Tapering Effexor but giving up

I just tried to taper down from 225 mg. I would take 225, 225, 150 and repeat. I lasted about ten days because I could not tolerate the horrible insomnia and vivid dreams. Even after I returned to the full dose, I continued to experience problems for about two weeks.

Unfortunately, I don’t know the right answer for you. Coming off this medication is very difficult and has long term side effects to consider with a pregnancy.

I was put on it in my late twenties, and it literally was impossible to come off of to get pregnant. I’m now approaching 50 and have still been unsuccessful in getting off this medication.

By no means, am I saying this is usual or normal. We are all different, but as others have pointed out, it may difficult but not impossible. Keep trying and stay the course. Try meditation, exercise, OTC supplements, choose positive television, books, etc. Choose a healthy diet and remember that everything we put into our minds is also part our diet.

Something to consider is to wait until the withdrawal period is completely over before conceiving as anxiety can affect the baby. This can take several months.

I wish you well, and best of luck.

Hi, I'm in the process of tapering also, I am down to 112mg from 300mg which was prescribed to me last April. I am dropping by 37.5mg every 3 months. The lower the dose the harder it gets, I have heard of microdosing which iss counting the beads in the capsule and removing so many at a time depending on how fast or slow you want to taper, slowly us the best option, to give the nervous system a chance to readjust to the new dose. I will be trying this when I am trying to taper off 37.5. Fish oil is also helpful omega 3. Hope this helps. Maybe research it

Effexor/Venlafaxine is a disaster. Expect to read about class action suits against the manufacturer in the years to come. In the meantime getting off this drug is a nightmare.

I titrated off of 450mg daily for fifteen years in five months. It was too fast. I had crushing anxiety, insomnia and depression. When my provider refused to treat the lack of sleep, depression and anxiety I ended up in the hospital.

They are now treating me with other meds: Lithium, buspirone, latuda and lorazepam. We have an understanding that these meds will be titrated when I've stabilized. Notably, they have never suggested I go back on Effexor. In fact one doctor congratulated me on getting off the drug. If I did it again I would go slower. Perhaps I could have avoid the set back I recently had.

My only other advice is eat nutritious food and exercise everyday as vigorously as you can.

May you live in peace and good health.

Hello. I have been tapering off Effexor XR since October. I started at 300mg, and now I am at 43.75mg. My doctor and I decided that it would be better to stop the extended release because 37.5 is s huge jump when going off Effexor (because of the withdrawal symptoms). I decrease my amount 12.5mg every eight to 10 days. I, too, have read that it gets more difficult towards the end, so I am just going to continue to go really slow. I also take fish oil and vitamin B Complex.

An update on my situation: I had the worst two months of my life. Even though I increased the Effexor again to even higher than before (187.5). That was still not enough so I was put on 2 mg of Clonazepam divided in two doses.
I finally feel stable, but it took two entire months of hell. I now started titrating the clonazepam very slowly (dropping 1 of 24 drops a week).
About the pregnancy, my psychiatrist finally decided that the research about negative effects on a fetus from taking Effexor were inconclusive, so we'll just go for it hopefully finding an OBGYN who is high risk and has dealt with this kind of situation.
Thanks to everyone who has written their story, they kept me company on my worst moments.

I don't understand why none of your doctors (especially a neurologist) GUIDED you on the road to taper and cease taking Effexor, especially to help your body prepare for conceiving and giving birth to precious life.
This is not a drug for a person to deal with by him/herself. Especially dangerous to just suddenly stop taking because it can (and has) lead to heart disturbances with even death. And it lingers, taking considerable time to eliminate, and even then it can LINGER. I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

How did you come up with your tapering doses?

After having been on Effexor Extended Release for over a decade, I sought the help of a trusted neurologist to design a tapering schedule (with dosages), and embarked on a seriously long, difficult road that was at times excruciating, all while working full time teaching secondary and graduate school and helping an elderly mother. Dosages were tapered over time, not just days. What I experienced was pure hell at times, but I desperately wanted to get out of the grips of that horrid medication. If it was meant to help with major depressive disorder, then why was I still so miserable while taking it? And having all the hallucinations, night terrors, "fuzz brain", etc? No, that was one helluva drug and I wanted OUT. I was under medical supervision while "detoxing" (what I called it). When finally completed with the tapering schedule, I was grateful and somewhat elated but felt no escape from depression (but what the heck, even while on Effexor my emotional/mental states had not ameliorated, instead had DETERIORATED).
Several people have posted here on this site their personal tapering formulas, etc., and a few have asked me for mine. But I have NOT offered any such info because in my opinion it is highly inadvisable to give such details about medication, particularly one as dangerous as Effexor. One MUST be under medical supervision, and not battling this drug demon by oneself.
I urge you to seek professional advice and supervision during you efforts to shed this medication.
You owe it to yourself and the children that you and your partner want to have.
Prepare a self-care routine in which to engage during this journey, for you will experience challenging and demanding side effects. I hope you have a supportive team of doctors, family, and trusted friends.
I wish you the best, and my prayers will be sent your way. 💖

Thank you for your response. I was actually closely monitored by my psychiatrist, who has been great for the 4 years I've been with her. The tapering schedule she used has worked for other patients. I fully trust her, it was simply too fast for my body. And Effexor really has done wonders for me; I take it for panic disorder and it helped me get out there, get a job, a husband, friends, and be happy. But I understand your point. It's definitely a really hard drug to get off of.

I appreciate your taking the time to share how your psychiatrist aimed to help you via close monitoring, and I'm glad that the medication benefited you. It appears that you are the exception to the rule. Perhaps the doctor could have adjusted the schedule to fit your unique needs (which is what the neurologist did for me, and I have been eternally grateful to her). Unfortunately it had taken me too long to realize that I was not obtaining anything positive from Effexor XR, only very frightening, debilitating side effects. Such has been the experience for several members who have shared their experiences here on mayo connect.

I again wish you the very best as you continue on your journey: health, peace, and joy.🌺

I am where you were now. After tapering down to 75 mg and staying on that amt. for 2 months, I tapered down to 37.5 mg and its been hell for the last month with horrendous anxiety and shaking. My doc told me to go back up to 75mg which is where i have been for 5 days. She said I should start to feel some relief in a week but I haven't really seen it yet. I hope I will not have to go up any further.