Posted by janey on November 15, 1998, at 17:32:42
In reply to changing antidepressants...when severely depressed, posted by Anna on November 15, 1998, at 13:59:35
Hi Anna,
Weaning off an antidepressant before starting a new
one is not easy. I'm not one of the docs here!
However, I have had to go through the weaning off
process and it is a true, honest-to-goodness bummer.Your doctor didn't tell you how to wean yourself
off? Geez, I'd be calling his butt NOW for
instructions, and if you need to see him for an
appt., don't wait a month to do it!! Geez, you
could be in crisis right now and getting off of
Effexor isn't the easiest one to get off of and the
withdrawal symptoms just suck if you ask me. Sorry
for being so blunt about it, but it's the truth!By all means, don't just stop taking it entirely!
That's the worst thing to do! Effexor is usually
increased in dose at 37.5 mg. I know that it is
dispensed in 75 mg pills.In the past, my doctors have weaned me off of an
anti-depressant gradually... Let's say I was taking
300 mg of Effexor a day... The first week I would
cut it by 37.5 mg... cut one of those 75 mg pills
in half... and then the next week, reduce it by
another 37.5 mg... and so on until you are off of
it.Don't do anything though until one of the docs here
can advise you, or you get better instructions from
your doctor.Good luck. Make sure your support system is on
alert and make sure to lean on those people, okay?Everybody here is very supportive, and please
talk to us!You're in my thoughts,
janey
poster:janey
thread:1258
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19981201/msgs/1262.html