1. < Depression & Anxiety

HELP Please! Reinstate Effexor or bridge with Prozac?

Posted by justynan @justynan, Dec 5, 2023

Hello,
I am in desperate need of advice. After 11 years of usage, I took 7-8 months to wean off 112.5mg of Effexor (had done the same a year before but had to go back on it due to Covid and new job stress). I did not taper the right way, just dropped by 12.5mg every 3 weeks or so. After a month, my withdrawal started. It's been 3 months now, and I have extreme anxiety, worst in the morning. Only feel better late in the evening. I've reinstated 2mg (5 beads out of my capsule). It's been only a week, but I'm not feeling better at all. Panicking, as I was laid off work a month ago, and need to look for a job, but not in any state to do so. Everything overwhelms me, I feel fearful of the smallest challenges. MY DILEMMA: Should I increase my Effexor dosage and hope it works at a hopefully low dose OR bridge with Prozac (maybe low 5mg). I'd rather not introduce my brain to a new drug, but if I need a high dose of Effexor to feel better, then I don't know if I'll EVER be able to get off this poison again after my previous two attempts. If Prozac doesn't work or I have a bad reaction, then I'll be even more confused and possibly having to taper off Prozac. I can't get a psychiatrist appointment any time soon. Long wait. Please, does anyone have experience with this? Thank you!

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justynan | @justynan | Dec 7, 2023
In reply to @njoys "I was on 75 mg Effexor for about 15 years. I weaned myself off twice, but..." + (show)
@njoys

I was on 75 mg Effexor for about 15 years. I weaned myself off twice, but unsuccessfully because I did not do the bead-counting or weighing procedure. I recently went back on the lowest dose available in capsule form: 37.5 mg. It took about a week to feel ok. My doctor knows little about withdrawal from these meds, so I am thankful for reliable online resources. I have read about the Prozac bridge, but nothing that tempts me to try it. I would suggest you try Effexor to stabilize yourself for the present, and when you are ready, plan a withdrawal method that has a better chance of success for you. Here is one method, from another long-established support group: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/17671-the-brassmonkey-slide-method-of-micro-tapering/

I should add that my withdrawal experience was similar to yours--after two months of feeling ok, crushing anxiety struck, and fear about every little thing, worse in the morning, slightly better by evening. After two months of that hell, I had enough. I know how to taper off the right way now, so I am optimistic that I can do it when I am ready.

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I am so torn about this. I'm scared to reinstate a big dose of Effexor, even 12.5mg because the next weaning off would be my third time, and could be bad. I've reinstated 2mg for 7 days and 4mg for 2 more days. No change. I'm so scared of Effexor now, I think I will try Prozac. At least it comes in liquid form. Micro-tapering Effexor is hard. My tiniest bead is 0.4mg which is a lot. People go two decimal places with tapers when they can.

REPLY
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njoys | @njoys | Dec 7, 2023
In reply to @justynan "I am so torn about this. I'm scared to reinstate a big dose of Effexor, even..." + (show)
@justynan

I am so torn about this. I'm scared to reinstate a big dose of Effexor, even 12.5mg because the next weaning off would be my third time, and could be bad. I've reinstated 2mg for 7 days and 4mg for 2 more days. No change. I'm so scared of Effexor now, I think I will try Prozac. At least it comes in liquid form. Micro-tapering Effexor is hard. My tiniest bead is 0.4mg which is a lot. People go two decimal places with tapers when they can.

Jump to this post

I understand the difficulty. If your doctor is knowledgeable about such things, hopefully you and your doctor can figure out what is best for you.
I hope to taper off next year (my third attempt), but plan to do it the right way: slowly and over a long period of time, as recommended.
Best wishes to you.

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