Help with withdrawl from effexor

Hi! There is no one good way to come off any medication.. And as with anything its going to be different per person as everyone has a different reaction to every medication. Definitely talk to your physician as you should never go off a med without their approval and careful attention. Good luck ...

I would recomend cutting your dosage in half and taking that amount for a week then cut that in half and take that for a week until you are down to nothing. I have been on effexor xr for about 5 years now and I dont think I will ever stop taking it because I dont ever want to go back to how I was before I found effexor. Amanda MNIX1@hotmail.com

Effexor, Paxil and all the mood enhancers for depression are meds that you need to handle carefully. I have tried so many and there are some that I would never recommend to anyone. I am on Effexor currently and it may not be the answer for me. I am going to a specialist to work on this since it is probably more that just depression and PTSD. I now am inclined to agree that it is bipolar II. I, of course, want to deny this and to run in the other direction. But, the bottom line is, I have to face whatever it is and deal with it. I have tried coming off antidepressants in the past. I have done it cold turkey and I would not recommend that to anyone. It is really something that you have to discuss with your doctor and even if they don't agree, you need to be firm and explain that you intend to do it and you want their cooperation. Or, if you are just questioning it, talk to them about possible alternatives. Don't be afraid to research the different kinds of meds before you talk to your doctor. I did this and I explained to my doctor how I felt about the different alternatives. She agreed to work with me and to get me a specialist to help me get to the root of the problem. I don't like being depressed, I don't feel good about the mood swings and what effect it has had on my family. I have been through a living hell and I want answers. She recommended a book called "Why Am I Still Depressed?" There is a really good web site by Dr. Phelps and it is at www.psycheducation.org. It is written so that the patient and doctors can read and understand it and it is amazing. I hope you will check it out and that you find the answers you are looking for. It is a rough road that people who suffer from depression are on. The book is available on Barnes and Nobles web site and they also will link you to sellers of used copies for less. I always check it out before I purchase books since full price is not something I can afford. Good luck and keep smiling!

As with any anti-depressant, your doctor would have to taper you off. I WOULD NOT attempt to do this myself. Effexor is used for other things besides depression, but if you're taking it for depression, it would be very dangerous to just stop, as would any other medication you've been on for some time.