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My doctor took me off Citalopram and gave me Effexor. Need advise
Hi Everyone
I sure hope someone can help me.
I had an episode and ended up in a CRC.
The psychiatrist there took me off of Citalopram, was on it over 10 years and put me on 75mg of Effexor.
I am on day 12 of the Effexor and technically off of the Citalopram 10 days.
I am having the absolute worst side effects. I have all that come with the change out. Sweats, no energy, sleepy, and now all of a sudden I am thinking I am better off dead. This scares me because this on one of the side effects. OMG. Does anyone have any experience like this? If so please please let me know. Thank you
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Hi, sorry you are going thru this. Switching AD's can be uncomfortable to say the least. You will get thru this transition. What worked for me is icing my face, alot of slow deep breathing, staying well hydrated also distractions ie; reading, TV, walking/running. Hang in there. This too shall pass. You will get thru this.
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6 ReactionsHey thank you soooooo much.
You are right this to shall pass.
I wish I knew when so I could put it on my calendar for something to look forward to.
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2 ReactionsWell at least you sense of humour is intact!
As it happens I am going thru something similar. Have been taking Lexapro for about 12 weeks. Ramping up gradually from 5mg to 10mg. Been a rough experience. I will have the occasional calm day but mostly high anxiety and this sense of doom & gloom. Just pushing thru and trying to not dwell. Hoping things settle soon for both of us 🙏😍
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3 ReactionsHello @lala33 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I see that you have already received some helpful responses from @cooper1990. If you still experience these side effects, you might ask your doctor if you can titrate the dose, by starting with a smaller dose for a week and the gradually increasing the dose each week.
The suggestions of @cooper1900 about distracting yourself are also good ideas to practice. Will you post again and provide an update?
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1 ReactionThese medications are extremely difficult to get off of. Just be aware Effexor is one of most difficult to get off of. Drs. don't seem to think this information is important to tell patients. I used a Prozac bridge to get off of Effexor but I don't know of any doctor who recommends the Prozac. Maybe there is no protocol but I have no idea. I found the information about Prozac online and told my doctor this is what I wanted to do. She went along with it or I would have found another doctor. Not sure if the Prozac would help with the original medication but check it out on the internet. It is pure torture getting off these medications. I had no withdrawal using the Prozac bridge is all I know.
Personally I've had a very bad experience with Effexer. With my doctor's help I weaned myself off of it and right now I'm on Auvelity and it's really the only thing that has worked Somewhat for me in 40 years of trying different meds.
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1 ReactionThank you very much for taking the time to reach out.