Effexor · Active · Aug 26, 2026

Tapering: Effexor

active

37 posts

Florida

Hi, I'm Laura

August 26, 2026

Hello, I’ve been on SSRI/SNRI for years after being diagnosed with PMDD after birth of my second child. Started with Paxil, then Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Prozac and finally Satan’s gift Effexor. Tried to get off for years on my own to no avail, and doctors won’t help. Looking for others who have been through this hell and got to the other side. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel or just another train?

Effexor — 37.5 — 4 years — actively tapering | Prozac — 10mg — 2 weeks — holding | without clinician

10 Replies

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BasedStaffAug 26

Community AnchorEffexor

Hey! Lots of people here are tapering effexor. Our team member @Catina is the effexor master, shes been tapering for a while and its steadily progressing. It isnt easy, but it can be done! Keep the faith

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

LauraAug 26

NavigatorEffexor · active

Thank you so much for your kind support. I will reach out to her. 😊

Effexor — 37.5 — 4 years — actively tapering | Prozac — 10mg — 2 weeks — holding | without clinician

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CatinaAug 26

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @Laura! I can soooo relate to your situation. I too suffered from PMDD and have been on various antidepressants, ending with "Satan's gift", Effexor. According to your signature, it says you've been on Prozac for two weeks. Is your doctor trying to bridge you onto that? I could write a book about what Effexor has put me through. I'm very slowly tapering it, which will take years - but it's the only way for me and seems to be working well. What percentage are you reducing and how often? You could be tapering too fast. Are you counting beads to taper? I look forward to hearing from you soon so we can encourage each other on our journey off this drug! Catina 💜

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 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.

LauraAug 26

NavigatorEffexor · active

Hi, I messaged you before seeing this! Yes, the Prozac is meant as a bridge. I’m not thrilled with the doctor’s plan and not ashamed to admit I’m freaking out a bit. I have been counting beads for a year and almost 9 months now. When I got down to 10 beads, I noticed the emotional disregulation really amplified. But I’ve continued to press on, removing one bead every 4 weeks-6 weeks. Until I feel “stable.” This is a euphemism. Things started to take a turn at I believe around 5 beads. I started alternating 5 beads and 4 beads for an average of 4.5. Then 4 beads for a month. Then 4 and 3. Then 3. Then 3 and two. And that’s when it happened. I hit the side of the cliff at 500 mph. It was like a switch. The abject panic. And spiral, out of control. I cannot describe to you the horror. I went back to three. For two weeks. But it wasn’t enough. I’m back to 4 beads. Been here about a month now. It’s better. But it’s not great. Every single morning, I wake up with the panic in my chest. I feel so hopeless. I question what am I doing to myself? 😔

Effexor — 37.5 — 4 years — actively tapering | Prozac — 10mg — 2 weeks — holding | without clinician

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CatinaAug 26

Community AnchorEffexor

I'm going to share some information about doing a Prozac Bridge so you can decide if it's something you want to do. It can work, but it doesn't always. https://taper.community/resources/blog/bridging-with-prozac-for-ssri-tapering

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CatinaAug 26

Community AnchorEffexor

I'm only removing one tiny bead each month. I'm currently at 17.92 mg. A few years back I had a horrific crash when I got down to 12 mg. I updosed back up to 37.5, which in hindsight was too much.

LauraAug 26

NavigatorEffexor · active

Thank you for this resource. I have switched from Paxil to Zoloft and on the Wellbutrin and Prozac with no issues. Always at the lowest dose. The switch to Effexor was also uneventful. I figured the Prozac would be fine since I’d been on it before for years. I think my CNS is so raw that I’m affected if the wind blows. I would have liked to go to liquid Effexor but I don’t believe it’s an option here.

Effexor — 37.5 — 4 years — actively tapering | Prozac — 10mg — 2 weeks — holding | without clinician

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CatinaAug 26

Community AnchorEffexor

Do what you feel is best for yourself. Doing many drug switches can sensitive the nervous system. Effexor does come in liquid but only in immediate-release, which means you'd have to take it twice a day.

LauraAug 26

NavigatorEffexor · active

Thank you

Effexor — 37.5 — 4 years — actively tapering | Prozac — 10mg — 2 weeks — holding | without clinician

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CatinaAug 26

Community AnchorEffexor

You're welcome Laura. Please keep us updated on how you're doing.

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