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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Neil on September 5, 2001, at 22:07:19
I am on Effexor XR 75mg a day and Wellbutrin SR 150mg a day. I have been taking them for about six months. I was taking them previous to the last six months for depression, I guess for about a year. Last time I went off the combination, I had a vision sort of dizziness, not really dizziness, but my vision was not normal, sort of lagged behind, hard to describe. When depression hits me, I think everything is too loud and a twitch usually on an eyelid. This is why I went back on it this time.
I wanted to stop taking the combo a few days ago. I know you have to taper off of the Effexor, so I took it one day and missed the next, then took it and missed two. I did not want to have the vision problems again like last time. The reason I wanted to stop was due to sweating whenever I went outside, and I mean sweat at doing anything. Also, I was getting a sulphur type smell whenever I had to urinate, I though this can't be good to have. Another reason I was getting unnerved at my wife telling me negative comments about taking my medicine when she gets angry at me.This time I have problems thinking and concentrating, fatigue and sort of a non vision related sort of strange sensation like dizziness, but not exactly dizziness. I try to concentrate but find it most difficult since last evening, I have a hard time trying to mentally focus and I could not remember for the life of me where it was I worked previous to my last job after thing about it for five or ten minutes.
Tonight I restarted my combo medications. I will not try to stop again until my meds run out and I will call my doc to ask him to taper the dose off, going off the XR which I can tolerate in my stomach, and go to the regular Effexor which drives my stomach to do all kinds of nasty stuff.
Moral is, don't take Effexor, unless you try everything else first and it won't work. And if you have to take Effexor, it's OK, just make sure you get your dose tapered and plan ahead, because quitting it is the absolute pits.
Posted by Lorraine on September 6, 2001, at 10:41:57
In reply to Wellbutrin Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Neil on September 5, 2001, at 22:07:19
Neil: I had an awful time quitting Effexor (was on it 18 mos). What I have read on withdrawal from it since that time says to add a longer life SSRI for a few days (maybe a week) as you are tapering off. Apparently, the reason that Effexor is so tough to withdraw from is because it has such a short half life. This tip I think is on Goldberg's site as well and is in some scientific journals so I think it has some validity.
Some people on this board (I have not read this elsewhere so it may be an n of 1) swear by over the counter flu remedies (theraflu?).
Anyway run these past your pdoc. If I were going off Effexor again (it took me 2 months of actually opening the caps and counting grains after I was at 35 mg), I would go the Prozac route.
Lorraine
Posted by Neil on September 6, 2001, at 14:28:18
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Effexor Withdrawal » Neil, posted by Lorraine on September 6, 2001, at 10:41:57
Went back on the combo last night, feel better now. Thanks for the info. I don't want Prozac, would not even consider it as an option. It's funny that you mentioned flu remedies, as it did also feel like I was coming down with the flu, but no longer...might feel 100% tomorow, feel good now, can think again.
This is the end of the thread.
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