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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by grlfrnd on February 15, 2005, at 18:49:03
Hi all, my boyfriend who has taken effexor 75mgs for 3yrs is now starting to take 37.5mgs in an attempt to tapper off of it. what advise can you give me on how to be supportive or what i can do to help him hope with the withdrawal symptoms he will encounter? i will appreciate any advise you can give me.
Posted by celticmom on February 15, 2005, at 18:49:04
In reply to help me b supportive, posted by grlfrnd on February 14, 2005, at 21:23:49
I hope your BF has an easy time with it. My DH switched from Paxil to Lexapro and had relatively no withdrawal problems....at first. 6 weeks later he started having severe symptoms. Sweats, shakes, anxiety etc. We were never sure if it was from Paxil withdrawal or the Lexapro, but he switched to Zoloft after weaning off of the Lexapro.
There were some high anxiety days. His pdoc put him on Gabapentin (sp?) and that really helped. He takes it 3 times a day and I really think that helps more than the zoloft. The combo is working so well, that he's staying on the Gaba's instead of weaning off like we originally thought.
You may want to see if his pdoc can prescribe something like Gabapentin to get him through. Is he going on something else or just completely coming off meds?? Oh and DH also loaded up on benedryl which seemed to help with the "flu like" symptoms that sometimes come with withdrawal (a helpful tip I learned here on this board!)
Good luck to you. I know how hard this is on you as well. It can be very rough, just try to remember that he may not be able to control his behavior and that any withdrawal symptoms will not last. I've been through this with my DS as well.
There really is light at the end of the tunnel, you just need to stay positive.
Posted by grlfrnd on February 15, 2005, at 21:20:19
In reply to Re: help me b supportive, posted by celticmom on February 15, 2005, at 10:26:06
>Thank you celticmom i really appreciate your advice. I will look into the Gaba. and stock up on Benadryl. yes he is attempting to come off meds completely. i am concerned because this is a relatively new relationship and am not sure what the extent of my ivolvement can be. i want to be there for him so bad. thanks again for your words of wisdom.
I hope your BF has an easy time with it. My DH switched from Paxil to Lexapro and had relatively no withdrawal problems....at first. 6 weeks later he started having severe symptoms. Sweats, shakes, anxiety etc. We were never sure if it was from Paxil withdrawal or the Lexapro, but he switched to Zoloft after weaning off of the Lexapro.
>
> There were some high anxiety days. His pdoc put him on Gabapentin (sp?) and that really helped. He takes it 3 times a day and I really think that helps more than the zoloft. The combo is working so well, that he's staying on the Gaba's instead of weaning off like we originally thought.
>
> You may want to see if his pdoc can prescribe something like Gabapentin to get him through. Is he going on something else or just completely coming off meds?? Oh and DH also loaded up on benedryl which seemed to help with the "flu like" symptoms that sometimes come with withdrawal (a helpful tip I learned here on this board!)
>
> Good luck to you. I know how hard this is on you as well. It can be very rough, just try to remember that he may not be able to control his behavior and that any withdrawal symptoms will not last. I've been through this with my DS as well.
> There really is light at the end of the tunnel, you just need to stay positive.
>
>
Posted by celticmom on February 15, 2005, at 21:31:13
In reply to Re: help me b supportive, posted by grlfrnd on February 15, 2005, at 21:20:19
No problem grlfrnd - it isn't easy and that you are willing to stick by him says a lot about you. I have to say that I didn't realize when I got together with my DH that it would ever be like this, but I never regret a day (we've been married over 14 now). He's still the love of my life and the vast majority of the time everything is fine. It's just about getting the chemistry straight. I wish you all the best!
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