Discontinuation problems after tapering out Effexor

[Shenbu]

Hey Folks

 

I stopped taking effexor three weeks ago after tapering it down 150 > 112,5 > 75 > 37,5 > 25 > 12,5mg over about three months. I came to the conclusion to stop it with my psychiatric because i didn't felt any improvement after taking it over a couple of months and had to deal with some nasty side effects.   
He told me to change to Prozac and i started taking it when i reached the 75mg mark of effexor. Currently i am on 20mg Prozac.   
The first ~4 days after stopping effexor were completely okay with no signs of discontinuation problems. But after that i started to feel nauseaus almost every day since. There are days where the nausea is tolerable and disappears over the course of the day and then there are other days where i feel nauseaus the whole day. That said, i also feel more anxious over the day...almost like drifting into a panic attack that then won't happen.   
I am now at a point where i am no longer sure if those are signs of discontinuatuion or my brain/thoughts are makin me sick.   
It feels kinda surreal to think that 12,5mg would have such an extensive effect on my body after two weeks, but on the other hand there seem to be a lot of people having problems getting rid of this medication and are on discontinuation syndrome way longer then two weeks, even after stopping on lower doses.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  If I had to venture a guess, I would say you are probably experiencing some withdrawal from tapering off Effexor faster than your nervous system was able to adjust to.  Nausea and anxiety are very common withdrawal symptoms.  What is your goal with your psychiatric drugs?  Do you want to come off the Prozac, or are you wanting information on how to deal with the nausea and anxiety?  

 

The other possibility would be an adverse reaction to the Prozac, but I doubt it, since these symptoms showed up after you jumped off the Effexor.  

 

What were the "nasty side effects" you had with Effexor?  

 

How did you feel after you started the 20 mg of Prozac?  

 

Thank you for giving us some history of your drugs.  Can you please add some dates for when you started the Effexor, when you tapered, and when you started the Prozac?  Just a list with drug names, dosages, and dates would be great.  Also, give us information for any other drugs or supplements.  

 

How to List Your Drug History in Your Signature

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Good luck, and let us know how you are doing.