Restarting meds: Did your anti-depressant work the 2nd time around?

I had good results from Effexor. You might try a more sedating antidepressant. Clomipramine plus low dose of Seroquel has worked well for me, especially if you need the sleep.

I’m glad to find you all here. Trying to talk with others that haven’t experienced depression is extremely frustrating!
I have had short-cycling depression all my life (bipolar depression). Medications haven’t been properly diagnosed due to my alcohol use, denial, and half-hearted attempts at doctors. I’m 60 years old now, recently sober and the same pattern is there. I thought effexor helped years ago, but I couldn’t afford to stay on it without insurance. Lexapro might have helped, but was still drinking. I have to try meds again now because I can’t function. I’m having a hard time just making an appointment; stuck, no motivation.

Teresa, I came down with Covid on Jun 1st and stopped taking Trazodone for sleep ( have used it since my 32 year old twins were born) because I took Pavloxid, the Anti-viral drug for Covid; was advised not to take trazodone with it. I find I am able to sleep without sleep meds! So I now have discontinued not only Wellbutrin but Trazodone too. So far I am doing well. I don’t currently have a doctor for psychiatric meds but will find one if my mood worsens. Thank you for caring!

Hello @aethos

I understand you are pleased about reducing your antidepressant meds. I'm glad to hear that you are doing well.

You mentioned that you don't have a doctor for psychiatric meds but that you will find one if your moods worsen. As you undoubtedly know, antidepressant meds take a while to build up in your body but they also take a while to leave your system. As a result, you may still have enough of the meds in your system to modulate your moods.

I just mention this because I don't want you to be surprised if you have a let down in a few weeks down the road.

How long have you been without these meds?

How did you go?

Yes I’ve been down this road before and have been ok for several months and then became depressed again. I haven’t taken any Wellbutrin or Trazodone (the latter for sleep only) for close to a month. I am more alert/ aware, less foggy in the head and less anxious I think, the Wellbutrin gave me energy but also anxiety. I also used to take Ambien, took it for 10 years and managed to get off of it in the past year.

It seems that you have a lot of experience dealing with this type of medication, @aethos. I certainly wish you well. I understand how great it is when that "foggy" feeling lifts,

Will you continue to post and let me know how you are doing?

Good morning,

I am new here, stumbled across this looking for some answers (and hope). A little back story, I was on Venlafaxine XR 75mg from 2007 to 2020 (for anxiety), when I began a slow taper. From January 2020 to January 2021 I was down to 21mg and had not had any withdrawal. January 2021 I got the 1st dose of Pfizer COVID vaccine and something happened, heart rate increased and panic attack that night. I began having terrible panic attacks, I couldn't eat (lost 30 pounds), couldn't sleep, was a shell of my previous self. After waiting and hoping for relief, I slowly titrated the med up and not getting any relief until 50mg. This was June 2021. I remain on that dose and for the most part was ok and enjoying life. I got COVID the first time end of May 2022 and had an increase in anxiety for approximately 8 weeks post virus. Now, sept 2022, I feel a downward spiral. I'm tearful, fatigued, anxious, watch the clock at work, dizzy, arms feel heavy/sore. I saw my GP and she recommended going up to 75mg (blood work was normal). Has anyone suffered a withdraw then went back to the previous dose and found relief? It terrifies me that it won't work and will have to taper again.

Hi Farmmamma (love the name), welcome. I'm so sorry to hear that COVID has interrupted your taper. So many factors that potentially contributed to your downward spiral. But you're getting help and you're not alone. You may have noticed that I moved your message to this existing discussion:
- Restarting meds: Did your anti-depressant work the 2nd time around?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/restarting-anti-depressant/

I did this so you can read the previous very helpful experiences and connect easily with members like @sheton66 @amandaxoxo1 @aethos @supersteve @rob33 and others.

Farmmamma, if I'm reading your message correctly venlafaxine was working well for you from 2007 to 2020. May I ask what led to your wanting to taper in 2020?

Started venlafaxine again yesterday and feeling horrible 😞. 75mg, I feel so nervous and anxious from the meds on top of how horrible I felt which is why I started them again. How many days will I feel like this? Not feeling good, I should have never stopped taking them.