Tapering off venlafaxine

[DaytimeIsCrazy]

After over 2 years on 150mg of Venlafaxine for depression, and about a year of feeling only 'normal' levels of low mood and overwhelm, I agreed with GP to start tapering the beginning of the week.
I knew it'd be a struggle as seen to be quite sensitive: if I miss a pill in the morning my head is spinning by lunchtime. I also switched from another AD to this and that was pretty rubbish, too.
I'm on 3/4 of my dose, and the withdrawal seems to be beginning as I've had a weird headache the last couple of days and woke at 3:30am wide awake...
Just posting to share, any helpful suggestions for the inevitable ups and downs gratefully received.

I’m on venlafaxine too, although not coming off it

So are you coming off to go on something else? As 150mg is a low dose, psych’s like you to go up to at least 225mg
First, everyone is different with meds. What one person feels another will have something different.
I’d say only do 37.5mg taper and at least for 6 weeks before next decrease.
Don’t want to scare you, but a notorious drug to come off.
That’s why I’m saying very very slowly, as you seem very sensitive with meds.

Are you on capsules or tablets?

I agree with granadagirl - I had a horrible time altering my venlafaxine dose, going up from 37.5 to 75mg. It made me question why I ever switched from sertraline. I can't even miss a dose by several hours before I start to feel off, unlike other ADs I've tried.
I think you just have to be patient, and be extremely gentle with any changes.

You can taper by reducing on alternate days, then same amount on every day. Leave it a while before next reduction. They don't tell you this when you go on, it's horrible, but stick with it and take your time. Valium will help if you can get it but that's addictive too.

Watching with interest as I’m on 375mg at the moment and I know I’ll need to come down at some point.

I was on 150mg slow release but want to stop taking it possible, but know I might decide to stay on it.
I've dropped to a 75mg in the am and 37.5mg pm for the last week. Some spiky head aches and tired, but ok other than that.

I don't like the idea of alternating days and GP agreed: I'm probably too sensitive to withdrawal for that.

I'm impatient so unlikely to wait 6 weeks to do next taper, but will do my best.

And not going on to anything else. Hoping I'm well enough to go drug free, but keeping open to staying on it if that's what I need.

It's been almost 2 weeks and I think I'll drop down from 3/4 of a dose to 1/2 on Monday, as suggested by dr. I haven't suffered much so hoping next taper is ok too.
I really want this to be over, and know the further on I get the worse it's likely to be...

Gp & psych like you to do it quickly!
Wether upper or downing
But it’s not their bodies.
Just because they say so, doesn’t mean you have to follow to a T

I really think 2 weeks isn’t enough for your brain/body to get used to the drop. You might not have much SE yet, but dropping by 75mg in 2 weeks is a lot.

I upped recently and stayed on each dose for 8 weeks, as venlafaxine is very powerful drug.
I don’t want to scare you or anybody else, as we’re all individuals.

Keep posting as it will give others an insight .

Thanks for info. So hard to know. Doctor was fairly cautious compared to other stuff I read. She said 2-4 weeks or more.
I just feel like the last part will be the worst, so want to get there as quickly as I can. I know that's not helpful, though.
Perhaps I should drop to 5/8 instead of a half dose? I can cut the 1/4 doses.

Yesterday I reduced from 75mg in the morning and half in the evening to just the 75mg. Around the time I was due to take my dose I felt quite dodgy: head spinning and tummy ache. Seemed to go off quite quickly.
Hopefully tomorrow will be better...

Hi Day

So your now on just 75mg in the morning? As it’s a bit unclear from the first line.

How’s it going ?

hi, i'm on sertraline (50mg) and have been for about 3 yrs. I was on 100mg before, but tapered down to 25 mg over about 3 months. 25mg just was too low for me, but taking it slowly really helped as I had no symptoms at all. Nowadays I'm a bit sloppy with taking them, sometimes I forget it for a day, or hours later I remember not having taken it. Of course I would love to be off them, but for me they work. Just take it slow and listen to your body, and mind.

Yep. Now on 75mg.
Still feeling dodgy in the morning, but wears off in time for work so sticking with it for now. Will take the next step more slowly...

I actually came straight off Venlafaxine the moment I found out I was pregnant- I won't lie- it was rough.

It took around 2 weeks for me to feel back to normal.

Wow, what dose and how long were you on it for

Now I've written this I don't think you were asking me, but in case I've not been clear what I'm taking here's my spreadsheet

I was on it for 7 years, dose 150 x

I’ve been on 150 for 6 years, and had to up to 187.5 for 8 weeks then and now on 225mg. More anxiety and I didn’t want to end up depressed like I was before I started ven as that was so scary.

I don’t know if this is menopausal related anxiety which fitted in with peri meno 6 years ago, I have had problems with anxiety since around Aged 22 on and off now 61.

2 weeks then back to normal, I’ve never know that.
My friend was on it for around that time and tapered off slowly got down to 37.5mg and all hell broke through, she’s now on 225mg and mood stableliser and was on 19mg Diazepam but now down to 11mg.

Day, I hope it works for you without too many SE, keep posting

Thanks for info. I'm keeping my patience ready for the final stages, as know this is likely to be the worst part.
I know it was the right thing to take it, it helped me get back to functioning and caring for my children properly, but it sucks to know how hard it'll be to come off.

How you doing day?

Have you come off because your in a good place now?
Can’t remember was it for depression or anxiety or both?

It took me months to come off really slowly. So don't feel you need to rush it. The drop from 37.5mg to 0 was by far the worst. I had thought all the others were bad but nothing at all was god awful. One tip I found that helped a lot was to take travel sickness tablets. Really stopped the brain zaps and helped with any dizziness that I was feeling.

Yesterday was proper shitty: an argument with DH led to me completely melting down then crashing and sleeping. I then spent the afternoon in a kind of daze.
Turns out af was due, so wondering if it was super-sized pms...

Hi

How you doing any better?

Watching with interest, as I could be down that line one day.

I'm still feeling sick in the mornings. I think I read somewhere about travel sick tablets so may try that.
Are you taking venlafaxine?