[adare76]

Just wondering if anyone has had any kind of withdrawals when going off of Effexor XR. I have completely tapered off of Effexor as of last Wednesday but started feeling really sick and wierd on Saturday. I have been taking Wellbutrin since Weds of last week also. Im not sure which medicine is causing all these side effects for me. If anyone could help it would be great. Thanks!

[doctorsteve]

effexor should not be discontinued abuptly, even when being replaced with a similar drug class as you've found out this can cause a variety of very unpleasant effects and possible seizure, auditory and visual hallucination, and a general" out of mind and body creepy crawly sensation" so hopefully you have not decided to do this without asking your physician and/or you have seen you physician who is familiar with your medications and she/he has given you bad advice as to the abupt cessation of your venlafaxine (effexor extended release) depending on your dose before cessation 75 mg up to 225mg,300mg . 37.5 mg and as high as 300mg+ of a range you would have been taking, I'm guessing 150 mg to be as close as I can to your dose, your physician with all due respect and me not knowing your medication profile or general mental/physical health I would have suggested at least a 3-5 week taper as many patients have reported troubling side effects even at a slow rate of taper 1-3 weeks.....remember everyone is different and your physician knows your health best, but if you are finding the taper or cold turkey approach too much and chaotic DON'T waste another second and talk with your physician or nurse practitioner about this problem as some seizure activity has been reported when cessation of venlafaxine is abrupt. So yes this is definitely to be expected and the buproprion(wellbute) will not address this issue fully, if at all, have you ever been off of these types of medications for an extended period of time?(psych meds/antidepres)and tried quetiapine (seroquel) along with trileptal(oxcabazepine)in conjunction with your antidepressant......print this out and talk to your physician I don't know what your diagnosis is, but maybe a total taper off of everything and a drug holiday may work a miracle for you, or a total disaster......just some food for thought.....once again your physician knows your diagnosis and is best equiped to treat you accordingly.....just don't go jumping off the effexor without a parachute as it may be a rough landing. Good luck and if you have any questions and are open for some honest answers from a pharmacist that became a physician just email me, or IM me, i'm not 100% sure how to contact people on the forum but i'm sure there is a way but don't be afraid to ask you primary care physician she/he won't steer you wrong(I hope, but there's always that 1% who are too busy making money to listen to your problems), and the more you know the more power you have in directing your life and health. Live well, Steve.