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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by april8 on April 24, 2004, at 14:22:53
I really need advice, so please let me know if you have switched from effexor to 5htp and how exactly you tapered. I am on 225 of effexor a day for about 5 months or so. I don't have a clue how to taper and switch to 5 htp and my doctor is not at all for natural alternative therapies so I feel on my own with this.
So far I tried taking effexor 225 one day and then 300 mg of 5 htp the other day. This has not been working because every few days I hit a horrible low and wish I was dead (okay clearly this isnt' working) so it must be too drastic to do it this way. Can someone please advise me how they tapered? I need to do it differently and have been scared to take 5 htp at the same time but yet have heard people do it. Right now I take 3 effexor 75 mg a day, so advise on a taper plan and adding the htp would be SO SO appreciated. My email is snoupy4u@aol.com or you can post here and i will check it.
I cant' thank you enough in advance for any support. I really need it. I woke up crying today feeling so so horrible about everything in my life. I really want off this evil effexor in a way that won't make me want to die. I know people say they get alot of physical symptoms going off of effexor but for me it is despair that destroys me. Help, please someone who has done this I need you!
April
Posted by linkadge on April 24, 2004, at 17:07:22
In reply to Help! I need advice about effexor and 5 htp..., posted by april8 on April 24, 2004, at 14:22:53
Personally, I think that you need to reduce the antidepressant quite a bit before you try adding the 5-htp, as to avoid serotonin syndrome.
What I would do is ask your doctor for prozac to try to get off the effexor.
Effexor has a very short half-life, and will be out of your system within the day. Prozac however is in your system almost 2 weeks, thus making tapering much easier.
I would reduce to about 112.5 (or 75mg) by adding 10 mg of prozac, then reduce to no effexor by taking 10mg of prozac. Then you can take the prozac every other day, every third day etc, and withdrawl is much, much smoother.
As the prozac leaves your system, you can add 5-htp.
Getting off effexor can be a roller coaster because of its short half life, this is why I reccomend trying the prozac swich, it has worked for many people.
Best of LuckLinkadge
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 26, 2004, at 8:29:11
In reply to Help! I need advice about effexor and 5 htp..., posted by april8 on April 24, 2004, at 14:22:53
> I really need advice, so please let me know if you have switched from effexor to 5htp...
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Babble Alternative. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040418/msgs/340112.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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