Posted by Clarity on November 4, 2005, at 16:41:21 [reposted on November 6, 2005, at 9:51:21 | original URL]
In reply to Re: getting off effexor » Clarity, posted by SLS on November 4, 2005, at 7:52:47
Thanks for this. It makes a lot of sense. But my pharmacist told me effexor doesn't come in smaller doses. You can't cut a capsule in half. How do I access smaller doses?
> Hi.
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> You are much better off taking small amounts of Effexor every day instead of skipping days. The drug has such a short half-life, it drains out of the body too fast to use a day-skipping strategy. It's like going cold-turkey two days out of three. This is counterproductive and can only extend and amplify your withdrawal symptoms, not mitigate them. I recommend a flexible dosing strategy. In short, it involves taking very small doses of Effexor several times a day. Once you feel the withdrawal symptoms appear, you simply take a small dose as if you were taking aspirin for a headache - sort of a PRN. You are better off taking smaller and smaller doses rather than fewer and fewer. This will happen automatically. Optimally, you choose to take the minimum amount of Effexor that will allow you to go 6-8 hours without withdrawal symptoms. Then, once the symptoms reappear, you take your next dose.
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> - Scott
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> > I've been on Effexor for many years and am feeling well enough to try it drug-free but it's very tough! I'm suffering way more side-effects now than when I began the drug. I can't sleep, which is a new problem for me. I've gradually reduced from one big pill(75 mg?) and one little (35?) a day down to one little one every third day. This is my first attempt at skipping the third day and I've been unable to stay asleep. When will this drug let me go?
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poster:Clarity
thread:575936
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20051018/msgs/575938.html