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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

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

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david707 | @david707 | Sep 24 4:54pm
In reply to @tisme "getting down to 37 was easy last time but to get of that WOW so I..." + (show)
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getting down to 37 was easy last time but to get of that WOW so I stayed on it I found a group on the internet who are all about effexor , they suggest going down over a period of time by opening the capsule and counting the beads on a black surface ( easier to see the beads) and going down by 10% havent tried it yet , worried counting the beads with arthritic fingers. might try it though they suggested putting the beads not used into a gelatine capsule

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@tisme Wow! I wasn't that fussy (counting the beads). I just estimated and poured the beads directly in my mouth and saved the rest in the capsule. Realize the med is already in your system for days, so don't have to be so accurate. I also take Gabapentin and increasing the amount was an option.

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mmsm | @mmsm | Sep 25 8:19am
In reply to @tisme "getting down to 37 was easy last time but to get of that WOW so I..." + (show)
Profile picture for tisme @tisme

getting down to 37 was easy last time but to get of that WOW so I stayed on it I found a group on the internet who are all about effexor , they suggest going down over a period of time by opening the capsule and counting the beads on a black surface ( easier to see the beads) and going down by 10% havent tried it yet , worried counting the beads with arthritic fingers. might try it though they suggested putting the beads not used into a gelatine capsule

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You can buy supplies cheaply on Amazon. I bought a kit that had tweezers, among other things. They also have gelatin capsules quite cheap.

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maryjjeandennis | @maryjjeandennis | Sep 26 8:55am
In reply to @spreels2 "Hello, and greetings from Plymouth, NC!! I don't understand why you are taking a benzo to..." + (show)
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Hello, and greetings from Plymouth, NC!! I don't understand why you are taking a benzo to help with withdrawal symptoms...l had to take Gabapentin to help with withdrawal symptoms from clonazepam. Will you continue to take clonazapam indefinitely?

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My psychiatrist has had me on Clonazapam for many years. I need it for anxiety and depression. I have now tapered from 4 mg to 1.75. It has been a life saver. You call it a benzo, I call it a meditation that has saved me.
MJD

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looplu79 | @looplu79 | Sep 26 10:40am
In reply to @tisme "getting down to 37 was easy last time but to get of that WOW so I..." + (show)
Profile picture for tisme @tisme

getting down to 37 was easy last time but to get of that WOW so I stayed on it I found a group on the internet who are all about effexor , they suggest going down over a period of time by opening the capsule and counting the beads on a black surface ( easier to see the beads) and going down by 10% havent tried it yet , worried counting the beads with arthritic fingers. might try it though they suggested putting the beads not used into a gelatine capsule

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@tisme it is possible to get liquid form of Venlafaxine
I get solution 5/37.5 mg from my pharmacy once I reduced from 37,5mg twice daily
You can therefore reduce by micro doses

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tisme | @tisme | Sep 26 3:56pm
In reply to @looplu79 "@tisme it is possible to get liquid form of Venlafaxine I get solution 5/37.5 mg from..." + (show)
Profile picture for looplu79 @looplu79

@tisme it is possible to get liquid form of Venlafaxine
I get solution 5/37.5 mg from my pharmacy once I reduced from 37,5mg twice daily
You can therefore reduce by micro doses

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@looplu79 Not in Australia

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mialucy123 | @mialucy123 | Sep 27 11:14am
In reply to @tisme "getting down to 37 was easy last time but to get of that WOW so I..." + (show)
Profile picture for tisme @tisme

getting down to 37 was easy last time but to get of that WOW so I stayed on it I found a group on the internet who are all about effexor , they suggest going down over a period of time by opening the capsule and counting the beads on a black surface ( easier to see the beads) and going down by 10% havent tried it yet , worried counting the beads with arthritic fingers. might try it though they suggested putting the beads not used into a gelatine capsule

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@tisme
Can you tell me the info on the group online that discusses getting off Effexor?

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tisme | @tisme | Sep 27 2:29pm

its on facebook can't remember the name but look up effexor see what you get

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hurryup | @hurryup | Sep 27 6:08pm
In reply to @tisme "its on facebook can't remember the name but look up effexor see what you get" + (show)
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its on facebook can't remember the name but look up effexor see what you get

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@tisme also interested

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njoys | @njoys | Sep 28 12:18pm
In reply to @david707 "I have successfully weaned of Effexor many times, I was always replacing it with another SSRI..." + (show)
Profile picture for david707 @david707

I have successfully weaned of Effexor many times, I was always replacing it with another SSRI or SSNI, so I did not experience side effects except the usual brain zaps for a short time. I did cut my dosage in 1/2 once, but I went down very slowly over several months. It was manageable.

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@david707 I don't understand what you mean by weaning off "many times." To me, successfully weaning from a drug means being able to stay off the drug.

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