Withdrawals From Venlafluxine/Eflexor

[dwt7let]

Hi All its Lorraine
The specialist changed my antidepressant from 150mg's venlafluxine to 20 mg's of citalopram. I am feeling really tired and every night my legs are aching off me, last night I didn;t sleep much as I was having palpitations.
Can anyone relate to this?
Good job we've got these sites, or we'd go mad!!
Thanks
Lorraine x

[JG525]

I hope you're feeling better Lorraine.

[Paxiled]

These meds do not substitute for one another.  The Effexor should have been tapered gradually before switching meds for two reasons:  to ease the withdrawal, and to let you know which effects were withdrawal and which were side effects of the new med.  One thing you can try if you don't want to go back to Effexor and do this a different way is to take a hefty dose of fish oil every day and some magnesium citrate.

[dwt7let]

I would just like to thankyou both for your reply and support, good job we've got these forums.
Feeling quite sensitive today, going to bed in a minute hope to have a better sleep.
Good night God Bless!!
Love
Lorraine x

[heyjude1]

Hi, yes, withdrawal can be very brutal for some people, myself included,  but I have read that some people do not have a rough time like most people.  I went cold turkey once and another time I was put on Prozac.  The prozac helped tremendously.  It takes a couple of weeks to really get thru it.  I am back on Effexor and citalopram combined and having success.  I hate the withdrawl of Effexor but it is a wonderful medication for deep depression.

[JG525]

Effexor withdrawal is terrible and they should have tapered you down prior to switching.  Geez...doctors! I tapered down and am now taking a low dose of prozac until I stop.  My goal is to get off them all together to get pregnant, but I think even if you're switching, you should lower the Effexor first.