weeks. I did this with mertazapine first before starting the Effexor. I ‘m now doing the same with Temazepam. It is a powder and I’m stepping down every four weeks. I had almost no side effects during this process. For the first two drugs. I’m cautious on the Termazapine (benzodiazepine) thus four week drop in dosage. Will adjust upward if body doesn’t tolerate… or maybe try three week drop if body says OK. I hope this helps in making a decision. It is difficult… I was very anxious when I started this process but now find that my confidence has increased. Just remember to listen to your body… we’re all different. Please let me know if you have any questions. Mike
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1 Reaction@leashmarie86 leashmarie86
I think they’re multiple subjects here on our thread.
Which is good. And this is from a patient to a patient I am not recommending anything. After 37.5. It’s a capsule some people try to split by pouring half out and keeping the rest for next dose. Or I’ve heard people skipping a day between doses. But I have never done that and I wouldn’t. But there is Effexor tablets extended release that can help with lower dosages. (Split easier) They Can be XR or not. I haven’t personally seen them but I read they exist. If that helps. Good luck.
Correction on the Mirtazapine… I was on 30mg taken at bedtime. I had doctor prescribe two 15mg tablets (easier to swallow). When I started reduction I cut 1/8th off each time. Mirtazapine was not in capsule form.
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1 ReactionI mentioned that I would ask my doctor about a tapering schedule, and his conclusion was to take 75mg on alternate days, the 150mg on the other days. Not a tapering schedule in my mind because yesterday after taking the 150mg capsule the eye pain came back with a vengeant, and it felt like someone was sticking a hot poker in my left eye. I will discuss the tapering schedule with him later this afternoon, among other things. I have printed out the tapering schedule described and will bring this with me. I also spoke to my pharmacist yesterday about the Effexor, and he too said that this drug is very difficult to get off of. Had I known that when it was prescribed, I never would have taken it.