Posted by linkadge on April 24, 2004, at 17:07:22
In reply to Help! I need advice about effexor and 5 htp..., posted by april8 on April 24, 2004, at 14:22:53
Personally, I think that you need to reduce the antidepressant quite a bit before you try adding the 5-htp, as to avoid serotonin syndrome.
What I would do is ask your doctor for prozac to try to get off the effexor.
Effexor has a very short half-life, and will be out of your system within the day. Prozac however is in your system almost 2 weeks, thus making tapering much easier.
I would reduce to about 112.5 (or 75mg) by adding 10 mg of prozac, then reduce to no effexor by taking 10mg of prozac. Then you can take the prozac every other day, every third day etc, and withdrawl is much, much smoother.
As the prozac leaves your system, you can add 5-htp.
Getting off effexor can be a roller coaster because of its short half life, this is why I reccomend trying the prozac swich, it has worked for many people.
Best of LuckLinkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:339564
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040423/msgs/339609.html