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Catina
CatinaStaff

Tapering: Effexor

1555 posts

USA

11th Effexor Update - Feeling Okay - Mar 11

March 11, 2026··
taper update
Time to check in again! I slept very well last night - much better than the night before. My anxiety, heart palpitations, and hypersensitive nervous system feel a little better today too. I'm really thankful for this online check-in. It makes things so easy!

Catina’s taper progress

View full journey →
Dose (mg)
Mood (/10)

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

17 Replies

Based Psychiatrist
Based PsychiatristStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
And im thankful for you! Happy things are looking up catina!

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

Catina
CatinaStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
Thank you BP!

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Jules
JulesStaff5mo ago
Community Anchor
uughhh...Effexor! I feel for you and what you must be going through with tapering off that! Happy to hear things are feeling a little better today. Onward—one bead at a time.
Catina
CatinaStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"uughhh...Effexor! I feel for you and what you must be going through with tapering off that!" — @Jules
Thanks so much. I was severely harmed by this poison when I missed a dose and then when I tapered it too fast. Nearly cost me my life. Anywho....yeah, this drug is the worst! I'm holding right now, but when I taper again I'm reducing bead by bead. Thanks for your support! ❤️

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Jules
JulesStaff5mo ago
Community Anchor
I ended up in the hospital from withdrawing too fast. But funny thing, the docs denied what I was going through was withdrawal. Go figure.
Based Psychiatrist
Based PsychiatristStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
BEAD. BY. BEAD.

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

Catina
CatinaStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"I ended up in the hospital from withdrawing too fast. But funny thing, the docs denied what I was going through was withdrawal. Go figure." — @Jules
I did too - the psych ward - due to almost "unaliving" myself due to the torture I went through. I've ended up in the psych ward twice in my life, and both times were due to the effects of antidepressant withdrawal. Doctors denying it exists is a worldwide health crisis!

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Catina
CatinaStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"BEAD. BY. BEAD." — @Based Psychiatrist
Yes! I liken it to being locked in a prison and slowly chipping away at the walls in order to make my escape LOL!

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Jules
JulesStaff5mo ago
Community Anchor
@Catina When I landed in the hospital that time, they out me on the medical floor. The times I tried to ‘unalive’ (I hate using that word, is it necessary here!?) myself (8 times due to the drugs and shocks) of course they put me in the psych ward- even had the pleasure of staying in the rubber room a couple of times. Fun times brought to you by the world of psychiatry.
Catina
CatinaStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"When I landed in the hospital that time, they out me on the medical floor. The times I tried to ‘unalive’ (I hate using that word, is it necessary here!?) myself (8 times due to the drugs and shocks) of course they put me in the psych ward- even had the pleasure of staying in ..." — @Jules
Goodness, you've been through a lot too! Yep, fun times indeed - ugh. And I don't think there's anything wrong with using the word "suicide" here at all. I'm also on BenzoBuddies and you can't say the word "suicide," so maybe that's why I used the other word - out of habit lol.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Jules
JulesStaff5mo ago
Community Anchor
@Catina ya, been through a lot - 20 plus years of 5 diagnoses, 8 suicide (I’m using the word!) attempts/subsequent hospitalizations, 21 different psych drugs, and 39 shocks to my brain. But here I am. Thriving and psych system free!
Catina
CatinaStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"ya, been through a lot - 20 plus years of 5 diagnoses, 8 suicide (I’m using the word!) attempts/subsequent hospitalizations, 21 different psych drugs, and 39 shocks to my brain. But here I am. Thriving and psych system free!" — @Jules
Okay, you are now my official Inspiration! 😍

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Jules
JulesStaff5mo ago
Community Anchor
@Catina Thank you. That means a lot to me. If my story can give even one person hope that it’s possible to get through the psychiatric system and come out the other side thriving, that’s worth sharing it. And, I’m writing my story - coming soon.
Based Psychiatrist
Based PsychiatristStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"And, I’m writing my story - coming soon." — @Jules
Looking forward to it!!

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

Based Psychiatrist
Based PsychiatristStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"But here I am. Thriving and psych system free!" — @Jules
Way to go Jules!!! youre so impressive and inspiring

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

Catina
CatinaStaff5mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"If my story can give even one person hope that it’s possible to get through the psychiatric system and come out the other side thriving, that’s worth sharing it." — @Jules
You've definitely given me lots of hope!
"I’m writing my story - coming soon." — @Jules
I can't wait for this! 👍

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Jules
JulesStaff5mo ago
Community Anchor
Thanks so much everyone. It was a lot of hard work, but certainly worth it!

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