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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Effexor While On Prozac
Question: My doctor was taking me off Effexor, then putting me on Prozac. I was on 150 mg of Effexor and I was suppose to do 7 days of 112.5 mg
then 75mg of Effexor for 7 days then start 20 mg Prozac
then 37.5 mg of Effexor for 7 days and stop the Effexor continuing at this point with 40 mg of Prozac
But... I made a mistake and went from 150 mg of Effexor right to the 37.5 mg of Effexor
I did that for 7 days and then started my 20 mg of Prozac today
It has been a rough week but I'm not sure if I should go back and restart the tapering that should have lasted a month and not one week or can I just keep going as is. Right now I should be doing 1 more week of 37.5 mg of Effexor with the 20 mg of Prozac. Is this safe?
Thank you for your reply
then 75mg of Effexor for 7 days then start 20 mg Prozac
then 37.5 mg of Effexor for 7 days and stop the Effexor continuing at this point with 40 mg of Prozac
But... I made a mistake and went from 150 mg of Effexor right to the 37.5 mg of Effexor
I did that for 7 days and then started my 20 mg of Prozac today
It has been a rough week but I'm not sure if I should go back and restart the tapering that should have lasted a month and not one week or can I just keep going as is. Right now I should be doing 1 more week of 37.5 mg of Effexor with the 20 mg of Prozac. Is this safe?
Thank you for your reply
Brief Answer:
Abrupt dose reduction is not recommended
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
Your doctor prescribed the correct path for tapering off the Effexor. The fact that you had a rough week means that the withdrawal effects were severe due to the abrupt reduction in dose. Its obviously not recommended that one reduces the dose directly from 150 to 37.5. Now that you have done it , it seems you have been lucky to avoid serious withdrawal. You can continue the 37.5 mg dose for the week along with Prozac. When you finish , you should consult your doctor and reveal the mishap. Your doctor will assess you and if needed continue the Effexor further for a week or two at the same dose.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action or taking any medication.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Abrupt dose reduction is not recommended
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
Your doctor prescribed the correct path for tapering off the Effexor. The fact that you had a rough week means that the withdrawal effects were severe due to the abrupt reduction in dose. Its obviously not recommended that one reduces the dose directly from 150 to 37.5. Now that you have done it , it seems you have been lucky to avoid serious withdrawal. You can continue the 37.5 mg dose for the week along with Prozac. When you finish , you should consult your doctor and reveal the mishap. Your doctor will assess you and if needed continue the Effexor further for a week or two at the same dose.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action or taking any medication.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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