![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by DharmaBum on July 5, 2007, at 21:37:48
Lopped off 37.5 mg today, on the way to who knows what.
Told the pdoc that I am tired of being numb and lacking motivation after...how long has it been?...five or so years on Effexor, culminating at 225 mg.
The panic attack, unabated insomnia and tinnitus (initiated at the time of the panic attack) that got me here were a 2nd time depressive episode and, given the family history, pdoc said I'm most likely a lifer. Well I hope I can avoid anything too catastrophic while I clear out the Effexor.
Pdoc is suggesting maybe Cymbalta. Personally, I think a dopamine bump might be good; I've lost so much of my creative spirit.My sis just tried lamictal and had a monstrously bad time; she is back on her old meds. Sure sounded promising. She is more BP than I.
Effexor provided relief from the insomnia very, very quickly. The tinnitus comes and goes but is nothing like it was. But, man, I just don't feel much of anything. I've blown off three gals, cause I have zero interest in socializing, much less sex.
I'm riding the bicycle, though, and that really helps. This is probably the best time of the year to make a change. Short days bring me down a bit, along with the cold.
There you are. I'll post more about the dreaded Effexor taper as I go along.
Posted by Phillipa on July 5, 2007, at 22:37:28
In reply to Here we go: Effexor Taper, posted by DharmaBum on July 5, 2007, at 21:37:48
What are you switching too or off completely any meds? Love Phillipa
Posted by cactus on July 5, 2007, at 23:03:15
In reply to Re: Here we go: Effexor Taper » DharmaBum, posted by Phillipa on July 5, 2007, at 22:37:28
do it slowly and have you heard about switching to prozac at the end of the taper to help the withdrawal. I wish I had have know about that. I went through hell but my sister didn't. Everyone is different. Good luck
Posted by chiron on July 5, 2007, at 23:06:55
In reply to Re: Here we go: Effexor Taper, posted by cactus on July 5, 2007, at 23:03:15
my effexor tapering was hell, I don't remember how slow I went off of it. I heard it is the drug with the harshest withdrawal.
Posted by polarbear206 on July 6, 2007, at 7:32:34
In reply to Here we go: Effexor Taper, posted by DharmaBum on July 5, 2007, at 21:37:48
> Lopped off 37.5 mg today, on the way to who knows what.
> Told the pdoc that I am tired of being numb and lacking motivation after...how long has it been?...five or so years on Effexor, culminating at 225 mg.
> The panic attack, unabated insomnia and tinnitus (initiated at the time of the panic attack) that got me here were a 2nd time depressive episode and, given the family history, pdoc said I'm most likely a lifer. Well I hope I can avoid anything too catastrophic while I clear out the Effexor.
> Pdoc is suggesting maybe Cymbalta. Personally, I think a dopamine bump might be good; I've lost so much of my creative spirit.
>
> My sis just tried lamictal and had a monstrously bad time; she is back on her old meds. Sure sounded promising. She is more BP than I.
>
> Effexor provided relief from the insomnia very, very quickly. The tinnitus comes and goes but is nothing like it was. But, man, I just don't feel much of anything. I've blown off three gals, cause I have zero interest in socializing, much less sex.
>
> I'm riding the bicycle, though, and that really helps. This is probably the best time of the year to make a change. Short days bring me down a bit, along with the cold.
>
> There you are. I'll post more about the dreaded Effexor taper as I go along.You might want to consider adding wellbutrin. I went from 300mg of effexor to 75mg in a short time after I added wellbutrin. I also have SAD, so who knows what will happen well daylight savings comes. All I know is that I am enjoying sex again!! I am also on Lamictal which both may of helped prevent any potential withdrawal. Prozac would be a front runner because of the long half-life. Good luck.
Polarbear
Posted by DharmaBum on July 6, 2007, at 17:21:45
In reply to Here we go: Effexor Taper, posted by DharmaBum on July 5, 2007, at 21:37:48
Not sure what I'll end up on. If I get past the last 37.5 (assuming I get to it...), I may just try going med-free for awhile. I suspect, eventually, I'll have another run-in.
Prozac might help the last phase but I did not like being on that stuff full-time; even more of a zombie than the Effex. Interesting that Prozac seems to help when so many people feel that there is something about Effexor per se, other than it's short half life, that makes it brutal to quit.Wellbutrin might, indeed, figure into the eventual formula.
In the meanwhile, I'd just like to feel something, even if it's sad.
Posted by Phillipa on July 6, 2007, at 18:58:21
In reply to Re: Here we go: Effexor Taper, posted by DharmaBum on July 6, 2007, at 17:21:45
Have you gone to the top of the withdrawal board? Long very long withdrawal experiences. Love Phillipa
Posted by DharmaBum on July 6, 2007, at 20:54:46
In reply to Re: Here we go: Effexor Taper » DharmaBum, posted by Phillipa on July 6, 2007, at 18:58:21
> Have you gone to the top of the withdrawal board? Long very long withdrawal experiences. Love Phillipa
Nope, I'm gonna check that out! thx
Posted by Phillipa on July 6, 2007, at 21:00:25
In reply to Re: Here we go: Effexor Taper, posted by DharmaBum on July 6, 2007, at 20:54:46
You're welcome it goes on forever. Love Phillipa
Posted by valleedoll on July 7, 2007, at 14:46:40
In reply to Re: Here we go: Effexor Taper, posted by DharmaBum on July 6, 2007, at 20:54:46
well you will be my inspiration, i'm about to taper and go onto either cymbalta or lexapro depending on what shrink says ... after 5 (6?) years on effexor my cholesterol has shot up. hang in there!
Posted by bdp67 on July 7, 2007, at 23:15:31
In reply to Here we go: Effexor Taper, posted by DharmaBum on July 5, 2007, at 21:37:48
Hey DharmaBum, i am presently on 37.5 mg of Effexor also but my doc added the 20 mg of Prozac, at my request after reading various posts here. I am feeling so so much better. I had tried to go off Effexor cold turkey and it was DREADFUL!!! I am afraid to reduce the Effexor at this time but I will soon. I missed on dose of Effexor a few days ago and I had HORRIBLE body aches, just awful. I want to start exercising too so keep up the bicycling. Take Care!!
Posted by DharmaBum on July 8, 2007, at 15:57:41
In reply to Re: Here we go: Effexor Taper » DharmaBum, posted by bdp67 on July 7, 2007, at 23:15:31
Wow, it just amazes me that the last 37.5 is the kicker. Not usually even considered a therapeutic dose, I don't think.
So far, I'm doing OK, bit tired today but I feel like that every Sunday. :-) I'm going to spend another week or so at this level and then ditch another 37.5.
The Withdrawal forum is a real eye-opener.
Posted by DharmaBum on July 15, 2007, at 10:49:06
In reply to Here we go: Effexor Taper, posted by DharmaBum on July 5, 2007, at 21:37:48
I've had about a week at 150 mg, down from 225. Not too bad so far. More difficult to get up in the morning. On the weekend, my dogs get me up early then I go back to bed for 2.5 more hours. This is not necessarily bad; probably nets me eight hours of sleep.
I'm splitting the 150 into two doses. I do notice some of the head-turning weirdness, like my head is hollow ro something, toward the end og the first dose period, ~8 hrs. Maybe a little hypotension when I stand up from being really relaxed.
I'm going to hang at 150 for a few more days and then shave off another 37.5 split between the two doses.On the plus side, I feel pretty good and have a bit more motivation to get up and get some things done, a bit more libido. So I still feel this is the thing to do for now.
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.