Effexor tapering question

Posted by trenxt @trenxt, 8 hours ago

I was on 112.5mg of XR for chronic pain. I started to taper from it over 20 weeks ago by cutting every 2 weeks. It was changed to IR in liquid form and I split it into 3 doses a day. Problem is I never did the math on how much the psychiatrist was cutting every time. I wasn't having issues at first as soon as I came down to around 60mg I'm getting stomach pain constantly, lost weight because can't eat due to pain, insomnia is horrible 3 4 days no sleep. I'm at 31mg and I can't keep going like this. I did the math and if I ask for an adjustment to cut 10% of the last dose every 2 weeks will take me another year or so to get off this horrendous drug. Is there a way I can ask to be given another medication that can cover effexor so I don't have to take it anymore and taper off that other one then. This is too painful.

Will I face withdrawal if I cross to another antidepressant? Please inform me.

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sharona09 | @sharona09 | 6 hours ago

I was on several kinds of antidepressants since I was 15 years old for anxiety, and I am 66. They all had horrible side effects. Your doctor can help you with the best antidepressant to taper for you. Effexor is difficult to discontinue, but it can be done. I was on it for a good 10 years. I have been off it for 4 years next month, and I still have occasional brain zaps. Took me years of tapering off the drug, then giving up, but I finally got there! Good Luck, and you can do this!