Hi, I'm in the process of switching from effexor xr (75mgs) to Prozac (20mgs). Has anyone done this and had a good experience? I suffer from anxiety and am worriied I have a rough road ahead of me. I'm wondering what I'm in for. Will my anxiety get worse? Will I have withdrawals from Effexor? I'm weaning off the Effexor and starting prozac at the same time. Thanks!
I switched from Zoloft to Prozac and it has been the worst ride I've ever had. But everyone is different I don't think Prozac is the one for me. I'll probably be coming off it and on somthing else after I see the psyc today.
Went off Prozac 10mg after many years felt good for awhile in March 2016 depression struck again. Dr. put me on 5mg i can't even take that now to many side effects, went back after 4weeks of trying 5 with every side effect you could have now he wants me to take 10mg if you can't take 5how are you going to take 10 Don't know what to do.
Yeah I was kinda hoping the psychiatrist change meds to but insted she upped it to 30. Let's see how this goes
At this time I'm not taking anything except my Xanax,I'm to weak & tired to keep on with Prozac.The panic attacks, nausea,sweating feel like I'm going to faint can't sleep I can't do it anymore.l need a break.I f I have to start back it will small doses until I can work up to 10mgs again.I was always very sensitive to medicine never took but 10 mg when I was taking Prozac.I will let you know how I do,hope it will work.Drs don't take this medicine they don't know how sick people feel,we do.
Yeah doc told me it doesn't cause sweating and hot flashes which I get so wtf glad I'm not the only one getting seating and sick feeling
You are definitely not the only one with these side effects I've had them all that's why I'm off for awhile I'm just so tired of being sick.My main side effect was panic & being so tired, nausea.Prozac was good for me for a long time .I wished now I hadn't quit taking 8 months ago now I can't seem to get back on it .I don't remember it bothering me like that when I started it a few years back.,maybe it because he started low dose worked up to 10mg.Hindsight is 20/20. We Will Get Better !
Excuse me posting again. I thought I'd posted yesterday but I can't see it anywhere so here it is again
Hi, Im on the same change (from 150 Venlaxine to Fluoxetine
Before I go on, could I make a plea to everyone to try to use what are called the GENERIC names for drugs i.e. Venlafaxine to Fluoxetine. There are lots of TRADE (MANUFACTURERS or BRAND ) names for the same drugs - Effexor is just one of many for venlafazine and Prozac is one of many for fluoxetine. There can be iterally dozens of different trade names. Using trade names means that someone taking the same drug but with a different trade name won't find all the discussions on Venlafaxine.
Anyway, to add my bit.
Were u taking Ven for just anxiety or depression + anxiety
I'm worried about - 4 days in and feeling shaky (no idea idea if it's the drugs or not).
The reason I'm doing is that perhaps the Ven stopped working and this was my docs suggestion.Like many people I'm aware of Ven's short fhalf-life and need to taper of slowly. The fluoxetine is there to replace the Ven hopefully. I guess one can't be sure that the new one will work (it seems as if individuals vary in their respones to various drugs and maybe one needs to keep trying different ones. BUT, hopefully, if Fluoxetine works for you and me then sometime from 1 or 2 weeks onward, you'll notice an improvement. One is told that they should be working (if they are goind to work) by 4-8 weeks
My personal concern is that as one is tailing of the Ven, although one is adding in the fluoxetine, that there will be a period when one is uffering Ven withdrawal and not yet getting benefit of the fluoxetine kicking in. But maybe I'm overthinking this.
I've been on Ven for 12 years and was good most of the time (tho when I did try to withdrawa I failed).
My new spell of depression was precipitated by my stressed out life at home which I won't go into
I'm trying to add listening to lots of mp3 of relaxation, mindfulness, exercise, social things, but it's tough. My biggest problem is that I work at home alone and don't see people at all unless I make big efforts as above. e,g Evening and day adult education classes
I do fear it getting worse (like 12 years back when I was pretty non-functional for a month or two. Yet when I hear the suffering here I realise that relatively I'm fortunate. But right now, like you vanilla27, I'm living day to day
WIsh you luck and feep in touch
I was taking the Ven for anxiety, I didn't have any depression. I don't feel like it helped my anxiety to point where I wanted to stay on it for fear of becoming addicted. I've only been on it 5 months. I'm on day three of 75mgs of Ven and 20mgs of Flu, havent had any withdrawals from the Ven yet and no side effects from the Fluoxetine yet.
Sounds really good for you. Stay with it
What is ven?
Effexor
I made mistake of using ven as abbreviation for venlafaxine, which I should have said. I made a plea to everyone to try to use the universal generic name for every drug, and trade name. For venlafaxine there are the following trade names
Trade names Effexor XR, Effexor, Trevilor, Lanvexin
If we use the single generic name we'll all be singing from the same hymn book (I think that's the right expression)..
Do remember folks that most people who post here are posting problems they have. Those who do drug changes and have no problem are less likely to post - in my opinion of course
At least that's how I'm trying to keep things in perspective. Now 1 week in to change from venlafaxine to fluoxetine.
I'm in the middle of going from 375mgs of ven for pain & depression...to 20mgs of proz..then when I'm fully off ven, docs uppin Prozac to 40mgs daily. Hes got me on xanex for anxiety..This is a freaky rocky road man...Feels like I'm walking on bubble wrap..and dizzy 😵..tired..wickedly intolerant of people...including best mates & family.super sad & super mad.
Have you had feelings like you have no control over your mind or thoughts? My doctor has taken me from 225mg of Effexor xr down to 37.5 mg if Effexor xr. And put me on 40 mg of Prozac. I have been having anxiety ...crying spells, feelings like I have no control over my thoughts or emotions and shakiness. I really want this feeling to go away. I am a nursing student and I can't focus on school. And I am scared of how long this will last for.
Hi, I'm sorry but I didn't have the symptoms you're describing. I was only on Effexor for a short time and my anxiety seemed to get better as I lowered the Effexor, but after three weeks on Prozac my anxiety went through the roof so I had to stop taking it. Have you tried any benzos? I take klonopin as needed and it makes a huge difference. I'm sorry you're suffering and hope you're better soon!
I was feeling good while going up to the 40 mg of Prozac but when I got to the 37.5 of Effexor my mind started racing. I take clonazepam 2 times a day
Greetings! I took Effexor for anxiety. My psychiatrist had me taper down from 150mg of Effexor to 75mg of Effexor over the course of a year. Then a month ago, I stopped taking 75mg of Effexor daily and started taking 20mg of Prozac. (I'd read that many people use an overlap/bridge strategy, but he advised against it.) Anyway, it's been a month and my anxiety is through the roof. My assumption is that it's actually being caused by withdrawal from Effexor. Surely this isn't how I'll feel for the rest of my life! Let me know if you've had this experience.
Hi Jcd!
Rest assured, you are having the same experience I did 
I was switched right over from paroxetine, which is just as bad coming off from as ven. You can't really tell what's withdrawals and what are side effects. But you are a month in, the worst of it should be pretty much over for you! I think around week 5-6 there was an improvement for me. I'm now at 9 weeks and I find myself being able to do things again without freaking out, laughing a bit etc.. I've stayed the course with 20mg and will continue until at least 12-16 weeks as that's when the most improvement is supposed to happen. I know it seems like such a long ways away, but if I can stick it out this long, anyone can. Trust me, I'm not a fan of being uncomfortable haha. I do still have loads of anxiety, but it is slowly improving. This med is so slow to work!
Hi vanilla27, I see this is 2 yrs old, but just saw this. I have been on effexor for 17yrs, and it stopped helping. My dr is weaning me off of it, while adding prozac to make the transition tolerable. It's been abut a month. Not any fun. Besides the headaces, shakiness, feeling hot, todsy I felt like a panic attack came on. This is so hard to handle at times. I know it takes time. But, boy it would be nice to start to feel some improvement. And yes, it's hard to tell the difference between withdrawl and side effects. I would never wish this on anyone.