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I was on effexor for my depression for nearly 2 years. i liked it, but it just wasn't strong enough for this major episode so I was switched to Cymbalta and Welbutrin and now am coming off the Cymbalta: Word to the wise....both Effexor and Cymbalta have to be weened off from to avoid severe withdraw affects. Your son will notice that if he doesn't take his Effexor one day or takes it much later in the day then he will start feeling odd and will experience what many, including myself, describe as body shocks. it actually feels like electric shocks running through your head and body. Mine were triggered by eye movement.....every movement of my eye and another shock would go off. It's very unpleasant, but that's why i like Effexor so much because before that i wasn't able to make myself continue with any meds....after a month i would just get tired of taking them and would stop or start convieniently forgetting. With the Effexor....those electric shocks were like my little pill reminders and that's why the med worked so well for me.

My stupid psychiatrist told me to stop the Cymbalta and Lamictal all at once and start on the lithium....i wasn't thinking and left home for the weekend without any of the Cymbalta b/c i was starting on the new meds like she ordered. Well....4 days of intensifiying electric shocks had me completely non-funtioning by that 4th day! I was so mad. Now i'm trying to tapper myself down from them. They're not addicting, you body just forms a chemical dependence of sorts and that's why you have to be weened off.

As far as i know, the trazodone is a light anti-depressant, but mostly used for help sleeping. I was given it once in the hospital and woke up with the biggest hang-over in my life...so I hope he's not having that. and i hope insurance will let him get stabilized too.

Thanks for the prayers!

Hugs and God Bless
Jenna