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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SunnyGirl on August 6, 2003, at 9:21:51
Hi, I've been on effexor xl about 10 months (went up to 75mg morning and evening at one point, now just on 75mg a.m.) I've begun to remove some of the contents of the capsules, quite small amounts, but was looking for advice on the best way to taper off. (When I reduced from 150/day to 75/day I just stopped when I had flu, didn't notice any change at all!!)
I've read some threads that give advice, some people say don't go cold turkey whatever you do, go for a slow taper, whilst others say that as you seem to get 'brain shivers' etc anyway, slow tapering just puts off the dreaded time!
I'm lucky in that I'm not working at present, and have no serious responsibilities. So what do you think? I know everyone's different!!!!!!
Thanks v much
Judi :)
Posted by jlo820 on August 6, 2003, at 10:01:02
In reply to Effexor - how best to come off it, posted by SunnyGirl on August 6, 2003, at 9:21:51
Are you starting another medication, or going off meds completely?
I think you will do better if you taper down over a period of 3-4 weeks. Effexor is a powerful medication, your body and brain need time to adjust to the reduction of it in your system.
Posted by linkadge on August 6, 2003, at 14:54:06
In reply to Re: Effexor - how best to come off it, posted by jlo820 on August 6, 2003, at 10:01:02
open the capsule into a small container ie a thimble or small glass (must be dry). Then using tweezers remove a single spheroid. Then ingest the rest straight from the glass (this will not hurt the pharmokinetics of the drug)
Keep track of how many you removed on the prevous day and remove one more each day than the day before.
Good Luck
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on August 6, 2003, at 15:04:08
In reply to Re: Effexor - how best to come off it, posted by linkadge on August 6, 2003, at 14:54:06
> open the capsule into a small container ie a thimble or small glass (must be dry). Then using tweezers remove a single spheroid. Then ingest the rest straight from the glass (this will not hurt the pharmokinetics of the drug)
>
> Keep track of how many you removed on the prevous day and remove one more each day than the day before.
Approximately how many spheroids are in each capsule? How long would it take to wean down to zero from 150mg/day?Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on August 6, 2003, at 20:10:42
In reply to Re: Effexor - how best to come off it » linkadge, posted by SLS on August 6, 2003, at 15:04:08
Thats a good question but I don't really know.
I'm sure you could count them. :)
or even take an estimate.
This is a procedure my friend did, not
me. He had great sucess with it. If I
talk to him I'll ask him how many
are inside.I would say that you would want to reduce
over a period of 4-5 months. I know the
tendancy is to want to rid yourself of
it. Especially when you see it as a bad
thing. It does depend on how long you have
taken it for as well.And remember you need to *replace* the medication
with something else. You cannot just stop taking it (or you wont feel like you're making progress) Replace it an exercise program, vaulenteering, hot tub, vitamin/nutrition, something-anything.
Good LuckLinkadge
Posted by SunnyGirl on August 6, 2003, at 20:40:41
In reply to Re: Effexor - how best to come off it, posted by linkadge on August 6, 2003, at 20:10:42
> Thats a good question but I don't really know.
>
> I'm sure you could count them. :)
>
> or even take an estimate.
>
>
> This is a procedure my friend did, not
> me. He had great sucess with it. If I
> talk to him I'll ask him how many
> are inside.
>
> I would say that you would want to reduce
> over a period of 4-5 months. I know the
> tendancy is to want to rid yourself of
> it. Especially when you see it as a bad
> thing. It does depend on how long you have
> taken it for as well.
>
> And remember you need to *replace* the medication
> with something else. You cannot just stop taking it (or you wont feel like you're making progress) Replace it an exercise program, vaulenteering, hot tub, vitamin/nutrition, something-anything.
>
>
> Good Luck
>
> LinkadgeMany thanks Linkadge - esp for the comment about 4 - 5 months to come off, I always want to run before I can walk!! Talking of which, walking has always been a grt help in the past, so I'm planning on getting back into that again to help as I come off the FXR.
V best of luck to anyone who's coming off this stuff, its a pain, but we can do it!!!!
:D Judi
Posted by SLS on August 7, 2003, at 7:38:20
In reply to Re: Effexor - how best to come off it, posted by linkadge on August 6, 2003, at 20:10:42
Hi Linkadge
> I would say that you would want to reduce
> over a period of 4-5 months.
I was able to completely withdraw from Effexor 300mg in just over a week with minimal discomfort using the method I described in an earlier post. I have also used the same method to withdraw from Klonopin and Ativan, as well as Paxil. It is just a common sense way to gradually and *steadily* take smaller and smaller amounts of medication to stay ahead of the appearance of withdrawal symptoms.http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030802/msgs/248215.html
- Scott
Posted by SunnyGirl on August 7, 2003, at 10:12:42
In reply to Re: Effexor - how best to come off it, posted by SLS on August 7, 2003, at 7:38:20
> Hi Linkadge
>
> > I would say that you would want to reduce
> > over a period of 4-5 months.
>
>
> I was able to completely withdraw from Effexor 300mg in just over a week with minimal discomfort using the method I described in an earlier post. I have also used the same method to withdraw from Klonopin and Ativan, as well as Paxil. It is just a common sense way to gradually and *steadily* take smaller and smaller amounts of medication to stay ahead of the appearance of withdrawal symptoms.
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030802/msgs/248215.html
>
>
> - ScottHi Scott
a couple of questions: what kind of side effects/symptoms of withdrawal did you notice doing this? How intense were they? After coming off FXR completely, did these symptoms disappear? And how did this time of withdrawal affect your day to day life?
Sorry, that's more than a couple!! Thanks v much for everyone's input, I love this website.
Judi
Posted by SLS on August 8, 2003, at 14:51:40
In reply to Re: Effexor - how best to come off it, posted by SunnyGirl on August 7, 2003, at 10:12:42
> a couple of questions: what kind of side effects/symptoms of withdrawal did you notice doing this?
Hi.For me, withdrawal symptoms included nervousness and "brain-zaps". They are part of a syndrome that is outlined at the bottom of this post. These things disappear completely once you make it through the withdrawal period, which if done correctly, should not take any more that two weeks.
> How intense were they?
I never let them get intense. Whenever I felt withdrawal symptoms coming on, I would take a small dose of the medication. I would either bite off smaller and smaller pieces of the immediate-release version tablet or open a capsule of the XR version and take smaller and smaller amounts of the granules. This ends up being a more precise weaning schedule. I have also used this method to withdraw from benzodiazepines. Allowing the withdrawal symptoms to begin to appear before dosing allows for weaning as quickly as possible. It usually takes 15 minutes or so after dosing to relieve the symptoms. I pretty much just winged it and dosed on-the-fly. It worked well for me. I found that the granules found inside the capsules were not terribly bitter. I just sprinkled them on my tongue and washed it down with some water. It might be easier to work with the tablets, though.
- Scott-----------------------------------------------------------------
SSRI Withdrawal Syndrome
The following criteria define the SSRI (or venlafaxine) withdrawal syndrome:
Criterion A: A course of treatment in which an SSRI (or vanlafaxine) is stopped or interrupted or the dose is reduced after a period of 4 weeks or more.
Criterion B: Two or more of the following symptoms develop within 1 to 10 days of criterion A (except for fluoxetine in which case the symptoms must develop within 28 days):
(a) dizziness or light headedness
(b) nausea and/or vomiting
(c) headaches
(d) lethargy
(e) anxiety and/or agitation
(f) tingling (parasthesias), numbness or "electric" shock-like sensations
(g) tremors
(h) sweating
(i)insomnia
(j) irritability
(k) vertigo (dizziness)
(l) diarrhea
Criterion C: The symptoms of criterion B cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Criterion D: The symptoms are not due to a general medical condition or the direct physiological effects of another substance (e.g., a medication or a drug of misuse) that has been recently commenced, stopped, or altered in dosage.
Criterion E: The disorder is not better accounted for by an exacerbation/ relapse/recurrence of the psychiatric disorder for which the SSRI was prescribed.
Adapted from:
Haddad PM The SSRI discontinuation syndrome: literature review and provisional diagnostic criteria. Presented at: XXIst Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum Congress. July 12-16, 1998; Glasgow, Scotland. Reprinted in International Drug Therapy Newsletter. 1998, 33,
Posted by SunnyGirl on August 8, 2003, at 19:10:54
In reply to Re: Effexor - how best to come off it » SunnyGirl, posted by SLS on August 8, 2003, at 14:51:40
Many thanks Scott, I'll see how it goes!
Judi
This is the end of the thread.
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