[crzycatlady]

Help please!! I recently was taken off the Effexor 150mg. I'd been on for many years and put straight onto Brintellix 10mg. The doc assured me there would be no withdrawal going from one to the other, but having experienced the horrors of Effexor withdrawal in the past...I knew better. Being the good little patient and so desparate for something that would work...I did as he said. I've now been on the B and off the E for a week. I'm not feeling any better as far as depression and anxiety are concerned...though I know that takes more time than a week. The withdrawal horrors have diminished yet are still VERY uncomfortable. My concern now is after reading recently that Brintellix should not be given with Wellbutrin. I had been taking Wellbutrin 300mg. along with my Effexor for about two years now. My doc didn't take me off the W or even suggest tapering off of it in the future. I'm afraid now that that may be at least partially responsible for my being so very sick. I want to quit the W cold turkey, but I'm afraid...I'm already so sick. Anyone have any idea about what I should do? My doc is VERY hard to get ahold of. I left two different msgs for him today and never heard back.

[Travelinglady]

Hi, crzycatlady, and welcome to Psych Central! I suggest you ask the question about the two meds together to a pharmacist. And ask, too, about the tapering, not saying what the doc told you, since he/she would probably be hesistant to go against what the doc said.

I had the same issue with getting off of drugs that you do. My psychiatrist told me to go off a drug cold turkey--and I knew better, too. In fact, I've found that even primary-care docs know not to pull folks off certain drugs cold turkey. So, I started weaning off. I told him and he raised the roof. Long story short, he is no longer my psychiatrist and I wish I had left him years ago. By any chance, is he an older guy?

Also, I am not impressed that this doc won't return calls.....Evidently he thinks his word is law and not to be questioned? But maybe he'll call back soon....

Hope you can get some resolution soon. What an issue!

We want an update, please!