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ericOCguy: Effexor


ericOCguy

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I have been working on lowering my Effexor from 37.5 to 0. I was doing alright on it and I have been going slow since Early April. I got

down to 12 beads a week or so go. I was doing well with minimal symptoms, but the symptoms really hit me hard about 2 weeks ago and now dealing with recurring panic attacks and I have a squeezing feeling in different parts of my body and some chest pain. I went to the ER a few days ago worrying I was having a heart attack but everything came back normal. I’m beginning to think that I’m taking my taper too fast and thinking of reinstating and going slower.  Any advice on whether I should go all the way back up to the full pill or maybe just add a few more beads and see how I do. 

 

Also, I have been on the meds for about 17 years now and at one point was at 150. I then went down to 75 several years ago and was able to get down to 37.5 using the bead reduction method about 3 years ago so I’ve been on 37.5 for about 3 years now. 

Effexor for 17 years, highest dosage of 150 mg at one time, been stable at 37.5 mg Effexor for 3 years and working on tapering

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi ericOCguy, welcome to SA!

 

It would be helpful if you could create a signature with your med history, including all drugs, doses and dates (starting and stopping).  You can edit your signature under your Account Settings.  See this topic for more info: Please put your withdrawal history in your signature

 

It would be especially helpful if you could put the dates and number of beads of your drops over the past few months, so we can see how fast your taper has been going.  How many beads are in your 37.5mg capsule?

2001–2002 paroxetine

2003  citalopram

2004-2008  paroxetine (various failed tapers) 
2008  paroxetine slow taper down to

2016  Aug off paroxetine
2016  citalopram May 20mg  Oct 15mg … slow taper down
2018  citalopram 13 Feb 4.6mg 15 Mar 4.4mg 29 Apr 4.2mg 6 Jul 4.1mg 17 Aug 4.0mg  18 Nov 3.8mg
2019  15 Mar 3.6mg  21 May 3.4mg  26 Dec 3.2mg 

2020  19 Feb 3.0mg 19 Jul 2.9mg 16 Sep 2.8mg 25 Oct 2.7mg 23 Oct 2.6mg 24 Dec 2.5mg

2021   29 Aug 2.4mg   15 Nov 2.3mg

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ericOCguy, you've done really well after 17 years, congratulations.

Too bad about the return of nasty symptoms.

I read your post with interest as I have been on Effexor for 16 years.  (Up to 225mg at times - max dose for outpatients here in UK).

Having to hold at 62.5mg after the only reinstatement last month in 2 year taper.  The taper has been based on what I found at SA.  You have come to a good place now, I believe.

Yes. maybe you have taken it a bit too fast latterly.

All the best for your next campaign, whatever the tactics are!

 

peng

Born 1945. 

1999 - First Effexor/Venlafaxine

2016 Withdrawal research. Effexor.  13Jul - 212.5mg;  6Aug - 200.0mg;  24Aug - 187.5mg;  13Sep - 175.0mg;  3Oct - 162.5mg;  26Oct - 150mg 

2017  9Jan - 150.00mg;  23Mar - 137.50mg;  24Apr - 125.00mg;  31May - 112.50mg holding;  3Sep - 100.00mg;  20Sep - 93.75mg;  20Oct - 87.5mg;  12Nov - 81.25mg;  13 Dec - 75.00mg

2018  18Jan - 69.1mg; 16Feb - 62.5mg; 16March - 57.5mg (-8%); 22Apr - 56.3mg(-2%); CRASHED - Updose 29May - 62.5mg; Updose - 1Jul - 75.0mg. Updose - 2Aug - 87.5mg. Updose - 27Aug - 100.0mg. Updose - 11Oct 112.5mg. Updose - 6Nov 125.00mg

2019 Updoses 19 Jan - 150.0mg. 1April - 162.5mg. 24 April - Feeling better - doing tasks, getting outside.  7 May - usual depression questionnaire gives "probably no depression" result.

Supps/Vits  Omega 3;  Chelated Magnesium;  Prebiotics/Probiotics, Vit D3. 

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