I have been taking Effexor/Venlafaxine for years and tried to get off it a few times but each time I try to give up the chemical withdrawal symptoms are a horror story and I give up giving up. Anyone got any tips or tried and tested strategies? Thank you
@doorman
Cinderella Therapeutics.
http://www.taperingstrip.org/prescribing-and-ordering/
Jake
Liked by texasduchess
@doorman
Please remember the longer you have taken Effexor and the higher your dose the longer your taper should take.
Many people try to get off it quick but due to withdrawals end up suffering longer than if they had gone slow in the first place.
I believe that the medical community says that a fast taper is 3 months or less and a long taper is over 3 months but 3 months isn't slow at all for most folks.
There is a Psychiatrist in Europe who took the same advice he gave to his Effexor patients and had horrible withdrawals. He tried again and now is an advocate of the 5-10% method. Slow definitely wins this race.
Good luck,
Jake
Liked by texasduchess, zapped
@ brightwings I was initially on 150 mg and stepped down to 75mg for two weeks without a big deal, then am at 37,5 for another two weeks, then off and it went straight to Hell, then back on 37,5 for about 4 months now and stopped by my new Psychiatrist recommendation to “just stop” since the 10th of October this month. Thank you for the additional suggestions too. =)
Liked by Leonard
@doorman
That’s a difficult question since people react differently. Some people do every 2 weeks, others 4 weeks some 6 weeks. You might try reducing every 2 weeks and if any withdrawal symptoms happen try 3-4 week intervals. It’s such an individual thing. Just remember there’s really no such thing as too slow but too fast is miserable at best.
If possible a Compounding Pharmacy is the best alternative since measurements will be exact.
Good luck,
Jake
Liked by texasduchess, doorman
Just a small math tapering question……I’m not counting beads in my Effexor XR capsule. This method will not work as the beads are different sizes and numbers. But I am weighing the beads…correct? I will weigh a bunch and use the average weight. Which means a particular weight corresponds with a certain number of milligrams, correct? So I will be taking the 5-10% off the weight in grams…..I hope that’s right. I hope this is not too confusing!
Liked by Leonard
@doorman
Good morning Doorman,
The first mistake of the day you made was to ask me a math question, lol
I'm far from a math expert so I'd talk to a pharmacist. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't much help. They may think of any advice as a potential liability issue.
Are you going to crush the beads into a powder? I think your new dose would be 0.0675g, is that right? If so does your scale measure such a small amount. Have you considered stepping down to 37.5mg just to see how it goes?
Jake
I was not thinking of crushing the beads. They have a timed release coating that would be compromised. I thought it would be a matter of weight, depending on how much , for example, 75 beads weigh. Don’t know if the scale will work….just bought it on Amazon. As far as 37.5, I’ll talk to my Psychiatrist on Nov. 8. Ps…..I also hate math!
Liked by Leonard
@jakedduck1
@doorman
Here is some info on it.
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/05/tapering-strips-help-people-discontinue-antidepressants/
The company is in the Netherlands called Cinderella Therapeutics.
Jake
Liked by texasduchess, doorman