![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Anna on November 15, 1998, at 13:59:35
Hi,
Has anyone had their antidepressants stopped, inorder to change to something else? I am very depressed, currrently trying to decrease and discontinue (no instruction on how to do it)...so that I can go on a new antidepressant next month.
My pdoc says...come back in a month when you are off and well start wellbutrin.
Needless to say my depression has gotten worse...I am having symptoms of withdrawal..that are intense..and I don't think I am going to make it...any advise??
Anna
Posted by janey on November 15, 1998, at 17:32:42
In reply to changing antidepressants...when severely depressed, posted by Anna on November 15, 1998, at 13:59:35
Hi Anna,
Weaning off an antidepressant before starting a new
one is not easy. I'm not one of the docs here!
However, I have had to go through the weaning off
process and it is a true, honest-to-goodness bummer.Your doctor didn't tell you how to wean yourself
off? Geez, I'd be calling his butt NOW for
instructions, and if you need to see him for an
appt., don't wait a month to do it!! Geez, you
could be in crisis right now and getting off of
Effexor isn't the easiest one to get off of and the
withdrawal symptoms just suck if you ask me. Sorry
for being so blunt about it, but it's the truth!By all means, don't just stop taking it entirely!
That's the worst thing to do! Effexor is usually
increased in dose at 37.5 mg. I know that it is
dispensed in 75 mg pills.In the past, my doctors have weaned me off of an
anti-depressant gradually... Let's say I was taking
300 mg of Effexor a day... The first week I would
cut it by 37.5 mg... cut one of those 75 mg pills
in half... and then the next week, reduce it by
another 37.5 mg... and so on until you are off of
it.Don't do anything though until one of the docs here
can advise you, or you get better instructions from
your doctor.Good luck. Make sure your support system is on
alert and make sure to lean on those people, okay?Everybody here is very supportive, and please
talk to us!You're in my thoughts,
janey
Posted by Toby on November 16, 1998, at 14:44:46
In reply to Dr. Bob - Toby -- help on this one for Anna!!, posted by janey on November 15, 1998, at 17:32:42
I echo Janie's sentiments. Call your doctor for tapering instructions!!! However, here's a question for your doctor... Why not just add the Wellbutrin to the Effexor and then taper you off the Effexor? Sometimes for augmentation, Wellbutrin is added to Effexor and the person takes them both for depression. They don't interact badly.
I will assume momentarily that the Effexor isn't giving you bad side effects, that it just isn't working for the depression. If you have been on several other medications without help, usually the experts stop trying one medication at a time and go to combination therapy; one such combination being the one listed above. If this is the case, call your doctor and ask to go ahead and start the Wellbutrin. You may find that it works and as you decrease the Effexor, if you get worse, then maybe you do need the combination of the two.
Posted by Jeff on November 20, 1998, at 17:52:47
In reply to Re: antidepressant taper, posted by Toby on November 16, 1998, at 14:44:46
I'd defintely look for a new Dr. if he didn't give you any more info or care than that!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Elizabeth on December 13, 1998, at 20:23:34
In reply to changing antidepressants...when severely depressed, posted by Anna on November 15, 1998, at 13:59:35
What kind of withdrawal symptoms are you having? Some people find Benadryl helps them get through Effexor (and SSRI) withdrawals.
I agree with advise to get a second opinion. It sounds like starting the Wellbutrin now would be worthwhile.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.