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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on August 22, 2001, at 15:04:59
Help! I got advice about "splitting" the 37.5 mg capsules of EffexorXR that I'm now down to taking daily, and do not want to add yet another med to my cocktail (it was suggested that I add a bit of Prozac, but my pdoc is trying to get me OFF any kind of a-d and use Lamictal since she says it has a-d properties and I've got problems with cycling, esp. manic type behavior in past). I've now also ruled out putting half a capsule of granules into a beverage (e.g., juice) because someone mentioned that the granules may not dissolve and they're not supposed to instantly dissolve (hence they're being encapsulated for timed release). And I just don't have the patience or whatever to open a capsule and put about half the granules into pudding (I also don't even eat pudding).
SOOOOO ... I'm wondering if anyone out there has just STOPPED EffexorXR after lowering to 37.5 mg/day and being on that for awhile???? Thanks.
Posted by stjames on August 22, 2001, at 16:05:03
In reply to HELP!Can I do 37.5 Effexor,then just STOP?, posted by Janelle on August 22, 2001, at 15:49:58
> Help! I got advice about "splitting" the 37.5 mg capsules of EffexorXR that I'm now down to taking daily, and do not want to add yet another med to my cocktail (it was suggested that I add a bit of Prozac, but my pdoc is trying to get me OFF any kind of a-d and use Lamictal since she says it has a-d properties and I've got problems with cycling,
James here....
But you would only need to take Prozac for a few days. Generally no one has much luck stopping cold turkey, without help. (Except, me. Just a few rocky days)
james
Posted by Zo on August 22, 2001, at 18:56:51
In reply to HELP!Can I do 37.5 Effexor,then just STOP?, posted by Janelle on August 22, 2001, at 15:04:59
Janelle, would you like some help working the board/when to start a new thread, etc?
:) Zo
Posted by Janelle on August 22, 2001, at 20:21:40
In reply to Re: HELP!Can I do 37.5 Effexor,then just STOP? » Janelle, posted by Zo on August 22, 2001, at 18:56:51
Thanks!
Posted by Janelle on August 22, 2001, at 21:24:26
In reply to Re: HELP!Can I do 37.5 Effexor,then just STOP?, posted by stjames on August 22, 2001, at 16:05:03
My pdoc doesn't want me on Prozac because she thinks it would agitate me and I'm FINALLY calm again, thanks to my current cocktail, and I'm feeling better at the lower dose of EffexorXR so I know I'm moving in the right direction by tapering off it.
Why would I to take Prozac for a few days? And by going from 75 mg/day to 37.5 mg/day of EffexorXR, then stopping doesn't seem "cold turkey" to me. Stopping it from a higher dose (75 and up) would seem cold turkey, but going down to the lowest available dose and staying with that for awhile to wean would seem okay??? Your feedback here about WHY Prozac would be needed while tapering off Effexor would be greatly. Thanks,
-Janelle
Posted by Kristi on August 22, 2001, at 23:14:46
In reply to STJAMES: Why would I need Prozac?!?? » stjames, posted by Janelle on August 22, 2001, at 21:24:26
Janelle,
The Prozac reeeeeeeeally helps greatly... because of it's longer half life(doesn't leave your system so abruptly).... I took 2 doses of prozac after stopping at 75 mg. First I stopped cold turkey and couldn't handle it. I got my pdoc to prescribe me prozac... he gave me a months worth. After 2 days I didn't have to take anymore and was fine. If you look thru the archives, You'll see this is really helpful. Good luck... Kristi
> My pdoc doesn't want me on Prozac because she thinks it would agitate me and I'm FINALLY calm again, thanks to my current cocktail, and I'm feeling better at the lower dose of EffexorXR so I know I'm moving in the right direction by tapering off it.
>
> Why would I to take Prozac for a few days? And by going from 75 mg/day to 37.5 mg/day of EffexorXR, then stopping doesn't seem "cold turkey" to me. Stopping it from a higher dose (75 and up) would seem cold turkey, but going down to the lowest available dose and staying with that for awhile to wean would seem okay??? Your feedback here about WHY Prozac would be needed while tapering off Effexor would be greatly. Thanks,
> -Janelle
Posted by Zo on August 22, 2001, at 23:35:52
In reply to ZO, yes if you don't mind!! » Zo, posted by Janelle on August 22, 2001, at 20:21:40
Well, it looks like there's a bit of duplication?
I think you just need to pay a bit more attention to whether you really need to start a new thread, with your question. . .or just hang in and see what replies happen the first time you put up a question. That's a New Thread, and people start one when they've a new question or issue. Otherwise, you just continue with the long trail, or "thread" posting and responding. That way each thread stays on it's own subject. See, now if I wanted to answer your Help post, I'd be all confused, it's posted as at least 3 different Threads. . .so where should I answer? Does that make sense?
Otherwise, you can just join any existing thread, and ask or reply.
Is it problems actually using the page? Well, just don't use that "Start A New Thread" if it's a comment or question on something that's already up there. Instead, click on the first or any post on that thread. And respond in the empty text box under "Post A new follow-up" and when you're done, hit Submit. . .(NOT the words "Start a new thread" below that.)
After you hit Submit, a page comes up so you can review what you're written, and if it's okay, hit "Confirm post."
So, there's like 3 threads you've started, begining with Help. Perhaps if you could tell me why the second or third. . .Was it because the first didn't seem to show up? It won't, unless you quit your browser and come back, or hit Refresh on the browser toolbar. Refresh brings the *new* page, from the site, updated now with your post on it! And there should be a little yellow "New" by it! (tho occasionally those don't appear.)
And you need to have cookies enabled. . .Are you with me? Let me know if I'm making sense!
Zo
Posted by stjames on August 23, 2001, at 0:01:05
In reply to STJAMES: Why would I need Prozac?!?? » stjames, posted by Janelle on August 22, 2001, at 21:24:26
Search the archives, or read my section on Effexor in the tips section for the answer about why Prozac is good for coming off Effexor. You might want to also search and see what others experiences are like coming off Effexor and at what dose.
Hint: no matter how low the dose is, you always come off Effexor very quickly, as in hours.
james
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 23, 2001, at 10:11:49
In reply to Re: ZO, yes if you don't mind!!, posted by Zo on August 22, 2001, at 23:35:52
> Well, it looks like there's a bit of duplication? ...
Thanks for helping to orient someone new!
Bob
Posted by Janelle on August 23, 2001, at 15:44:00
In reply to Re: ZO, yes if you don't mind!!, posted by Zo on August 22, 2001, at 23:35:52
I will respond to what you so kindly posted here about using this board.
I get the basic hang of using this board, and there are reasons for the duplication of my "HELP" post about tapering off Effexor. Hope this helps clarify WHY there was triplication of that post!
1) I did post it again the second time "on purpose" because I feared that as it scrolled up the board (and was archived) that I would not get any answers and I needed help with the EffexorXR situation - I also noticed that a few other people have re-posted/duplicated questions as their original ones scroll up the board, so I figured this is okay once in awhile.
2) The triplication occurred when I was having problems with posting the second one - it did NOT show as being submitted - I did not get that screen about hitting reload/refresh to see it, so I thought something happened and it did NOT get submitted. So, I hit submit again, it clicked and I did get that refresh/reload screen. However, my FIRST attempt apparently had worked although it did NOT indicate this on my end. I guess my computer hiccuped or something. Does this explain it? Hope so.
I know that the FIRST time you put up a question that is a "New Thread" and people start one when they've a new question or issue. I guess I didn't "hang in" long enough with my original "HELP/Effexor" question so I posted a second one.
I also know how to join existing threads - I think you can see that from all the responses I've successfully posted under other people's threads! I try to help whoever and whenever I can! :-)
To answer your question, no it is NOT problems actually using the page! It took awhile but I know how to navigate the page!
I'm familiar with how after you hit Submit, a page comes up so you can review what you're written, and if it's okay, hit "Confirm post." The triplication of my post came when after I hit confirm post, I did NOT get the screen that says your post has been added, hit refresh/reload to see it, etc. That caused me to hit submit again, it went through, and I saw that the other one had also gone through. SORRY for the triplication.
I apparently DO have cookies enabled because whenever I go to this site, my name and password are automatically here in the box to post a new thread or reply to an existing one. Dr. Bob had kindly told me that this site uses cookies, that I must have them enabled or it would not "remember" my name and password!
Hope all of this helps clarify what happened/why I inadvertently triple posted (I had only meant to repeat the "HELP" post once).
Thanks for taking the time and effort to post the instructions for me and for reading this. Again, I hope I clarified what went wrong.
-Janelle
Posted by Zo on August 23, 2001, at 21:55:39
In reply to ZO: Thanks and more: PLS READ:, posted by Janelle on August 23, 2001, at 15:44:00
Sound like you've got it down. .
That's always the risk, when the Confirm page hangs. . .Whether tis Nobler to click Confirm again. . or see if the post will turn up with a refresh or restart of your browser. .
Best,
Zo
Posted by Janelle on August 23, 2001, at 22:24:39
In reply to Re: Whether Tis Nobler to Hit Confirm Again » Janelle, posted by Zo on August 23, 2001, at 21:55:39
eom
Posted by Cindylou on August 25, 2001, at 8:41:51
In reply to HELP!Can I do 37.5 Effexor,then just STOP?, posted by Janelle on August 22, 2001, at 15:04:59
Janelle,
I hope I'm not too late in responding to your post -- I wanted to let you know that when I was coming off of Effexor, my pdoc prescribed Effexor in 25 mg. tablets -- they weren't sustained release, so I would split them and take half in the morning and half in the evening.This helped tremendously in coming off of the Effexor -- I was able to take 3/4 of a pill, then half, then 1/4 ... and I made it!
I hope you're doing well, and that this helps if you're still coming off the Effexor --
-cindy
> Help! I got advice about "splitting" the 37.5 mg capsules of EffexorXR that I'm now down to taking daily, and do not want to add yet another med to my cocktail (it was suggested that I add a bit of Prozac, but my pdoc is trying to get me OFF any kind of a-d and use Lamictal since she says it has a-d properties and I've got problems with cycling, esp. manic type behavior in past). I've now also ruled out putting half a capsule of granules into a beverage (e.g., juice) because someone mentioned that the granules may not dissolve and they're not supposed to instantly dissolve (hence they're being encapsulated for timed release). And I just don't have the patience or whatever to open a capsule and put about half the granules into pudding (I also don't even eat pudding).
>
> SOOOOO ... I'm wondering if anyone out there has just STOPPED EffexorXR after lowering to 37.5 mg/day and being on that for awhile???? Thanks.
Posted by Lorraine on August 25, 2001, at 10:50:54
In reply to HELP!Can I do 37.5 Effexor,then just STOP?, posted by Janelle on August 22, 2001, at 15:04:59
I stopped Effexor, got down to the 35 (or 37?) mg capsules and then started counting grains in the capsule to determine how many were 1/2 or that, then 1/4, then 1/8. It took me a really really long time to come off Effexor this way. (2 mos or so). I would take the Prozac solution. You are not going on Prozac you are just augment for about a week, then the longer half life Prozac will allow you to wean off the short half life Effexor. I would never wean off Effexor the way I did by counting grains again. That was horrifically painful and I felt awful for a very long time because I was ignorant about how to do it right and because I was hard headed in my approach. Good luck to you how ever you do it.
This is the end of the thread.
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