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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by help_harry on February 25, 2005, at 18:53:04
Hello all,
I have been reading a few forums on effexor withdrawal and I am getting ready to start and wanted to get some more opinions. I have read about people opening capsules and counting granules to very slowly reduce the amount of effexor. I have also read about drugs and supplements to help cope with the withdrawal symptoms. I have done the following reseach and ask for any thoughts or reactions to my ideas.
Does anyone have any thoughts on the following aids:
Benadryl - reduce overall symptoms
Claritin D - same as Benadryl
Dramamine - diziness
Omega 3 - Fish Oil - to help with head zaps
St. John's Wart - towards the end to aid in transition.
Prozac - has a longer half-life in your system and is suppose to help elimiate the withdrawal.Here is my research on counting granules in capsules with my thoughts:
I counted the granules in both a 75mg capsule and a 37.5mg capsule. Remember this is for the XR version of effexor. Each type of capsule has small, medium and large size granules. I did my best to separate them. I used a cross section of two of each size capsule and found them similar enough to come to the conclusions below.
Here are my discoveries:
75mg capsule
Large - 22
Med - 101
Small - 67
total - 19037.5mg capsule
Large - 16
Medium - 48
Small - 32
Total - 96The 37.5 has a nice ratio of 1:3 between the small, medium and large. If you removed one large, two small and three mediums each day that would be an equal reduction but in my opinion probably too fast of a weening schedule. The 75mg doesn't have as nice of a balance. You would have to eliminate one large, 4.5 mediums, and 3.5 smalls each time, probably also too fast of a weening. I am thinking about a month schedule for each capsule size. One month to go from 75mg to 37.5mg and then one more month for 37.5mg to 0mg. My brain is fried from all the counting so I will throw this out there for debate and suggestions. My thought is you can never have enough planning for something like this.
Good Luck
Harry
Posted by SLS on February 26, 2005, at 7:44:36
In reply to Effexor XR withdrawal ideas and thoughts, posted by help_harry on February 25, 2005, at 18:53:04
Hi Harry.
I believe you have some great ideas that will prove effective. Interestingly, some people report that the Benadryl and Claritin D improve dizziness without the need for Dramamine. Have you found this to be true? Have you used Dramamine?
Thanks.
Using a strategy for tapering similar to yours, I found that I can discontinue Effexor in two weeks. I also found that it is not necessary to be so exacting in dividing dosages. Of course, it can't hurt! :-)
I use a flexible dosing strategy.
- Scott> Hello all,
>
> I have been reading a few forums on effexor withdrawal and I am getting ready to start and wanted to get some more opinions. I have read about people opening capsules and counting granules to very slowly reduce the amount of effexor. I have also read about drugs and supplements to help cope with the withdrawal symptoms. I have done the following reseach and ask for any thoughts or reactions to my ideas.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts on the following aids:
> Benadryl - reduce overall symptoms
> Claritin D - same as Benadryl
> Dramamine - diziness
> Omega 3 - Fish Oil - to help with head zaps
> St. John's Wart - towards the end to aid in transition.
> Prozac - has a longer half-life in your system and is suppose to help elimiate the withdrawal.
>
> Here is my research on counting granules in capsules with my thoughts:
>
> I counted the granules in both a 75mg capsule and a 37.5mg capsule. Remember this is for the XR version of effexor. Each type of capsule has small, medium and large size granules. I did my best to separate them. I used a cross section of two of each size capsule and found them similar enough to come to the conclusions below.
>
> Here are my discoveries:
>
> 75mg capsule
> Large - 22
> Med - 101
> Small - 67
> total - 190
>
> 37.5mg capsule
> Large - 16
> Medium - 48
> Small - 32
> Total - 96
>
> The 37.5 has a nice ratio of 1:3 between the small, medium and large. If you removed one large, two small and three mediums each day that would be an equal reduction but in my opinion probably too fast of a weening schedule. The 75mg doesn't have as nice of a balance. You would have to eliminate one large, 4.5 mediums, and 3.5 smalls each time, probably also too fast of a weening. I am thinking about a month schedule for each capsule size. One month to go from 75mg to 37.5mg and then one more month for 37.5mg to 0mg. My brain is fried from all the counting so I will throw this out there for debate and suggestions. My thought is you can never have enough planning for something like this.
>
> Good Luck
>
> Harry
Posted by SLS on February 26, 2005, at 7:58:44
In reply to Effexor XR withdrawal ideas and thoughts, posted by help_harry on February 25, 2005, at 18:53:04
Hi Harry.
How do you know that Omega-3 prevents brain-zaps?
- Scott
Posted by bruin on February 26, 2005, at 10:24:28
In reply to Effexor XR withdrawal ideas and thoughts, posted by help_harry on February 25, 2005, at 18:53:04
There is a common misperception out there that there needs to be a timetable set for tapering.
Let your body tell you when to make cuts. It is a better judge than anyone or anything else. 5-10% cuts and wait to stabilize before moving on.You mentioned fish oil. Great. However, most brands are garbage. They are either overprocessed or rancid. I highly recommend Carlson's Fish Oil. Get the liquid brand. It tastes like lemon and best of all, no fish burps. Take 2 teaspoons a day.
Other things you didn't mention, but I would include if proper healing is to take place:
1.magnesium-citrate or taurate. I used Amino Mag 200. Google it. 400mg a day
2.Colloidial Trace Minerals
3.Goatein-Helps restore glutathione, which really is needed if proper healing is to take place.Lastly, you mentioned SJW. This is only my opinion, but I have seen it proven for a number of people. You do not need to boost serotonin as you taper. You receptors have been damaged and most people I see who take serotonin enhancing things like this have brains that get the excess serotonin, but don't know what to do with it. Hence, it makes them feel worse. Your healing will take place through flooding your body with the nutrients it really needs. Good luck
> Hello all,
>
> I have been reading a few forums on effexor withdrawal and I am getting ready to start and wanted to get some more opinions. I have read about people opening capsules and counting granules to very slowly reduce the amount of effexor. I have also read about drugs and supplements to help cope with the withdrawal symptoms. I have done the following reseach and ask for any thoughts or reactions to my ideas.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts on the following aids:
> Benadryl - reduce overall symptoms
> Claritin D - same as Benadryl
> Dramamine - diziness
> Omega 3 - Fish Oil - to help with head zaps
> St. John's Wart - towards the end to aid in transition.
> Prozac - has a longer half-life in your system and is suppose to help elimiate the withdrawal.
>
> Here is my research on counting granules in capsules with my thoughts:
>
> I counted the granules in both a 75mg capsule and a 37.5mg capsule. Remember this is for the XR version of effexor. Each type of capsule has small, medium and large size granules. I did my best to separate them. I used a cross section of two of each size capsule and found them similar enough to come to the conclusions below.
>
> Here are my discoveries:
>
> 75mg capsule
> Large - 22
> Med - 101
> Small - 67
> total - 190
>
> 37.5mg capsule
> Large - 16
> Medium - 48
> Small - 32
> Total - 96
>
> The 37.5 has a nice ratio of 1:3 between the small, medium and large. If you removed one large, two small and three mediums each day that would be an equal reduction but in my opinion probably too fast of a weening schedule. The 75mg doesn't have as nice of a balance. You would have to eliminate one large, 4.5 mediums, and 3.5 smalls each time, probably also too fast of a weening. I am thinking about a month schedule for each capsule size. One month to go from 75mg to 37.5mg and then one more month for 37.5mg to 0mg. My brain is fried from all the counting so I will throw this out there for debate and suggestions. My thought is you can never have enough planning for something like this.
>
> Good Luck
>
> Harry
This is the end of the thread.
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