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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wacky on August 30, 2006, at 12:08:25
In the past 3-4 weeks I've dropped from 450mg Effexor to 225. The withdrawals have been minimal and tolerable. However, last night I realized that I am depressed again. I am SOO disappointed because I wanted to get off the meds so bad because of the miserable side effects (sweating mainly).
I'm wondering if I should stay at 225 and see if my mood stablizes or should I increase the dose?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Nancy
Posted by Racer on August 30, 2006, at 13:04:51
In reply to TAPERED DOWN TO 225 AND NOW I'M DEPRESSED, posted by wacky on August 30, 2006, at 12:08:25
That could be rebound depression, in which case hanging out at 225 mg for a couple of weeks to see if it evens out makes a lot of sense. Or, it could be that you still need medication, in which case it's worth discussing with your doctor whether another medication might be more helpful.
Here's my question: why do you want to come off the meds?
That's not as simple a question as it might look at first. There's no reason to want to stay on meds, as far as I am concerned. It's just whether you're looking at stopping because the side effects are problematic, or because you've got a lot of ambivalence about being on them, or because you've done a ton of work in therapy and think you have better coping skills in place, etc. Any of those reasons is valid -- heck, even just "I hate having to remember to refill my prescriptions" is valid, when you come right down to it -- it's just that each of those reasons would have a different answer in terms of what happens next.
If you want to be off meds because you don't like having to take psychoactive meds, maybe it's worth exploring that before you go off them. That's kinda like going off insulin because you don't like needing it. That isn't a very pleasant thought, and I go through the "I'm stopping these dang things because I HATE them" pretty frequently myself, but it's also true that some of us really do need the drugs.
If you want off Effexor because of side effects, a cross taper onto something else might be a better solution for you. Or maybe looking into other meds to mitigate those side effects.
If you are hoping that new coping strategies will support your mood, congratulations! Slow the tapering schedule, and good luck. (I did a very slow taper, and really didn't have much trouble. I decreased from 225mg to nothing over about eight months. I would do it more quickly now, but that slow a process didn't have much trouble for me.)
And if it's just a pain in the back end to refill the prescriptions, well... ;-)
As far as getting past this hump, though, I'd say slow your taper, and consider asking for a low dose of something like Prozac to help you along the taper. Prozac doesn't have any discontinuation effects for most people, because it has such a very long half life, and it helps with a lot of the Effexor d/c effects. About 10mg might be enough to support your mood through the rest of your taper.
Good luck!
Posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2006, at 15:43:12
In reply to Re: TAPERED DOWN TO 225 AND NOW I'M DEPRESSED » wacky, posted by Racer on August 30, 2006, at 13:04:51
Is your depression gone? As my pdoc took me off the l0mg of paxil my first ad when I was back working and feeling great. Just asking. People do get well. Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2006, at 15:45:17
In reply to TAPERED DOWN TO 225 AND NOW I'M DEPRESSED, posted by wacky on August 30, 2006, at 12:08:25
Sorry I see that you don't like the side effects. In which case Racers answer makes a lot of sense to me. She's a smart cookie!!!!!Love Phillipa
Posted by wacky on August 31, 2006, at 11:30:19
In reply to Re: TAPERED DOWN TO 225 AND NOW I'M DEPRESSED, posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2006, at 15:45:17
Thanks guys for the responses. Soo - the reasons for wanting to come off the Effexor is several-fold. First and foremost are the side effects. Secondly, I thought I was doing so well that I didn't need them anymore (even though pdoc wanted me to stay on them for 2-3 years since it's a second depressive episode). I also had things going well in my life (new boyfriend). Finally, I hate "needing" them. I was really hoping I'd be just hunky dory without them and was SOOO disappointed to feel so down again.
If this is "rebound" depression as a result of the taper - and IF it might improve on its own if I stay at 225, I think I'll tough it out and hold at 225. If it doesn't resolve, then I'll know I need to get on something else. I hadn't thought of the rebound depression and I think it's worth waiting a bit.
Thanks again!
This is the end of the thread.
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