I\'m posting this to give hope to those who are considering withdrawal. I am RN, took FXR for 7 yrs. Began after brother died, then father, then mother. My whole family gone in 2 yrs. I couldn\'t stop crying. So my neurologist put me on Effexor XR. I worked up to 150 mg, and over 7 yrs was at 150 or 75 for most of time. I decided to come off drug because I didn\'t need it anymore and was worried about the fact that I got severe agitation w/d symptoms if missed one dose by only 8 hrs.
I AM SUCCESSFULLY AND FAIRLY EASILY OFF OF IT!!!!! I did each step for 2 weeks. 150 -> 75 + 37.5 -> 75 -> 37.5 -> 18.75 (opened capsule, poured out 1/2 of beads). Had mild brain zaps for 4 days after stopping. Had vivid complex dreams for 2 weeks after stopping. Hubby said I was *very* cranky for a while. Gained 13 lbs while tapering off. Had big increase in energy, noticed by everyone.
My story is easy compared to what I have read on internet. I want all to know that some of us can come off more easily than others, apparently. Don\'t know the reason why, or why I was a lucky one. But for me, the desire to be off, combined with fact I no longer needed it, was strong impetus to act. And all in all, it has been easy to come off for me.
I hope for all of the rest of folks on drug an easy withdrawal also! Good luck! Gena