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Effexor Vs Wellbutrin Vs Cymbalta Vs Prozac
posted by Liz on 04 Feb 2007 at 1:24 amThe thing that bothered me most about Effexor was the heavy sweating.
Wellbutrin was a nightmare with the brain zaps, repeating myself and asking the same question over and over again according to my husband and best friend (and I am sure acquaintances wondered, too). Seeing things out of the corner of my eyes was mildly annoying.
Cymbalta was great but one time I ran out of my prescription and I didn't take it for several days. My mail order was coming at any day, so I didn't think much about it. Then I experienced nausea severe enough to have to lie down. Once back on it, the withdrawls stopped.
Since 1995 I've bounced around with antidepressants but usually end up on Prozac. Eventually it will change, so I never know what'll happen.
Follow-Up Opinions
| Prozac |
| posted by Karen on 27 Sept 2007 at 1:14 pm |
|
Prozac is an atypical SSRI, it is an inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine or dopamine uptake. In clinical study in patients who received fluoxetine for 6 weeks, the cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of the metabolites of 5-HT (5-HIAA), dopamine (HVA), and norepinephrine (HMPG) were reduced by 46%, 14%, and 18%, respectively.
Some Prozac advantages over other antidepressants are relatively mild withdrawal, low rate of weigh gain and lowest risk of suicide. Here are comparisons of Prozac and Effexor to other antidepressants: http://www.emedexpert.com/compare-meds/fluoxetine.shtml http://www.emedexpert.com/compare-meds/venlafaxine.shtml |
| Effexor Withdrawal Symptoms |
| posted by M Nagarajan on 17 Dec 2007 at 5:02 am |
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Just want to share my experience of withdrawal symptoms. To offset some Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms (tapering 300mg to 0 over 4 weeks), my Effexor dose was increased from 300mg/daily to 450mg/daily. While I didn't think much of it at the time, as I tried to come off of Effexor, I realized some of the issues of being at such a high level.
Even reducing 25 mg/week presented lots of problems for me. Finally, I'm tapering/titrating at 12.5 mg/week, using a combination of 150mgXR, 75mgXR, 37.5mgXR and 25mg pills, and splitting my dose between morning and evening. And with any sign of withdrawal symptoms, I level off with the dose for a couple of weeks (like staying at 350mg/daily for three weeks, until it felt safe to start reducing again. |
| More Info / Experiences Would Be Appreciated! |
| posted by Marie Hitchen on 08 Mar 2008 at 1:37 pm |
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I've been on effexor for 6 months now and have experienced the wonderful parts such as the numbing from stress and the initial highs. Following leaving my job, or work altogther in fact, oh and kicking my husband out of the family home, I sat and looked at the person I hjad become, No Passion, No Determination, I had become a plodder!!!! Totally out of character, I didn't get angry, unless I missed a dose and then I felt like destroying the house within a couple of hours.
I'm not classed medically as a manic depressive by the way, I used to be an outgoing sales rep who would get on socially with anyone. I talked to my doctor about coming off effexor and by day 5 of cold turkey Icouldn't taker anymore............I turned into the incredible hulk who constantly walked into doors and was bearly able to complete a sentence without completely forget what I was talking about. Feelings of guilt came all day every day as i knew my boys were suffering more than me. M Naturally that was the point where I went back to the doctor, a different doctor who seemed extremely aggitated by the fact i had gone cold turkey and even more so that I had been advised to by a doctor at the practise. I am now tapering off, down from 75mg to snapping my 37.5mg in half, having one in the morning and one in the evening.The immediate tablets are in the system within 20 mins but also out quicker to. I went to the doctor on Friday and he refused to prescribe Wellbutrin for me as it is not currently available in the UK on the NHS. After reading the post about abut the withdrawals, could anyone give other experiences / advice regarding the withdrawal f wellbutrin, is it as bad as Effexor? Is anyone else taking them together, how is it working? My doctor said Zyban is available on NHS from smoking, if i can get enough info together i'm hoping he will allow me to combine the effexor and wellbutrin, I desperately need to help my family, my marriage and myself........any questions for me e-mail me on mariehitchen@aol.com |
| Cybalta/Wellbutrin Works For Me. |
| posted by Ed Garbarino on 09 May 2008 at 7:36 pm |
| I've been taking 60 mg. of cym and 300 mg Wellbutrin. Adding Wellbutrin to the cymbalta has made a big difference for me. I'm not sleeping as much and I'm not lethargic as I was on cymbalta alone. I've been on Effexor for 2 years and then went to Cymbalta. It just wasn't working for me. I came across some post on the net and someone had used the cym/well combination and it was working for them. I'm able to enjoy everything more especially the marriage bed. |
| Cymbalta/Effexor |
| posted by Moksha on 29 May 2008 at 10:38 am |
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Doctor just prescribed Cymbalta for me...I tried Effexor about two years ago and found that while I was a bit calmer in certain situations...in every day settings I wasn't myself at all...no personality. I slept quite a bit. This was running counter to what I felt I needed in my life - yes I was "depressed"; I was lonely and gaining weight...I felt I needed something to take the edge off...while giving me some energy which would hopefully help in the weight loss area. Effexor only made me sleep...and sweat a lot.
Now onto Cymbalta...I have taken only a few and find I am completely lethargic...not what I want/need - however, is this only a symptom of someone starting on this medication and things will improve??? Also, I am very afraid of gaining even more weight - I know some friends on other anti-depressants who have gained weight - others who dropped considerable amounts...again - anyone have information on how Cymbalta worked in terms of weight gain/loss. Any information would be greatly appreciated.... |
| CYMBALTA! |
| posted by tracey on 01 Jun 2008 at 10:16 pm |
| Hi..ive been on cymbalta 60mgs for 1 1/2 years. I have gained 25 pounds and cannot stay awake long enough to even clean up my house. If i am awake, i don't have any energy to do much and if i do, i get nauseated! Although, i don't have anxiety anymore, i am a useless lump. SO, for the probably 15th time, i am once again trying to wean off of this drug. I want my life back but have failed countless times even using prozac to counter the withdrawals. I would go off this drug now before you are hooked and fat. Sorry for the negativity but i am fed up with cymbalta. |
| Total Concern About Cymbalta |
| posted by Jo Connor on 14 Jun 2008 at 12:27 pm |
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All I can say is be wary of Cymbalta. I have bi-polar and in the past I have tried heaps of anti-depressants and they have all sent me high. Last week my doctor thought he would try another anti-depressant on me (new on govt subsidised tablets in Australia : as from 1st June). Well, as usual it takes about a week and a bit to work but it is having the opposite affect. In the past 2 days I have been loosing concentration and what is a tell-tale sign of the beginnings of a high is the total unsleepiness after 3 hours after taking seroquel which would normally zonk me out for approximately 7 hours per night. At the time of writing this I had taken 2 temazipam (sleeping tablets) and even that isn't working (because this extra medication (even if it is one) has sent me off to sleep.
The final warning: if you have taken anti-depressants in the past and they have sent you high, this isn't any different. Take care. Lots of Love Jo |
| Seriously? |
| posted by Rob on 22 Sept 2008 at 6:00 pm |
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I honestly think that some of you people that have had bad experiences with Cymbalta, have other issues that aren't being correctly identified. I have been on Paxil, Lexapro, Celexa, etc et al. I've also been on Xanax, Klonipin, Valium and Ativan prescribed with all of these meds to offset the immediate anxety/panic attacks. Cymbalta is the only medicine that has worked for me out of all of them. Now, it's not the only thing: cognitive therapy! Being able to identify the triggers and/or problems (PTSD, etc) helps lighten the load tremendously.
Regarding side effects. Deal with it. You're taking MEDICATION that is MAN MADE. Science isn't perfect. No one knows what one pill will do to different individuals. So the bashing of Cymbalta and other medications is unjustified. Try having a positive attitude and say "That drug isn't right for me, but it works for others." Take some responsibility in your own life like I did. Who knows, you might live instead of exist. Just my outspoken $0.02 |
| Side Effect; Withdrawal |
| posted by michelle on 05 Oct 2008 at 1:29 am |
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I have been on all three: effexor, cymbalta and wellbutrin in the course of a year.
Effexor eased my anxiety and night sweats but I was having insomnia nightly, constipation and other mild side effects. The doctor then prescribed cymbalta 60 mg. I didn't have any side effects with the transition. Cymbalta did nothing for me and my night sweats returned along with insomnia, constipation and other mild side effects. I had 1 week of 30mg prescription on hand so I independently decreased and had flu-like symptoms for 5 days: vomiting, nausea, constant headache, chills, etc. I then contacted my doctor once feeling better and was prescribed 30mg cymbalta and 150mg wellbutrin. I did fine with this combination for 1 week then decreased cymbalta to 0mg and increased wellbutrin to 300mg. 3 days later my flu-like symptoms returned. I was ill for 9 days and currently a slight headache on my 10th day. Wellbutrin. I am shy of two weeks on wellbutrin. I am sleeping much better and my night sweats seem to be decreasing. Gradually I have been getting welts that are extremely itchy. At first I thought I was getting bug bites because it was here and there on my body, but no one else in my family was getting them. As of two days ago it has become worse with welts and itchiness all over my body including wrist, arms, legs, stomach, buttocks, earlobes, etc. I feel like things are crawling on my skin, but nothing is there. I will contact my PCP once again, but I am afraid of the withdrawal symptoms that may come due to the unpleasant experience of cymbalta withdrawal. I think I will give up at this point and just deal with my anxiety and the symptoms with it: night sweats, irritable bowl syndrome, irritability, etc. I hope my experiences are helpful information to others. |
| Why Aren't Any Of You Trying Brain Neurofeedback? |
| posted by betsy on 31 Oct 2008 at 9:01 am |
| Neurofeedback works like magic in reducing anxiety and depression permanently without drugs. You just need to find a qualified provider in your area--google around until you do. It may run you $3000 or more, but it is forever and you won't have all these side effects. It also is time consuming--you need to go in 30 to 40 times for 45 minutes each time, but it will be life changing. Compare that to a lifetime of dealing with doctors and drugs. It is a no brainer |
| Effexor |
| posted by jane on 04 Nov 2008 at 7:46 am |
|
Hi I have been on this medication for a long time and find its good for anxiety but I cant motivate myself to exercise.
In fact I find myself eating more and have gained weight. I'm too considering changing medication but am on a high dose and the last time I tried to change my anxiety levels went up high. |
| Effexor Withdrawal Issues |
| posted by infoseeker on 28 Nov 2008 at 5:18 pm |
| I was on Effexor 125MG per day for anxiety for about 3 years (a relatively low-ish dose). It did WONDERS for me and I did not have any major side effects on Effexor but the withdrawl was a killer - even on the lower does and weaning off over a period of weeks. When I was on it, even just missing the dose by a few hours of my normal time gave me severe dizziness, headaches and queeziness - those were the only side effects I had but again that was pretty much strictly related to withdrawal. |
| Cymbalta Vs Celexa |
| posted by linda thompson on 10 Dec 2008 at 2:58 pm |
| What is the difference in these two meds and can you stop one and start the other without withdrawal? |
| Cymbalta Weight Gain |
| posted by soonermagic on 28 July 2009 at 7:04 pm |
| I have a weight gain issue with Cymbalta also. I have been taking 30mg daily for 2 years now. My sister is now on wellbutrin and is trim fit and happy. Has any one had any experience using Wellbutrin INSTEAD of (not in addition to) Cymbalta? I have gained about 30 pounds, although I am no longer in the dumps...I am sadly, dumpy. |
| Effexor Withdrawal |
| posted by m. mcgough on 27 Aug 2009 at 11:37 am |
| I have been taking Effexor xr 150mg for a few years. I have tried to take myself off only to have terrible withdrawals. The withdrawals were so bad that if I didn't take Effexor I wouldn't be functional to work. I did what I was told by decreasing the amounts slowly... only to just give up and start taking the full prescribed amount. Recently I started feeling depressed even though I have continued the Effexor. My Dr. told me today that he is going to start me on Cymbalta 30mg and reduce the Effexor to 75mg. and see him back in two weeks. Fearing the withdrawal symptoms, I wanted to ask your thoughts. Theoretically, he said I shouldn't feel a withdrawal. What are your thoughts??? Help...I have to work and can't have feelings of extreme vertigo!!! |
| Effexor, swish sound in my head |
| posted by Sandy on 19 Sept 2009 at 11:06 pm |
| Effexor was horrible for me. If I missed one day it would give me a terrible withdrawal feeling. I would hear this swish sound in my head. Even when I would turn my head. I thought I was loosing it. And sounded sort of silly trying to describe what I felt to others. Get off that medication. I went on Cymbalta and it did great for me. I have been on it for two years. I also am taking Topamax with it and Ativan only when needed. |
| Effexor Vs. Cymbalta |
| posted by Derrick on 30 Sept 2009 at 4:44 pm |
|
I have been on Effexor in the past for a few months. I've found it to be much stronger and has stronger side effects with drowsiness and dizziness.
I just started taking Cymbalta is do get a little of both but I can at least manage my work schedule and it is defiantly outweighing the stress and anxiety I had. I'm now much more calm/relaxed and don't have to rely on sleeping medication! |
| Cymbalta, trying to get off it |
| posted by Fran Lamour on 06 Dec 2009 at 12:22 pm |
| I am trying to get off Cymbalta now and have switched to 20 MGs of Prozac. I am now having brain zaps. How long will this last??? |
| Effexor, Swish Sound In My Head |
| posted by Darlene on 30 Dec 2009 at 11:23 am |
| I was on effexor 150mg for 2 months and i was so sick, dizzy, blurred vision, heart racing, brain zaps constantly. i am now on prozac and feel i am getting my life back. |
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