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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bob on January 23, 2002, at 2:19:32
Many people complain of Paxil having a very nasty withdrawal syndrome because of its short half-life of approximately 21 hours. I just learned that Luvox actually has the shortest half-life of all of the SSRIs, at only 16 hours. I don't ever hear of people having a terrible time getting off of it though. Is that because not many take Luvox, or the withdrawal isn't as bad for some other reason?
Posted by Dinah on January 23, 2002, at 8:39:53
In reply to Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?, posted by bob on January 23, 2002, at 2:19:32
It's not pretty. I have no way of comparing with the others, because Luvox was the only SSRI I have taken. But I was cautious enough to taper verrry slowly. It took me a couple of months. Even so, it was unpleasant. But if the Luvox is working for you I wouldn't worry about it. If and when you decide to go off, just take it easy and do it slowly.
Posted by IsoM on January 23, 2002, at 11:38:46
In reply to Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?, posted by bob on January 23, 2002, at 2:19:32
Luvox & Paxil were the two best SSRIs for me & I've tapered off both. Both were hell for me to come off but I have a very sensitive system - few people will find it as bad as I did. Between the two, I'd say that Paxil was a little worse for me to taper off. I, too, took months to taper my dose down.
> Many people complain of Paxil having a very nasty withdrawal syndrome because of its short half-life of approximately 21 hours. I just learned that Luvox actually has the shortest half-life of all of the SSRIs, at only 16 hours. I don't ever hear of people having a terrible time getting off of it though. Is that because not many take Luvox, or the withdrawal isn't as bad for some other reason?
Posted by bob on January 23, 2002, at 14:05:27
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all? » bob, posted by IsoM on January 23, 2002, at 11:38:46
I too have an extremely sensitive system. If there's a nasty side effect for a drug, I inevitably get it. I also experience protracted and nasty withdrawals from the meds.
Have you ever experienced Effexor withdrawal? If so, how did that compare to Paxil/Luvox?
Bob
Posted by Dinah on January 23, 2002, at 14:33:12
In reply to IsoM and Dinah..., posted by bob on January 23, 2002, at 14:05:27
Posted by IsoM on January 23, 2002, at 14:36:35
In reply to IsoM and Dinah..., posted by bob on January 23, 2002, at 14:05:27
I only took Effexor about a week. It's appetite suppressing effects were too powerful & food repulsed me, so I had to quit. I don't actually experience many bad side-effects from most meds but whatever system was affected by cessation of SSRIs was *very MUCH* affected!
> I too have an extremely sensitive system. If there's a nasty side effect for a drug, I inevitably get it. I also experience protracted and nasty withdrawals from the meds.
>
> Have you ever experienced Effexor withdrawal? If so, how did that compare to Paxil/Luvox?
>
> Bob
Posted by OldSchool on January 23, 2002, at 20:43:08
In reply to Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?, posted by bob on January 23, 2002, at 2:19:32
> Many people complain of Paxil having a very nasty withdrawal syndrome because of its short half-life of approximately 21 hours. I just learned that Luvox actually has the shortest half-life of all of the SSRIs, at only 16 hours. I don't ever hear of people having a terrible time getting off of it though. Is that because not many take Luvox, or the withdrawal isn't as bad for some other reason?
Bob I was on Luvox for a few months and when I went off it the withdrawal wasnt that bad. Dont worry about it man. Luvox is a good antidepressant BTW, one of the best. Its an underrated antidepressant...very effective.Dont worry about it.
Old School
Posted by bob on January 23, 2002, at 22:13:40
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?, posted by OldSchool on January 23, 2002, at 20:43:08
Old School:
Why did you go off the Luvox?
Bob
Posted by KimberlyL on January 23, 2002, at 23:23:30
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all? » OldSchool, posted by bob on January 23, 2002, at 22:13:40
> Bob,
I tapered off of Luvox in about 3 weeks and it was not that bad. Mild dizziness but that was about it. I knocked it off by 50 mgs each time and then down to 25 and then none.
Not that you asked, but while I was on Luvox I found it worked well and I had very few side effects. I took it for about 18 months and then decided I was "cured." (That part turned out to be wrong.)
Good Luck,
Kim
Posted by bob on January 24, 2002, at 0:33:23
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?}}Bob, posted by KimberlyL on January 23, 2002, at 23:23:30
> Not that you asked, but while I was on Luvox I found it worked well and I had very few side effects. I took it for about 18 months and then decided I was "cured." (That part turned out to be wrong.)Ahhhh, yes. The ol' thought I was cured but was wrong syndrome. Seems to be a common syndrome these days, especially if one finds a drug that seems to help.
Posted by bob on January 24, 2002, at 0:34:28
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?}}Bob, posted by KimberlyL on January 23, 2002, at 23:23:30
Kim:
Did you go back on Luvox, or turn to something else? If you turned to something else, why?
Posted by KimberlyL on January 24, 2002, at 13:00:38
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?}}Bob, posted by bob on January 24, 2002, at 0:34:28
> Kim:
>
> Did you go back on Luvox, or turn to something else? If you turned to something else, why?Bob,
When I started back up I went on Celexa, which I am still on, along with a very small dose of Topamax. I had read some where, and my pdoc confirmed, that sometimes if you quit a med and then start back up it doesn't work as well the second time around. I didn't want to mess with that possibility so I just tried something new. I have been quite happy with the Celexa too. Prior to Luvox, I took Serzone for 9 months and did not think that was a good drug (for me at least) at all.
Kim
Posted by OldSchool on January 24, 2002, at 14:38:32
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all? » OldSchool, posted by bob on January 23, 2002, at 22:13:40
> Old School:
>
> Why did you go off the Luvox?
>
> BobOnly reason I went off it was cause it wasnt formulary on my health insurance plan. So I had to pay out of pocket for it, which there is no way I am going to do that. A month supply of Luvox was like $100. And that was the generic version of it. Luvox was generic long before Prozac became generic.
So I switched to another SSRI...Zoloft. I would have just have preferred to have stayed on the Luvox though as it is a good AD.
Old School
Posted by bob on January 24, 2002, at 15:21:08
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?}}Bob, posted by KimberlyL on January 24, 2002, at 13:00:38
> > Kim:
> >
> > Did you go back on Luvox, or turn to something else? If you turned to something else, why?
>
> Bob,
>
> When I started back up I went on Celexa, which I am still on, along with a very small dose of Topamax. I had read some where, and my pdoc confirmed, that sometimes if you quit a med and then start back up it doesn't work as well the second time around. I didn't want to mess with that possibility so I just tried something new. I have been quite happy with the Celexa too. Prior to Luvox, I took Serzone for 9 months and did not think that was a good drug (for me at least) at all.
>
> KimI couldn't get past 2 weeks with Serzone... it was brutal for me.
Posted by KimberlyL on January 24, 2002, at 22:23:03
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?, posted by OldSchool on January 24, 2002, at 14:38:32
> > Old School:
> >
> > Why did you go off the Luvox?
> >
> > Bob
>
> Only reason I went off it was cause it wasnt formulary on my health insurance plan. So I had to pay out of pocket for it, which there is no way I am going to do that. A month supply of Luvox was like $100. And that was the generic version of it. Luvox was generic long before Prozac became generic.
>
> So I switched to another SSRI...Zoloft. I would have just have preferred to have stayed on the Luvox though as it is a good AD.
>
> Old SchoolOld School,
Are you sure about Luvox having a generic? I didn't think it was out yet, and I believe it is a newer drug than Prozac which would mean it's patent is still in effect.
You're right though, Luvox is very expensive. I think I paid around $140 per month when I bought that. My Celexa runs around $80 or so.
Kim
Posted by bob on January 24, 2002, at 22:50:41
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?}}Old School, posted by KimberlyL on January 24, 2002, at 22:23:03
Kim:
Luvox does indeed have a generic: Fluvoxamine Maleate. I believe it just came out early last year. I've been taking it.
Bob
Posted by KimberlyL on January 25, 2002, at 1:35:09
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?}}Old School » KimberlyL, posted by bob on January 24, 2002, at 22:50:41
> Kim:
>
> Luvox does indeed have a generic: Fluvoxamine Maleate. I believe it just came out early last year. I've been taking it.
>
> Bob
Posted by OldSchool on January 25, 2002, at 11:31:24
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?}}Old School, posted by KimberlyL on January 24, 2002, at 22:23:03
> Old School,
>
> Are you sure about Luvox having a generic? I didn't think it was out yet, and I believe it is a newer drug than Prozac which would mean it's patent is still in effect.
>
> You're right though, Luvox is very expensive. I think I paid around $140 per month when I bought that. My Celexa runs around $80 or so.
>
> Kimyeah, Luvox is generic now. And the generic version is not that much cheaper than the non generic Luvox. The original Luvox is made by Solvay if I remember correctly. And I have some generic Luvox made my "Eon Labs." Whomever that is.
Old School
Posted by Grahambo on January 26, 2003, at 22:11:28
In reply to Re: Luvox withdrawal the worst of all?}}Old School, posted by OldSchool on January 25, 2002, at 11:31:24
I have been on luvox for 5+ years. My life has changed in all sorts of great ways over those years, and I attributed alot of that to the support network I've built, 12 steps, exercise, therapy, blah blah.... My MD asked me why I took luvox a while back, and I couldnt really answer him.. its been so long I forgot! So, we decided maybe I should try to come off of it, since It can cause liver issues (i have to be very carefuly about my liver.)
So, I start coming down from 150mg... at 125 I didnt notice anything... I stayed there for 4 days.. then 100... stayed there for 3 days, then I tried to go to 75... oops... all hell started breaking loose. I went back to 100 and it still wasn't cute at all... I forgot what it feels like to feel like a total failure and that your life is completely worthless, despite evidence
all around you to the contrary.. my thinking also has become slightly confused... for example, I've been very confused about why im motivated to keep coming off of this... I'm telling myself its just the "coming off" part, and it'll be much better in a few days/weeks... But we'll see... MAybe I do need to stay on this stuff. Excercise helps TREMENDOUSLY.. I walked a good 5 miles today and felt just like before. I have some semi-stressful situations coming up in the weeks ahead, and am definitely going to stay at 100, but am contemplating going back up to 150.... HAs anyone tried this, just levelling off during the wean process?thanks much
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