Changing from Effexor xr to Lexapro

[Amy756]

I have been on Effexor xr 225 mg every morning for about 3 years and 15 mg of remeron every night for about 6 months..My doctor is changing me from the Effexor Xr to Lexapro...He dropped me down to 150 mg of Effexor xr every morning and 10mg of Lexapro at dinner for 7 days..and then to drop the Effexor down to 75 mg for a week with 10mg of lexapro and then the same thing with the Effexor for another week at 37.5mg and then just stop and continue the lexapro..I am just wondering what the withdrawals from the Effexor will be..I am having like a flushed filling in my face and just some other mild side affects...But I dont know what to look for when I drop the effexor down even farther next week or what are the side affects from the lexapro..I have very bad panic attacks and just want to know what to look for that is normal for coming off the effexor and starting the lexapro..Thanks for any help.

[runnergal]

I am on day 4 of qutting Effexor XR. I was once at a high dosage but just recently stopped taking (doctor's orders) it last Saturday. Sunday I was feeling pretty ill. I had vertigo, dizziness, nausea, throwing up, cold sweats, and brain zaps. My Mom talked me into taking a little bit to feel better, but this only put me back at zero. Since Monday, slowly, day by day the symptoms have been going away. The only ones that I am dealing with now are the vertigo/dizziness and cold sweats. I don't know how long this will take to at least get rid of the vertigo/dizziness. I have read it takes some people 2 weeks. I also read a year. So who knows. I posted a question to ask how long does it take to get over the symptoms.
I have been on Lexapro as well and I liked it. But, it didn't last long for me. That's why they put me on Effexor. Now, I wish I would have read everyone's reactions to how hard it is to quit.

Good luck!