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BasedStaff

Effexor · Feb 22, 2026

Tapering: Effexor

985 posts

Europe

Intro / Based Psychiatrist

February 22, 2026

Hello everyone, Welcome. My desire to build this community stems from my personal desire to deprescribe 1 million people before I die. I hope to be able to help people across the globe achieve their goals of living drug free. Lets do this together. Im here to support you.

Based’s taper progress

Dose (mg)

Mood (/10)

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

8 Replies

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CatinaFeb 26

Community AnchorEffexor

Thank you for creating this site and for your desire to help people safely deprescribe. Antidepressant withdrawal is a worldwide health crisis and continues to be misunderstood, downplayed, and even denied by many in the medical field. Lives have been ruined and even lost due to improper tapering guidance. It shouldn't have to be this way! I look forward to this site being a beacon of light and hope to millions of people around the globe.

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.

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CatinaFeb 28

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi BP! I respect your desire to remain anonymous, but is there anything you can share about yourself and what led you to create a desprescribing community? We'd love to know more about you, but only what you feel comfortable sharing. Thank you! ❤️

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BasedStaffFeb 28

Community AnchorEffexor

"and what led you to create a desprescribing community?" — @Catina

Hi Catina! Great question. I had multiple experiences that shaped me into the person I am today. Just to name a few: -covid, where my perspective on medical research was fully shattered. -The experience of seeing patients who dont get better despite medications -Denial of PSSD and withdrawal -Institutional pressure to conform At the same time I started to really look into foundational research and the scams that perpetuate our lives today, one of my family members was prescribed a benzo and z drug, without my knowledge. This family member ended up deteriorating acutely. Not only were they old and didnt need psych meds, they also had comorbidities that made benzos contraindicated. Nevertheless, the enviorment around prescribing psych meds is so loose, the prescriptions were taken nonchalantly and my family member ended up passing away. This really made me an extremist and its my goal to get as many people as I can off of these horrid meds.

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

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CatinaFeb 28

Community AnchorEffexor

Thank you for sharing all that BP! You are one of the good ones. I'm sorry about what happened to your loved one. The harm that is being done - especially with children and the elderly - is almost criminal. Millions are being needlessly drugged due to a mythical "chemical imbalance" that does not exist. It's truly tragic. It's commendable that you did your research and used your critical thinking in regards to psychiatry. Have you ever read Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker? What an eye-opener!

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BasedStaffFeb 28

Community AnchorEffexor

"Have you ever read Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker?" — @Catina

I havent ill have to check it out!

"especially with children" — @Catina

levels of hell, no doubt.

"is almost criminal" — @Catina

Paxil 329 radicalized me too

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

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CatinaFeb 28

Community AnchorEffexor

"I havent ill have to check it out!" — @Based Psychiatrist

Ooh, you MUST read it! Robert Whitaker is the one who is behind the Mad in America website.

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BasedStaffMar 1

Community AnchorEffexor

"Robert Whitaker is the one who is behind the Mad in America website." — @Catina

Ahhhh I see, amazing. I have so many things I want to read, but between work and hobbies like this and family im swamped hahah. Thankfully I have the community to fill me in on important things

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

anne noni mossSep 29

NavigatorPaxil · holding

Thank you, Based. So so much. I am not in your profession, but the years I've lost have radicalized me, too. Being so sick for so long on these meds, it has taken me this long to feel I can STILL be of service and fulfill my dream...1 million people off meds is GREAT. Very specific. I'm not as focused, yet. But I'm getting there!

atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.

Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper

started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.

been on an off cocktails since 2001. Most recent mixture, prescribed in 2024: 20 mg Paxil, 150 Trileptal, 50 Seroquel, 2 mg prasozin, (for PTSD/nightmares.)

immediately went to 1 mg prasozin, and after 3 months cut to 10 mg paxil. No felt effects. Then went to 5 about 3 months later, (though I didnt' keep track so I'm rusty.) No felt effects. So, I've roughly been on 5 mg for a year and a half.

Side effects always force to to start tapering RIGHT AWAY.

I didn't start keeping track of my Paxil taper until this year. I went from 3mg to 1 in 10 months, using a liquid Maudsley-ish slow taper. Again, no felt effects until now.

October 2026...sleeping less and feeling more sedated during the day. Having trouble managing my social life without getting over-stimulated. Must set boundaries according to my body and not my heart.

Holding 1 mg paxil until blood work done and evaluated, and to see if build a social life that doesn't make me lose sleep. Sounds silly as I type it, but actually, nothing is "silly" on this ride! Everything is WILD!!!! LOL

Keeping all other meds the same. Sorry so long.

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