Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 309379

Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac

Posted by Mysteryd on February 4, 2004, at 14:10:12

Hi all,

I'm new here, did a search on getting off of effexor and this seemed to be the message board with the info.

I've been on for almost two years. I started because my son began having seizures and I could not stand the anxiety. They NEVER told me how addicting it was, or that it would be this difficult to get off of it. I'm on day 6~down from 150 to 75 once per day. It's hellish!!! Aside from flu symptoms I have waves of panic that feel unbearable, and my temper is way too short for having two young kids.

I bummed some 5 mg valiums from my sister to get through the weekend, but my doc insists that I need prozac~not valium (cause valium is even more addicting). Has anyone had success w/ prozac or valium?? She wants me to take once prozac a week and no Effexor starting tomorrow.

Any adice appreciated~I'm very leary of introducing Prozac to the picture, at least w/ valium I know exactly how I am going to react.

 

Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac

Posted by flyingdreams on February 4, 2004, at 17:47:30

In reply to Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac, posted by Mysteryd on February 4, 2004, at 14:10:12

Yeh, some have said prozac can help. But you will still have withdrawals from that too. It's like trading side effects. I found Prozac withdrawals involve alot of depression, effexor has alot of physical side effects, but at least so far I haven't had the depression. On day 22 off effexor.

 

Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac

Posted by Mysteryd on February 4, 2004, at 18:56:45

In reply to Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac, posted by flyingdreams on February 4, 2004, at 17:47:30

Thanks for the input flyin'dreams. I wasn't taking the effexor for depression~and I don't wanna add that to the list of complications at this point.

So at day 22 off of it~is your brain still scrambled?? How many w/drawl symptoms do you still have if you don't mind me asking?

 

Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac

Posted by justjustine on February 4, 2004, at 23:01:26

In reply to Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac, posted by Mysteryd on February 4, 2004, at 18:56:45

hey there, i had my last dose of effexor on jan. 5. i'm finally better in a definite way, though not done by any means.

i also had all the physical problems and few of the emotional ones.

i still have stomach pain, nausea, headaches, and insomnia - but not to the point where i am curled into a little ball. on the up side, my gait has almost returned to normal, i am not throwing up anymore, and the zaps seem to have subsided.

oh yeh, i should mention - i'm still on vicodin every 4 hours and ambien for sleep, and i take pot all day long... ;-P

why were you on effexor, if i may ask?

> Thanks for the input flyin'dreams. I wasn't taking the effexor for depression~and I don't wanna add that to the list of complications at this point.
>
> So at day 22 off of it~is your brain still scrambled?? How many w/drawl symptoms do you still have if you don't mind me asking?

 

Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac

Posted by Mysteryd on February 4, 2004, at 23:48:52

In reply to Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac, posted by justjustine on February 4, 2004, at 23:01:26

WOW~so you are still having a lot of the physical side effects :(

I went on Effexor cause my son developed a seizure disorder (my first false diagnosis for him was degenerative disorder, and death b/4 the age of 10), and I basically couldn't handle the stress. I was having horrible panic attacks, I couldn't sleep....they said effexor would help, and frankly I was spending all my time researching neuroligical conditions that my son might have~didn't do a lot of research on Effexor.

Luckily we were misdiagnosed, but the seizures were still a bitch~and I am a worrier to begin with~!

I do pot everyday too~it is certainly taking the edge off the naseau, but I prefer to wait on that till the kids are in bed in the evening~my days are pukey at best :(

Damn~22 days!! Any idea when the physical BS subsides??

Oh and thanks so much for the input~I feel like a damn heroine addict or something~EEERRGGHHH~!!

 

Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac

Posted by justjustine on February 5, 2004, at 1:29:11

In reply to Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac, posted by Mysteryd on February 4, 2004, at 23:48:52

yeah - i am still withdrawing, but i can feel myself getting better every day! (today was day 30 for me). i felt like i somehow 'broke through' this past weekend, around day 25.

since you can't really smoke pot during the day, i recommend you make some brownies or cookies or something so you can eat it. i'm starting a new job, and i'm taking 'snacks' with me to work! and it's not even fulltime! :)

about the feeling like a heroin addict - yes, i know it well. the withdrawals also made me walk funny, like a junkie basically. plus the other symptoms, plus some really negative interactions with my now ex-PCP regarding the vicodin. sigh.

i've also been getting acupuncture for the past 2 weeks and i think it has helped, and sure maybe it was more about having an actual professional to talk to that would listen to me and try to help! no, i do believe the needling has helped as well.

i was wondering if you were taking it for neuropathy actually. i have read publications recommending effexor for various chronic pain problems.

good luck!

> WOW~so you are still having a lot of the physical side effects :(
>
> I went on Effexor cause my son developed a seizure disorder (my first false diagnosis for him was degenerative disorder, and death b/4 the age of 10), and I basically couldn't handle the stress. I was having horrible panic attacks, I couldn't sleep....they said effexor would help, and frankly I was spending all my time researching neuroligical conditions that my son might have~didn't do a lot of research on Effexor.
>
> Luckily we were misdiagnosed, but the seizures were still a bitch~and I am a worrier to begin with~!
>
> I do pot everyday too~it is certainly taking the edge off the naseau, but I prefer to wait on that till the kids are in bed in the evening~my days are pukey at best :(
>
> Damn~22 days!! Any idea when the physical BS subsides??
>
> Oh and thanks so much for the input~I feel like a damn heroine addict or something~EEERRGGHHH~!!

 

Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac

Posted by flyingdreams on February 5, 2004, at 12:53:54

In reply to Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac, posted by Mysteryd on February 4, 2004, at 18:56:45

I had a little break from the worst symptoms. But the last couple of days my nipples have been painful. I haven't heard of anyone else say this is symptom for them and it's too early for PMS. I'm getting a really sick of being short tempered and irritable all the time. Also, have had nightmares the last couple of nights again. That puts me in a bad mood to start the day off. I've been exercising everyday and have yet to lose a pound. I'm getting frustrated with waiting for my metabolism to get back to normal. No one can tell me for sure how long that will take. I haven't been able to find an actual person off these drugs to tell me how long it takes. I've read that some symptoms/side effects like metabolism can take 6 months to 3 years to get back to normal. That's depressing. I'm also upset since some have withdrawals for only 2 weeks and I'm on week 3. I guess I'll be going till at least 5 weeks the way things look right now. Just when you feel you're on the last leg of withdrawals you wake up feeling worse again. It's like 2 steps forwards 1 step back. I also have been feeling like I'm just about to cry but can't. Something sad on tv or something silly makes me feel that way. I'd rather just cry and get it over with. I'm still nauseous. It got better for a few days and it's back again. Not as bad as the first 2 weeks though. My stomach is bothering me mostly and things smell and taste bad. Like I can't stand smelling garlic and onions, spices, etc. After I eat the nausea is worse. Also, have join pain. I wish that would go away! So that sums it up! How's it going for you now?

 

Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac

Posted by flyingdreams on February 5, 2004, at 12:56:52

In reply to Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac, posted by justjustine on February 5, 2004, at 1:29:11

boy that's awful they prescribe for pain. Effexor gave me pain! Joint pain! Never ever had that in my life before and young!

 

Efexor + Prozac cross tapering?

Posted by Sad Panda on February 6, 2004, at 13:01:34

In reply to Re: Getting off Effexor ~ any success w/ Prozac, posted by flyingdreams on February 5, 2004, at 12:56:52

Hi all, I have read that Prozac is good for treating Efexor & SSRI withdrawl symptoms as Prozac has an extremely long half-life, also taking both at once would increase the blood levels of both so I was wondering if something like this would work or be worth the effort:

Say you are on 225mg of Efexor XR per day, your 1st step down would be to take 150mg of Efexor + 20mg of Prozac just one day & then take only 150mg of Efexor per day until withdrawl symptoms subside. Hopefully that one dose of Prozac would cause a slow tappering down effect. Next step would be 75mg of Efexor + 20mg of Prozac once only & then only take 75mg of Efexor per day until you are use to that. Then take 37.5mg of Efexor + 20mg of Prozac just once & then 37.5mg of Efexor per day after that & then finally finish by not taking Efexor at all, just a single 20mg dose of Prozac.

Would this be worth trying to easy the pain of Efexor withdrawl? Any comments?

Cheers,
Panda.

 

Re: Efexor + Prozac cross tapering?

Posted by justjustine on February 6, 2004, at 16:48:21

In reply to Efexor + Prozac cross tapering?, posted by Sad Panda on February 6, 2004, at 13:01:34

in my opinion, if you are trying to prevent or treat rebound depression, prozac seems to be a good choice.

however, i have seen no evidence that cross-tapering will prevent or relieve the physical withdrawal symptoms.

can anyone speak to that?

> Hi all, I have read that Prozac is good for treating Efexor & SSRI withdrawl symptoms as Prozac has an extremely long half-life, also taking both at once would increase the blood levels of both so I was wondering if something like this would work or be worth the effort:
>
> Say you are on 225mg of Efexor XR per day, your 1st step down would be to take 150mg of Efexor + 20mg of Prozac just one day & then take only 150mg of Efexor per day until withdrawl symptoms subside. Hopefully that one dose of Prozac would cause a slow tappering down effect. Next step would be 75mg of Efexor + 20mg of Prozac once only & then only take 75mg of Efexor per day until you are use to that. Then take 37.5mg of Efexor + 20mg of Prozac just once & then 37.5mg of Efexor per day after that & then finally finish by not taking Efexor at all, just a single 20mg dose of Prozac.
>
> Would this be worth trying to easy the pain of Efexor withdrawl? Any comments?
>
> Cheers,
> Panda.
>


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