Doctor Prescribed Me Celexa & Effexor (Bad Combination?)

[chris2545]

I have been on 40 mg of Celexa for 8 months, but was still having bad anxiety so today my doctor prescribed me 37.5 mg of Effexor XR. He was going to prescribe me Welbutrin, but I had been on that in the past and it didn't work so instead he prescribed the Effexor. When I picked up the Effexor at my pharmacy the pharmacist was surprised that he prescribed me Effexor in combination with the Celexa, he said they are too similar and Welbutrin would have been a better choice because they would compliment each other rather than doubling up on similar meds that could cause saratonin syndrome. What are your opinions? Did the doctor made a bad choice? Has anyone here ever been on Celexa and Effexor at the same time?

UPDATE: I just woke up after being asleep for about six hours and have the worst headache. I took my first dose of Effexor XR (37.5) 4 hours before bed time and then right before going to sleep I took 50 mg of Trazodone as I always do, there must be some type of bad interaction between these two. The last time I had a headache this bad was about 3 years ago when I took Melatonin once to help me sleep and I awoke with a splitting headache.

I'm not going to take the Trazodone next time I go to bed to see if that stops the headache, I was thinking about stopping Trazodone anyways because if I don't get at least 8 or 9 hours of sleep when taking it I will awake feeling dazed and confused for the whole day and if you have to wakeup with an alarm clock sometimes you go to bed late and can only get 6 or 7 hours and with Trazodone you really need a full night's sleep. I'm on Trazodone because SSRI's always make me wakeup in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep, but hopefully the combination of Celexa and Effexor will help me sleep without taking the Trazodone.

[nursegirl6572]

All THREE of those medications affect serotonin.

Please see the following link:

http://www.rxlist.com/drug-interaction-checker.htm

You need to clarify this combination, or better yet, get  a second opinion, and the next time a pharmacist expresses concern, I would hold off on starting the medication until you can clarify it.

[Paxiled]

I'm confused.  Is this a psychiatrist or a general doc?  Given that your pharmacist has already warned you not to do this why did you do it before seeking a second opinion?  Wellbutrin and Effexor are both stimulating antidepressants, so if your main problem is anxiety these aren't usually the solution; they might be if your main problem is depression, which is often the case with anxiety sufferers.  Combining two drugs such as Effexor and Celexa that both target serotonin is very unusual, as your pharmacist has already warned you, and Effexor also targets norepinephrine, which is basically adrenaline.  Wellbutrin is usually only combined with an ssri such as Celexa if certain side effects are present, such as low sex drive or weight gain.  The usual response to a drug that doesn't work is to taper off it slowly and try another, not add other drugs to it.  You only add drugs if the first drug is working and you want it to work better.  It appears you have a simple situation of Celexa not being the right drug for you.  You need a different doctor, preferably a psychiatrist who understand how to use these meds.