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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
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 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.
@tisme I obtained a water-based solution from my pharmacist, who created it for me. Do you have compounding pharmacists in Australia?
@cistus The beads in my Effexor capsules don't vary that much. It's tedious, but I have used them for tapering. I prefer the liquid (water-based) solution that my pharmacist makes for me. He learned how to do that from The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids and Z-drugs (by Mark Horowitz & David Taylor).
@njoys Yes we do. I wonder how that water based solution is made? interesting.
@njoys
Are you in uk? Here we have Efexor made by Viatris. The beads in those capsules are the ones I am told vary in their amount of venlafaxine, & this does not depend on the size of each bead. I certainly had a very bumpy 3 months. I did subtract 12.5 mg from the 125mg I was on under a fast & loose psychiatrist. Never again.
I did try liquid venlafaxine but I can't take a drug which isn't modified release. I did work out I could minimise that fact by tapering off 12.5mg at a time using Venlablue whose mini beads are of 12.5mg but the instant release of the liquid balance eg 11mg, makes me very unwell. Does nobody else have these reactions?
I am hoping that I will be seen at a prescribing clinic soon so no more tapering until a new approach is suggested.
Thank you for sharing.
Having been diagnosed with PTSD, I was only interested in trying a different medication that had less side effects. So as I lowered my dose, I introduced the new medication that I hoped would have less side effects.
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1 ReactionHas anyone tapered off Lexapro?
@tisme After experiencing horrific withdrawal symptoms two months after tapering Effexor, I went online to look for help. The most helpful information for me (aside from this site) was the information presented by Mark Horowitz via YouTube and in his book, The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids and Z-drugs (by Horowitz & David Taylor). I purchased an extra copy for my doctor, and one for my pharmacist. (They both thanked me, saying they found it helpful for other patients as well.) My pharmacist created the liquid solution based on information in the book. His assistant created a spreadsheet allowing for a 10% reduction over time. I'm down to 25mg per day (also available in an immediate release tablet), and plan to proceed with a 5% reduction so as to increase my chances of successfully weaning from this drug. I reduce the dose when I feel ready, whether that's weeks or months. Good luck with your efforts.
@cistus Sadly, no, I'm in US. The label on my pill bottles indicates that the tablets (25mg) and capsules (37.5mg) are manufactured in India. I don't know what my pharmacist uses to create the liquid, but I could ask. I use an independent pharmacist (not a chain), and he has been most helpful.