Withdrawal from Effexor

Where can i find a step by step programme for withdrawing from Effexor.  I have been on this medication for 4 years and feel it is time to cut down or stop in order to find out whether or not i still need this medication.  unfortunately my MD says 'let's not rock the boat' and will not offer a plan.  I am on 2 doses of slow-release (150 in total) a day.  i found a fantastic site which gave a step by step program but stupidly i did not save it.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The program I always suggest is a three week program. You lower the dose during the first week as low as possible. during the second week you take that dose every other day. During the third week you take that dose every third day. then you stop....But do tell your doctor what you are doing.

[Jessi63]

Y go off the medicine if you feel good?  Why did you go on the medicine in the first place?  Just something to think about.

[fee32]

I have been on 300mg of effexor for the past four years and have tried loads of times to come of with help from my doctor but the side effects were just too bad and always went back, but last September i started to reduce the dose by tiny amounts and now here we are in January and im down to 75mg about to come down to 32.5mg and i have experienced NO side effects at all.  I know its taking a long time but im really pleased with myself.  

[Jill4564]

I too have been withdrawing from Effexor VERY, VERY SLOWLY.  This drug is extremely harsh to get off of.  I got it in pill form and bought a pill cutter and I reduce by a quarter pill every 4 weeks.  I am finally down to just one quarter once a day.  The symptoms have been bad, the nausea, and I have read every symptom I have had.  Irratability, headaches, loss of taste for things, fatigue, dizziness, clumsiness, veritgo, and the panic attacks are horrible, I had to take a xanax for the first time in 3 years.  Search past forums on the subject and you will find a ton.  One bonus is I have lost some weight.  Can't wait to be free of this stuff - I wish they would tell people of the horrible withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms - Good Luck to all!    

[LisaAnn678]

Jill, did you say you had panic attacks withdrawing from effexor?  If you can read my post from this evening under the regular forums.  It is about panic attacks and withdraw from effexor.  I thought I was going crazy.  Please respond.

[Jackson444]

Greetings all:

**Possible Solution**
I have been on 150 mg.'s of Effexor for about 6 mo.'s, and after realizing the withdrawal problems when missing a dose by a few hours, asked my prescribing physician to take me off of it. He immediately told me he would switch me to 50 mg. Zoloft for 10 days, and that would be it. The reason being is the "half-life" of the Effexor is very short (missing a dose by the few hours=withdrawals), whereas the Zoloft "half-life" is ~a week. The Zoloft will prevent/minimize the Effexor withdrawals because it is substituting one drug for the other, with a longer "half-life, and not stopping medication all at once. The 2-3 weeks off of Effexor (10 days + 1 week), substituted by the Zoloft, will give me time to ease off the Effexor entirely.

1st week on Zoloft, with no Effexor, there were some withdrawals, but minimal and they passed quickly. 2 days now off everything and I feel fine. The final question will be once the Zoloft is out of my system in a few days.

FYI…my physician, who seems to be experienced and knowledgeable with the Effexor, informed me that even if I tried to taper down, I would go through withdrawals. He said “why go through it? Take the Zoloft for 10 days.” Bear in mind, I was only on 150 mg.'s for 6 mo.'s, but the option is worth discussing with your treating physician.

[molly994]

I'd say three weeks is too fast. I got off successfully, but I did it over a 6-month period. I cut down to 37.5 mg for about 5 months--I wanted to be sure I didn't relapse into anxiety or depression--and then during the sixth month started subdividing the capsules. First I poured out about 1/4 of the little balls; I did that for about a week. Then I started pouring out half for another week. The last week I was down to 1/4 of a capsule. From there I stopped taking it. Even with such a slow titration I still felt the withdrawal, which gets worse by about the third day. In my case I felt the brain shivers almost constantly, sometimes so badly that it wasn't safe to drive. But I avoided the nausea and flu-like symptoms. At the worst point of the brain shivers (day three), I went back and took another fraction of a capsule--about ten little balls (that's about an eighth of a capsule). The symptoms subsided, again worsening by day three, when I took another fraction of a capsule. And that was it--that was the last time I had to take anything. All the symptoms were gone within two weeks. I still feel occasional bouts of fatigue, but that's all--and a nap takes care of it. No return of the depression or any other bad effects that I notice. And I feel much smarter and more on top of things now, which is a nice plus--Effexor made me a little stupid.  

[molly994]

I forgot to mention something else in my post above: I had trouble sleeping when I first went off the Effexor. So I started taking a 1 mg, extended-release dose of melatonin at night. That helped a lot (but be careful with melatonin--it's easy to take too much). I also noticed that a cup of hot steamed milk could reduce the brain shivers when they got really bad--I don't know why.

[riverwalk]

I am going to try your suggested Effexor withdrawal approach. I am 52 yo female who has been on 37.5 mg for 2 years with one failed withdrawal attempt 6 mos ago. I had all the commonly reported withdrawal effects and they scared me.

I have been frightened by the affects of Effexor use, including rapid pounding heart rate, elevated bp to the point of having to get on meds for it, constant agitation, inability to experience sexual response and such.  Whenever I forgot a pill I felt so much better up until the brain surges would start. I tried half a capsule, but got constant brain shocks, so I am going to try your method.

My psychiatrist told me that I am on a baby dose, and that I would not experience any withdrawal except maybe some mild flu symptoms. When I went through the last attempt at withdrawal he did not even believe what I experienced as legitimate. He had no information about it.

I am happy to see that other people have made it off.

[KMA7174]

I am amazed by the comments in this forum.  I am a recent Effexor withdrawal side effect victim in need of help.  I was also tapered from the Effexor XR 150mg over a couple weeks to 75mg then to 37.5mg.  My final dose was on Sunday.  On Monday, my whole body felt DIFFERENT.  Something was not right.  I thought that I was coming down with the flu or something....until I found this website.  AMAZING.....those were the same symptoms I am having that others were talking about.
Yesterday, I finally had to go to my doctor.  He was unaware of this happening to people coming off of Effexor.  He is going to do some research on it, but until then...for me to function, I had to go back on the 37.5mg.   Any other suggestions???
I cannot stay on this medication....Please HELP!!!

KMA 7174