Taper off Effexor XR to minimize withdrawal symptoms

Altostrata wrote:

btd or btdt -- very glad to see the tapering information on http://survivingantidepressants.org has come in handy here.
I work very hard to put the best information I can find on that site.
Best to all who are tapering,
Altostrata

omg this information is all over the internet that you think you own it is laughable. That you would suggest such a thing when you know this was learned on the back of people who suffered effexor withdrawal and that is not you is odd to me.... what difference does it make to you are you?
I have been plugging your site here as I thought it may be helpful but keep this up and you will make me question that idea. What is this about? It makes no sense to me?

Altostrata wrote:

btd or btdt -- very glad to see the tapering information on http://survivingantidepressants.org has come in handy here.
I work very hard to put the best information I can find on that site.
Best to all who are tapering,
Altostrata

Are you short of people over there I send people there all the time. For people reading this I did not learn the information I have here at her site which is new but at effexoractivist.com paxilprogress.org I am sure her site is fine too I have a list on here of sites for information or support and her site which is new is included

boricuarage wrote:

<quoted text>
thanks for the tip, but i already did the beads method and trust me I counted every lil bead.. its tidies process, but i been snri free for 6 months now with no withdrawal symptoms

Whatever you did seems to have worked for you the bottom line is what counts here glad your feeling better.

btdt wrote:

<quoted text>Whatever you did seems to have worked for you the bottom line is what counts here glad your feeling better.

that's all it count's. thanks bud

Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Zoloft, Paxil) bring horrible withdrawal symptoms and a handful of side effects, such as experiencing sudden mood change, irritability, agitation, hostility, outbursts and in extreme cases, suicide. It is important to know the risks and complication brought by this drug. Useful and credible websites like http://www.paxilbirthdefectlaw.com explains the reported harmful side effects, risks and complications of taking Paxil.

Truly, taking several drugs at the same time causes some health complications. For more information about antidepressants like Zoloft, you may want to visit this website http://www.zoloftsertralinebirthdefects.com/ . It is always good to know your drug well especially the possible side effects it may cause you.

Effexor and Paxil are really hard to wean off from because of their withdrawal symptoms. You can check the withdrawal symptoms of Paxil at www.paxilbirthdefectlaw.com/paxil-ssri-antide... . It would be best to discuss options of tapering the medicine with your doctor.

I just want to update you all and say that after being on Effexor for about 3 years, I was able to come off of it and has been off of it for about 3 months so far with no withdrawals or side effects!! I typed the method I did in one of the previous posts for anyone who's interested

I wish everyone who's trying to come off of this horrible drug the best of luck!!!

To minimize or not experience withdrawal symptoms in quitting antidepressants like Effexor and Paxil one should taper down the dose. Tapering the dose can be consulted with a doctor. You will experience the following symptoms seen in this link http://www.paxilbirthdefectlaw.com/paxil-side... if you will not taper it down.

I have been on anti depressants for 4 years to treat my panic and anxiety. I took cipralex,rivotril,fluoxetine,c ymbalta to name a few. i started taking efexor 75mg for a month and was disgusted with the side effects of the meds.
i stopped taking my tabs from 4 January and although the withdrawal symptoms are a nightmare.I have the support of my husband. He is always there to assure me that i am better off without it. I try to focus only on the positive that will come out of it. whenever i want to pop a pill I look @ myself and remind myself why i stopped taking it. If you want to stop taking efexor you need to have a strong will power and vow to never go back.
Put your faith in God and He will do the rest. dont go back on it once you stop.

yvette wrote:

I have been on anti depressants for 4 years to treat my panic and anxiety. I took cipralex,rivotril,fluoxetine,c ymbalta to name a few. i started taking efexor 75mg for a month and was disgusted with the side effects of the meds.
i stopped taking my tabs from 4 January and although the withdrawal symptoms are a nightmare.I have the support of my husband. He is always there to assure me that i am better off without it. I try to focus only on the positive that will come out of it. whenever i want to pop a pill I look @ myself and remind myself why i stopped taking it. If you want to stop taking efexor you need to have a strong will power and vow to never go back.
Put your faith in God and He will do the rest. dont go back on it once you stop.

It can be difficult to do tapering slowly is less painful and easier on your body in the end. usually

yvette wrote:

I have been on anti depressants for 4 years to treat my panic and anxiety. I took cipralex,rivotril,fluoxetine,c ymbalta to name a few. i started taking efexor 75mg for a month and was disgusted with the side effects of the meds.
i stopped taking my tabs from 4 January and although the withdrawal symptoms are a nightmare.I have the support of my husband. He is always there to assure me that i am better off without it. I try to focus only on the positive that will come out of it. whenever i want to pop a pill I look @ myself and remind myself why i stopped taking it. If you want to stop taking efexor you need to have a strong will power and vow to never go back.
Put your faith in God and He will do the rest. dont go back on it once you stop.

I agree with btd...because you just quit cold turkey is why you're experiencing such harsh withdrawal symptoms. You can't to that to yourself and your body. You have to taper off slow which is what I did and I haven't experience any side effects and I've been completely off for several months now. Bless your heart for doing it cold turkey because there's no way I would be able to function doing it like that but I sincerely wish you the best of luck!

Effexor Taper Schedule
This schedule is taken from the experience of people at paxilprogress.org where people have been joining together and helping each other learn about these drug and get off them since 2004. You are about to benefit from all the suffering and mistakes made by other people who have been where you are. So listen up… it can save you a world of hurt.

To taper off E rules of thumb know you are an individual and how you are responding to the taper trumps everything else even the tapering schedule.

Reduce your dose by 10% wait 4-6 wks depending on how you feel. Reduce your current dose by 10% wait 4-6 wks repeat.

If you feel bad stay at dose longer or reduce the amount you taper.

The point of taper is to feel as well as you can and still get off the drug it is not to endure more and more pain and distress. There will be some for sure but this limits it to a tolerable level otherwise what is the point.

add on
The last word I have heard on this is to taper down by 5% rather than 10% due I suspect to the horrid withdrawal effexor causes. You may find ten ok but if not try five.
Smaller drops lessen withdrawal symptoms and has been advocated for anyone that cannot tolerate 10% drops in the past or when you are down to a very low dose drops are more problematic with more severe withdrawal.
At the end of the day listening to your body and brain is your best bet.
This is not a race there is no hurry if you are not ill from the drug take your time you will be glad you did
Rest of this thread found here:
http://www.topix.com/forum/drug/effexor/TH0D6...