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Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 1 hour ago | Replies (384)Comment receiving replies
I've been on Effexor for about 7 years and was stable on 150 mgs/day. The lack of libido was becoming an increasingly annoying problem, and I suspect ADHD, so I asked to try Welbutrin. I started 150 mgs of Welbutrin while halving the dose of Effexor each week- week 1 - 75 mgs, week 2- 37.5 mgs, week 3- no more Effexor. The first week I felt pretty good. The doctor advised to be aware of increased anxiety and irritability. I noticed I had a *lot* less patience, but it was manageable. I am on day 5 of week 3 now and very emotional. It's close to how I felt going cold turkey off effexor. It happened accidentally once. On day 5 I realized I'd never picked up my refills and hadn't realized because I had put the rest of my meds in my pill box, intending to add the others when I picked them up. I was irrationally angry and having rapid, intense mood swings. By the time I figured it out, I had to make it through a long weekend before getting back on track.
My question is, has anyone made this transition successfully? I will keep taking the Welbutrin, as I know it could be weeks before I see real effects. I just want to know if this is a normal thing to happen because of the difficulty in stopping Effexor, or if I should be concerned. My diagnoses are CPTSD, MDD, GAD, SAD, and suspected ADHD. I feel like I've lost the ability to manage my emotions entirely. I am snappy and angry and then weepy and sad at a turn.
Is this something I just have to see through? Is it too early to ask for an increase in dose? Has anyone had experience taking both of these and did the welbutrin help sexual dysfunction?
Replies to "I've been on Effexor for about 7 years and was stable on 150 mgs/day. The lack..."
@mtcrow I tapered off Effexor very slowly because I did not tolerate a taper, like yours, mood wise & I got the brain zaps. I cannot recall the exact taper but we started the Effexor taper then prescribed desvenalfaxine as the next step of the taper while transitioning to Wellbutrin. I was also prescribed Buspar from a provider that specialized in sexual health because it can help with decreased libido and lack of ability to achieve orgasm while on SNRIs. I did need Wellbutrin increased to 300mg to manage depression/mood symptoms better. I do need to be sure to take it first thing in the morning or it causes delayed sleep. Poor sleep is so triggering for so many of my symptoms. I am a woman and this all happened age 43-50. I was also dealing with perimenopause and as we are learning can unmask AHDH symptoms, which was my case. Once starting Adderall, it was unbelievable how much it help my focus. I am even able to relax better and sleep better while taking it as if my brain was able to close the 100 web tabs open. I had gone off Buspar over the course of starting HRT to help determine if that was now the missing link for the sexual dysfunction. I am estrogen, estrogen vaginal cream, progesterone and a small dose of testosterone. My sexual dysfunction is finally better! I did have to add Buspar back on for anxiety but I am attributing that to some newer major life stress.
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@mtcrow - I wanted to let you know I moved your post to this discussion on tapering off venlafaxine (Effexor) so that you could connect with more patients or loved ones who have faced this experience:
- Effexor Tapering Off and Side Effects https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/effexor-tapering-off/
Interfering with libido sounds like a perfectly rational reason for asking for a switch of medications. Members here such as @rufus31 @carolah70 @debjg @nomoreconf can let you know how it went for them in a taper off or going cold turkey off venlafaxine (Effexor). They can also let you know if they have since gone on bupropion (Wellbutrin), and how that's gone, if so.
A pharmacist advised me when I went on bupropion (Wellbutrin) that I had to be very patient, even up to 5 months, till I got through all the bumps of my body getting accustomed to this medication. I did have a bumpy few months or so emotionally, so he was right. I would have quit much earlier. But, in the end, I've been on it about 15 years, and it's been great.
What has your doctor said about the effects you are noticing with your start on bupropion (Wellbutrin)?