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withdrawal symptoms
I have taken Effexor for two years. During this time, I have missed a dose up to two days without side effects. Three days ago I stopped Effexor and started Wellbutrin. Within an hour I had slight symptoms that have not ceased: vertigo, headache, nausea, and general weakness. iOn this third day, off Effexor and on Wellbutrin, I have crying jags and unexpected significant irritability. My pharmacist and doctor's nurse do not have an answer so I turn to those who have used these drugs. 1) Does Wellbutrin have known interactions with other drugs. I do take some other meds that affect dopamine and seratonine levels 2) Since I have been able to miss Effexor without side effects, is it likely the Wellbutrin causing problems. These symptoms continue 24 hours. 3) Is it better to go back to Effexor since I was not having problems. I was looking for a better anti depressant for depression and restless legs. And go off Effexor more slowly.
No problems Opus,
My main worry really is the other two mentioned but not stated drugs. Playing around with 4 drugs is a disaster waiting to happen and really no one could hazard a guess as to what was causing what. All we can go on is what this poster describes really and they were FX withdrawal symptoms. Agree of course that they may be part of almost any other issue as we don't have that much info to go on.
I'm happy for you that you too have a great doc you can actually talk to, one who listens. Doesn't it make the world of difference?
Mind you there are also many great docs with patients who never tell them the facts and are mystified who things don't work for patients who self medicate and add other things in too. Those docs must feel like screaming don't ya reckon. It really makes me wonder why these people bother going to a doc at all if they aren't going to listen and believe wht they are advised. Of course we should all Google madly to verify as there's nothing like second and thrid opinions but changing prescribed doses etc just seems madness if they haven't talked to the doc.
Like standing in front of the targets at a firing range really!
Best to you.
My main worry really is the other two mentioned but not stated drugs. Playing around with 4 drugs is a disaster waiting to happen and really no one could hazard a guess as to what was causing what. All we can go on is what this poster describes really and they were FX withdrawal symptoms. Agree of course that they may be part of almost any other issue as we don't have that much info to go on.
I'm happy for you that you too have a great doc you can actually talk to, one who listens. Doesn't it make the world of difference?
Mind you there are also many great docs with patients who never tell them the facts and are mystified who things don't work for patients who self medicate and add other things in too. Those docs must feel like screaming don't ya reckon. It really makes me wonder why these people bother going to a doc at all if they aren't going to listen and believe wht they are advised. Of course we should all Google madly to verify as there's nothing like second and thrid opinions but changing prescribed doses etc just seems madness if they haven't talked to the doc.
Like standing in front of the targets at a firing range really!
Best to you.
Just my two cents. I was on two antidepressants and decided to get off them for a time. I knew there would be withdrawal issues. I slowly reduced the dose of one until I was off. Then I slowly went off the other...there were symptoms that I did not like. It took me about two weeks or better to finally get free of the neg. side effect. I also did a google search for the known side effects so that I was ready when they hit. It is NOT fun.
I wish you the best. And I agree. I do not like the idea of stopping one medication while starting another but it is done. I would talk with your doctor about this and get his or her input. Hang in there. And good luck.
I wish you the best. And I agree. I do not like the idea of stopping one medication while starting another but it is done. I would talk with your doctor about this and get his or her input. Hang in there. And good luck.
I appologize I didn't explain very well.
any info I ever give is by my experience only.
I have also been under the care of a long term pdoc who I greatly respect.
I do not agree with anyone using a 'cocktail' of medications and never have..how would any doctor ever know which is responsible for either benefits or side effects?...this is not a wise course to pursue.
what I've been told by my pdoc and the instructions i've followed thru many medication changes, is that its possible to easily switch from one medication to the other "IF" they are in the same component family...ie: SSRI's.
I stress this has to be undertaken only by the guidance of a 'good' pdoc.
In my son's experience it was also possible to just switch from one antipyhschotic med to the other without tapering ie: zyprexa to seroquel.
this again was done under pdoc supervision.
In my own experience and I realize this isn't the same for everyone.
I was tapering off effexor while tapering up wellbutrin, I personally didn't suffer any withdrawls. or side effects while doing this.
as with any new medication it will take a few weeks to feel any benefits and don't think a medication should be stopped until we can judge for ourselves if it will be theraputic or not.
I hope I've explained myself better?
Everyone is different with any medication, our own experiences won't necessarily be the same as with others thats why it sometimes takes many changes to find what works for us.
any info I ever give is by my experience only.
I have also been under the care of a long term pdoc who I greatly respect.
I do not agree with anyone using a 'cocktail' of medications and never have..how would any doctor ever know which is responsible for either benefits or side effects?...this is not a wise course to pursue.
what I've been told by my pdoc and the instructions i've followed thru many medication changes, is that its possible to easily switch from one medication to the other "IF" they are in the same component family...ie: SSRI's.
I stress this has to be undertaken only by the guidance of a 'good' pdoc.
In my son's experience it was also possible to just switch from one antipyhschotic med to the other without tapering ie: zyprexa to seroquel.
this again was done under pdoc supervision.
In my own experience and I realize this isn't the same for everyone.
I was tapering off effexor while tapering up wellbutrin, I personally didn't suffer any withdrawls. or side effects while doing this.
as with any new medication it will take a few weeks to feel any benefits and don't think a medication should be stopped until we can judge for ourselves if it will be theraputic or not.
I hope I've explained myself better?
Everyone is different with any medication, our own experiences won't necessarily be the same as with others thats why it sometimes takes many changes to find what works for us.
Hey Opus,
No you don't HAVE to wean off anything to go onto something else. This is a way to ensure safety is the main object. I've made it clear this is my habit for the purpose of knowing which drug does what. If you mix then you have no idea at all what is causing what. The habit was introduced to me by my long term pdoc who likes to know what is going on, as I do. If you have 4 drugs in your system, as this poster does, how would he or she know what is what? No doctor could tell either. Do you understand this issue? I'd much rather be safe and know what is causing which effects than have a cocktail and problems which cannot be identified. What's your preference?
I might add too that of all the people who have complained about the withdrawal effects of Effexor not one I've seen has said "Go on Wellbutrin top stop the effects". Do you know why I haven't seen that? Apart from no one saying it that is. It's because it's not a fact at all. Do you have some information no one else has been able to quote to date? I'm happy to change my mind if you have real evidence of your statement.
Yes the drugs have the same purpose but they are not the same drug Opus. Effexor has a unique withdrawal problem which you well know. Doesn't matter what drug you are taking with it you will still feel the withdrawal effects if you are prone to it.
You might also note I've said I came off FX twice. Both times weaned right off before starting anything new. First time was awful, second time there were no effects at all and no drug to "handle" the problem.
You might also say all anti depressants are all anti depressants and therefore can be mixed any time. Not so mate.
But yes Effexor is both and A/D and anxiety killer. Excellent med for me.
Ask the doc or another one.
No you don't HAVE to wean off anything to go onto something else. This is a way to ensure safety is the main object. I've made it clear this is my habit for the purpose of knowing which drug does what. If you mix then you have no idea at all what is causing what. The habit was introduced to me by my long term pdoc who likes to know what is going on, as I do. If you have 4 drugs in your system, as this poster does, how would he or she know what is what? No doctor could tell either. Do you understand this issue? I'd much rather be safe and know what is causing which effects than have a cocktail and problems which cannot be identified. What's your preference?
I might add too that of all the people who have complained about the withdrawal effects of Effexor not one I've seen has said "Go on Wellbutrin top stop the effects". Do you know why I haven't seen that? Apart from no one saying it that is. It's because it's not a fact at all. Do you have some information no one else has been able to quote to date? I'm happy to change my mind if you have real evidence of your statement.
Yes the drugs have the same purpose but they are not the same drug Opus. Effexor has a unique withdrawal problem which you well know. Doesn't matter what drug you are taking with it you will still feel the withdrawal effects if you are prone to it.
You might also note I've said I came off FX twice. Both times weaned right off before starting anything new. First time was awful, second time there were no effects at all and no drug to "handle" the problem.
You might also say all anti depressants are all anti depressants and therefore can be mixed any time. Not so mate.
But yes Effexor is both and A/D and anxiety killer. Excellent med for me.
Ask the doc or another one.
pardon me if I am wrong abt this but to my knowledge
effexor and wellbrutrin are both antidepressants and antianxiety medications
they are both in the same family therefore you do NOT have to wean off one before starting the other and therefor will not get the withdrawal effects.
there must be some other reason for these symptoms you are experiencing??
effexor and wellbrutrin are both antidepressants and antianxiety medications
they are both in the same family therefore you do NOT have to wean off one before starting the other and therefor will not get the withdrawal effects.
there must be some other reason for these symptoms you are experiencing??
Hello,
What you describe are fairly normal, but horrible, side effects of coming off Effexor. It may last 2 weeks or longer. It varies. 2 days without a dose is not a big deal so don't compare it to coming off.
Once you have started withdrawal from Effexor it would seem silly to go back on as you would face the same when you do come of next, right?
I would never come off Effexor and start another med before it was complete as it gets confused about what causes what. Frankly I'd just stop the Wellbutrin but ask your doc first.
If they don't know about the coming off Effexor issues then it's time for a new doc as they are highly inexperienced. It is very well known in bith the medical community and throug media reports, highly exaggerated ones. Are they fresh out of med school perhaps?
Stick with it, it'll probably hurt but if you are one of those who suffer this then it's best to get it over with. I felt it the first time off but have been back on twice and had no side effects with withdrawal, nothing at all. SO who knows what to expect?
You say you are taking some other drugs as well but don't say if they are legit or street. Either way please don't mix without doc's knowledge, it's a certain disaster looming if so.
It's not the Wellbutrin, it's Effexor withdrawals.
No it's not better to go back on as if you suffer the withdrawals it often matters not how slowly you come off. When you take the final dose and stop, at whatever level, people still seem to go through this awful stuff. So don't go back on.
In my opinion you'll find it very difficult to find a better anti d than Effexor. I take it with lithium and it keeps me stable, tried and true over 10 years although I've had to stop twice and try other meds due to the poop out problem. Mind you I was also on higher level Effexor doses.
Am currently on that combo and it's lasted well over a year, by far my best so far and only on 300 mgs FX.
The resless legs issue? Don't know I didn't and don't have it on Effexor and haven't heard of FX causing it. But we're all different.
Hope this clarifies it all a bit for you. But I think probably the most important thing for you is a new doc. Someone who actually knows something. Else they'll prescribe you stuf with no klnowledge and just say "Oops" later. I know, it happened to me years ago too.
What you describe are fairly normal, but horrible, side effects of coming off Effexor. It may last 2 weeks or longer. It varies. 2 days without a dose is not a big deal so don't compare it to coming off.
Once you have started withdrawal from Effexor it would seem silly to go back on as you would face the same when you do come of next, right?
I would never come off Effexor and start another med before it was complete as it gets confused about what causes what. Frankly I'd just stop the Wellbutrin but ask your doc first.
If they don't know about the coming off Effexor issues then it's time for a new doc as they are highly inexperienced. It is very well known in bith the medical community and throug media reports, highly exaggerated ones. Are they fresh out of med school perhaps?
Stick with it, it'll probably hurt but if you are one of those who suffer this then it's best to get it over with. I felt it the first time off but have been back on twice and had no side effects with withdrawal, nothing at all. SO who knows what to expect?
You say you are taking some other drugs as well but don't say if they are legit or street. Either way please don't mix without doc's knowledge, it's a certain disaster looming if so.
It's not the Wellbutrin, it's Effexor withdrawals.
No it's not better to go back on as if you suffer the withdrawals it often matters not how slowly you come off. When you take the final dose and stop, at whatever level, people still seem to go through this awful stuff. So don't go back on.
In my opinion you'll find it very difficult to find a better anti d than Effexor. I take it with lithium and it keeps me stable, tried and true over 10 years although I've had to stop twice and try other meds due to the poop out problem. Mind you I was also on higher level Effexor doses.
Am currently on that combo and it's lasted well over a year, by far my best so far and only on 300 mgs FX.
The resless legs issue? Don't know I didn't and don't have it on Effexor and haven't heard of FX causing it. But we're all different.
Hope this clarifies it all a bit for you. But I think probably the most important thing for you is a new doc. Someone who actually knows something. Else they'll prescribe you stuf with no klnowledge and just say "Oops" later. I know, it happened to me years ago too.
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