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awakeanddreaming
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Default Feb 18, 2019 at 10:34 PM
  #1
I took my last dose of Effexor XR 37.5mg on Wednesday of last week. I had been on 150mg from about 2006 to 2016, then did a taper in 2016 but got stuck at 37.5 because I was too scared to go any further. After taking time off work and getting scared in January, I decided this long weekend was the one, I booked Friday and Tuesday off work to give me 5 days off and just went for it. Naturally I got a brutal cold and then threw my back out from coughing too much so it definitely hasn't been easy, but I really wanted to stick with it. My doctor and my pharmacist are on board with my plan but didn't have super great tips other than take tylenol, rest, be nice to myself and keep some effexor around in case things get too terrible (i can also go back to my doctor if I need to). Things were going really well until today when I got hit with super bad aches, pains and sensitive skin, even the inside of my bladder feels more sensitive somehow. Advil and Clonazepam seem to have taken some of the edge off, but I don't want to now get hooked on a benzo. Any tips for getting through the next couple days?

Also, does anyone have any success stories for getting off Effexor? A few people have really scared me that I'm destroying my brain by taking this step and I'd love to hear from anyone who has successfully done this. I have faith that I can do it.
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Default Feb 18, 2019 at 10:53 PM
  #2
I have faith that you can do it, too. I was on a smaller dose for a shorter period, but still had to dose off. I feel better now and my skin complexion seems to have improved, too. I used Xanax to help with the intensity for a few weeks, but didn’t become addicted to it. Now I only take 0.5 Xanax every few days to help with sleep/evening anxiety.

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awakeanddreaming
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Default Feb 18, 2019 at 10:54 PM
  #3
Quote:
Originally Posted by HowDoYouFeelMeow? View Post
I have faith that you can do it, too. I was on a smaller dose for a shorter period, but still had to dose off. I feel better now and my skin complexion seems to have improved, too. I used Xanax to help with the intensity for a few weeks, but didn’t become addicted to it. Now I only take 0.5 Xanax every few days to help with sleep/evening anxiety.

Thank you! That really helps! I can only hope that my skin complexion improves with this. Not loving the 32 year old acne spots....
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Thanks for this!
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Default Feb 19, 2019 at 12:37 AM
  #4
Years back I came off of Effexor XR because it just wasn't working well anymore. You may even find the 37.5 down to 0.0 is too fast. It is possible to actually open the capsules and take out some of the med for an even lower dose. I've heard of some people having to do that. I was okay going from 75.0 to 0.0 but yes, the brain zaps were uncomfortable for a few days. But I was off and with no withdrawal symptoms after about 10 days. And no, my brain wasn't destroyed.
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Thanks for this!
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Default Feb 19, 2019 at 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by ArtleyWilkins View Post
Years back I came off of Effexor XR because it just wasn't working well anymore. You may even find the 37.5 down to 0.0 is too fast. It is possible to actually open the capsules and take out some of the med for an even lower dose. I've heard of some people having to do that. I was okay going from 75.0 to 0.0 but yes, the brain zaps were uncomfortable for a few days. But I was off and with no withdrawal symptoms after about 10 days. And no, my brain wasn't destroyed.

That really helps to hear!! Today will be day five without it and so far so good! I still have a cold that's kind of kicking my butt but fully intend to go back to work tomorrow and move on with things!

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Default Sep 28, 2019 at 09:21 AM
  #6
I can't call myself a success story yet but I am slowly tapering off Effexor by counting beads. I tried to get off it once several years ago and I know from that experience that I, personally, couldn't handle going from 37.5 mg to zero. I'm currently taking about 100mg/day and am planning a relatively moderate paced taper until I reach 37.5 mg. After that I'm going to slow way down. Before I think I tried jumping off completely from maybe 10mg and I was overwhelmed with anxiety. In my case, I've been taking this drug for 25 years and that can make a difference.
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