Effexor XR

[BarbaraM921]

I have been on Effexor XR 150 mg for 4 years and due to the cost and effect on my libido, I have started withdrawal, first tapered to 75 mg for 30 days, now on 37.5 for 15  days, then everyother day, and to continue till I'm done. Well in talking to my pharmacist she said she has seen violent reactions when people stop suddenly.
My mood swings are terrible and I'm suprised my husband hasn't locked me up.  I get angry, moody, incredibally sad.
the doctor has recommended Furosemide, any advise if this is better than Wellbutin?  Need help.

[JG525]

Barbara- I tapered Effexor with a lot of difficulty.  When I went off for two days, I was nuts, crying all the time and having the brain zaps.  So, my psych put me on prozac for a few weeks.  So far, it has helped a lot.  I plan to go off all anti-depressants to get pregnant, but if you need something just to bridge the gap with Effexor, which is an SNRI, then prozac helps, even though it's an SSRI.

[heyjude1]

Flouxetine, is that the drug your doc recommended?  That is Prozac.  I have taken Wellbutrin without success but I took prozac for 5-6 yrs and had great result until my body began to metabolize so quickly it became ineffective...everyone is different and you may respond to one better than the other.  I beleive both of these drugs are on the $4.00 generic list from Walmart...alot cheaper than Effexor XR.

[mammo]

Your symptoms may just be your depression coming back.  Fuosemide is a diuretic. and not for use in treating depression.

[wellb]

Wellbutrin is tricky.
As I was saying before on this and another thread, if you have a lot of anxiety and are jittery to begin with, for example, then Wellbutrin might make you even more anxious. Wellbutrin has an "up" effect. But, some SSRI's have a more "relaxing effect".

But man, if you suffer from major depressions and have zero energy and cannot even leave your room or home,  then Wellbutrin can be a life safer (as it did me) because it may lift spirits up.

It's up to you & your Docs to determine which medicine helps your own situation. Personally, I'd probably be dead now w/o the meds I had to take in the past.

I weighed things out: .....  DEATH or MEDS.

( guess which one I chose).  

[heyjude1]

BarbaraM921, I believe Fuosemide is a diuretic.  Everyone is different but I am on 300 mg. and 20 mg. of Celexa with success, finally.  I have stopped Effexor a couple of times and I went on Wellbutrin and had a horrible experience...I was so mean! and depressed!  But, I have  heard the drug help alot of people...you'll never know until you try it.

[wellb]

Hi Brbara,
Forgive me if I sound naive since I'm not a Doctor, just a poster with recurring depressions. Here goes....

Here's my question(s):

You mentioned Effexor, which is an SSRI that I have never taken myself. Also, you mentioned Furosemide and WellButrin.

Forgive my naivite' but aren't Furosemide and Wellbutrin two different medicines?... Or have they given Wellbutrin a generic name now? I can't keep up w/ all these new SSRI's anymore! LOL!


Anyhow, sorry if I sound so dumb, but these pharmacheutical companies keep changing the names of SSRI's from one name to the next whenever they come up with a generic one.  Gr....

So are Furosemide and Wellbutrin two different medications that your Doctor has switched you on?

By the way, YES.....Wellbutrin will indeed help you out in the "libido" area. I've been on Wellbutrin and Celexa for about 7 yrs, and Wellburin works in the "libido" area--YUP! ....At least for me.

Note though, that once you go on Wellbutrin, it's not like you will all of a sudden become a "romantic person" real fast. It works very slowly. Your libido will comeback slowly, a little at a time. Be patient.

Sincerely,
WellB