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Steve
SteveStaff

Tapering: Effexor

active

247 posts

Germany, near Frankfurt

8th Effexor Update - Feeling Poor - Mar 6

March 6, 2026··
Sadly again a bad day. Slept bad, woke up with glued eyes and mad face. Was in the garden for a short time. Kratom did not really help today. I‘m struggling with doing Sport, doing it limited anyways. Feeling depressed and angry, but also pretty fatigued about this debilitating condition. The positive thing is, i expected to be in a kind of bipolar cycle since there was a pattern in the last 1,5 months and it scared me. It seems this pattern is broken now. But honestly i would rather have some hypomanics than this depressed stuff. I will consider bridging to get off Venlafaxine and consider doing an appointment at the end of next week with a clinic that might be into tapering. I really want this to get better while hopefully avoiding the condition of being kind of chemically castrated again as i also had some improvements in the last weeks.

Steve’s taper progress

Dose (mg)
Mood (/10)

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

3 Replies

Catina
Catina6mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"Sadly again a bad day. Slept bad, woke up with glued eyes and mad face. Was in the garden for a short time. Kratom did not really help today. I‘m struggling with doing Sport, doing it limited anyways. Feeling depressed and angry, but also pretty fatigued about this debilitatin..." — @STVE
I'm really sorry you're struggling with fatigue, depression, and anger. Be proud of yourself that you at least made some effort in your garden and with sport. Regarding adding additional substances, my own experience has been that I'm sensitive to just about anything, especially something that could affect my CNS. I've found it's best to keep things as clean and simple as possible. Otherwise, it's just giving my body something else it has to deal with. Regarding bridging onto Prozac, I know that this is an option and some people do have success with it, but sadly others don't. That's what I've seen anyway. The fact that you had some improvements recently actually shows you're heading in the right direction! This process can be so painfully slow at times, but any improvement is a good sign. I really hope you can find a knowledgable and supportive clinician that can help you during this process. We're here to support you anytime! ❤️

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.

Steve
SteveStaff6mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor · active
Thank you very much Catina. All this mess started with Prozac, i won‘t take it, i was 2 years anorgasmic on it and got, for the first time in my life, severely depressed while taking that medication. I‘m also very sensitive since coming down of the high dosages. I will find smth else. Complicated situation. Sadly i finally need some progress, my life stagnates since so many years and i honestly don‘t know how long my parents can still support me, should be a well grown man by now. I‘ll keep you all updated.

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

Catina
Catina6mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
Of course STVE, we're here anytime. It does sound complicated, I'm sorry. Please do keep us updated on your life and how things are going.

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.

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