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Anyone tapered off Effexor and used Prozac as a bridge?

Posted by michellez @michellez, Apr 24, 2021

Hi I Was wondering if anyone has stopped taking 75 mg of Effexor and went right on Prozac 20 mg I thought I heard that that would help the withdrawal?

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maryjjeandennis | @maryjjeandennis | Jul 30, 2025

I’m tapering off of Paxil and adding a small amount of Prozac
And being follower closely by my psychiatrist. I think it may be working. The slow taper is helping the withdrawal symptoms from Paxil. I am also on a small amount of Clonazapam which has been very helpful in keeping my life manageable! Good luck.
Mjd

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sallyo420 | @sallyo420 | 22 hours ago

Yes and the Prozac bridge worked beautifully. I was on 250mg Effexor. I am elderly so started getting diarrhea from the Effexor so decided to go off. I think going off Effexor must be as bad as heroin. No way in hell was I doing that without help. My doctor gave me 37.5 mg and I started that and 40mg Prozac. The withdrawal symptoms initially broke through on 20mg. After a few days I went off the first 75mg and then started with the 2nd 75mg and did the same thing. The diarrhea immediately stopped. After tapering off that I went to the final 75mg. This was a little tricker since you can't use more than 80mg Prozac. I was now on 20mg Prozac in the morning and 30mg in afternoon to avoid withdrawal symptoms or Serotonin Syndrome. Then did the same thing with the final 75mg. There is no need to suffer going off Effexor.

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Randy Shields | @randallshields56 | 1 hour ago
In reply to @sallyo420 "Yes and the Prozac bridge worked beautifully. I was on 250mg Effexor. I am elderly so..." + (show)
Profile picture for sallyo420 @sallyo420

Yes and the Prozac bridge worked beautifully. I was on 250mg Effexor. I am elderly so started getting diarrhea from the Effexor so decided to go off. I think going off Effexor must be as bad as heroin. No way in hell was I doing that without help. My doctor gave me 37.5 mg and I started that and 40mg Prozac. The withdrawal symptoms initially broke through on 20mg. After a few days I went off the first 75mg and then started with the 2nd 75mg and did the same thing. The diarrhea immediately stopped. After tapering off that I went to the final 75mg. This was a little tricker since you can't use more than 80mg Prozac. I was now on 20mg Prozac in the morning and 30mg in afternoon to avoid withdrawal symptoms or Serotonin Syndrome. Then did the same thing with the final 75mg. There is no need to suffer going off Effexor.

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can't really because I'm currently on too many meds

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