Weaning Off Effexor XR How Have People Coped?

I would never try to discontinue a medication like this on my own or with the advice from someone on a non-professional forum.

After 20+ years I weaned myself off Effexor XR by skipping days until I was off. Took months. After a month of being completely off, I felt so depressed but I didn't want to go back on the drug. Started taking SAM-e 8 days ago and feel much better. Hope this helps.

I need some advice please. I was taking 150 mg of the generic Effexor. I have been on it for 4 years and I felt like a zombie and gained a lot of weight. I had no energy and was a shadow of myself. Long story short, I ran out of money and couldn’t buy it for a few days. It’s now been 5 days since I haven’t taken it and I feel shaky, tired and have weird dreams. I’m still taking 1mg of Ativan, 20 mg of citalopram and hydroxin. Is it normal to feel this way? I do have to say that my appetite has decreased and I feel better about things. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks for your help.

I'm starting a withdrawal regimen starting today slowly dialing it down every 2-3 weeks over next 6-9 months. I'm 43 and have taken 150mg-225mg the last 5yrs, and 75mg the 8yrs prior, been 150 for last 2-3 years since divorce and I'm in a good place, and ready to rid myself of these chains. I forgot to put them in vitamins other week and 3 days into it I was ready to hurt people, blurred vision, vertigo, felt like hadn't slept in days...
My Effexor Reduction Plan
75mg XR ~2-3 weeks per (8-12wk)
2/2/1, 2/1, 1/1/2, 1
37.5mg XR )~2-3 weeks per (16-24wk)
2/2/1, 2/1, 1/1/2, 1, 1/1/0, .5, .5/.5/0, .5/0
total (24-36wk 6-9mo)

You are to be commended on your courage, I have carelessly let my prescription lapse in the past on more than one occasion with terrifying weird electroskelal sensations, feelings of a bizarre “springiness” when I walked, and other assorted weirdness.

I desperately want off. Wellbutrin was prescribed in the 90’s and I was on it for what seemed a long time. Didn’t seem to have any side effects when you missed a dose.
Are there any new classes of drug that any of you have had success with?

Effexor is my demon. Im no expert. But wise people and wisdom and pain have taught me to come off this drug slowly. Very slowly. The best advice is to find a compound pharmacist and they can create any dosage that you are comfortable with. It may take months or even longer. But it is worth it. If you drop too fast your brain can not handle it ( in most cases ). Then your original symotoms return and the doctor thinks you need to go back up in the dosage again. ( i ve lived/ i ve learned / i ve experienced ). The slower the better it is for you and your mind / brain and health. My doctor ( brilliant ). Told me it is no accident that the effexor capsuals come in 37.5 / 75/ 150. If the method you described works , then do so. Wait until your mind / body feels ready for the next adjustment. Alot of of doctors think that one can just quickly stop... but for some ( me ) this is not the case.
Plus if you feel in control if the reduction ; than that is great.
The weight issue is a complex one . Edema maybe ? .
This is just a suggestion of help. Power to you .

i have been on venlafaxine hcl er for 3-4 years. it hasn't worked for me.
My doctor and i decided to come off of it. Oct.13 it was dropped from 300 mg to 150 mg until Nov 7 then it dropped to 75 for 2 weeks. After the last dose in a day or so it felt like i was hit by a bus. The worst was the restless leg. The doctor couldn't do anything because i would have to talk to my psych doctor.
I did see the doctor but she put me on 5mg of prozac. But i couldnt wait for it to help the restless leg was crippling and awful it took my life away.
I just told the doctor i want back on venlafaxine. So he asked the last dose i didn't have a problem with and was put back on 150 mg. The restless leg went away. But the emotional and mental side affects is full blown. I have no interest in doing the things before going off. I get scared terrified to do anything for my self. So it is an aversion to doing anything productive for my self. Next time i see the psych doctor I will try to do a 37.5 taper a month. hopefull insurance will support this.

Hi everyone. I just wanted to ask a question about going from 75mg slow release. I have pulled the capsule apart an cut the dosage in half to 37.5mg pretty much as I half all the beads. Is this the best way to do it as I read about halving the effexor that isnt slow release when getting to 37mg. I am 8 years on 150mg but 2 years on 75mg slow realease ones an 2 weeks ago started weaning off an just went to half the beads an side effects are rough, anxiety, brain zaps, palpatations. The brain zaps are abit less. So i want to go to Dr and see about doing the final 37.5 and I cant work out the difference between the slow release 75mg an separating the beads x 4 and only take a quarter of the beads or going and getting the tablet form at 37mg an cutting off a quarter at a time? Is there a difference which is better getting the tablet form or no? Thank you for any help A side point when I had my daughter she was born with seretonin syndrome an was in intensive care for weeks, this drug is bad, im going of it for good.

The doctor had me taking 37.5.I felt horrible on effexor.Decided too taper off my self.Cut the 37.5 in half and took it for 5 days and quite.Felling horrible.

I have been on effexor for 8 yrs to help with menopause symptoms along with premarin. Now my doc wants me off premarin and I want off effexor because it may be the root of a lot of my other problems like weight gain, hair loss, massive perspiring (different from hot flashes). Your posts here have been very helpful. I have been taking 75 and doc just gave me 37.5 both extended release capsules. My question to you is are there withdrawal symptoms going from the 75 down to 37.5? Doc didn't think so but I am worried. As everyone here already knows withdrawal is horrible. Also I had never had depression or anxiety before but now I'm thinking I got through a couple of seriously devastating life changes better because I was taking the effexor. Now I'm afraid if I go off I'll have new issues with emotional problems. Anyway, thanks for your posts here, especially you pansy. I hope you're still reading these. You've given a lot of people help and hope.

I've been on 75mg of Effexor for approx 18 months plus 25 of amitriptyline and want to come off of the Effexorz my dr said to take 37.5 for 2 Weeks and then just stop. But will still take the amitriptyline. I am terrified about the side effects. Everything I have read indicates you should wean off very slowly. Is this the norm?