Effexor XR Discontinuation Syndrome-any way to minimize withdrawal effects?

You need FAR MORE time to titrate off of a medication like Effexor. Shame on your doctor!

Take as much time as you need to more gradually decrease it. Listen to the recommendations of your close friend. You will probably have some side effects, but they shouldn't be so intolerable.

Your doctor should be ashamed, that is far too quick of pace to lower your dose. You should only drop 25mg per week at the most and maybe no more than 25mg per 10 days. I have been here , my doctor dropped me of 225mg to nothing and it nearly killed me. I have let him know that he made a severe mistake and he has apologized. You are going to have to slow down this process, get your dosage back up to 200 mg and drop off from there 25mgs per 7 to 10 days. be very careful. Best of luck to you, and talk to that doctor.

Hello mandynikki. True, you need to gradually, ever so slowly wean might be the best word oneself off from a drug such as Effexor. Best suggestion would be 25mg every two weeks. sounds drastic perhaps but Effexor can as you've discovered have some awfull side effects. This taper will certainly ease your withdrawls and be a comfortable one. Best of wishes and good luck, I hope you do well on whatever you might choose, opt to do, pledge

Had same reaction when my doctor pulled me off cold turkey, shame on him and shame on your doctor. The best way to end this is to get back on the regular dose you were on and then slowly come off. Since you are on the XR you will need to drop I think it is 33.75 mgs per tablet every 10 days to two weeks. Take it very slowly. I was not on the XR but I had the same reactions. Unfortunately the makers of these drugs are not required to label the withdrawal symptoms of this monster drug. Many doctors just simply do not know enough about there effects yet they can legally dispense the drugs. At any rate you are going to have to get back to where you were at first and calm the symptoms down then SLOWLY taper off. Lot of luck to you.

I would be careful going off it so quickly. It seems like a hard drug to get off of. I know if I just miss one day I have this weird sound in my head every time I walk. As it is it makes me itch like there is no tomorrow and trying to skip a dose makes it worse.

Some doctors claim coming off effexor is like withdrawing from Heroin.

I wish I had more answers. Try googling "how to reduce withdrawal effects of effexor".

Getting off this drug is absolutely horrific! My doctor advised tapering down 37.5mg every 2 weeks. NO WAY DID THAT WORK for me. Listen to your body and it will tell you what to do. Starting at 150mg, I got 37.5mg tablets and began daily tapering like this: 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3 tablets for 2 weeks. Then 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, for 2 weeks. Then 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4 for 2 weeks. Next, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4 for two weeks. Finally, 3 tablets daily for 2 weeks. This is the only way I've found to minimize the nastly withdrawal effects. In addition, I have fribromyalgia with wide spread pain. If I don't taper very very slowly, in addition to all the other despicable withdrawal side effects, I have unbearable pain. I hope this helps! Good luck to everyone.

I was on 300mg daily.
Started with 3 weeks less 37.5mg.
Then another 3 weeks less 37.5 x2. (75mg).
Then two weeks less another 37.5.
Now I am in week two of 4th reduction by 37.5mg.
Which brings me to half the original dosage ! YIPPEE !

It has been worth taking this long, as I truly had no side effects, except that
my anxiety actually reduced as soon as i started the reduction. Anything faster in reduction that this (as in the above example), will surely have side effects.

Any questions will be happy to answer. Regards, Raewynn.

I have asked my Dr's repeatedly to come off of Effexor. I was on 75mg. Did not like it. Went down to 37.5. I was told there is not a lower dose. I experience the same leg and feet problems. Stomach etc. If I don't take for 2 days I get sharp pains in my head especially when bending over. I get very dizzy and its very hard to function. I want off!!# How do I do this without a lower dose that supposedly doesn't exist. Are there any medications to use to ween off without all the sharp pains,etc. Please help#!#####

I have been trying to get off of Effexor for 2 years!! I have tapered off by actually counting down the granuals in a capsule and get completely off this way after a 9 month period. But 3 months after being totally off, I crash both physically and emotionally. Nausea, diarrhea , no appetite, no energy, foggy thoughts, anxiety, depression, panic, no sleep. I have been this way for a month and am not sure how much longer I can hold out. Any suggestions for some relief other than going back on another med? Anything natural to relieve symptoms? I have tried several with a homeopath, but with limited success.

I have been off Effexor for 5 months now and I have bad mood swings and anger! my stomach is a mess cant sleep well ! and I also went off to fast! Had all your symtoms and wonder if it ever stops! I am taking b-complex and pray a lot! I well never go back on it! Try to keep busy if you can it does keep your mind clear! And I just rest when I need to!

OMG!!! I am so glad to have looked this up. I have been on 150 MG of Effexor for the all dreaded hot flashes and the added benefit of anti-depressant. I very rarely miss a dose but have come to realize that when I do miss a dose I don't do well at all. I wish my doctor would have told me side effects of missing a dose. I really would like to get off now after reading all these comments. I missed a dose yesterday and today I am agitated and have vertigo like crazy!!! it is nauseating to say the least and have a headache!!! my next appointment I will ask if I can get off this and will take all the advise of you all on gradually getting off this medication. There has to be something else that I can take and not feel this way? Thank you all for your comments.

I am on my last week of reduction in dose over a month. I am sick now so it is hard to tell if I am still having effects or not. However before this past week I was still having vertigo but no other side effects. I am hoping next week when I am totally off of this med that I do ok. I am still having vertigo but not sure if that is due to this seasonal stuff going on or still after effects. I will reapost next week.
I hope you start getting some relief as well. Thanks for your response. K Madison

I've only been on this medication for about 60 days. 45 on the lowest dose then my doctor doubled the dose. I stopped taking it because it was hell on my bladder. I was getting up 3-4 times a night to go to the washroom. I stopped on Thursday night, so now I've only missed 2 doses & I'm in misery. The worst is the huge headache & nausea. I've just read everyone's horror stories & am really scared. Do you think my withdrawals will last as long or be as bad considering I wasn't on the drug for a really long time?