Next month I will start decreasing Effexor XR

[wanttobehealthy34]

I am a 34 year femal who has been taking Effexor XR since college (for about 14 years or so) and I really want to see if I can live ok at a lower dose or be off it completely. I am currently at 150 mg. So next month (July 09), under supervision of my doctor, I will go down to 50 mg twice daily for 2 weeks. Then after 2 weeks I'll go down to 75 mg once daily. After two weeks I'm going to continue with the 75 of Effexor and add the supplement called SAMe. I have done some research and have gotten the ok from my doctor to try taking SAMe along with the Effexor XR.
But being the worrier that I am, I am just wondering if the 2 week progression of decreasing the dose of Effexor will be too hard on me. I have been reading the Effexor forum and see that many people have a tough time of getting off or decreasing the dosage. The withdrawal symptoms seem wicked.
Would it be better for me to go down the dosages even more gradually, for example to take the 50 mg twice daily for a whole month before going to 75, etc? I think I will suggest this to my doctor b/c I just think my body needs a bit more time to figure out what I'm doing to it?
Also, does anyone know how being on an antidepressant for many years (about 14 years in my case) affects the body? Are my organs like my liver experiencing high levels of toxic stuff due to these prescription drugs? Will a more gradual taper be easier on my digestive organs?

[Hensley258]

I must second what whodunnit said. He makes a good point about the fact that you have been taking Effexor for a long 14 years. Odds are that after such a long period on this same medication that it probably became almost completly non-effective long ago.

For example: Most people suffering from Major depression only get between 3 to 6 years of effectivness from any antidepressant. This is simply because after that point your body is so adjusted to the active formula (in this case Venlafaxine) that it is really unlikly that it was even doing much to control your depression anyway.

One thing that my Psychiatrist reciently told me about Effexor that I did not know is that Venlafaxine while being a dual action antidepressant that effect both Serotonin and Norephinepherine. It does not activate Norephineperin reuptake inhibition unless it is taken above 300Mgs a day. Below that it will activate as an SSRI only, but not an SNRI.

So essentually if one is not taking at least 300mgs a day they are not getting any norephinephrine reuptake inhibition benifit from the drug.

[whodunnit]

First thing I must point out to you is you must be feeling good to want to come off after 14 years. Affirm that for yourself and keep strong.

If you've been on FX at 150 for 14 years I can assure you the actual meds effect of that low dose would have worn off years and years ago. I'd suggest it is simply a security blanket for you now. It is very rare indeed for a med to work for years, 14 is what I'd rate as impossible.

I say this so you know that most of the feeling good you have been maintaining is actually you, not the med. Truly it has to be.

On the other hand though, coming off is a time to be very careful and I agree with you strongly. Do it very slow. Frankly I'd drop 25 mgs once a week till 75 and then 25 for 2 weeks and then 25 for two more weeks and then stop. Slowly as you've had your body used to it for 14 years.

Keep in mind that at any stage you can go back up, with docs advice, if needed and can do so after coming off as well if needed. Nothing is permanent.

There are countless bad stories of coming off FX but many are due to ignorance and coming off too quick or without docs monitoring your progress.

I am on it for the third time and the first time off was hard, second time not a thing so who can tell? Many have no problem if they do it carefully.

When people talk about the nasty side effects you'll find they can't really describe it or them often. It's not like you'll be crying in pain or doubled up in agony, that does not happen. More so the nasty bits seem to be associated with vision and various distortions of such. Which also causes dizziness, nausea and certainly you may need to reconsider driving etc until you know. Mine lasted about three months and suddenly it was OK again.

Please don't bother with Sam - E, it truly is useless and you need to know how you are without any meds before you start filling up on something else. No Sam -E will not hurt you at all.

[Hensley258]

I think you can get off Effexor if you want. I think the fact that a small dosage of 150Mgs a day was able to control your depression is a good indicator that the actual level and severity of your depression is not high.

I used to take 375Mgs a day of Effexor, but had to switch to many other medications since that time. It is hard to get off Effexor because the discontinuation syndrom is rough.

Just go very slow such as you have planned. Expect you will get some nastys while tapering off. They usually last about 4 weeks depending on the person.

As for what these antidepressant do to our bodys and health. I don't know, but I'm sure it's not good. For the last 18 years I have been a human lab monkey and I am still alive.
Didn't have much choice as it is better than feeling suicidal all the time.