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Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: 14 hours ago | Replies (6411)Comment receiving replies
sunshinestacy
Did you ever stop and think why some people might need a Prozac bridge? Did you ever consider people may be stopping to quickly and that’s why there are having these horrible withdrawl symptoms or that some people may be able to stop medications more quickly than others? The chances are much less likely to need Prozac if you stop your Effexor slowly enough.
Also it may have been easy for you to stop but it may not always be easy for everyone to stop even with the use of Prozac.
I'm glad your taper went so smoothly,
Jake
Replies to "sunshinestacy Did you ever stop and think why some people might need a Prozac bridge? Did..."
@jakedduck1, for some people using Prozac as a bridge to complete a taper off of Effexor is highly effective and recommended. "Sometimes, even if you are slow and deliberate when weaning off an antidepressant, you still may experience symptoms of discontinuation syndrome. In these cases, your doctor may prescribe fluoxetine, which has been found to help ease discontinuation symptoms."
Reference: https://www.verywellmind.com/brain-shivers-as-effexor-withdrawal-symptom-1065516
@sunshinestacy and Jake, I hope we can continue to share experiences and support people on the forum with mutual respect. We all want the same thing - to help people get the help and support they need to meet their health goals.
@andy1962, fellow member @texasduchess has written about using Prozac as a bridge a few times buried deep in this long discussion (as Jake mentioned). Here are links directly to her related posts:
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/126639/
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/124461/
You may also wish to join the discussion specific to Prozac bridging
- Anyone tapered off Effexor and used Prozac as a bridge? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/effexor-2/
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I don’t think this forum is for people to be condescending and rude. And not only do I have over 30 years dealing with anti depressants but I also am
A medical professional are you? You seem to think you know more than I do just for no reason. Have you ever tapered off Effexor? Not matter how you do it it is the worst hell to go through. And it was a dr that used the 2 week Prozac bridge and it saved me and many many others from going through that hell. Everyone absolutely will have an easier time going off prozac as it has a 5 day half life where Effexor is only hours which is why one missed dose and your brain is zapping and you have severe dizziness. Also prozac takes its time to fully leave your system, 25 days so it’s much gentler then the 4 days Effexor leaves your system completely. And 10 down to 5 mg to alleviate all the Effexor hell is a million times worth it. So I don’t have to think I know. As do many doctors, usually the better ones