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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6363)Comment receiving replies
What exactly is the Prozac bridge? I got off of Effexor XR before and I happen to have been on Prozac too and I didn't have the nasty withdrawal symptoms. What does the Prozac do?I don't even think my doctor thought of this.
Replies to "What exactly is the Prozac bridge? I got off of Effexor XR before and I happen..."
You used one when you came off Effexor the first time--"The only way doctors know to soften the blow when withdrawing from short half-life drugs [Effexor is such] is to add 20mg fluoxetine (Prozac). The half-life of Effexor is 5 hours and 99% of it is out of your body in one day. Prozac's half-life is 4 to 6 days and it takes 25 days for 99% of it to be out of your body. Essentially, the Prozac cushions the effect of no Effexor and lets you "ride out" the withdrawal process.–https://natashatracy.com/treatment-issues/withdrawal/antidepressants-effexorpristiq-venlafaxinedesvenlafaxine/. See also https://www.depressionforums.org/forums/topic/107532-coming-off-of-effexor-with-prozac-bridge/
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Hi, @suzy31 - @texasduchess may have some further information for you about a fluoxetine (Prozac) bridge from her experiences with this.