Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects

I am trying to taper off effexor, I am prescribed alprazolam.25mg as I take as needed, not often. Have you tried benzodiazepines to help Withdrawal?

The doctors won't let me take anything right now, because nearly all meds are metabolized by the liver. I can't believe this is my life right now.

I am on Effexor. First was 75 mg. Now 150 mg. I have not heard any horror stories. I seem to tolerate it well no real side effects. I take it for depression. Weaning off it is exactly what your doing lowering the dose. Are you trying to get off antidepressants entirely or only Effexor? If I miss a day I do not experience any of the symptoms you have. Could you try a different antidepressant while weaning off the low dose of Effexor?

After over 20 years, I stopped cold at 37.5 having realizing it was amplifying my depression, not relieving it. The withdrawal symptoms were miserable, but I rode them out. The first two weeks were the worst, then they slowly diminished and after about a month they had mostly resolved. Then I had a few months of being more emotional than normal (tears welling up mostly), but this was good in that a lot of dulled emotions that the drug had denied me returned. Best medical decision of my life. Under no circumstances would I resume use of it.

Oh no, I have not talked to my doctor yet, I had been really sick with RSV and kept forgetting to take my nighttime effexor. I also take tramadol for severe back pain that does help. I can't believe the doctor won't give you anything, my bff wanted off effexor and her doctor have her welbutrin. Prayers for you

12 years on effexor. Pooped out. Put on 50 MG of desvenlafaxine. The two are alot alike. I took my 150 MG of venlafaxine along with the desvenlafaxine 50 MG for 3 days then STOPPED the venlafaxine completely. Zero withdrawals. Now on 25 desvenlafaxine with zero withdrawals. Not sure after the 25 because I still need something. All this in 3 weeks. Just a thought.

You didn't taper down the effexor at all? No withdrawal?

I've been on all kinds of antidepressants in the last few decades and getting off Effexor is by far the most difficult. I'm back on it now because it seems to be the only thing that works (for awhile) and I'm trying not to dread the inevitable poop-out and discontinuation.

When I got to the lowest dose (37.5), I also couldn't just stop taking it without getting awful withdrawals. I bought some empty medication capsules and made my own lower-dose Effexor. At first I would open up an Effexor capsule and pour the contents into 2 empty capsules. Then, a few weeks later, I'd open up an Effexor capsule and split it 3 ways. Etc. I eyeballed it but I think I've read (maybe here?) about people using tweezers to count out the little pellets inside the capsules to be more precise.

The step from the lowest dose to zero is HUGE and unless people have experienced it, they really don't understand how awful it can be. At some point I will have to go off Effexor again and I'll use the empty capsule method for sure. Hope this helps!

Thank you for sharing your experience. I wonder if it would have been any different if you had stopped at 37.5. I'm willing to do what you did if it will make it any easier. My doc said using 5htp every few days in place of Effexor and gradually going to every other day, then stopping works for some people. Thanks again. I hope you never have to go through this again.

I hope so too! This thread has lots of good info: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/as-promised-my-successful-tapering-off-effexor-venlafaxine/