Looking for help and support in stopping Effexor

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.

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/

That seems too good to be true.

Wow, good for you! Courageous and wise decision, in my opinion.

I'd like to get off antidepressants completely. I believe there are more natural supplements such as 5 htp with no withdrawals or side effects. I would be willing to take another antidepressant in the process of weaning off Effexor, however.