Lorjie: Effexor 37.5 XR & Klonopin .5mg

[Lorjie]

Hello all! I successfully reduced my Klonopin usage from 1 mg to .5 mg over eight months. I stopped there because I want to stop Effexor XR 37.5 but do not know how. I take the capsule and for the past 10 days have been counting 8 little beads and removing them from the capsule and taking it. I've had no withdrawal issues yet. My question is what is the best way? Do I have to pour out the capsule count the beads and then do my withdrawal more scientifically? 

I did have withdrawal symptoms reducing the Klonopin so I went very slowly. My biggest symptom was wild dreams and insomnia - sounds counterproductive, doesn't it?  I'm holding steady at .5 mg for now and I'm OK with that. It's the Effexor. 

In the past when I forgot to take it, I had brain zaps and total body tingling and took it right away. 

I'm open to going slowly - Effexor has been almost 30 years. Klonopin - longer. 

I just retired, am 68 and the stress in my life is nothing like it was over three decades ago. I'm ready and appreciate advise on how to get off the darn Effexor the right way. It's XR.

Thank you!

Edited November 10, 2024 by Emonda
Name to title

[Jane318]

Greetings @Lorjie and welcome to SA!  We are a community of volunteers providing peer support in the tapering of psychiatric medications and their associated withdrawal syndromes.

 

Thank you for completing your drug signature.

 

I applaud your desire to get off Effexor, and to do it the right way.  You are in the right place!  We have many people on this site who are tapering off of Effexor or Effexor XR, including me.

 

Before you begin your taper, I recommend you also read:  Before you begin tapering - what you need to know

 

Here at SA, we recommend the hyperbolic taper method, which you can read about here:  Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Also, please read  Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ   and Tips for tapering off Effexor and Effexor XR (venlafaxine) and Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first

 

Please let us know if you have any questions after you read the above information.  I'll have more links to share in future.

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community. 

 

Do explore the rest of the forum – there is a lot of great information here.  Be sure to read “About SurvivingAntidepressants.org,” which has good information about how to use / search the site: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/54-about-survivingantidepressantsorg  

 

Also, feel free to read and comment on the intro threads of other members.  This is how you build a community of people who understand what you are dealing with.   It is so helpful to connect with others who are experiencing the

same things.  You can search the site for "Effexor" to find other members you can connect with if you wish.  

 

We look forward to following your journey, and helping out in any way we can.

 

Again, welcome to SA and best wishes.

Edited November 12, 2024 by Jane318
added link pertaining to which drug to taper first