Mini05: Pfizer Effexor XR 75mg, pills inside capsule

[Mini05]

Hi All

Im new to the site and like to say how informative it is.

 

so I’m in the Uk, been on venlafaxine about 8 yrs at different doses in those years.

currently on 225mg

 

im thinking on coming off them, obviously very very slowly. I hate the thought off what the drug is doing to my Brain 🧠 

so is anyone on this brand ? 
do you know how many tiny pills are in a 75mg capsule?

does anyone know of a uk based company that will do the tapering strips for me?

I know of the Netherlands site, they cost 70€ for 28 pills 

we have nhs in uk, so get our prescription FREE, and don’t think I could get them to do this.

 

anyone who can help ?

[ChessieCat]

Hi mini and welcome to SA,

 

It is fantastic that you have found SA before you have started tapering.

 

Please create your drug signature following these instructions.  Include ALL drugs/supplements, current AND previous.  Thank you.

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

 

SA's recommended taper is to reduce by no more than 10% of the current dose with a hold of about 4 weeks to allow your brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug.  This is a guide only and you can reduce by less and/or hold longer as needed.  It is better to hold for longer if you are going through a stressful time or are sick or if you still have symptoms.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Withdrawal Symptoms

 

WDnormal

 

Before you begin tapering what you need to know

 

Post #1 of this topic explains how to get your doses:

 

Tips for tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

There is discussion of tapering strips here:

 

tapering-strips-for-psychiatric-drugs-being-produced-in-netherlands

 

The only supplements which SA recommends are Magnesium and Omega-3 Fish Oil.  Try a small amount, one at a time to see how you react.  You might want to get yourself set up on these before you commence tapering Effexor.  Only make one change at a time.

 

This is your own Introduction topic which is the best place to ask questions about your own situation and to journal your progress.

 

And a message from Altostrata, SA's founder.  There is also a link to a recent interview with her in my signature below this post.

  

On 11/7/2020 at 8:23 AM, Altostrata said:

 

One of the things that's very important to each person here is knowing that healing is possible. Please don't just go away when you feel better! "Pay it forward" by updating your Intro topic with your progress

 

[Mini05]

Hi

please can you help me start off my tapering guide so I can see/get an idea of how the maths work. I’ve tried looking at the guides but at 66yrs old I got confused by it all

i currently take a 150mg XR capsule & a 75mg XR capsule 

So I’m going to start on the 75mg capsule first.

 

So I’m wanting to make enough NEW capsules for a week

so how would I go about this please ?

could you send me the formula to do so to give me an idea so I can grasp it ?

 

Ive got my scales

empty capsules & spoon 

 

Thank You

[KenA]

@Emonda

[Emonda]

Hi @Mini05

I don't have a personal experience with your AD, so, I looked at the link ChessieCat posted for you above. That's a good place to start.

 

Do your tablets have beads in them as referred to in the link?

 

 

[Emonda]

Hi Mini05,

I understand you have a question. Please ask your question here, and I'll try to help.

 

Best wishes.

[Mini05]

Hope this is the right place for my question

 

im so confused (aged related 66) in my calculations tapering

 

Im doing a 10% tapering of 75mg capsule

iI weighed 3 capsules, different weights ! I added them together then divided that by 3. Averaged out at 214g each . 
so if I’m right that’s a 10% drop = 67.5g of a 75mg capsule

 

so my next taper

iI have to get capsules to weigh 214g then take 10% from 214g = 192.6g which then is 60.75mg capsule

 

next taper is

192.6g take 10% off = 173.34g which is then 54.67mg capsules

 

is this correct method to do 10% taper using scales. If so this is going to take me over 3 yrs to get off 75mg if I can do it (?) every 4 weeks

because as you get lower each cut is so small 

is this correct the way I’m doing it ??

[Erimus]

Hi Mini.

 

Your calculations regarding the weight are correct, but I would suggest that it would be easier for you to count beads rather than weigh the capsules. If you open a 75mg capsule and count the beads in it, then write this down, and repeat for 5 more capsules. Work out the average number of beads in a 75mg capsule, and use this as a reference point to taper.

 

I would suggest you use your total dose of 225mg when calculating your reductions. If you just focused on the 75mg you would be tapering unnecessarily slowly as you approach 150mg of effexor.

[Mini05]

4 minutes ago, Erimus said:

Hi Mini.

 

Your calculations regarding the weight are correct, but I would suggest that it would be easier for you to count beads rather than weigh the capsules. If you open a 75mg capsule and count the beads in it, then write this down, and repeat for 5 more capsules. Work out the average number of beads in a 75mg capsule, and use this as a reference point to taper.

 

I would suggest you use your total dose of 225mg when calculating your reductions. If you just focused on the 75mg you would be tapering unnecessarily slowly as you approach 150mg of effexor.

 

[Mini05]

Erimus 

 

im not very good with working round site, I find it confusing so I apologise for anything I havnt or have done. I’m 66 yrs old 

 

in answer to counting the beads instead of weighing 

that would be so hard for me to do

theres literally hundreds of tge little beads in the two capsules, it would take me hours just to do 3 capsules. Hence why I opted to weighing them 

 

I will definitely do the whole dose of 225mg and not just the 75mg capsule

 

thank you 

[Erimus]

8 minutes ago, Mini05 said:

Erimus 

 

im not very good with working round site, I find it confusing so I apologise for anything I havnt or have done. I’m 66 yrs old 

 

in answer to counting the beads instead of weighing 

that would be so hard for me to do

theres literally hundreds of tge little beads in the two capsules, it would take me hours just to do 3 capsules. Hence why I opted to weighing them 

 

I will definitely do the whole dose of 225mg and not just the 75mg capsule

 

thank you 

No problem, it is all personal preference which method you use. As long as you are happy with it and consistent you will be fine.

 

Your reductions would be 225mg --> 202.5mg --> 182.25mg --> 164.03mg --> 147.62mg etc.

 

If you are just altering the 75mg capsule this would be: 225mg --> 150mg + 52.5mg --> 150mg + 32.25mg --> 150mg + 14.03mg

[Mini05]

28 minutes ago, Erimus said:

No problem, it is all personal preference which method you use. As long as you are happy with it and consistent you will be fine.

 

Your reductions would be 225mg --> 202.5mg --> 182.25mg --> 164.03mg --> 147.62mg etc.

 

If you are just altering the 75mg capsule this would be: 225mg --> 150mg + 52.5mg --> 150mg + 32.25mg --> 150mg + 14.03mg

sorry Erimus,for being a pain am  I doing it wrong ?

how do you get to the calculations of altering just the 75mg + the 150mg capsule

 

i get 

75mg - 10% = 67.5mg+150mg full capsule

= 217.5mg 

then

67.5mg+150mg full capsule = 210.75mg

 

you get 

150mg + 52.5mg ?

150mg  + 32.25mg ?

 

tgank you 

[Erimus]

20 minutes ago, Mini05 said:

sorry Erimus,for being a pain am  I doing it wrong ?

how do you get to the calculations of altering just the 75mg + the 150mg capsule

 

i get 

75mg - 10% = 67.5mg+150mg full capsule

= 217.5mg 

then

67.5mg+150mg full capsule = 210.75mg

 

you get 

150mg + 52.5mg ?

150mg  + 32.25mg ?

 

tgank you 

You are just removing 10% from the 75mg capsule, rather than your full dose. This doesn’t make sense, unless you intend to remain on 150mg indefinitely.

 

225mg - 10% = 202.5mg = 52.5mg + 150mg capsule

 

Then:

202.5mg - 10% = 182.25mg = 32.25mg + 150mg capsule

Edited July 2 by Erimus

[Mini05]

Just now, Erimus said:

You are just removing 10% from the 75mg capsule, rather than your full dose. This doesn’t make sense, unless you intend to remain on 150mg indefinitely.

 

225mg - 10% = 202.5mg = 52.5mg + 150mg capsule

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