Posted by JohnL on September 7, 2001, at 17:52:52
In reply to Re: Desperate, Somebody Please Help, posted by frustratedconfused on September 7, 2001, at 9:00:23
Hi there,
Based on what you have described, I think it would indeed be best to get off of Effexor. Normally I would instead suggest adding something to it. But in this case, not. There is obviously something very wrong with the interaction between the Effexor molecule and your unique chemistry.Sometimes tapering off a med can actually make you feel a lot better, although short lived. Unfortunately the withdrawals from Effexor are difficult, so any goodness would likely be drowned out.
One method is to take Prozac in small doses while tapering down on the Effexor. Prozac has a very long halflife and will smooth out the bumps in the road. It has happened more than once, but sometimes when people use Prozac to withdraw from Effexor they accidentally discover, and happily so, that the two meds together work great. If that is to happen, it usually does so within a week. It's an outside chance, but a chance nevertheless. It wouldn't be the first time.
In any case, it seems to me that getting off of Effexor is the immediate priority and goal. In the process, Prozac may prove useful to help ween off the Effexor, and may even prove to be a great combination to stay with.
I wish there was an easier way. The problem with both Paxil or Effexor is that when they don't work out, they are tough to get off of. You have all my support! Please talk to your doc about tapering with Prozac. If he hasn't heard of that and won't do it, then you might also have an additional problem of finding a new doctor who knows what he's doing. Hopefully though your doctor will be receptive, and hopefully he may have some good ideas of his own. Simply withdrawing from Effexor though, without any other battle plan, is not acceptable in my book.
John
poster:JohnL
thread:78089
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010907/msgs/78202.html