Anyone tapered off Effexor and used Prozac as a bridge?

So sorry that you are going through such a difficult journey. Yes, there can be days of pure, dark hell. Such torture to deal with, while at the same time trying to balance a family (3 children), a husband, a house (with no outside help, just me as housekeeper, cook, shopper, etc., childrearing, an aging mother who was going through medical and personal crisis of her own and came to live with us....) AND working full time. WAY too much, so everything was just constantly being juggled, with horrid effects on me. I just focused on day by day, hour by hour...
It was not until AFTER I had finally reached the end of the tapering journey that the thought hit me that the Effexor had never made me feel any better, had not ameliorated my depression. If anythinging, it had compounded it.
You are taking topiramate (Topomax)...I was prescribed that for the severe migraines that would deck me out for HOURS and sometimes DAYS. I lost significant weight while on that drug (went from an 8/10 to size 2 --- I looked anorexic), but it did nothing for my migraines. Aggravated all the horrid experiences that I lived daily/nightly, so that drug was also tapered and dropped. I did not do any drug tapering solo, I sought and obtained excellent guidance but from a different neurologist, not the one who had prescribed Topomax, since she actually had prescribed Depakote also, which had created another level of hell for me. I dropped that doctor altogether, and was eternally grateful to the neurologist who guided me through the tapering journeys. I don't understand the rationale behind taking Prozac as an antidote. I've read several posts on this site of people who have been advised that...and also about the advise to RESTART the Effexor at 37.5. Why return to it at all, when with the right medical professional, it is possible to even get a pharmacy to fill a prescription for lower doses, possibly even tinctures, as part of finally eliminating the drug?
It's been a while since your post (the one to which I am responding), and I hope that you were able to get the help and reach the goal that you set for yourself. Effexor (I had the extended release) is in my opinion (and that of many posters on this site) a dangerous drug, and it insinuates itself into every fiber of the body, creating a twilight zone dimension that is extraordinarily difficult to escape.

With the tragic loss of my only sibling, a brother who lost a battle with lung cancer, I sank into a black chasm. I sought cognitive therapy, and accepted Zoloft to help with the crushing emotional and psychological pains. THAT drug also complicated daily (and nightly) life so I got the health professional to help me get off that as well. Effexor had been a hellish tapering experience, but Zoloft was worse on several levels, including the "whoosh" sounds in my ears, the brain fog and squeezes, the inability to concentrate, and the fact that even on the lowest dose I still had those problems. Required a tincture of that drug, mere drops over a period of time, to finally one day realize that there was no more blowing in my ear, no more sense of imploding. But it was accomplished with guidance, help, and not done on my own...I can't see how anyone can just undergo that path alone.
By the way, I am not on any antidepressants of any kind, and several life events and medical issues have made it increasingly difficult to cope with major depressive and anxiety disorders but the choice to not take medication is a decision borne from all that I experienced with various medications, with Effexor and Zoloft having been the ones that concretized my decisions. Personal choice.

I pray that you'll succeed and find a plateau of peace. 💖

I would urge those of us in the US to file a report with the FDA about Effexor. If enough of us file reports with MedWatch (FDA's Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program), we could make a difference. According to the response I received from the FDA: "Voluntary reports are essential for ensuring the continued safety of FDA-regulated products. One or two well documented case reports may provide an early signal of unexpected problems and lead to additional evaluation."
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm

It seems to be working for you so that’s great. Do you think it has something to do with sleep apnea? I would ask the doc who suggested you lower your dose.

I know this is old, but so many people have said they were going to try a Prozac bridge, but don't reply with how it went. I would really appreciate hearing how it went for people, as I'm trying to decide if I should do it. Thanks.

Smart advice. I am trying to get off Zoloft the 2nd time around! Horrible experience starting in the morning. First time it worked great. Down to 50 mg. Switching to Prozac

Good luck! I hope it goes smoothly.

I know it's an old thread but thought I'd share my experience. I was on 300mg (150bd) Effexor/Venlafaxine for around 4 years after many other antidepressants. Around 3 months ago after finally seeing a specialist I was given a diagnosis of BPD and I'm now on Lamotrigine however they wanted me off the Effexor and so did I as I found it to be a horrible drug. In the past I've had Prozac and this was advised as a way to get off the Effexor without the huge withdrawals. So about a week ago I did as I was told and switched directly from one to the other, 300mg Effexor-40mg Prozac . All I can say is it's been absolute hell. I do suffer from brain zaps on Effexor if I was ever late for a dose so did expect some but not to the level I get now. I get zaps not only when I move my eyes but also when I touch anything with my fingers etc aswell as mood swings, major irritability and so on. Yet no other side effects with upset stomach, dizziness etc. Hopefully it works better for others that move between them and I do wonder if the tapering angle would be different to the straight swap. The specialist said his experience had showed going this route has shown great results for anyone coming off Effexor and with virtually no withdrawal. Not me unfortunately! Hope I'm just one of the unlucky ones. Look after yourselves. T

I would love to get some advice too. I was on Effexor 2 years after my daughter was born. I was suffering from what it seems to me to be a very late postpartum depression that I waited too long to get diagnosed. Effexor seemed to be life-saving for me and it worked. I continue to go to this doctor for another year or so who was not a therapist, he just cared about prescribing me medication, but he acted like it and charged me a lot of money to keep seeing him. After a little while, I told him I wanted to try to wean off of Effexor because I felt good. He reduced my dosage with no instructions about how to wean off. I did what he said and I had horrible withdrawal effects. I saw him again, and he said that this was abnormal. He said that nobody experiences this. So, I did my own research. I ended up taking apart the capsules and counting the little balls out...I managed to get off of it after at least a month of feeling like I had the flu. It was horrible. So, 2 years go by and I had another episode of depression. I swore I would never go back on Effexor, but I did because I knew it would work. So now...here I am back on it (75 mg.) and I don't know if I need it or not, but I'm also using a lot of alcohol to cope with my anxiety. Please help because I'm not sure what my next step should be.

I’m so sorry you are having these problems. I think it would be a good idea to perhaps find a good Doctor Who can help you regulate your medications. . The next thing, is also try to find a psychiatrist to help. It can do wonders for you. But aside from all that, I do know that any kind of problems that you have, alcohol will definitely only make it worse. I pray that you can find GOOD medical help to get you through this. I am so sorry.

I’ve tapered off Xanax and Paxil, two other demon drugs. If I were you I’d definitely try the Prozac taper. I wish I would have been offered this
for my Paxil taper.