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Weaning off Effexor with CBD Oil
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Jun 25, 2022 | Replies (56)Comment receiving replies
Hello everyone,
I see that this is an older thread, but I hope someone can provide insight into Effexor and CBD or Hemp oils. I have been on Effexor for about a year (3 time since starting anti-depressants 5 years ago). I want to get off this medication and have tried in the past. The withdraws have been so bad that I went up going back on it. We hope to get pregnant within the year and I do not want to be on this while with child. My doctor has suggested switching to Celexa (also have been on) but I am wondering if I will still experience withdraws when immediately stopping Effexor and starting Celexa. Ideally, I would like to be on no medication and go a more natural route. I have been looking into CBD/Hemp oils. Does anyone have experience with this? Thank you.
Lindey
Replies to "Hello everyone, I see that this is an older thread, but I hope someone can provide..."
@lindeyt01- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You came to the right place. When I withdrew from Effexor I did it over a long period of time. antidepressants change your brain's chemistry and when you suddenly stop taking them your brain goes nuts.
By withdrawing Effexor (I took it for postmenopausal depression and it had helped with hot flashes and worked for quite a few years for me.) many people go to another antidepressant immediately. I'd like to ask @jakedduck1 to help here.
Why do you want to withdraw? Has your doctor given you any advice on how to withdraw? Or even a pharmacist?
@lindeyt01 May I add my welcome to Mayo Connect. As @pankaj mentioned, you need to be careful of anything but a slooow withdrawal of anti-depressants. Here is a link showing the difference between Effexor and Celexa https://www.rxlist.com/effexor_xr_vs_celexa/drugs-condition.htm You will see they are two different types of anti-depressants, so caution is always advisable.
When I was withdrawing from Celexa the last time in 2010 or so [I am on it again since last July 2020], I took a calendar and marked out my days, and titrated off it very slowly, to not go through withdrawal. To abruptly change like you are considering, may indeed be a nasty experience for you.
While I am on a low dose of Celexa now, at 10mg daily, I also frequently use CBD [30 mg] to supplement, for anxiety and pain.
Ginger
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@pankaj: @LLndeyt01, I have taken Effexor [and several other anti-depreaasants] in the past and then discontinued it, so I understand your concern about withdrawal symptoms. In case you suddenly stop Effexor [as I did] and immediately start Celexa, there is a high probability that you will experience severe withdrawal symptoms. You haven't written what dose of Effexor you are taking. CBD/Hemp oil is not an anti-depressant but an anti-anxiety substance, so it may be advisable not to substitute it for an anti-depressant.