My psychiatrist is switching me over from Effexor XR (Venlafaxine) to Lexapro (Escitalopram). My dose of effexor XR before the taper began was 375 mg. This is the taper shcedule :
WEEK 1:
300MG EFFEXOR
5 MG LEXAPRO
WEEK 2
225 MG EFFEXOR
10 MG LEXAPRO
WEEK 3
150 MG EFFEXOR
15 MG LEXAPRO
WEEK 4
75 MG EFFEXOR
20 MG LEXAPRO
WEEK 5
37.5 MG EFFEXOR
25 MG LEXAPRO
WEEK 6 = FINAL TAPER
0 EFFEXOR
30 MG LEXAPRO
I hit week 4 about four days ago and I feel like I might be losing my mind a little bit. I have been crying on multiple days of the week, I have headaches every day, I have trouble sleeping and have some suicidal ideation. Today was a bizarre day as I had flu-like symptoms that went Away. I have been taking antidepressants since I was 12 (I am now 35) and very luckily NEVER experienced any side effects before. Therefore, I feel like I am going crazy with what seems to be effexor withdrawals
. Has anyone had a similar exerience ?