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Effexor tapering

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Posted 6/8/2011 7:28 PM (GMT 0)

I am currently taking 75mg of effexor daily. I have been on for 9 months and am ready to start tapering off.  I am so worried about the side effects of tapering off. I am not sure which way will be the right way for me.  I am not in a rush to get off, so if it takes me 2 months or more, that is fine.   I also am on Remicade for Colitis since April 2010.  I am not interested in counting the individual granules; As I am sure i will lose a few or they will roll away ...  Anyéall  advice would help. 

Posted 6/8/2011 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Good to meet you and glad you found this forum you will get good support here. I was on a much larger dose of Effexor than you and yes you can get withdrawal effects. My advise would be to taper very very slowly and keep in regular contact with you doctor. Keep posting to let us know how you get on we are here to support you and give advise when we can.

Hibee
Posted 6/9/2011 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning,

Ben is right - a slow wean under the care of your Dr. is the best way to get off of Effexor. Here is an article you may want to take a look at but remember to always wean off a med under your Dr's supervision.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2203744_off-effexor.html

Posted 6/9/2011 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
I found it difficult to wean off effexor, but not everyone does.
I did it by really slowly tapering and cutting the tablets in halves and even quarters. I came down from 75mg like you. Have been off it for 2 months now.
Only downside now is that my GI doctor has put me on Amitryptiline for my bowel problems but am on a very low dose of that thank goodness.
Posted 6/9/2011 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,

Thank you all for your advice and support. I finally spoke to my Dr. His directions are to take half the doze 37.5mg everyday for two weeks, then every other day for another two weeks, then discontinue. it seems quick from what I have been reading, but he knows me and I am hoping has had experience with helping his patients taper off Effexor. I am very close with my pharmacist , and asked his advice... he said I will most probably get the 'shakes'... So.......I started today with only half. I will deal with the side effects of withdrawl when they happen, no sense waisting my time now worrying about it..I will let you all know how it progresses.
Posted 6/9/2011 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
IMHO  this is too fast to wean off Effexor.  I am on 150mg per day and will be weaning down after I finish weaning off of Lamictal.

However you are right, don't go looking for trouble. I wish you luck and hope all goes well.

Posted 6/9/2011 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
I had to go down to quarters actually one time. So when you get down low, don't throw any pills away just incase you have a hard time after you are off of them. Even a quarter of one can take the edge off while withdrawaling.

I hope that it goes well for you. Effexor is a hard drug to come off of. I just recently switched to pristiq from effexor and it went well. But they are closely related so that helped.

Good luck weaning off. I wish the best for you.

Are you coming off meds completely? Or are you switching to another one?

Just curious...

Hugs, Karen
Posted 6/9/2011 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
I agree, this does sound very fast. I took a 37.5 plus half at first and then down to 37.5 and then when I weaned from 37.5 I cut them in half and quarters and did it so slowly. I suffered with dizziness, headaches, nausea, loose stools and hot flushes.
This may not happen to you, everyone is different.
If you do find you have problems, a few people on here have some good tapering techniques!
Good Luck
Posted 6/10/2011 7:07 AM (GMT 0)
I agree that it is to fast a ween for you. I went from 75mg to 37.5mg, and lets just say I'm glad i didn't have a job at the time. You might want to gauge whether the withdrawal symptoms are worth is or not depending on what you'll be doing during the withdrawals.

And don't be surprised if you find out that the reason you felt good was because you were on it!
Posted 6/10/2011 12:04 PM (GMT 0)
Everyone is right, slow is the key.  like you said, if you are in no hurry 2-3 months to come off of it sounds reasonable.

Take care!

Gem

Posted 6/10/2011 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
I had a feeling everyone would agree that it seems a bit quick.  I was on the 75 mg. capsule so my Dr. gave me the 37.5 capsule, hard to cut in half if I need a 1/4 pill.. I can always phone him and have ths changed or extended. I am not too worried about that.  I also have about 30 more or less 75mg capsules still... 

I have no plans to take another type of medication.  I orginally started on Effexor  last August because I was in the middle of a divorce, moving with my kids (19yr. and 22yr) out of our home into another, and starting a new job.!   I think I mentioned I also have Colitis, and due to the stress I flared up bad and ended up in the hospital for two weeks on steroid drip, lost 14 lbs and was very very ill.  I am now on Remicade, and have been symptom free for 1 yr.  I have adjusted to the new job, love my new home and have a wonderful man in my life whom my kids adore.  I feel ready to resume my life before meds. 

I know I will feel anxious,nervous , edgy and panicy during this withdrawl, but I really want to try and live my life without meds. I also know that if I decided to go back on, I will have the support of my partner and my family. I've got to give it a go.  I am optimistic. turn

Posted 6/10/2011 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Don't be surprised if it was the effexor that was helping you to feel better. Don't be too disappointed if you find that you have to go back on it. That is what happened to me. I was feeling good so I stopped it. But ended up going back on. You can get pills instead of caps so that you can break them into quarters of halves. Ask the doc about that if the weaning gets hard.

I wish you the best.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 6/10/2011 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
I would switch over from the capsules to the tablets as then you can chop them up!
Posted 6/12/2011 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
I think switching to tablets is not a bad idea. So far so good. Felt a bit dizzy in the morning yesterday, but I don't really think I will feel too much until med week when my body discovers what I'm doing.lol Thanks again for everyone's support.
Posted 6/13/2011 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
hello witsend..like you I have been on effexor 75 mg for eight months now..and even though I feel ready to come off meds I have not started mainly because I am afraid of the withdrawal effects altough I have to stop them eventually.  Please let us know how is it going with the withdrawals ..good luck .
Posted 6/13/2011 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Cin777 From what I have exprienced so far, I feel "out of it" and a bit dizzy betweeln 12 - 2...once I take the pill I'm ok. I have to see more as the weeks progress. Why do you Have to stop them?
Posted 6/13/2011 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
witsend I hope things will get better as you continue tapering off...now answering your question why do I have to stop the pills? because I don't like feeling like I have to be taking pills to be ok..I want to go back where I was before..without meds and also..I want to get pregnant in the coming year and I am afraid that if I continue with pills it may affect my health .

Posted 6/13/2011 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
If you are planning to get pregnant, it is wise to go off the medications. But as I said before, don't be surprised if it is the effexor that has been making you feel good. It is a good medication. I know that feeling of not wanting to rely on medications, but a lot of us do have to. I don't like being on them, but they help me function as a somewhat normal person.

Best wishes to you. Good luck tapering off.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/3/2011 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Wittsend - just wondered how you were getting on?
Posted 7/4/2011 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am in the last leg of the withdrawl. I have two more capsules, and that's it. I am taking it every second day now. By the second day..around noon I start feeling dizzy and disorientated. I am working hard at distracting myself during this time. I am concerned for when I do not have any capsules left. Atleast now I know that I have one every other day. Hopefully, my body will figure out that there is no more pills coming..lol wish me luck!
Posted 7/4/2011 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck and well done! You have got far very quickly - much quicker than I did!
Hope tehe last leg isn't too bad. The withdrawal effects won't last forever and just keep telling yourself that you will get through it and you will get off the medication.
Thinking of you as I know what it is like coming off this medication.
Posted 7/5/2011 12:35 PM (GMT 0)

turn  Thank you so much for your encouragement.  Today feels like a normal day..tomorrow is the last pill. Yikes!  I find if I keep busy, I don't notice the dizzyness too much.  I am really determined to be off .  The thing I notice the most is I am aware of my daughter's (22 yrs.) shtick!  When I was on effexor full strength I was more tolerant and less picky with her..lately.I am more aware of the "crap" that she tries to pull..lol  She is on celexa for the past 9 months which has helped her cope with many issues she is dealing with(stress , colitis..)..and we have a great relationship..I only hope that we will continue to have this once I am med free.  shakehead

Pam

Posted 7/5/2011 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
Pam,

Thank you for being a pioneer into this territory of weaning off of Effexor.  I plan on talking with my Dr. next Monday to start weaning off of this med.  I am on  150 mg per day and I know it will be a struggle but when the going gets rough I will come here and read through your thread.

You are in my thoughts and bless you for sharing.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 7/5/2011 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
I thought that I was never going to get off this medication and when I did, I was so happy!! I think before people start this medication, they should be warned of the terrible withdrawal effects. I felt so physically ill when I was coming off them. The dizziness and nausea was horrible but by doing it very slowly and chopping the tablets up, I did manage it.
Let us know how you get on and how you are feeling.
Posted 7/6/2011 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
I am cautiously Optimistic that i will get through it. I am determined. It helps to be very occupied at work and at home. I do not regret being on Effexor. It helped me tremendously, and I have no doubt I would have been worse off had I not used it. Even if the withdrawal effects are unpleasant they will NOT LAST FOREVER. :-) Today is the last day..so friday should be my first day with no pills.. I am taking them every other day, so usually on the second day I start to feel dizzy..not quizzy...en va voir We'll see what happens.

I shall keep in touch.
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