Hi, I'm Anything helps

November 2, 2026

I am a 66 yr old healthy and active man. Started tapering a month ago and stopped cold turkey 8 days ago. The brain shoks and brain swimming were expected. However, crying for no reason for very short periods were not expected. Hope this passes.

Effexor — 5mg — 8yrs — completed taper

3 Replies

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Catina1d ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @Anything helps, welcome to Taper Community! So we can advise you best, your signature says you were taking 5 mg of Effexor? Is that correct? Cold turkeying any psychiatric drug is not recommended. You have the option of reinstating a very tiny dose to stabilize so you can taper more slowly, but we'll wait to hear more details from you first. The other option is to let things be, but an abrupt cessation of any drug can cause issues so you'll have to decide if you can handle any withdrawal symptoms.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 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.

Anything helps4h ago

Effexor · completed

Thanks for the response. I was taking 5mg venlafaxine for 8 yrs. A month ago, reduced to 3.75mg. 10 days ago stopped cold turkey. It has been rough. However, reading the posts, 5mg is a very low dose compared to what I see others were prescribed. Brain shocks, waves and very short periods of tearing up for no reason. I can tell a big difference in my activity during the day increasing. Am pretty active but when taking venlafaxine, I would nap during the day and really had to push myself to be active which is one of the main reasons I am stopping the med.

Effexor — 5mg — 8yrs — completed taper

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Catina3h ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"I was taking 5mg venlafaxine for 8 yrs." — @Anything helps

Interesting. Was this a liquid version?

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