You cannot take beads out of any XR Effexor whether 75 mg or 150mg. Can only do it with non XR. Then you can start taking out beads slowly, over time depending on how long you've been on it. I've been taking effexor 150XR for 10 to 15 years. Tried to drop to 75mgXR. Fine first 2 days. 3rd. night I had severely horrible nightmares. So bad that in my sleep I threw myself out of bed and hit my head on end table. Back on regular dose and no more nightmares.