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Catina

Tapering: Effexor

2,322 posts

USA

37th Effexor Update - Feeling Good

April 6, 2026··

Posted in:Effexor (Venlafaxine)Success Stories

I'm feeling pretty good today. I slept well last night and feel fairly calm. One recent change I've made is that I have given up drinking decaf coffee. My close friend sent me some information about how even decaf coffee can affect the absorption of medications. Google AI said: "Decaf can decrease the absorption of specific medications and supplements—including thyroid medication (levothyroxine), iron supplements, and some antidepressants—if consumed simultaneously." So far, I'm not feeling any effects from my recent bead drop, so that's great news! I hope everyone is doing okay today! 🌼

Catina’s taper progress

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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.

8 Replies

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SteveStaffApr 6

Community AnchorEffexor · active

Thats really great news and i hope it stays like that! Cudos Catina 👍👍

off Stimulants (2000-2013)
off Fluoxetine (2010-2013)
off Lamotrigine (2013-2016)
off Quetiapain (2016-2020)

currently Effexor — 33mg — 13 years (from 300mg) — actively tapering | with clinician

GauchoApr 6

LighthouseLexapro · active

Great to hear!

Lexapro — actively tapering | with clinician

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CatinaApr 6

Community AnchorEffexor

"Thats really great news and i hope it stays like that! Cudos Catina 👍👍" — @Steve

Thanks for your awesome support Steve! I hope you're doing okay today.

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CatinaApr 6

Community AnchorEffexor

"Great to hear!" — @Gaucho

Thank you! 😍

GauchoApr 6

LighthouseLexapro · active

"Google AI said: "Decaf can decrease the absorption of specific medications and supplements—including thyroid medication (levothyroxine), iron supplements, and some antidepressants—if consumed simultaneously."" — @Catina

GoogleAI says that decaf can decrease absorption and then throws everything into the same bucket. It's best to sort out everything once it does that. Coffee, including decaf, is well-known for decreasing absorption of Levothyroxin. So since your taking that, it makes sense to be extra cautious with decaf, too. But timing matters, too. Those on Levothryroxin can drink coffee after an hour or so of taking their med, giving it enough time to be absorbed. That's what I did when I took Iron supplements and couldn't drink milk or take an antacid until 2 hours elapsed. As for absorption of other meds, like some antidepressants (including SSRIs), any absorption effect is basically nil. Worrying about it is likely to cause more "harm" than actually taking them together. Now, caffeine is more apt to be an issue, but that's for those who are sensitive to it or consume a lot of it. But caffeine by itself has really no effect on absorption. So yeah, it's good to know about decaf and its potential effects, but it also helps to know where more caution makes sense.👍

Lexapro — actively tapering | with clinician

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CatinaApr 6

Community AnchorEffexor

"Those on Levothryroxin can drink coffee after an hour or so of taking their med, giving it enough time to be absorbed." — @Gaucho

That's very true! I also should have mentioned that even decaf contains some stimulants, so I think my friend was making sure I was aware of that since I deal with a lot of anxiety. I'm going to steer clear of it for now and see if it makes any difference in the anxiety. Thanks for all your valuable input!

JulesStaffApr 6

Community Anchor

Glad you're feeling pretty good today, and that you slept well! I didn't know that about decaf, thanks for sharing the info.

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CatinaApr 6

Community AnchorEffexor

"I didn't know that about decaf, thanks for sharing the info." — @Jules

You're welcome! I'm grateful that my friend always shares such helpful information. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for her advice about different things. She's tapering Paxil and is on another forum.

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