Content

• Steps
• Warning

Effexor and Effexor XR are the trade names of the drug venlafaxine in the US, an antidepressant that treats millions of people. Effexor is prescribed by doctors to treat depression, anxiety disorders and panic disorders. Effexor is a prescription drug, so it is important that you take it according to your doctor's instructions, including deciding when it is best for you and your doctor to stop taking it. You can stop using Effexor by gradually reducing the dosage and easing the possible withdrawal symptoms.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Reduce dosage of the drug

1. 

   See a doctor. Whatever you plan to do, seek advice from your doctor when you feel you should stop taking Effexor. Even if you feel better or even forced to stop taking your medication due to pregnancy or another condition, suddenly stopping the medication can have serious consequences. Your doctor can help you make a sound decision about alternative treatments or completely discontinue Effexor.
   • Avoid stopping or reducing the Effexor dosage before talking to your doctor. You need to continue to follow your doctor's instructions when prescribing your medication.
   • Talk to your doctor about why you want to stop taking your medication. Be honest about the reasons your doctor can consider the best treatment options for you. There are many reasons why you might want to stop taking Effexor, such as you feel better, you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or because of a drug interaction.
   • Listen to your doctor's recommendations. Ask your doctor if you have any questions, including the benefits and risks of stopping and other alternative therapies your doctor may recommend. There is always a second treatment that you can choose from if needed.

2. 

   
   
   No hurry. Regardless of how long you have taken Effexor, you should make plenty of time in the process of stopping it. Even if you just try to stop the medication suddenly, you could experience unpleasant symptoms that could worsen your condition. Depending on the dosage you are using, it may take anywhere from a week to several months to stop taking Effexor. Based on the condition and dosage of the medication you are taking, your doctor can help you calculate the time it takes to stop taking Effexor.

3. 

   
   
   Make a plan to reduce your medication dosage. You need to reduce the dosage of Effexor gradually. There is no faster and more effective rule than working with your doctor to create your own plan for you and your condition. This means how much the dose is reduced and how long it takes can vary significantly, depending on factors like how you are feeling and your withdrawal symptoms. Consult with your doctor to see if your plan is workable.
   • Take 1-2 weeks to reduce the dose of Effexor if you are taking it for less than 8 weeks. If you have taken Effexor for 6-8 months, you must wait at least 1 week between dose reductions. For patients taking Effexor with the maintenance dose, dosage reduction will be slower. For example, you should not reduce more than of the dose every 4-6 weeks.
   • Write the plan on paper or in a notebook with other notes such as your mood or any problems you have. For example, you could write a plan as follows: “Initial dose 300 mg; first reduced dose: 225 mg; 2nd dose reduction: 150 mg; 3rd reduction dose: 75 mg; 4th dose reduction: 37.5 mg. "

4. 

   
   
   Split the pill. Once you have discussed with your doctor and made a plan, you need to make sure the dosage of the medicine is according to the plan. You can ask your doctor to prescribe a special dosage medicine, have your pharmacist split the medicine or split it up yourself with a pill cutter.
   • If you are taking Effexor XR, you will have to switch to the regular Effexor. Effexor XR is a long acting drug, and cutting in half affects the mechanism of drug release. This means there is a risk of an overdose, as the drug will be released too much at once.
   • Buy a medicine cutter at a pharmacy or medical device store. Ask the pharmacist or salesperson if the product is suitable for your medication division needs.

5. 

   Keep track of your performance. When reducing the dose of Effexor, it is important to monitor your mood and physical symptoms. You may even have a weekly mood check. This will help warn of possible problems or indicate whether you should reduce your dose even more slowly.
   • Keep a journal every week as part of your medication withdrawal plan. Take note of your dose and how it feels. If you are comfortable and have few withdrawal symptoms, you can continue to reduce your dose as scheduled. Be sure not to rush the process to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
   • Consider writing a “mood calendar” for each day of the week. You can rate your mood with a scale of 1-10 daily to identify problems or detect a pattern of symptoms when reducing medication dosage.

6. 

   Stop reducing the dose of the drug if necessary. If symptoms worsen or if withdrawal symptoms are severe, you should consider stopping the dose of the medication from decreasing. You can always add another half dose or go back to the full dose until the situation improves. By then, you can continue to reduce your dose to a lower extent.

7. 

   Stay in touch with your doctor. During the Effexor dosage reduction process, you need to tell your doctor about your progress. Tell your doctor if you have problems or have symptoms of quitting. Your doctor may recommend a new plan or alternative treatments to deal with withdrawal problems or symptoms when you stop taking Effexor.
   • If you have trouble stopping Effexor, your doctor may recommend switching to fluoxetine (Prozac). This way you can reduce your dose of fluoxetine without having to experience withdrawal symptoms.
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Part 2 of 2: Reduce withdrawal symptoms

1. 

   Recognize the withdrawal symptoms. Venlafaxine is one of the drugs with the highest incidence of withdrawal symptoms when stopped. When reducing the dose of Effexor, you may or may not have withdrawal symptoms, but it is best to be aware of typical symptoms. Ask your doctor for relief from any of the following symptoms:
   • Nervous
   • Dizziness
   • Tired
   • Headache
   • Have lucid dreams
   • Insomnia
   • Nausea
   • Excitement
   • Concerned
   • Chills
   • Sweating
   • Runny nose
   • Shivering
   • Feelings of insecurity or fear
   • Muscle pain
   • Stomach problems
   • The symptoms resemble flu
   • Depression
   • Have suicidal thoughts

2. 

   Seek urgent help. If you experience persistent depression or suicidal thoughts when you stop taking Effexor, call your doctor or go to your local hospital as soon as possible. Your doctor will help ease the symptoms and possibly stop you from harming yourself.

3. 

   Get help. When you stop taking Effexor, you will need as much assistance as possible. This will help you cope with the withdrawal symptoms and side effects you may experience.
   • Keep your doctor informed about your progress. You may even need to see a psychiatrist or a psychiatrist as an alternative form of therapy to assist in the time of stopping Effexor. This can limit your symptoms and perhaps also provide you with a new coping mechanism.
   • Let family and friends know that you are stopping Effexor and may experience withdrawal symptoms. You should let them know how they can help you.
   • Take a break from work for a while if necessary. Be honest with your manager about your status. If you still can't get off, ask what you can do to contribute to the company if you are experiencing symptoms of quitting smoking or having a relapse.

4. 

   Be active. Exercise exercises help produce serotonin and can be very effective in fighting depression. If you are stopping Effexor, you can exercise regularly to make up for the medication. This activity can also help control withdrawal symptoms and make you feel better.
   • Try to devote a total of 150 minutes per week or 5 sessions of 30 minutes each to moderate intensity activities. Activities like walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling can be beneficial for your mood. Consider practicing yoga or Pilates, which not only increase your total weekly activity time, but also improve your mood and help you relax.

5. 

   Eat nutritious food. You can increase the effectiveness of exercise and rest with a healthy diet. Moderate meals based on 5 food groups will help maintain a stable blood sugar level and prevent nausea or stomach problems.
   • Choose food from 5 food groups. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and dairy. You should try to eat vegetables with half the amount of food at each meal.
   • Consider eating more magnesium-rich foods like: almonds, avocados, spinach, soybeans, black beans, salmon, halibut, oysters, peanuts, quinoa, and brown rice.

6. 

   Stress management. You need to try to manage stress as much as possible if you are under a lot of pressure. Stress can worsen withdrawal symptoms and even cause anxiety.
   • Avoid stressful situations whenever possible. If you can't avoid it, fix it by taking a deep breath and asking for permission to "go to the toilet" or "answer the phone". Just a moment of rest can help reduce stress.
   • Allow yourself to have regular massages to relax yourself.

7. 

   Rest as often as possible. You may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking Effexor. Getting adequate rest is part of keeping a good mood and reducing stress. This includes regular sleep patterns and occasional daytime naps to feel better.
   • Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. You should get at least 7 hours of sleep each night and keep this routine even on weekends to minimize symptoms.
   • Take a 20-30 minute nap when needed. You will regain alertness and may reduce your withdrawal symptoms.
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Warning

• Avoid arbitrarily discontinuing the drug Effexor. Consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication dosage. You should also not take any other medicines while taking Effexor without first consulting your doctor.
• Continue taking Effexor even if you feel better. If you stop taking the medicine, your condition will probably start to get worse again.