Has anyone done a bridging change from venlafaxine to fluoxetine?
Curious as I’ve been advised that it might help with the way I’m feeling.
Anxious depressed no motivation no appetite completely wrecked.
I used to be on 20mg fluoxetine
Been on venlafaxine 75mg for 4 weeks
Yes and with 100% success.
It picks up the slack from the Venlafaxine and then tapers you down slowly and gently in its own without you having to do anything.
What mg etc were you on and did you use to start
I was on venlafaxine for over 20 years. I stopped it in July because depression was worse, and am now in week 8 of Prozac. The anxiety side effect has been really bad for me. Those sound like normal side effects. It takes so long to work.
How many mg were you on and Yeah feel so bad ... like it’s not even helping I know it’s only week 4 but I just want it to get better
On Venlafaxine I took 75 up to 600 at one point, then stabilized at 150 for many years. On Prozac, I’m on 40mg.
I would give it a good 12 weeks, not sure on dosage you are at.
I’m on 75mg of venlafaxine how long did it take you to come off 600 that’s huge
I think I slowly went down and stayed at 150 for a very long time. 75 is on the low side, I needed more.
Was yours depression or anxiety? When I was on fluoxetine I was on 20mg but probably should have been more
The Effexor (Venlafaxine) was for anxiety, I was diagnosed with panic disorder. This time the Prozac (Fluoxetine) is for depression. I wasn’t having bad anxiety this time until I started back on antidepressants. Now I have bad anxiety also, so I know for sure it is a side effect. It’s unfortunate it has to cause such bad side effects before starting to work.
I found I was still quite anxious on it for the years I was on it how was venlafaxine for you ?
I did really well on it for probably about 15 years. I did have some anxiety, but it was more manageable. The last few years, I’ve been having depression rather than anxiety.
How long did the venlafaxine take to start working
Venlafaxine I was up to 150mg/day
reduced to 75mg over 2 weeks
at 75mg for at least 1 week then you can do the bridge.
Stopped Ven and started Fluox at 10mg (1/2 capsule in fruit juice but you could start at full 20mg cap. )the next day (24 hrs after last Ven dose )
then the next day 20mg Fluoxetine
(Had about 2 days of mild brain zaps, nothing too bad)
then stayed on fluox for 2 weeks at 20mg/day
Then reduced, every other day..1 week
Every 3 days..1 week
then 1 cap a week for
Then stopped.
No withdrawals
How long ago was this and how are you now ? Still drug free ?
At least 8 weeks, if you went straight from prozac to it, it shouldn’t take as long.