Podatus: Weaning off Effexor

[Podatus]

Hi, I am 55 and have had several episodes of major depression. Two of them were treated with Effexor XL. The first time (16 years ago), I came off without problems. I didn't even realize that there could be problems.

 

About 2 years ago I went back on due to a very stressful time that I couldn't solve with my usual coping skills. I tried to wean off last summer and had significant neurological symptoms. I thought I was either going crazy or had a brain tumor. It took me almost a week to think that it might be withdrawal symptoms. (Thanks internet.) I went back on and the symptoms went away quickly. When I told my doctor, he said 'Why do you want to wean off? Why not just relax and be happy?' Sigh.

 

I have been afraid to try again until I found this forum. I am also nervous to try at this time of year because my symptoms are always worse in the fall/winter which is approaching, but I realize this is going to have to be a very long, slow process. I have some hope now that I can do this.

Edited October 3, 2017 by baroquep

[baroquep]

Hi Podatus,

 

Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA).  I am really glad that you found the site.  I can certainly understand your reluctance to try tapering again after having the exact same experience trying to discontinue these drugs twice before and always ending back on the drug as the withdrawal symptoms were so horrific.  It is good to hear that you are taking the steps to inform yourself how you can safely withdrawal from Effexor.  Like you, I was determined to stop taking antidepressants and my family doctor obviously didn't have a clue how to taper off of them safely, so I scoured the internet and finally found Surviving Antidepressants.  Since starting my taper a year ago I have reduced to 50% of my dose and am confident that I will eventually get off of Effexor safely and permanently while minimizing withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Not to frighten you but as you have mentioned that your symptoms are always worse in the fall/winter, perhaps this might not be the best time to begin to taper.  Withdrawing from antidepressants can be a very challenging experience because symptoms of withdrawal are so unpredictable; no one knows which ones will occur, how long they will last, or how intense they will be if you run into difficulties tapering. 
 
That being said, at Surviving Antidepressants, it is recommended that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases.  The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs and to minimize withdrawal symptoms.  Some people may have to taper at a more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops, especially when they have been taking these drugs long-term.  

 

To get you started, and familiarized with the protocols followed by SA, I am linking a few topics so that you have a better understanding of what is recommended here. 

 

Before you begin tapering what you need to know

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?
Tips for Tapering off Effexor/Effexor XR/Venlafaxine

 

We ask all of our members to fill out a withdrawal history signature so that all of your information can be read at a glance.  This helps moderators determine you current situation and we would ask that you follow the instructions at the link below.

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

 

 •    Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
 •    A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
 •    Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
 •    Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
 •    Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.

 

I realize that I have given you a lot of information to review, so if you have any questions or need clarification, please post all of your questions back here in your introduction topic and one of the moderators will get back to you.  

 

Please feel free to connect with other members of the Surviving Antidepressants Community by posting in their introduction topics, they are a supportive group and are here to share their experiences tapering off of antidepressants.  

[nz11]

Podatus are you able to give an update?

[Podatus]

I took the advice of a member and decided not to start my wean off with winter coming on. It was a good decision. The past 2 months have been stressful, but I’ve been working on making my diet cleaner. I plan to start with a 5% decrease in the next few weeks. 

[Gridley]

Hello, Podatus, and welcome again to SA.  

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

• Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. 
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) 
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. 
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. 
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
• Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

Before you begin your taper, please be sure to read the information and links furnished to you earlier by Baroquep.

 

 

[Podatus]

Hi! I'm back.

Finally began my taper April 28/2018. It's spring and I want to take advantage of as many of the longer days as I can.

 

I decided to use the "Brassmonkey Slide Method" : first, because my previous attempt at tapering scared me, and second, because I liked the idea of feeling more proactive with the medication changes. It was quite an adventure getting all those little bouncy pellets out of the original capsules and into the new ones. Thanks for all of the detailed instructions. I would have felt completely defeated without them. I have a lab science background and there was something very satisfying about doing all of the weighing and figuring and then making nice, neat charts of the data.

 

I have just started week 2- took my first dose of the 5% decrease today.

 

My week 1 (2.5% decrease), I am happy to report, was completely uneventful. Right now, I am feeling very hopeful.

[Songbird]

Good going, Podatus.  Your lab science background should be ideal for this.  Good luck, and I hope things stay nice and uneventful for you.