Posted by AIK on September 28, 2004, at 9:43:01
In reply to Re: Effexor -tapering Q, posted by Dave001 on September 27, 2004, at 18:56:47
You are right. I am wrong. The spheroids are not ph dependent. Would they be time dependent however? (for those of you who are following us, we are referring to the white balls inside the capsule). This has created some interest and experimentation on my part (like I don't have enough to do). Support group, this has nothing to do with ingesting the drug...don't attempt it at this point. In fact, Dave did say earlier that it may be an alternative to tapering with capsules, but doesn't recommend it. I think he has raised the hair on the back of our necks when he minimizes our physical and mental pain. Also using asterisks when he refers to "if the withdrawal effects are *that* bad". Yes, it is *that* bad for these readers or they wouldn't be on this site. Dave has contributed a good part to this as well. It has raised our awareness that playing around with dosage changes or altering dosage forms, (tablets/capsules in this case) other than what was prescribed for YOU without supervision, is not acceptable. You could wind up being more of a mess than when you started. To my support group I'd like to add that I'm on my 6th day of a dosage decrease and I haven't experienced throwing up or dizziness (like I did initially), and the mood swings have lessened as well. Just get these bursts of energy. In fact, on Saturday, it was non-stop. Upon awakening, I got cleaned up and dressed and motored the entire day. The "old me" would shuffle to the kitchen and perch somewhere (kitchen, sofa, desk) and remain there as the day passed by. Day after day. That's when I was on the drug. (To refresh your memory, I was put on this for pain, not anxiety; it didn't do "squat" for my pain...was I that brain-dead not to have realized this sooner?)OK folks, have a good one and a better one tomorrow. I'm here if you need to talk.
> > In response to the post below regarding dissolving the Effexor XR capsules in water or another solvent, please, any of you tapering down, do not do this unless you ask your doctor or pharmacist (someone who has expertise in this area). In refuting Dave's recommendation I have following input.
> > 1. The contents of the capsule will not dissolve in water. It is formulated to dissolve at various pH levels throughout the GI tract. This is done in order to provide an extended release action.
>
> Wrong! Actually, I never said to dissolve in water. I said to check the Merck Index for solubility data, and specifically recommended *against* using water. However, seeing as how you've made the claim that it will *not* dissolve in water, I feel the need to correct your misinformation.
>
> I just grabbed my copy of the Merck Index and have it right here in front of me, and it states the solubility of venlafaxine HCl is 572 mg/ml in water! And its partition coefficient is 0.43 (octanol/water). Not only will it dissolve in water, its water solubility is so high that I retract my original statement and actually *recommend* using water as the solvent. Just be sure to keep it refrigerated and don't dissolve too many days worth at once. Also, use distilled water; don't use tap.
>
>
> > 2. Even if you are able to find a suitable solvent, you would be changing from the extended release action to an immediate release dose of Effexor. Changing dosage forms should never be done without the supervision and recommendation of a health professional.
>
> I think the intelligence of the OP is high enough to realize that dissolving (dissociating the drug into individual *molecules*) the Effexor will destroy the integrity of the extended release formulation! Sheesh! :-) Obviously, you just take several smaller doses spread out to maintain a consistent level.
>
> I am by no means suggesting this is a convenient or even desirable method of tapering, but if the withdrawal effects are *that* bad, then it would certainly seem worth it to me.
>
> Dave
>
> <snip>
poster:AIK
thread:12459
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040927/msgs/396246.html