easing off Effexor and moving to Lomictal

I was put on Effexor in May for Anxiety and Depression as we raised my dosage to 150 mg over time my anxiety (somewhat manic) increased along with high blood pressure, anger etc.

My doctor is now easing me from Effexor 150 to 75 now to 37.5. I have been on 37.5 for a week and at the same time am moving to Lamictal 25 mg (one pill a day for first 14 days then move to 2 a dy) while I stay on Effexor.

My emotions are all over the place. The manic and heart pounding etc has decreased however I am now tired, very emotional, hate everything about myself etc. Is this common as you move off one on to another?

[Hensley258]

I ain't gonna lie to you pronzo, it's gonna be a rough taper and swap, but you can do it.

Myself and thousands of others have made the Effexor to another med swap.

Just taper that Effexor VERY slow. I'm talking like 25Mgs a week increments.

Next thing to keep in mind during a med change is, not only do you have to deal with the withdrawl (withdrawal), but also an increase of your depression and anxiety. This is because the Effexor, as it's being tapered off becoming less and less effective at the lower dosages at keeping your depression symptoms at bay. Then the new drug being introduced is not yet reached sufficient levels to take over the antidepressant roll the Effexor is leaving.

That's 50% of the pain involved with med changing. It the in between time.
The other 50% of the pain with a med change is the withdrawl (withdrawal), But given that you were not on Effexor for a super long time, your withdrawl (withdrawal) may not be so bad.

At one point in my life I took 300Mgs (Max dosage) of Effexor for 4 full years and I managed to get off it and on another med. Can you imagine how bad my withdrawl (withdrawal) was at that dosage? Trust me it was ugly, and I did it while still going to work. That's an almost hurculian accompleshment, but it can be done.

WHAT HELPS? Ok here what helps. I ONLY take Xanax during med changes. (I ahve to change meds every 18 months or so because I build up resistance fast)
Xanex IMO is the best medicine to get one thru a med change.

I use it to keep me calm during the change and it really seems to help with the withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms. Anxiety during a med change can explode so that also why the Xanax helps.

Once you wash out of the Effexor and the new med (hopfully) is doing it's job, then it's super easy to drop the Xanax. Now if your an ex addict or someone that has an addictive personallity, skip the Xanax. It can be habbit forming.

The key with the Xanax is to keep the dosage low, Just a dab wil do ya. It helps take the edge off the withdrawl (withdrawal) for sure.