Effexor Withdrawal?

[JenBKR]

It should be fine for her to overlap the medications for a little while. I'm glad she got some effexor, I know how hard the withdrawal symptoms are - they are so miserable it's hard to cope. Good luck!

[Catty1]

YEP! that happened to me - went off one antidep and went on "Hellbutrin"

She should get back to what she KNOWS will work.

Hey - maybe "Andrea" was on the "WRONG" med for her.

She is NOT Andrea. She is HER.

hugs

catty1

5http was for me good for withdrawl. Check with doc or pharmacist...you can get it at health food stores

Glad to hear she is seeing a meds specialist - likely a psychiatrist. They are medical doctors.

[smokey the elder]

I'd ask your doctor about taking one pill (150 mg) every other day. Meds have something called a "half life." By taking 150 mg every other day, you could have wild cycles of high dose down to no dose in your system, and feel really rotten. Taking 150 mg every other day may not have the same effect as splitting the pills in half and taking half every day.

[JenBKR]

I'd ask your doctor about taking one pill (150 mg) every other day. Meds have something called a "half life." By taking 150 mg every other day, you could have wild cycles of high dose down to no dose in your system, and feel really rotten. Taking 150 mg every other day may not have the same effect as splitting the pills in half and taking half every day.

That's true - what I did was take 150 mg one day, then 75 the next for a little while, then down to 75 mg/day. It's a much easier transition.

[.sarah]

I was fainting while on Effexor. My doctor didn't think it was the medicine but my mom did so she tapered me off and as soon as I was done with it the fainting stopped.

I also have vertigo and brain zaps, but they aren't related to the medicine as far as I can tell. I've had them since I was little.

[moosmom]

I've been on Effexor (nasty stuff) and Wellbutrin. Effexor is NOT to be stopped cold turkey. The withdrawal is awful. Causes vertigo, nausea, vomiting, headaches. Wellbutrin (or as Catty1 put it "Hellbutrin) caused me to have suicidal thoughts. Like Catty1 said, everyone's system is different. Some people can take Wellbutrin with little or no side effects.

I'd tell your mom to get a second opinion on the meds. There HAS to be something she can take that will help her wean her Effexor meds.

I am currently on Paxil CR, 27.5 mgs/day and doing fine.

Good luck and keep us posted.