Weaning off a medicine advice please?

I have been of Effexor 75mg for about 4 weeks . I have the extended release capsules and simply cannot take the feeling of constant fatigue. As well as being hot all the time. I would like to slowly decrease my dosage and see If I feel any better at all. I was wondering how I should go about dividing the little beads up? I know it is never recommended to stop something without talking to your doctor but I would at least like to try and decrease the dosage a little to see if that makes me feel any better.

Thanks for the help

And I plan to contact my doctor first thing Monday morning and let him know.

Hey again scaredy cat,
I actually just got off the phone with a pharmacist and he said that I can't divide the extended release capsules up. I dont't see why you can't just dump some of the beads out...He said that I could skip a dose and see if I felt any better. And if I do then don't take it till Monday. That is kinda suprising to hear someone say that hearing all the horror stories with withdrawals..

It's not just the beads that are extended release, the capsule helps with the timing as well. Most extended release medications are ment to dissolve in your intestine and not in your stomach. The acid would dissolve each of the beads instantly in your stomach. I would check with another pharmacist, but really you should wait to see your MD to do a step down program for the medication. Slowly decrease your dose until its gone. You might Ben find at a lower dose you get the benefit of the medication but little or no side effects. But please don't break apart any form of extended release pills. As a nurse I have seen people do this and while they didn't die, they did me up in the hospital. Hope this helps. Cheers!