Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects

I forgot to mention that I was prescribed Gabapentin off-label for the anxiety. I take 300 mg twice a day, and 600 mg to help with sleep at night. This has taken the edge off a bit. It's not perfect, but I'll take any relief I can get right now.

I am in a similar place as you. I tapered from 225 to 75 over 4 weeks. I need to discontinue effexor because it caused my liver enzymes to get extremely high, and the doctor is concerned about my liver.
The first drop from 225 to 150 put me in the ER. Too much! My Dr. knew nothing about possible severe withdrawal symptoms. I sat there for two weeks. I decided the next reduction should be smaller, from 150 to 112.5. This was much better, with a few manageable side effects. That was one week. This week, I reduced from 112.5 to 75, and the anxiety has been awful. I'm exhausted, but can't sleep because my body and mind won't settle. I have burning nerve pain, tremors, and some nausea. Like you, my emotions are dysregulated, especially in the late afternoon.
I'm hoping my latest blood test shows some improvement in my liver enzymes, so I can at least feel like all the suffering has been for something.
I, too, would like to hear some success stories. I have a great support system, and talk to a therapist once a week. I'm lucky that I'm newly retired, so I can stay home to deal with this.
I hope things improve for all of us soon. It's all very scary because of all the unknowns.

I've been in a similar position as you, however I wasn't on Effexor nearly as long. It's a nasty beast to come off of at any rate, however. The only thing that helped me was when a doctor prescribed me a 30 day regimen of Prozac. After taking it for 3 days my symptoms subsided, and when the 30 days of Prozac was done I discontinued it with little to no side effects. I'm so sorry you're going through this, and I hope that you're able to find a solution.

I am in a similar place as you. I tapered from 225 to 75 over 4 weeks. I need to discontinue effexor because it caused my liver enzymes to get extremely high, and the doctor is concerned about my liver.
The first drop from 225 to 150 put me in the ER. Too much! My Dr. knew nothing about possible severe withdrawal symptoms. I sat there for two weeks. I decided the next reduction should be smaller, from 150 to 112.5. This was much better, with a few manageable side effects. That was one week. This week, I reduced from 112.5 to 75, and the anxiety has been awful. I'm exhausted, but can't sleep because my body and mind won't settle. I have burning nerve pain, tremors, and some nausea. Like you, my emotions are dysregulated, especially in the late afternoon.
I'm hoping my latest blood test shows some improvement in my liver enzymes, so I can at least feel like all the suffering has been for something.
I, too, would like to hear some success stories. I have a great support system, and talk to a therapist once a week. I'm lucky that I'm newly retired, so I can stay home to deal with this.
I hope things improve for all of us soon. It's all very scary because of all the unknowns.

I've been in a similar position as you, however I wasn't on Effexor nearly as long. It's a nasty beast to come off of at any rate, however. The only thing that helped me was when a doctor prescribed me a 30 day regimen of Prozac. After taking it for 3 days my symptoms subsided, and when the 30 days of Prozac was done I discontinued it with little to no side effects. I'm so sorry you're going through this, and I hope that you're able to find a solution.

I need encouragement and hope from those who have experienced side effects from tapering off effexor and how long you were on it, how long it took to taper and how long it took for all side effects to go away!
I am struggling to stay motivated and encouraged to push myself to move through the day! I am anxious when I wake and anxious when I go to bed. I am journaling, praying and trying to use MUSE for relaxing/calming my breathing due to anxiousness. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist, but it is a month away due to availability.
I discontinued the effexor after tapering off 75mg after 17 years due to some increased side effects I was concerned about. I was originally put on it when I experienced some peri-menopause symptoms--extreme night sweats, moodiness, anxiety and panic attacks in my late 40's.
After the last day of tapering(a very short taper unfortunately as the doc I saw convinced me my dose was so low all these years that the side effect would be minimal if non-existant.). I experienced terrible flu symptoms--nauseousness, chills, sweats, dizziness, headache, lack of concentration, etc. Luckily the headaches went away and after 8 weeks I now feel like I can concentrate some better. The chills and sweats are lighter and not as frequent. The nauseousness is not good. My husband baked oatmeal scotchies this morning and the sweet surgary smell made me gag! I am mostly anxious--what will go wrong, how to relax? I feel like I need something to tone this down but not sure what to ask for. Doc suggested yesterday, I combined hydrochloride and busipar to relieve the symptoms. Not sure I trust him since he said I wouldn't have any side effects and didn't want to listen to my concerns about withdrawal side effects in the first place. Even the pharmacist I spoke with indicated my dose was so low it would be really easy to taper off. I am sleepy but don't want to go to sleep during the day so I can make sure I sleep at night.
I was crying quite frequently at almost anything sad, even thinking anything sad. Emotions are dysregulated. I am trying to exercise more, drink more fluid, take my vitaming D which is extremely low due to being on the effexor so long.
Today, I filled out a bunch of paperwork and felt pretty good glued to the chair and concentrating on getting it done, but the minute I knew I needed to make lunch or get up to interact with others, or just think about the symptoms of this withdrawal, I become anxious and lose concentration.

I need encouragement and hope from those who have experienced side effects from tapering off effexor and how long you were on it, how long it took to taper and how long it took for all side effects to go away!
I am struggling to stay motivated and encouraged to push myself to move through the day! I am anxious when I wake and anxious when I go to bed. I am journaling, praying and trying to use MUSE for relaxing/calming my breathing due to anxiousness. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist, but it is a month away due to availability.
I discontinued the effexor after tapering off 75mg after 17 years due to some increased side effects I was concerned about. I was originally put on it when I experienced some peri-menopause symptoms--extreme night sweats, moodiness, anxiety and panic attacks in my late 40's.
After the last day of tapering(a very short taper unfortunately as the doc I saw convinced me my dose was so low all these years that the side effect would be minimal if non-existant.). I experienced terrible flu symptoms--nauseousness, chills, sweats, dizziness, headache, lack of concentration, etc. Luckily the headaches went away and after 8 weeks I now feel like I can concentrate some better. The chills and sweats are lighter and not as frequent. The nauseousness is not good. My husband baked oatmeal scotchies this morning and the sweet surgary smell made me gag! I am mostly anxious--what will go wrong, how to relax? I feel like I need something to tone this down but not sure what to ask for. Doc suggested yesterday, I combined hydrochloride and busipar to relieve the symptoms. Not sure I trust him since he said I wouldn't have any side effects and didn't want to listen to my concerns about withdrawal side effects in the first place. Even the pharmacist I spoke with indicated my dose was so low it would be really easy to taper off. I am sleepy but don't want to go to sleep during the day so I can make sure I sleep at night.
I was crying quite frequently at almost anything sad, even thinking anything sad. Emotions are dysregulated. I am trying to exercise more, drink more fluid, take my vitaming D which is extremely low due to being on the effexor so long.
Today, I filled out a bunch of paperwork and felt pretty good glued to the chair and concentrating on getting it done, but the minute I knew I needed to make lunch or get up to interact with others, or just think about the symptoms of this withdrawal, I become anxious and lose concentration.

I’m so sorry for your struggles with discontinuing an SSRI. Hang in there as it will get better.
I am 70 years old and have been prescribed Paxil (40mg) for 15 years. My depression is serious and Honestly it was a life saver! Last summer my physician let me know that studies indicate this drug could cause - or worsen - dementia and it was time for me to stop. I began researching withdrawal side effects and was not happy as there were horror stories.
My MD wanted me to decrease by 10mg for 2 weeks then another 10…
I insisted that I would take it much more slowly starting with a 5mg reduction for several weeks.
I read one story where it took someone a year to completely discontinue an anti depressant so I felt encouraged by that.
My point is just that - don’t rush! I am down from 40mg to 15mg and feeling good. It might take 4 or 5 more months to complete and that’s okay.
Good luck and just know you are not alone.

I need encouragement and hope from those who have experienced side effects from tapering off effexor and how long you were on it, how long it took to taper and how long it took for all side effects to go away!
I am struggling to stay motivated and encouraged to push myself to move through the day! I am anxious when I wake and anxious when I go to bed. I am journaling, praying and trying to use MUSE for relaxing/calming my breathing due to anxiousness. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist, but it is a month away due to availability.
I discontinued the effexor after tapering off 75mg after 17 years due to some increased side effects I was concerned about. I was originally put on it when I experienced some peri-menopause symptoms--extreme night sweats, moodiness, anxiety and panic attacks in my late 40's.
After the last day of tapering(a very short taper unfortunately as the doc I saw convinced me my dose was so low all these years that the side effect would be minimal if non-existant.). I experienced terrible flu symptoms--nauseousness, chills, sweats, dizziness, headache, lack of concentration, etc. Luckily the headaches went away and after 8 weeks I now feel like I can concentrate some better. The chills and sweats are lighter and not as frequent. The nauseousness is not good. My husband baked oatmeal scotchies this morning and the sweet surgary smell made me gag! I am mostly anxious--what will go wrong, how to relax? I feel like I need something to tone this down but not sure what to ask for. Doc suggested yesterday, I combined hydrochloride and busipar to relieve the symptoms. Not sure I trust him since he said I wouldn't have any side effects and didn't want to listen to my concerns about withdrawal side effects in the first place. Even the pharmacist I spoke with indicated my dose was so low it would be really easy to taper off. I am sleepy but don't want to go to sleep during the day so I can make sure I sleep at night.
I was crying quite frequently at almost anything sad, even thinking anything sad. Emotions are dysregulated. I am trying to exercise more, drink more fluid, take my vitaming D which is extremely low due to being on the effexor so long.
Today, I filled out a bunch of paperwork and felt pretty good glued to the chair and concentrating on getting it done, but the minute I knew I needed to make lunch or get up to interact with others, or just think about the symptoms of this withdrawal, I become anxious and lose concentration.