Effexor is a very hard drug to get off once you have been on it. There is a safe and tolerable way to wean yourself off. Your doctor should always be involved with this process and your decisions.
Step 1:
Talk your doctor and make sure he/she knows what’s going on. Don’t let them make this choice for you. I had that happen to me! I went to a psychopharmacist because I wanted to come off Effexor after being on it for 4 years. She said that I should stay on it, and that was that. It was my choice to take medication, so it is my choice to get off of it! Remember folks, medical professionals make money by you being on Effexor. It is your choice! I found a different doctor and he was supportive of my decision. Unfortunately, he was uneducated about what Effexor specifically is and how the side effects can be.
Step 2:
Never fear about what your hear! (SidEffexor, etc.) You must realize that this is a process, a journey, and you must be committed! Just so you know, Effexor dosages are available in increments of 37.5. If you are taking 150 mg daily, start a 3 day regimen that you will repeat for at least 2 weeks. (Don’t take beads out of the pills!) The process is set up in patterns. Pattern One 1:2 Day 1- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 2- Take 150mg Day 3- Take 150mg Day 4- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 5- Take 150mg Day 6- Take 150mg Day 7- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 8- Take 150mg Day 9- Take 150mg Day 10- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 11- Take 150mg Day 12- Take 150mg Day 13- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 14- Take 150mg Now, you can do this for 2 weeks, months, or years… however long you feel comfortable at this dose. When you are ready to ramp down some more, take the next step.
Step 3:
Pattern Two 1:1 Take each dosage every other day. Day 1- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 2- Take 150mg Day 3- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 4- Take 150mg Day 5- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 6- Take 150mg Day 7- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 8- Take 150mg Day 9- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 10- Take 150mg Day 11- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 12- Take 150mg Day 13- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 14- Take 150mg Pattern Three: 1:0 Keep it up! By now, you can comfortably take a 75 mg and 37.5 mg pill a day, every day. Do this for at least 2 weeks, but remember take as long as you need before you decide to ramp down again.
Step 4:
Now if you are feeling anxious, electric shock sensations, nausea, dizziness, irritability, and loss of appetite, it is alright. I know those symptoms aren’t pleasurable, but they are common during the withdrawal process from Effexor. It is important to use your mind to control your bodily symptoms. Just tell yourself (and even others around you) that you are acting and feeling different because you are coming off a really strong antidepressant. Practice relaxation techniques, whether you are male or female! Meditation, yoga, exercise, taking a hot bath, and bonding with children/animals are all ways to relax and improve your body and spirit. Be good to yourself, take it easy, and talk to friends or counselors to help you through the harder days.
Step 5:
From here you will repeat the way you ramped from 150 to 112.5 mg to ramp from 112.5 to 75, and again for 75 to 37.5, and again from 37.5 to nothing. Remember, it goes in Three Patterns. Pattern One 1:2 Day 1- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 2- Take 75mg Day 3- Take 75mg Day 4- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 5- Take 75mg Day 6- Take 75 mg Day 7- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 8- Take 75mg Day 9- Take 75 mg Day 10- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 11- Take 75 mg Day 12- Take 75mg Day 13- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5mg pill. Day 14- Take 75 mg Pattern Two 1:1 Day 15- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 16- Take 75mg Day 17- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 18- Take 75mg Day 19- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 20- Take 75mg Day 21- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 22- Take 75mg Day 23- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 24- Take 75mg Day 25- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 26- Take 75mg Day 27- Take a 75 mg pill and 37.5 mg pill. Day 28- Take 75mg Pattern Three 1:0 Take 75mg of Effexor daily. Repeat again and then one more time.
Step 6:
You did it! You are off Effexor! Congratulations! Remember to keep your exercise and healthy lifestyle the best that you can!
While I was on Effexor, it worked very well. I would take it and feel happy, no matter what was going on. I would look forward to the effect. However, I didn’t like depending on a pill to feel normal, so I decided to ramp down off Effexor. It was one of the best choices I made, but it was a challenging process sometimes.
I came off Effexor very slowly. I was on 150 mg for 4 years. At first, my doctor wouldn’t let me come off it, but I persisted. I suffered from these side effects: I felt anxious, electric shock sensations, nausea, dizzy, irritability, and loss of appetite, it is alright. I know those symptoms aren’t pleasurable, but they are common during the withdrawal process from Effexor. I found it helped to use my mind to control my bodily symptoms. Just tell yourself (and even others around you) that you are acting and feeling different because you are coming off a really strong antidepressant. Tell yourself everything will be ok! Practice relaxation techniques, whether you are male or female! Meditation, yoga, exercise, taking a hot bath, and bonding with children/animals are all ways to relax and improve your body and spirit. Be good to yourself, take it easy, and talk to friends or counselors to help you through the harder days. Remember to keep up exercise and a healthy lifestyle the best that you can! Did you know 3-5 days of exercise are equivalent to taking an anti-depressant. It is a natural physiological process without chemicals or side effects.
