Has anyone switched from Effexor XR to Luvox/Lexapro/Zoloft, how did you find it?

I recently weaned off of Effexor 225 mg and have transitioned to Zoloft 100 mg. I had been on Effexor for 20 years. Recently my life has been turned upside down and the Effexor wasn't controlling my anxiety attacks. I am feeling sore and flu like, but no nausea and headaches. I am hoping I won't feel any worse side affects. It's only been 2 weeks. The transition was prescribed by my physician. It did seem rather quick. Fingers crossed.

Nothing has worked more effectively than Effexor for me! I don't know why the doctors decided to take me off it, but I'm back on it now and doing great.
BTW, I had NO discontinuation symptoms when I weaned off with a tapering dosage schedule.

I've been on Effexor XR for approximately 17 years. I am going to switch to Lexapro next month. I've been on Lexapro before and found it very helpful but then my doctor decided Effexor XR would be better. I don't know why I stayed on this drug so long other than the fact that I've heard horror stories about the withdrawals from it and I've tried to withdraw myself a little at a time and found myself raging horribly. When I am on Effexor XR I feel very anti-social, I have no moods whatsoever,. eg: I can't grieve, get angry, or be very happy about anything. I feel absolutely nothing! It makes me feel like staying in bed and in the house all the time. I'm hoping that this switch to Lexapro will be an easy transition and I will feel much better and more like myself again. My question is has anyone else felt like I have on Effexor XR? Thanks

I want to let people know that switching from Effexor to Zoloft is not a horrible experience. Well atleast not for me. I promised myself that if I didn't get major withdrawals and crazy stuff like people post that I would try and ease others minds. I was on the lower end of Effexor so maybe that helped the transition. It's still early in the switch but I didn't experience many side effects. I don't really know if I experienced any to be honest. I was so scared after reading so many horrible stories. I cried thinking about what was ahead for me. If I can give any advice to anyone taking medication, it's to stop reading the Internet and try it for yourself and see how your body reacts to the meds.

Hi I've been on Effexor for fourteen years and I'm thinking of switching to Zoloft because I finally need to accept that it doesn't work
I used to take Zoloft but the psychiatrist decided I would do better on Effexor.I have suffered much worse ocd from this drug and i was on 75 mg for seven years and when I had a trauma in my family I was put on 150mg..but I had worse drowsiness on this dose and after seven years more i decided to goi back on 75mg but its just crap, my mood is bland and it's not boosting my mood. I'm sick of hearing all these horror stories about effexor withdrawal, if your Dr draws up a plan for you then you will be OK.it really doesn't do any good frightening people.I liked sertraline and want to go back on it so I i would like some positive feedback please about what it may be like to switch to Zoloft oh I'm also on zyprexa.thanks bless you all.

Thank you for all of your responses. It's comforting to know that I'm not alone in this journey.

As far as an update, I've been on Fluvoxamine for 3 weeks and finally got off of Effexor last week. I experienced brain zaps and some nausea, but otherwise the ramp off Effexor wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Fluvoxamine appears to be helping. Thoughts are slower, I can concentrate, and I'm a bit more relaxed.

Thanks again everyone!

I was on Effexor 150 XR for 12 years for panic disorder / depression and did ok but could never show or feel much emotions and could never even cry or grieve when loved ones passed away. It suddenly quit working for me last Dec after a bout of the flu. My psych had me titrate down and switch over to Lexapro but the withdrawal was tortuous for 2 months with horrendous brain zaps, dizziness and nausea. I'm now doing better on just 5mg Lexapro but have to supplement with 2mg per day Ativan to control the continued panic episodes. However, I am now able to show emotions and dont feel so much like a zombie robot.

I recently switched the other way - from Lexapro to Effexor. My doctor said just to swap them out the next day, no tapering or building up. For me the changeover was a non-issue. No serious side effects, other than a slight headache the first day. Your mileage may vary. Hope the Lex works for you!

I switched from Effexor to Lexapro and found it to be most helpful. The Lexapro seems to keep me on an even keel. Effexor withdraw is risky business if not done under medical supervision.
Be well.

I switched from Effexor to zoloft, zoloft to effexor, and then effexor to lexapro/wellbutrin.

the swtch from effexor to zoloft was a nightmare, i felt dizz, dazed, tired, stomach cramps and tons of racing thoughts. So i went back to effexor and it never worked well for me. Never felt normal. Now my PDR switched me to lexapro but added wellbutrin and the side effects were minimal if done slowly.

No, but I did switch from Zoloft to Effexor. I foun d Zoloft easy to withdraw from. I am now trying to withdraw from Effexor XR.

Are you thinking of switching?