Thank you for this. I do have a pill cutter but it's a bit rubbish and pretty inaccurate. I gather from everybody that it's not going be easy, but can be managed as best as possible by taking things really slowly.
Thank you all & all the best
The pill cutter I bought was really sharp. I kept detailed notes of what amount I was taking daily. No it is not easy, but if, like me, you are determined to succeed, you will.
As I said I am elderly and I have been on anti depressants for many years. Effexor is a very difficult medication to withdraw from with no symptoms, but I did it. Slowly. Please take heart, it can be done. I am definitely not a strong person, and I think if an old dear like me can do it, well then, it is possible. We have to have faith in ourself.
Good luck, and take care, and you will get there.
Hi! I too am weaning from 37.5 mg of Effexor. I get the brain zaps after missing 1 dose. My Dr also, wants me to take 1 every other day to wran.
Well today, on my missed dose day, I decided to try half a xanex, just to see if it would help with my brain zaps and the "not feeling myself". I generaly take 1 xanex at bedtime only.
To my amazement the moment the xanex took effect, all symptoms were G.O.N.E. I was truly shocked. I know theres a large chance youve not got a script of xanex, but if so, i strongly suggest doing it, and to everyone out there with same delima. I am not a Dr, and most certaintly not diagnosing, nor suggesting anyone take xanex, but for ME, it was a lifesaver.
My effexor are the capsules, and my pharmacist suggested next month i have my dr write me for the pill form so i can physically half the pill, even quarter it, in tapering down. Great idea!
I think i will stick with what im doing and finish my taper.
By the way, Effexor takes away menepausal heat flashes like within a DAY! Id not read it, but was in heaven after i started them 2 yrs ago, and my flashes were completely gone. Why are you getting off Effexor? Im curiouse. I am because of reading theyre bad for you, but I cant find specifics? Im starting to rethink to stay on them. Its only anti depressant thats helped me. When weaning....the week i went down from 75mg to 37.5mg, my mood crashed! Would be greatful to hear YOUR reasons for going off these! Thank you, and good luck! Take care and you can get thru it!!!!!
Kim in Arkansas
On Effexor extended 150 for 8 years with klonopin .5 3 x day( took twice a day ). Had a horrible withdrawal a couple weeks ago after forgetting 1 dose which I took 15 hrs later. Withdrawal lasted in spite of it: nearly ever thing everyone has said. MD agreed to get me off so using Zoloft 50 to do it. Also still on klonopin but it's acting differently . Never felt anything until now . Sleepy afternoons so skipping that one. I go back in a month and will get to 25 and taper off. Have not seen anyone doing it on Zoloft just Prozac. WHAT DO I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO????
I have been taking Effexor now for about 4 months. I started with 75, which wasnt doing much and then moved to 150. Only at 150 did i exerperience a difference, but then the anxiety started kicking in and I decided to get of it. I went down to 75 again and then quit cold turkey. Was the worst thing i ever did, i thought i was going to die. I then went back on 75 and gradually went down to 37.5. Im on the beeds so now im slowly taking them out 10 beeds at a time- its not so bad. Maybe try the beeds - take 10 out at a time- and that will stop the severe outcomes hopefully
Yes I agree, I've also been pill free for 2 weeks and the side effects were pretty awful but taking omega 3 and vitamin B complex really, really helped.
I
I want off of Effexor because it makes me sweat terribly...I am always hot...I don't even own a sweater because can never wear one...I sweat from head to toe and found out it is a side effect of Effexor....
I have been on Effexor XR for 6 months I had such side effects I started to wean off thee dr dropped me from 225 to 75 too fast and I cldnt get out of bed.. I had the brain zaps and the dizziness was more like the worst case of vertigo. She put me back to 3 tablets of 37.5mg 3x a day for a while. After 5 days the withdrawals went away. Now 2 months later I was able to get down to 37.5 for a bit. Now I am on day 5 of the tablet of 25mg and woke up this am again with that dizziness where I can't drive etc... I'm hoping it goes away soon. I'm sorry but I think coming off of this drug is evil. I can't beleibe that drs are still prescribing it. Personally I think it should be banned. The side effects of it are horrendous. Good luck to anyone coming off of it I know how you feel..
Hi I'm on 37.5g every second day but can't seem to stop taking them as when I do I get severe side effects. You said you cut it down but by bit . Did you take one bead out of the capsule a day ? Any help you could give me would be great 😊
Hi I'm on the 37.5g but mine are capsules with beads in it could I just take out one or two beads a day ?
Hi Alison, unfortunately my tablets weren't capsules but I took one every other day for some time before deciding to stop altogether.
Yes the side effects were awful but my GP signed me off work for 2 weeks to help. I also started taking omega 3 oils, vitamin c and vitamin B complex which helped with the side effects. By day 2 of taking the vitamins I felt 80% better. I've now been off the pills since November and it's the best thing I did.
Best of luck Hun x
Hi I'm on 37.5 mg a day but can't get lower than this the withdrawal is to bad I want to have a baby so I want to come of them . I've been looking at the Prozac bridge route has anyone come of Effexor using this method 😊
Hi mickey that's great your going down . I'm on the 37.5 mg a day but can't get off this dose I'm thinking of counting out 10 beads a day so scared of the bad withdrawals as I tryed before and the side effects were horrific
Not sure if you received my last reply but you can really ease the side effects by taking omega 3 oils, vitamin b complex and vitamin c.
When I was coming off these pills I decided to stop them altogether and the side effects were horrendous, thankfully taking the vitamins eased the effects by about 80-90%.
Please try if you want to start a family.
Hope it helps x x x
Hey no I didn't get your last comment. Yeah I got omega 3 I need to get the rest hopefully they work well on me . So glad I found this form . As I feel trapped like I really want to start a family but can't get of the 37.5mg . I've tried but as you know the side effects are horrific. Did you take beads out of your tablet every day 💛💛💛
Hi, unfortunately my tablets were whole and not capsules. I took 37.5 every other day for 3 weeks before going cold turkey. It was hard to start but once I took the omega 3, vitamin B complex and vitamin C I felt NORMAL! The brains zaps stopped almost immediately, I found those the hardest to deal with. That was in November and I've been off them since.
Please get all the vitamins as this helped me so very much.
Good luck honey x
Really ah that's amazing so happy to hear you where able to get off them ?did you get all them vitamins in a chemist or off your doctor xx
Holland and Barrett Hun but my gp signed me off work for 2 weeks so that I felt rubbish at home and not at work.
Try it...it will work x x x
Great I'll do it do you mind if I message you while I'm going through it would just be great to talk to someone who has gone through it x
No problem at all Hun. Anytime x x