Without a hyperbolic taper

September 11, 2026··

The approach I will take, without trying filling pills or hyperbolic calculations, or a compounding pharmacy. Is this: to make big cuts, but still not that huge cuts, and many months apart, never two in a row. This way, I can take standard doses but let my nervous system deal with it. My meds are very easy to taper which is why I expect this to work. This is "slow-fast-taper".

Prozac — 40 mg — 6 months — holding | Zyprexa — 20 mg — 6 years — holding | Depakote — 600 mg — 8 months — **tapering** | Buspirone — 20 mg — 8 months — holding | with clinician
"If life is painful, start a rebellion and make it good."

7 Replies

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Catina7d ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Wishing you the best @Wolf. Keep us updated.

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.

Stuart7d ago

WelcomerEffexor · supporting

While it may not be true that "there is no harm in trying" you are in a situation that if there is any potential harm (e.g., bad withdrawals) you can quickly remedy that with taking an extra dose. I have worked with people that have simply stopped their medications (usually they are on the lower end of doses) and have experienced no noticeable withdrawals. I will say, people who experience this usually have little to no understanding or awareness that the meds can cause withdrawals so they aren't even expecting anything (the opposite happens far more often, people with no understanding/awareness of medication withdrawal suddenly going through a catastrophic benzo nightmare) A positive about your approach is that you make an adjustment and "forget it" for the next couple/few months.

Historic experience tapering off: Citalopram 20mg | Effexor 75mg | Valium 20mg || "Insanity is the only sane reaction to an insane society" Thomas Szasz

Masha7d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

I agree Stuart. I had no clue that severe withdrawal was even a possibility. I was led to believe by my practitioner that coming down one and increasing another was totally standard and straightforward. And that the symptoms were normal and I just had to give it time. Totally misguided and now paying for it.

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Stuart7d ago

WelcomerEffexor · supporting

It was misguided on THEIR part, not yours. That's part of why I say "I'm not anti-medication -- I'm pro informed consent", as I have yet to hear someone say that their medical professional reviewed with them ALL the potential negative side effects of a medication, including the difficulties coming off, before being prescribed them. Informed consent is not complicated and it's given in so many other areas of healthcare (e.g., "this surgery has a 14% chance of going wrong and causing such and such") but seems to have been glossed over for psych meds and leads to completely unnecessary suffering.

Historic experience tapering off: Citalopram 20mg | Effexor 75mg | Valium 20mg || "Insanity is the only sane reaction to an insane society" Thomas Szasz

Masha7d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

You are so right. The ignorance is hurting so many people. That’s why forums like these and others can somehow help change this horrible reality that causes such human suffering. As I get further along I want to help. I’m only 5 weeks in recovery and though I have made good progress, I still have a long way to go.

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Wolf12h ago

Community AnchorProzac · researching

I think we have a variable difference in how we react to these meds. Somebody will go through an AD nightmare while another person will scratch their head asking how that is possible because their only withdrawals were from benzos.

Wolf12h ago

Community AnchorProzac · researching

Most of the variables work in my favor for my taper to be easy.

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