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  Jan 21 2006, 08:24 AM
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Most of us will have to come off Effexor XR(Efexor XL in the UK) at some time or other. This thread will give some advice on tapering schedules or cross-tapering schemes.
Any suggestions for tapering off Effexor XR (Efexor XL) is not meant to be as a substitute for your Drs advice or recommendations.
Possible side effects from discontinuing Effexor XR
Most people on Effexor XR will be able to stop the drug with only minimal side effects some others may suffer from a range of symptoms such as electrical like shocks (brain zaps), dizzyness, sleeplessness, nausea, irritability, crying or nightmares.
Why do we get discontinuation side effects
Effexor XR has a much shorter half life (4 hours) compared to SSRI like Prozac which I think has a half life of around 3 days. So stopping Effexor or missing a dose may cause some discontinuation side effects ( a dr did warn me not to run out of Effexor). Effexor XR causes this type of side effects because our serotonin receptors have to adjust immediately to reduced levels of serotonin, whereas with an AD like Prozac our receptors have longer to adjust (this is my understanding and I am not knowledgeable in this type of process).
Tapering Off
My pdoc recommended to me that I came off Effexor XR in steps of 37.5 mg every 2 to 4 weeks, with the last 2 weeks of 37.5mg every second day. I choose to do it over 2 week periods. So from 225mg dose, it took me 12 weeks to come off Effexor XR. I had minimal or no side effects at all.
From dose of 225mg
Week 1 & 2 - 187.5mg
Week 3 & 4 - 150 mg
Week 5 & 6 - 112.5 mg
Week 7 & 8 - 75 mg
Week 9 & 10 - 37.5 mg
Week 11 & 12 - 37.5 mg on alternate days
Cross-tapering off Effexor XR (Efexor XL)
If you are experiencing severe side effects of discontinuing Effexor XR there is also another method for coming off Effexor and that is cross-tapering. What you do is reduce the effexor as much as you can without getting the disabling side effects and then switching onto another AD such as Prozac at the same time as the lowest dose of Effeoxr, then stop the Effexor, and then wean off the Prozac.
What I've found on other sites is that you need to come down to 37.5mg, then start 10mg Prozac and take both together for a week, then stop the Effexor, up the Prozac to 15mg or 20mg and then taper off the Prozac after a week or two. Again this is only a suggestion, please talk to your dr for professional advice.
From dose of 225mg
Week 1 & 2 - 187.5mg
Week 3 & 4 - 150 mg
Week 5 & 6 - 112.5 mg
Week 7 & 8 - 75 mg
Week 9 - 37.5 mg Effeoxr XR, 10 mg Prozac
Week 10 & 11 - stop Effexor XR, 15 or 20 mg Prozac
Week 12 - taper off or stop Prozac
Other meds that help combat the symptoms of discontinuing Effexor XR (Efexor XL)
Some people from the States have suggested that Benadryl may help with things like dizzyness or nausea.
If you are suffering from side effects, it would be better to talk to your Dr or pharmacist for advice on what you may be able to take.
Another person recommended Green Tea.
This post has been edited by firelizardee: Mar 9 2006, 05:44 AM
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Take care Firelizardee "Eat a live frog before breakfast and nothing worse will happen to you all day" "Only Robinson Crusoe can get things done by Friday!"   Suicide help on DFUK help for people who are suicidalI am not a medical professional, when I reply to posts I do so basing my reply on personal experience or a wish to support the poster. |
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Feb 1 2006, 08:35 AM
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Senior Moderator
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My regime was similar. Little steps. My biggest fear was that the 'withdrawal' effects would not go away: but each change only lasted 1 and a half days. It took me 9 weeks to get off completely.
Don't rush it. Look after your brain. Let it rest in between each drop in amount. The effects will go away eventually. The brain zaps stop eventually!
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Lizzy Any change is scary even when we want it  |
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Feb 20 2006, 06:12 AM
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Newbie
Group: Newbie
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QUOTE(Lizzy @ Feb 1 2006, 05:35 AM)  My regime was similar. Little steps. My biggest fear was that the 'withdrawal' effects would not go away: but each change only lasted 1 and a half days. It took me 9 weeks to get off completely.
Don't rush it. Look after your brain. Let it rest in between each drop in amount. The effects will go away eventually. The brain zaps stop eventually! Yea when I went off it I slept for two weeks. 
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Mar 8 2006, 01:16 PM
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Just Registered
Group: Just Registered
Posts: 3
Joined: 8-March 06
Member No.: 6,255
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QUOTE(firelizardee @ Jan 21 2006, 08:24 AM) Most of us will have to come off Effexor XR(Efexor XL in the UK) at some time or other. This thread will give some advice on tapering schedules or cross-tapering schemes.
Any suggestions for tapering off Effexor XR (Efexor XL) is not meant to be as a substitute for your Drs advice or recommendations.
Possible side effects from discontinuing Effexor XR
Most people on Effexor XR will be able to stop the drug with only minimal side effects some others may suffer from a range of symptoms such as electrical like shocks (brain zaps), dizzyness, sleeplessness, nausea, irritability, crying or nightmares.
Why do we get discontinuation side effects
Effexor XR has a much shorter half life (4 hours) compared to SSRI like Prozac which I think has a half life of around 3 days. So stopping Effexor or missing a dose may cause some discontinuation side effects ( a dr did warn me not to run out of Effexor). Effexor XR causes this type of side effects because our serotonin receptors have to adjust immediately to reduced levels of serotonin, whereas with an AD like Prozac our receptors have longer to adjust (this is my understanding and I am not knowledgeable in this type of process).
Tapering Off
My pdoc recommended to me that I came off Effexor XR in steps of 37.5 mg every 2 to 4 weeks, with the last 2 weeks of 37.5mg every second day. I choose to do it over 2 week periods. So from 225mg dose, it took me 12 weeks to come off Effexor XR. I had minimal or no side effects at all.
From dose of 225mg
Week 1 & 2 - 187.5mg
Week 3 & 4 - 150 mg
Week 5 & 6 - 112.5 mg
Week 7 & 8 - 75 mg
Week 9 & 10 - 37.5 mg
Week 11 & 12 - 37.5 mg on alternate days
Cross-tapering off Effexor XR (Efexor XL)
If you are experiencing severe side effects of discontinuing Effexor XR there is also another method for coming off Effexor and that is cross-tapering. What you do is reduce the effexor as much as you can without getting the disabling side effects and then switching onto another AD such as Prozac at the same time as the lowest dose of Effeoxr, then stop the Effexor, and then wean off the Prozac.
What I've found on other sites is that you need to come down to 37.5mg, then start 10mg Prozac and take both together for a week, then stop the Effexor, up the Prozac to 15mg or 20mg and then taper off the Prozac after a week or two. Again this is only a suggestion, please talk to your dr for professional advice.
From dose of 225mg
Week 1 & 2 - 187.5mg
Week 3 & 4 - 150 mg
Week 5 & 6 - 112.5 mg
Week 7 & 8 - 75 mg
Week 9 - 37.5 mg Effeoxr XR, 10 mg Prozac
Week 10 & 11 - stop Effexor XR, 15 or 20 mg Prozac
Week 12 - taper off or stop Prozac
[b]Other meds that help combat the symptoms of discontinuing Effexor XR (Efexor XL) [b]
Some people from the States have suggested that Benadryl may help with things like dizzyness or nausea.
If you are suffering from side effects, it would be better to talk to your Dr or pharmacist for advice on what you may be able to take.
Another person recommended Green Tea. Please tell me if I need to be doing something different. I began Effexor XR 06/2005 after trying to cope with an ugly divorce, a job, and two little girls 8 and 10. The divorce is final, settlement is still up in the air, and my girls and I have relocated 900 miles and are living with my brother and his family. I am so very blessed to have the positive support in my life. I am working for my sister-in-law when able and taking care of myself mostly right now. In doing so, I have recognized that although the Effexor XR helped to get me through a very rough period of my life I cannot function at the level that I once did because of it. I was tapered onto Effexor XR 75 mg, in 37.5 mg over a 4 to 6 week period. I have maintained the 75 mg level until a week and a half ago. I began taking one 75 mg every other day. Today is the first day I have not taken the 75 mg in three consecutive days. I am in a fog, my head hurts to the point that my hair almost hurts, I am naseatious, I cannot seem to focus on work at all, and really just want to go to sleep for the next month. My question is should I take a 75mg dose today and repeat in three days for another week or should I simply tough it out? Thanks for any direction, Foggy.......The light in the forest is warm and inviting!!!!
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Mar 9 2006, 10:26 AM
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Just Registered
Group: Just Registered
Posts: 3
Joined: 8-March 06
Member No.: 6,255
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QUOTE(firelizardee @ Mar 9 2006, 05:42 AM) foggy
you could try just toughing it out, but it depends on what you experience. If it gets too bad then take 75mg dose. You could try reducing to 37.5mg for a week or two and then taking the 37.5mg on alternate days for another week or two and then stopping.
I'm not sure, but I'd suspect that if you took a 75mg dose now and then nothing for another 3 days that you would experience the same symptoms as now.
Effexor has to be stopped gradually otherwise you may experience some discontinuation side effects. Your dr should be able to advise you on how to stop effexor. Thanks for the advice firelizardee! I am really experiencing some ugly side effects which include nausea, dizziness, severe abdominal cramping and what goes along with it, sensitivity to light, and a massive headache. I did take a 75 mg this morning out of desperation to function a little bit today. I guess I need to get a script for the 37.5 mg dosage in order to step down correctly. What do you think???? I wish I could get off the world for 2 to 3 weeks and just tough this out. However, life is not going to cooperate with that kind of schedule. Any advice and/or encouragement would be greatly appreciated. God Bless and be with you today and always
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Mar 9 2006, 11:29 AM
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Lifetime Platinum Mermber
Group: Premium Platinum Member
Posts: 9,781
Joined: 4-July 01
From: Scotland
Member No.: 21
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QUOTE(foggy @ Mar 9 2006, 03:26 PM) I did take a 75 mg this morning out of desperation to function a little bit today. I guess I need to get a script for the 37.5 mg dosage in order to step down correctly. What do you think???? foggy if you are on the extended release version with the beads inside, you could try opening them up and taking half out. But that would mean that you wouldn't get exactly 37.5mg. Depends on whether you can afford it. I managed to remove roughly half the beads, I just opened it up, tipped the entire lot out and then separated in into 2 piles and put one half back into the capsules and just ditched the rest. Hope whatever you do works for you. I am sorry you are having these bad side effects. Eileen
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Take care Firelizardee "Eat a live frog before breakfast and nothing worse will happen to you all day" "Only Robinson Crusoe can get things done by Friday!" Suicide help on DFUK help for people who are suicidalI am not a medical professional, when I reply to posts I do so basing my reply on personal experience or a wish to support the poster. |
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Apr 19 2006, 09:35 PM
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Newbie
Group: Newbie
Posts: 8
Joined: 19-April 06
Member No.: 6,902
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I stopped taking this as it seemed to be having no discernible positive effects, for some reason I kept going to the doctors and getting the prescription and pills though - not sure exactly what my plan was but as luck would have it I can't remember where I put them so that prevents me doing anything "silly" with them lol
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Here by the sea and sand nothing ever goes as planned ~ Pete Townshend
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Apr 29 2006, 01:11 PM
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Newbie
Group: Newbie
Posts: 14
Joined: 27-April 06
Member No.: 7,103
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hi guys, was on effexor xl before (225 max), went from being suicidal to feeling really good about myself. went off them (probably not in the right way) and have been getting progressively worse since (about 4 months now). started back on them a week ago, just praying that they will work again coz am just finding it so hard to get thru the day right now
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Jul 26 2006, 09:48 AM
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Newbie
Group: Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: 30-May 06
Member No.: 7,820
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Im coming off effexor
im taking 150mg xr every two days
i suffer heavily from dizziness and become very light headed.
can anybody please tel me why
thanks
rap
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Jul 27 2006, 11:44 AM
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Lifetime Platinum Mermber
Group: Premium Platinum Member
Posts: 9,781
Joined: 4-July 01
From: Scotland
Member No.: 21
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QUOTE(rap @ Jul 26 2006, 03:48 PM) Im coming off effexor
im taking 150mg xr every two days
i suffer heavily from dizziness and become very light headed.
can anybody please tel me why
thanks
rap rap I think you are tapering off at too high a dose, you must reduce much more slowly than what you are doing. I was advised to drop in steps of 37.5mg every 2 weeks. So instead of taking 150mg every 2nd day try dropping to 112.5 for 2 weeks then down to 75mg for another 2 weeks then 37.5mg for a further two weeks. Is there a reason you have to come off the way you are doing it? Eileen
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Take care Firelizardee "Eat a live frog before breakfast and nothing worse will happen to you all day" "Only Robinson Crusoe can get things done by Friday!" Suicide help on DFUK help for people who are suicidalI am not a medical professional, when I reply to posts I do so basing my reply on personal experience or a wish to support the poster. |
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 Aug 1 2006, 10:32 PM
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Just Registered
Group: Just Registered
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From: Arizona
Member No.: 9,075
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Hi - I am new to the board and wanted to see if anyone's switched from Effexor to Cymbalta? Basically I'm switching because (1) Effexor has only been so-so for me and (2) it's no longer on my insurance formulary and therefore's more expensive now. I've been taking 150 mg of Effexor.
My doctor said I could just take Effexor one day and Cymbalta the next (she has me on 30 mg the first week and 60 thereafter). Has anyone else switched that abruptly? Unfortunately my insurance doesn't cover mental health care, so I get my anti-depressants through my GP - and she isn't always up on all the issues involved. I know I have some reaction to quitting Effexor cold-turkey without a replacement - one day I forgot to take it and was dizzy and felt "drugged." But, I'm hoping that if I simply replace Cymbalta for the Effexor that won't occur.
If anyone else has switched from Effexor to Cymbalta I'd love to hear their story.
Thanks!
This post has been edited by charlie21: Aug 1 2006, 10:34 PM
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Aug 2 2006, 05:55 AM
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Lifetime Platinum Mermber
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Stopping Effexor, users experiences and advice on tapering schedules. |
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Depression Forums - A Depression & Mental Health Community Support Group > DEPRESSION & ANXIETY MEDICATIONS - LOOKING FOR ANSWERS > Effexor® (Venlafaxine)
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