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Can Effexor Be Abruptly Discontinued?
Posted on
Wed, 16 Dec 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 16 Dec 2015
Answered on
Thu, 7 Jan 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Thank u so much. My daughter is on effexor 75 mg bid. She is now changing to Prozac 20mg daily. Her psychiatrist told her nothing about how to do this. Would greatly appreciate help
Brief Answer:
effexor should be withdrawan slowly
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
Since effexor can cause withdrawal symptoms it should be gradually reduced over a time of one month. The rule of thumb is reduce 25 % every week till it is nil dose. In the first week of withdrawal give 37.5 mg in morning and 75 mg in evening. On next week 37.5 mg BD. Than on third week only 37.5 mg HS and no dose fourth week onwards.
Prozac can be started simultaneously from the first day of withdrawal or even earlier at 20 mg per day. Take care to take it in morning as night dosage likely to cause insomnia.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards
effexor should be withdrawan slowly
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
Since effexor can cause withdrawal symptoms it should be gradually reduced over a time of one month. The rule of thumb is reduce 25 % every week till it is nil dose. In the first week of withdrawal give 37.5 mg in morning and 75 mg in evening. On next week 37.5 mg BD. Than on third week only 37.5 mg HS and no dose fourth week onwards.
Prozac can be started simultaneously from the first day of withdrawal or even earlier at 20 mg per day. Take care to take it in morning as night dosage likely to cause insomnia.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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