[melanson86]

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 ?

[WastingAsparagus]

Effexor is pretty hard to get off of (I have experience trying to discontinue it rapidly and even cold-turkey, something I definitely would not recommend).

Anyway, have you discussed with your doctor what effects you're experiencing from the taper?

[Patsfan]

I am coming off Effexor XR but much slower. I was taking 300 MG ER in January, I am now down to 75 mg ER. Prior to last Thursday I was taking 100 MG IR. I was taking 50 mg 2x a day prior to that. Through this whole time, I am taking 20mg of Trintellix , 150mg of lithium and 75mg of Trazadone.
Since I started the 75mg, I am waking up with headaches and feel nauseous