I would suggest to your doctor that you take the Welllbutrin for a full month before you totally quit the Effexor. You can start cutting down the Effexor but starting with every other day for a week, then every third day for next week, and keep on diminishing until month is over...then no problem.
i hope this helped. and if you want to chat more, please do so.
Basically, I have a hard time getting in touch with my dr(s) and since I can be very sensitive to the effects of meds, they often just don't know what to say.
This looked like a good place to find out some specific info from people who have experience with these meds. I haven't even started the Wellbutrin yet - sometimes I just get so tense about potential side effects, I try to start something new when I know I have a couple of days to deal with anything. I was thinking of starting it Labor Day weekend, when at least I don't have to go to work....
Take care, and thanks for taking the time to reply!
I quit taking the effexor 37.5 all together with no tapering, and by day 3 I was feeling pretty terrible. Major vertigo, and feeling like bawling all of the time. I started taking 150mg wellbutrin, and it didn't even touch it, so I tok one more to equal 300mg, and felt a little better. The wellbutrin makes me not sleep well, but other than that I don't know how it's working, other than I think it's helping the withdrawls quite a bit. I know the Effexor withdrawls can last 10 days to 2 weeks, and my plan is to stop taking the wellbutrin as the side effects get better. I'm also taking good vitamins everytime I put a pill in my mouth, and drinking alot of water. I've indulged in a few glasses of wine, and ambien to help me get a little sleep. I know this is not healthy, but it seems to help. The dizziness/vertigo is still there, but not so unbearable that I can't take care of my kids, or go to work. I don't LIKE functioning...sitting on the couch and not moving is much more appealing, but I'm forcing myself to get through this. (I am usually a busy body) I just read that effexor is in a class all it's own...not even considered an SSRI. The reason it's so effective initially is not known, and it's a very new drug. This is alarming to me, and 80% of people who take it experience terrible withdrawl symptoms. I will say that even though getting off it it is not a picnic, I feel better already. Things are looking a little more clear, and I've been feeling a little joy along with the emotional episodes, and it makes me very hopeful. I've just decided to stop numbing and deal with the real issues. I may be babbling because thinking is a bit jumbled right now, but I felt I needed to record my experience. Thanks, and I hope to hear more from others!
ok, so here is what i did
first week -- from 225mg to 150mg of effexor -- and that was sheer agony -- very anxious, even suicidal -- gawd -- it was the first time seeing the shrink and she wanted to learn what was up with me and effexor.
second week -- went from 150mg to 75mg of effexor, plus 5 mg of zyprexa and 150 of wellbutrin -- better -- having bad days but good days as well.
third week -- down to 37.5 of effexor and up to 300mg of wellbutrin -- cut out the zyprexa -- made me chunk the heck up and i was eating like a ravenous pig -- which the doc said would happen, so she didn't want me on it for that long. i'm feeling pretty good right now. okay, so the end result is this -- 300 mg of wellbutrin -- where my shrink wants me to be at -- and when i see her in about two weeks, i'll be off the effexor -- have 7 days left of the 37.5 -- i'll probably do 4 days, then go every other day.
i know that this is a pretty long post -- but i just wanted you guys to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel -- you guys know that -- i know, i know, the ol' hurry up and wait routine. believe me -- agonizing. but seriously hang in there. i can totally relate!
also, spague -- i was a half a pack/sometimes a pack a day smoker (especially if i was out drinking some beers...) the wellbutrin seems to help -- i mean, i am nowhere near out of the woods, it's only been 2 weeks -- but i am total living proof that anyone can do it -- and even if you do have one or two or even a pack -- so what -- try quiting again -- and if you slip again -- so what -- try again -- once you get out of that habit, your body is going to let you know that you don't need it.
anyhoo, hope you guys are okay!
(18-Sep-04) . one last comment, my bro is a doctor and his wife is one also, i think the best advice i can give -- which my brother imparted to me, and it finally stuck in my thick skull -- meds and psychotherapy go hand in hand. don't try and do it alone -- professional help does work!
Kanny your statement posted above is so very important.:These is hope for recovery and it revolves aroudn a doctor somewhere in your life. What I went through in my illness should not happen in anyone's life and yet it did. And there was a doctor who cared and knew what to do to resolve it. But before I found that doctor I went through five ohter doctors who either did not know or had no clue what to do wiht clinical depression who tortured me wiht a variety of drugs and finally gave up on me and abandoned me as a hopeless case.The I stumbled upon the doctor who made a difference.I am back to normal with the help of Effecsor and Tracydome and a doctor who cares.So dont give up and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck and God bless