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jinkies7
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Confused Aug 13, 2019 at 09:15 PM
  #1
I have been on Prozac for the better part of 20 years and within the last 4 years I've been on 80mgs. I have been more depressed and anxious than I ever have in my entire life the last year. I've gained 75 pounds in 13 months and just feel beyond hopeless. Last spring my family dr added abilify but I had weird side effect of waking up in the middle of the night so couldn't continue that.

Yesterday she prescribed Effexor. She told me to go ahead and quit the Prozac and start the Effexor today, 75 mg for 4 days then up to 150. I asked her if that was ok since I was on such a high dose and had been on it for so many years and she said "it should be fine" which did not give me much confidence.

I've been reading about switching meds for the last few weeks because I am a divorced Mom of 3 kids with no help. When I was married and would try new meds, if I was down and out for awhile I had someone there to help out. Well now it is just me. I cannot afford to get any worse than I am now. From the reading I've done Prozac has quite a long half life so it seems as if serotonin syndrome is something I need to be careful of. So it really worries me to stop the Prozac and start the Effexor right away with no taper or wash out.

Asked pharmacist today he said I could be more conservative and taper for a week or so then start Effexor. He seemed more concerned with serotonin levels dipping too low rather than too high.

So I haven't taken my Prozac nor have I started the Effexor. I am just truly terrified of what to do. Most of what I read suggests tapering and a washout period for the Prozac, but again there is conflicting info. Anyone have any experience or advice to offer? I need to figure out what the heck to do. Thanks in advance for any help you might offer, it is so appreciated.
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sarahsweets
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Default Aug 14, 2019 at 06:52 AM
  #2
I am very concerned that your doctor would tell you to do that. Prozac is an SSRI and effexor is an SNRI they act differently in the brain. Personally I would taper off the prozac and slowly work up with the effexor. I think it was irresponsible for your doc to not have told you that.

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jinkies7
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Unhappy Aug 14, 2019 at 07:23 AM
  #3
Well after much back and forth I went ahead and took the 75 mg of the effexor about 15 minutes ago. I am at work and quite concerned that maybe I should not have done it.

I am really wanting to get this going and hopefully get better but I am so worried. I feel like I have nobody with any real knowledge to guide me. I may just not take it again and go back to suffering with just the prozac
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Default Aug 17, 2019 at 08:39 AM
  #4
prozac lingers in your body for a long time ("long half life"), as in...it could take months for all that Prozac to clear out. true story (I take 20mgs Prozac, btw). that's why some shrinks will switch people from Effexor (short half life, so its hell to taper) to Prozac, because the Prozac lingers and makes tapering smoother.

i would think...a doctor would consider something -not- an ssri or ssnri. maybe...remeron, wellbutrin, i think some tricyclics, but those are potentially toxic...buspar...

but effexor, right after that much Prozac...i dunno. can you get a 2nd opinion, please? is it possible? for your health+safety?
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jinkies7
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Default Aug 20, 2019 at 07:41 AM
  #5
I am on day 6 of the 75 mg of effexor XR and no prozac. I haven’t gotten a second opinion but I suppose I could. Really not sure who to see though. I did speak to pharmacist. I cannot get in to see a psychiatrist for months so that is out of the question. Not sure if seeing someone else at my regular doctor’s office for a second opinion is going to do much good?

I do work at a clinic owned and run by a very well known hospital, but I do not see a provider here. I work at family practice so again it would be a general provider not anyone in mental health. Maybe should still try?
From all my research, including our library for our company, it says that prozac’s half life is 9 days. Is that not correct?
I have been doing fine but was planning on trying to just stay on the 75mg for awhile and not moving up to the 150 mg after a week.

Can I ask what specific concerns you guys have? Seratonin syndrome or not having enough seratonin and going down hill and getting more depressed?
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Default Aug 22, 2019 at 06:12 AM
  #6
@jinkies7

I meant to ask you what your diagnosis is? what are the antidepressants for?

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Default Aug 22, 2019 at 06:29 AM
  #7
Depression/anxiety
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