![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 16, 2012, at 20:53:31
Hi Phillipa, you asked in an earleir thread about quitting Luvox and why it was so difficult - short answer is that it has a very short half life, so that any dose reduction quickly translates to a fall in the blood levels.
A (relatively) painless way to quit is to stop Luvox, and the following day, start taking Prozac (which has a long half life) for a few weeks, then reduce the prozac to every other day for a bit, then stop it entirely.
You could then start a new antidepressant, one that might be of more help to you, if you wanted to try that path.
Posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2012, at 23:35:44
In reply to Phillipa - Quitting Luvox, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 16, 2012, at 20:53:31
Jono staying on luvox. If that short a half-life why is it that when take at bedtime the later in the day the better I feel mostly. Shouldn't this be the opposite? My brain is hooked for whatever reason on luvox. Any ideas why? Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 16, 2012, at 23:57:08
In reply to Re: Phillipa - Quitting Luvox » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2012, at 23:35:44
Not sure about that one Phillipa, I'd have thought that any SSRI would substitute for any other, but maybe there is more to it than that.
A friend with OCD was having a hard time widrawing from paroxetine (Paxil) and he used the Prozac method and found it pretty painless.
How are things going in general for you?
Not too bad here, now the anxiety has settled down.
Even thinking of trying to buy a house!
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2012, at 20:31:32
In reply to Re: Phillipa - Quitting Luvox, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 16, 2012, at 23:57:08
I questioned the pharmacist today when picked up RX for valium. I wanted to know since luvox increases a lot of meds benozs included other than ativan. What the differences were in trying to switch. All she could come up with was that a dose of 150mg of luvox cut the elimination time of valium by 68%. So do you know your math? As she said would require research and she'd let me know after figured out how 50mg fits into the equation. Ativan being the only benzo that doesn't react this way. Also was searching for luvox info on crazy meds and it was mentioned that if you took luvox (no doseage given) and added a dose of cymbalta the effects would be l0x what one cymbalta would give with any other SSRI. That doseage wasn't given either. Glad you bought a home congratulations. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 19, 2012, at 21:39:55
In reply to Re: Phillipa - Quitting Luvox » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2012, at 20:31:32
Might be wise to ask your doc if you can flip your Valium and Xanax for Ativan?
If 150mg increases blood levels by 68%, then 50mg would increase them by less - but that said, if you are stable, it might not matter - it might be that without the effect of the luvox, you'd need more valium or somthing?
Posted by phillipa on September 20, 2012, at 20:46:31
In reply to Re: Phillipa - Quitting Luvox, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 19, 2012, at 21:39:55
Since that isn't going to happen here I best stick now. Phillipa.
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.