How to Stop Taking the Antidepressant Effexor

Effexor and Effexor XR are trade names for venlafaxine in the US, an antidepressant that treats millions of people. Effexor is prescribed by doctors to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and panic disorders. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} Effexor is a prescription drug, so it’s important that you take it as directed by your doctor, including when you and your doctor decide when to take it. is most appropriate to stop taking the drug. You may be able to stop using Effexor by gradually reducing the dose and relieving possible withdrawal symptoms.

Table of Contents

Reduce drug dosage

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Go see a doctor. Whatever you plan to do, you should consult your doctor when you feel you should stop taking Effexor. Even if you already feel better or even have to stop taking your medicine because of pregnancy or another condition, stopping suddenly can have serious consequences. Your doctor can help you make an informed decision about alternative therapies or stopping Effexor altogether. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Avoid stopping or reducing your dose of Effexor before talking to your doctor. You need to continue to follow your doctor’s instructions when prescribing your medication.
Tell your doctor why you want to stop taking the medicine. You need to be honest when giving your reasons so that your doctor can consider the best treatment options for you. There are many reasons why you might want to stop taking Effexor, such as if you are already feeling better, you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or because of a drug interaction. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
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 option that you can choose from if necessary.

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No hurry. Regardless of how long you have been taking Effexor, you should give yourself plenty of time to stop taking it. Even just trying to stop taking it suddenly, you may experience unpleasant symptoms that could worsen your condition. Depending on the dose you are taking, it may take from a week to several months to stop taking Effexor. Based on your condition and the dose of medication you are taking, your doctor can help you calculate how long it will take to stop taking Effexor. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Plan to reduce the dose of the drug. You need to reduce the dose of Effexor gradually. There’s no quicker and more effective rule of thumb than working with your doctor to create a plan that’s unique to you and your condition. This means that how much the dose is reduced and by how long can vary considerably, depending on factors like how you feel and withdrawal symptoms. ^{[5] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source} Consult your doctor to see if your plan is viable.

Take 1-2 weeks to reduce your dose of Effexor if you have only been taking it for less than 8 weeks. If you have been taking Effexor for 6-8 months, you must wait at least 1 week between dose reductions. For patients taking Effexor at a maintenance dose, the reduction in dosage will be slower. For example, you should not reduce more than ¼ of your dose every 4-6 weeks. ^{[6] X Research Source}
Write the plan on paper or in a notebook with other notes such as your mood or problems you face. For example, you might write a plan like this: “Initial dose 300 mg; first dose reduction: 225 mg; 2nd reduced dose: 150 mg; 3rd dose reduction: 75 mg; 4th dose reduction: 37.5 mg.” ^{[7] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

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Divide the pill into small pieces. Once you’ve talked to your doctor and come up with a plan, you need to make sure the dose of your medicine is right for that plan. You can ask your doctor to prescribe a special dose of medicine, have a pharmacist break it up, or break it up yourself with a pill cutter. ^{[8] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

If you are taking Effexor XR, you will have to change to regular Effexor. Effexor XR is a long-acting drug, and cutting the tablet in half affects its release mechanism. This means that there is a risk of overdose, as too much medicine will be released at once. ^{[9] X Research Source}
Buy a pill cutter at a pharmacy or medical supply store. Ask your pharmacist or salesperson if the product is right for your split medicine needs.

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Monitor your performance. When reducing your dose of Effexor, it is important to monitor your mood and physical symptoms. You may even have to check your mood every week. This will help warn of possible problems or indicate whether you should reduce the dose of the medicine even more slowly. ^{[10] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

Keep a weekly journal as part of your cessation plan. Keep a record of your dose and how you feel. If you feel comfortable and have few withdrawal symptoms, you can continue to reduce the dose of the drug according to your scheduled schedule. Remember not to speed the process to prevent withdrawal symptoms. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Consider keeping a “mood calendar” for each day of the week. You can rate your mood on a scale of 1-10 every day to identify problems or detect patterns of symptoms when the dose is reduced. ^{[12] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

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Stop reducing the dose if necessary. If symptoms worsen or severe withdrawal symptoms occur, you should consider discontinuing a dose reduction. You can always add half a dose or return to the full dose until the situation improves. Until then, you can continue to reduce the dose of the drug to a lesser extent. ^{[13] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

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Stay in touch with your doctor. During the reduction in the dose of Effexor, you should keep your doctor informed of your progress. Tell your doctor if you have problems or have withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may recommend a new plan or alternative treatment to deal with withdrawal problems or symptoms when you stop taking Effexor. ^{[14] X Research Source}

If you have trouble stopping Effexor, your doctor may suggest switching to fluoxetine (Prozac). This way you can reduce your dose of fluoxetine without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

Reduce withdrawal symptoms

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Recognize withdrawal symptoms. Venlafaxine has one of the highest rates of withdrawal symptoms when it is stopped. ^{[15] X Research Sources} When reducing your 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 ways to relieve any of these symptoms: ^{[16] X Research Source}

Nervous
Dizzy
Tired
Headache
Have lucid dreams
Insomnia
Nausea
Excitement
Concerned
Chills
Sweating
Runny nose
Trembling
Feelings of insecurity or fear
Muscle pain
Stomach problems
Flu-like symptoms
Depression
Having thoughts of suicide

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Find emergency help. If you have 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 your symptoms and possibly stop you from harming yourself.

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Find support. During the process of stopping Effexor, you will need as much support as possible. This will help you deal with the withdrawal symptoms and side effects you may experience. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

Continue to keep your doctor informed of your progress. You may even need to see a psychiatrist or psychologist as an alternative form of therapy to help with stopping Effexor. This can limit symptoms and perhaps also provide you with a new coping mechanism.
Let family and friends know that you are stopping taking Effexor and may be experiencing withdrawal symptoms. You should let them know how they can help you.
Take a break from work if necessary. Be honest with your manager about your condition. If you still can’t take leave, ask what you can do to contribute to the company if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms or relapse.

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Mobility. Mobility exercises help produce serotonin and can be very effective in fighting depression. If you are stopping taking Effexor, you can exercise regularly to make up for it. It also helps control withdrawal symptoms and helps you feel better. ^{[18] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

Try to dedicate a total of 150 minutes each week or 5 sessions of 30 minutes each to moderate-intensity activities. Activities like walking, jogging, swimming or cycling will benefit your mood. You should also consider yoga or Pilates, which not only add to your total weekly activity time, but also improve your mood and help you relax.

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Eat nutritious food. You can increase the effectiveness of your workouts and rest with a healthy diet. Moderate meals based on the 5 food groups will help maintain stable blood sugar levels and prevent nausea or stomach problems. ^{[19] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

Choose food from 5 food groups. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and milk. ^{[20] X Trusted Source USDA Center for Nutrition Ppicy and Promotion Go to the source} You should try to eat half of your servings of vegetables at each meal.
Consider eating more magnesium-rich foods like: almonds, avocados, spinach, soybeans, black beans, salmon, halibut, oysters, peanuts, quinoa, and brown rice. ^{[21] X Research Source}

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Stress management. You need to try to control stress as much as possible if you are under a lot of pressure. Stress can worsen withdrawal symptoms and even cause anxiety. ^{[22] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

Avoid stressful situations whenever possible. If you can’t avoid it, fix it by taking a deep breath and asking permission to “go to the bathroom” or “to answer the phone”. Just a moment’s pause can help relieve stress.
Allow yourself to have regular massages to relax.

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Rest as often as possible. You may experience a variety of withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking Effexor. Getting enough rest is part of staying in a good mood and reducing stress. This includes regular sleep patterns and occasional daytime naps to feel better. ^{[23] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. You should sleep at least 7 hours a night and keep this habit even on weekends to minimize symptoms. ^{[24] X Research Sources}
Take a 20-30 minute nap as needed. You will regain your sanity and possibly reduce your withdrawal symptoms.

Warning

Avoid stopping Effexor on your own. Consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication dosage. You should also not take any other medicines while taking Effexor without consulting your doctor first.
Continue taking Effexor even if you already feel better. If you stop taking the medicine, your condition may start to get worse again.

Steps

Reduce drug dosage

Reduce withdrawal symptoms

Warning

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