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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cindyd on December 3, 2003, at 16:35:38
I have read quite a few posts that recommend taking Prozac to lessen the side effects of the withdrawl from Effexor, but how many mgs are standard?
I have been tapering off since the beginning of Nov. and 1 week ago I was down to none, but the withdrawl was terrible, so I went back to tapering even more slowly.
Today was the 1st day of no Effexor and I am starting to get the nausea, shakes, sweats, etc. and I have had this horrible taste in my mouth since I cut back.
So, can any tell me what the ball park figure is on taking the Prozac and for how loong?
Thank you
Posted by linkadge on December 3, 2003, at 17:22:20
In reply to Effexor Withdrawl Prozac, posted by cindyd on December 3, 2003, at 16:35:38
I would start with the lowest dose, even 10mg will provide relief. Prozac is purported to be easier to get off of because of its longer half life.
You may also want to try, folic acid, 5htp and/or omega 3, have been helpful to some to relive the symptoms of withdrawl.
Good LuckLinkadge
Posted by cindyd on December 3, 2003, at 18:53:51
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Prozac, posted by linkadge on December 3, 2003, at 17:22:20
I just came back from picking up a RX for the prozac, and it has given me relief already.
I have the other things you mentioned in the house, so I will give those a try too.
If I had had any idea the withdrawl would be this bad, I never would have used Effexor. :(
Thanks for the help.
Posted by burnedout on December 4, 2003, at 11:02:07
In reply to Effexor Withdrawl Prozac, posted by cindyd on December 3, 2003, at 16:35:38
Cyndy
They don't tell you about the withdrawal--"discontinuation" horrors of Effexor.
I've been through it, including vists to the ER.
The docs have been told to generally take a person off over a two week period. That can be devastating.
I don't know about the other meds to help. If they do and won't hurt you--like Xanax might, then go for it. Anything to stop the pain is worth it. I was in such bad shape that I was loosing consiounsess because of the pain.
Now I'm left with the "eye/brain zaps (don't know if you had those), pain in the abdomen--diagnosed as IBS due to the Effexor and Tinnitus. The tinnitus I haven't been able to adjust to.When I called Wyeth they told me that the discontinuation effects ARE indeed real. (they are now publishing them in their package insert, whereas before, they didn't).
The lady told me that to try reducing the dose (I was on 75 mg for 4 weeks, then 150 mg for three days, before I wound up in the Emergency Room) by increments of 18.5 mg/day for about a week at a time, until you finally are off.
But even then you will probably still feel pretty bad.
The good news is, if you can make it past the 3rd day, then things slowly begin to get better. The bad new is, the third day of no Effexor is horrendous.I hope you succed. The info I gave you about the 18.5 mg, incremental tapering isn't published. But if your doctor wants to confirm it, he can call Wyeth or you can--tell them you want to report trouble with discontinuation and they will get you to someone who will ask and aswer your questions.
I think it's going to be a balance. Try to get off it as quickly as possible, and there will be discomfort. But don't do it so quickly that it turns into a nightmare.
There is also another drug that is commonly used in Canada/UK/Australia to help people get through the side effects, but I don't remember the name. It is a medicine that is given to chemotherapy patients to help them deal with the side effect of that treatment. You might want to look into that. They are reporting success with it.
Oh, to get to the 18.5 mg, you might have to break a capsule apart--I don't recal if they make an 18.5, but they may. If you have to break the capsule, which is not advisable, but maybe the only way to do it. If you do, divide the little grains up into a pile and take that. DO NOT CHECK or break the grainuals--they are time-release. If you break them, you may get all the medicine at once and that would be very bad.
Use caution & God bless.
Posted by loni on December 5, 2003, at 22:51:12
In reply to Effexor Withdrawl Prozac, posted by cindyd on December 3, 2003, at 16:35:38
C--
HANG IN THERE! YOU CAN DO IT!
I know it can get very bad, it did for me. Seizures, brain zaps, aphasia, despair and crying and paranoia, the whole thing.
If, after your last dose, you can wait it out...stay with someone who understands...talk to your dog...check into a hotel or B&B with good room service and hot baths...ANYTHING! Then you will break this puppy and never want it back. I YEARNED to go back on when it got so bad but my husband wouldn't yield (thank goodness for him). After 4 weeks totally off, the VERY worst was over, 6 weeks was better, 8 weeks was my first venture out of the house, and so on.
I was on a high dose for 3 years and am med-sensitive, so I wonder if I had it longer and worse than most. But that's good news for others. Again, hang in there. It will pass. It is not you. It is separate from you. And you can outlast it.
I don't usually post this story here, but I wrote it right before they figured out that what I was experiencing wasn't MS...it was Effexor W/D (no info back then).
It's the real story of a white crow which showed up in my kitchen. Hopefully, it will inspire you like this creature inspired me.
Posted by cindyd on December 8, 2003, at 10:26:18
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Prozac, posted by loni on December 5, 2003, at 22:51:12
Thanks for the encouragement! I took the Prozac for about 5 days and went off that over the past weekend.
I don't know if I got the stomach flu or not after that, but that was quite unpleasant.
IBS is connected to Effexor?!?!? Egads, that's something else I live with. Going out is a nightmare trying to scope out where the restrooms are first.
It will be interesting to see if this goes away.
I also got high high blood pressure while on this drug.
At this point it seems the depression was the least of my problems.
The dr. put me on Wellbutrin 450 mg. and Desipramine. I am starting to feel better finally.
Posted by T_R_D on December 8, 2003, at 12:41:18
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl Prozac, posted by cindyd on December 8, 2003, at 10:26:18
It could be a side effect of the Prozac. I got a really upset tummy when taking it but it didn't last--went away as soon as the Prozac was stopped.
This is the end of the thread.
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