Weaning Off of Effexor
 

Does anybody have any experience? My psychiatrist is wringing her hands over it, but I really want to get off this and onto Wellbutrin if possible.

I'm trying Gilmer, it really is hard. I've read ridiculous things like people splitting open the capsule and counting out beads, removing a few more every time. I've recently cut from 225 to 150mg and i'm really feeling it, I know within 3 hours if i've forgotten to take it. I'm sorry, that doesn't really answer your question my friend.

If you find an easy answer, be sure to share :)

I've got a pill I can split in half (not time-release). I take 75 mg three times a day, 4x in fall and winter. I regularly go up and down from 3 to 4 with no problem. I know once I missed doses for about a day and got nauseous and very headachey.

Did you have psychological side effects?

I know this is supposed to be really grueling, but I am determined to switch to an anti-depressant without the side effect. I refuse to be a prisoner to this stupid drug the rest of my life.

I've been on Effexor for years. I just went from 150 to 300mg a day. My doctor rather prescribe more than try to wean you off it. If I don't take it for a day or two, I cry uncontrollably. Would love to know how it goes for you.

I've never weaned off Effexor but I have both weaned off and gotten stubborn and gone cold turkey off other medications. Listen to your doctor, he/she will probably want a gradual dosage decrease. I understand the desire to be off a med that isn't working for you, but it SUCKS to go cold turkey and it's also very dangerous. Be careful, best to you x

I was on the capsules and my doctor had me open them and remove granules. It sounds ridiculous, but it was so sick I couldn't even function without weaning that slowly. It was the worst withdrawal of any drug I've ever been on, but others have reported no problem getting off. I would do what your doctor suggests.

I once went off cold turkey. I wouldn't recommend it. My head was spacey and I had constant electrical zaps. I don't remember other details, it was a long time ago. But I have learned the wisdom of medically supervised tapering.

i was on max doses of wellbutrin..trileptal...zoloft...zyprexa..and something else.

I said f it and quit cold turkey....didn't make a difference..i don't know why..but that was the first and last run with psych meds for me...i had no side effects except for my wacky shrink who put me on all the stuff cursing me out..then telling me i will end up in the psych ward

just tell your doctor and he will taper you properly

What are the side effects that you can't stand? Hot flashes? Weight?
I did not tolerate Wellbutrin well at all, you could have peeled me off the ceiling.
Follow your doctor's exact instructions...I think it can also depend on how long you have been taking it.

I PM'ed you, Fandy!

I have been on Effexor for 15 years. It has been fine for me in every way but one.

I am on wellbutrin, was working very well for almost 2 years but just made some changes
due to depression again and added zoloft. I feel bloated all the time.

Hoping the changes will help , lots of praying.

Much more faith in God then my psychiatrist.

Before I knew i was bipolar, I went to a GP for post-partum depression, and he prescribed me Zoloft. I immediately went suicidal and ended up hospitalized, at which point they found out I was bipolar. SSRIs are very bad for bipolar people, so they gave me Effexor. It gives me good results for the most part.

I have bipolar 1 also and take effexor along with mood stabilizers, sleep meds and anxiety meds.
It has really stabilized me but I hate how tired these make me.

I was on another SSRI, Paxil, for 3 1/2 years. Don't try to wean off on your own, those meds are stubborn and will make your previous condition (anxiety, depression, etc) come back 10x worse. Go see your Doc and get him to write a plan for weaning off.
It took me 3 months, a lot of patience and some benzos to finally get rid of Paxil.
It can be done with minimum discomfort. Just be patient and be careful.

I just saw my psychiatrist. She didn't thing trying Wellbutrin was a bad idea. She looked up some side effects--she saw that seizures were a possibility, but I don't have any of the high risk factors (alcohol use was one, but I don't drink anymore! :) ).

She suggested I just try adding on the Wellbutrin first, to see how my mind and body respond to it. If all goes well, the we'll wean off the Effexor.

Thanks for all your responses, guys!

Sounds like a plan! Best of luck with it!

Well, two doses of the Wellbutrin (generic) so far. No climbing the walls yet! So far, so good!

5 days on the low dose of Wellbutrin. No ill effects, and I think I'm starting to see some positive effects already.