Posted by Readersleaders on April 17, 2005, at 20:04:11
In reply to Weaning off Effexor XR, posted by Keemo on April 13, 2005, at 17:49:23
Try tapering in doses that don't have such big gaps in them and leave your body enough time in between reductions to adjust.
Try taking one 75mg/XR and one 37.5mg/XR = 112.50mg. Stay at any new dose until your system adjusts to it (I recommend based on my own tapering at least 2 weeks--more if you need too).
Then go to tablets by using: 4/25mg tablets/per day = 100mg
Take 2 in the morning and 2 at night. (I always take mine with food in my stomach). Stay at this dose for at least 2 weeks before reducing again.Then try taking one 37.50mg tablet in the morning and one 37.50mg tablet in the evening = 75mg/per day.
Next you could try 1/25mg. tablet in the morning and 1/25mg. tablet at night = 50mg per day
Keep tapering down in small steps and leave enough time in between doses.
Go to bed at a decent hour, eat properly--get rid of sugars, caffeine laden foods and drinks. Don't watch horror type movies/shows--the mind is much more sensistive to this type of stuff and can make the tapering process much more troublesome. Be around positive people, read uplifting literature and keep a journal of all the good things going on in your life so that you can look at it on days when you don't feel so good and have hope.
> I have been on Effexor XR 150mg (in the morning) with 50 mg of Imiprimine (at night) for the last 6 years.
> I was on it about 10 years ago also and tried to go off cold turkey but that did not go well. I had flu-like symptoms, dizziness, confusion etc.
>
> This time I decided to be smarter about it because I know if I even miss one dose I feel side-effects. So I went to my new Dr. (we have moved to another town) and told him I wanted to wean off and he cut my dose in 1/2 to 75mg a day.
>
> It is the second day and I feel tired, light-headed, I'm having trouble concentrating and have a terrible headache up the back of my head. Also yesterday I started getting this sharp pain, in my right ear, which has been happening off and on today too.
>
> Is all of this normal with gradual withdrawl? I thought it would be easier this time. Any input would be appreciated.
> Thanks
poster:Readersleaders
thread:483845
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050323/msgs/485621.html