Basic things to know about getting off Effexor
09.03.04 (3:17 pm) [edit]
If you came here looking for help and support for Effexor withdrawal symptoms, just know the following basic things:
1. The bad stuff won't last forever.
2. TAPER!! If possible, do NOT go cold turkey. Slowly decrease your dosage little by little (divide your capsules into smaller dosages of beads if you have to) until you're done. It may take a long time (it took me five months), but it's much better for you that way.
3. Drink plenty of water.
4. Get plenty of sleep.
5. Clear Motion herbal anti-nausea/motion sickness capsules helped me a lot with the physical symptoms of nausea, vertigo, headaches, etc.
6. Try to avoid other sources of stress, when at all possible, during your withdrawal/discontinuatio n period.
7. Hang in there and take care of yourself!!
1. The bad stuff won't last forever.
2. TAPER!! If possible, do NOT go cold turkey. Slowly decrease your dosage little by little (divide your capsules into smaller dosages of beads if you have to) until you're done. It may take a long time (it took me five months), but it's much better for you that way.
3. Drink plenty of water.
4. Get plenty of sleep.
5. Clear Motion herbal anti-nausea/motion sickness capsules helped me a lot with the physical symptoms of nausea, vertigo, headaches, etc.
6. Try to avoid other sources of stress, when at all possible, during your withdrawal/discontinuatio n period.
7. Hang in there and take care of yourself!!
posted by: GriffyandLoubie (reply)
post date: 09.03.04 (12:30 pm)
Tblog's been a pain in the ass for the last month. It seems they're in the process of trying to fix things, so maybe your older posts will actually get reposted sometime soon.
Grif
posted by: tony (reply)
post date: 11.07.04 (10:30 pm)
I came off 225 mg of effexor over a thee week period. the physical side effects are odd but not that bad. the interesting thing is I feel less depressed off them. hope it lasts.
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 01.07.05 (12:53 am)
FYI: EffexorXR is eXtended Release and comes in the familiar capsules. It is also available in tablet form (which is NOT extended release). The tablets have been EXTREMELY helpful to me because: 1) it works within 15 minutes to get you shiny side up, 2) you can split the tabs down to whatever dose aleviates the symptoms, 3) you can dose yourself just enough to keep withdrawal at bay.
I tend to think of this method as the "Nicorette Method" of withdrawal. Hope this helps.
-spamgozhere@aol.com
posted by: liz (reply)
post date: 01.10.05 (12:50 pm)
I have been taking effexor tabs at 150mg per day to ward off hot flashes (I am in early menopause). It seems that the half life is shortening even more- If I do not take a dose within 10 hours of the last I still getting that "high" feeling. I am really interested in tapering off during the winter months to see if my hot flashes are gone- but everytime I reduce the dose to half I feel "high" even earlier. What to do?
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 04.04.05 (5:09 pm)
hi folks....I never thought a prescribed drug would be so difficult to get off of. Likewise my premenopausal relief came from this for hot flashes, worked like a charm...I would have toughed them out though if i knew getting off the drug would be so difficult....I am now down to 37.5 form 75XR caps....that seasick feeling is unsettling....but I am assured by doc it will go away.....thanks for the herbal Clear Motion tip
posted by: Sue (reply)
post date: 05.15.06 (12:51 pm)
Brainzaps! I never knew there was such a thing nor had I experienced it until I started this process of getting off the medication! Brainzaps are scary if you aren't prepared for them. My doctor didn't warn me...even withdrawing in a staged manner has not prevented this side effect along with insomnia, dizziness, nausea, and muscle cramping. I am glad to hear that once I am off the drug, and it is a drug, I may only have a couple more weeks of these symptoms of withdrawal. I wish I had known when I accepted the drug a year ago from my doctor for the depression that had culminated as a result of major events in my life. I am glad to be moving on though.