Switching Antidepressant Meds

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Stllivin
Stllivin Member Posts: 103
edited October 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hi, my MO suggested a switch from Effexor to Wellbutrin due to my weight gain. Has anyone made this or a similar change? How did it affect you?

Thank you in advance for any responses.

Suzy

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  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited October 2017

    Wellbutrin is great, I am on it now as it helps with chemo-induced fatigue. I will say going off of Effexor was extremely difficult. No one tells you about the harsh withdrawal side effects when you start the med. I would ask if they can phase you onto Wellbutrin, starting at a low dose, while tapering you off of Effexor, to minimize the withdrawal effects The taper should be very slow. That being said, I think you will feel much better after you are off Effexor and on Wellbutrin and will probably lose weight and feel more energized immediately.

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  • Stllivin
    Stllivin Member Posts: 103
    edited October 2017

    Thank you for replying! My MO just said don't take Effexor one day, wait a day and start Wellbutrin. I did that and I am a mess. I've already called his office twice. Last two nights I haven't eaten, I'm having bizarre dreams and my husband says I'm screaming in my sleep. Today, I'm crying and feeling nauseous (taking Zofran) and also feeling afraid and that I could snap any minute. Glad to know it might be worth this craziness.

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  • Lauriesh
    Lauriesh Member Posts: 692
    edited October 2017

    you should never quit Effexor cold turkey. I am in the process of weaning off of it with the help of my psychiatrist. You can open the capsule and dump half out and stay on that reduced dose for a couple of weeks. You can take Wellbutrin at the same time and that will help lesson the withdrawal symptoms.



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  • Stllivin
    Stllivin Member Posts: 103
    edited October 2017

    MO just called. He said take nothing tonight and tomorrow will go back to Effexor. I am also taking lorazepam which he said to keep taking. He said probably won't try again because of my reaction. He did say would could talk about possibly 75 mg when I see him in December. When I mentioned the tapering off he felt that wouldn't work because of my reaction this time. Guess I'll just be fat.:(

    Thank you Lauriesh and JFL for your replies. I'm sure you both know just knowing someone is out "there" who gets it really can help calm a metser down a bit.

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  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited October 2017

    Stllivin, it is a shame you don't have a psychiatrist to assist in the tapering. MO's are clueless about this stuff. They literally think there are no side effects because no one complains to MO about this stuff. Most people feel guilty complaining to MOs about seemingly "silly" side effects about anything not involving cancer or cancer treatments. I recall mentioning I am not open to Effexor due to withdrawal to MO and he said "there are no withdrawal issues". They just do not know. That is CRAZY to go completely off it one day. Like Lauriesh, I remember breaking open pills and counting the little balls of medicine inside (per the recommendation palliative care MD/psychiatrist at my cancer center). I tapered for 4 weeks. 3 weeks was manageable but the last week was very hard. Your reaction is 100% normal to stopping cold turkey. Honestly, the longer you stay on it, the worse the withdrawal will be. I suggest getting on a tapering schedule and get the misery over with now. Are there any people who can advise you at your cancer center (psychologist, palliative care doctor or psychiatrist)? Sometimes, psychologists can monitor and assist although the MO technically prescribes the meds. Don't stay on it because of fear to go off it. It is so wrong there are no warnings about this before people start the medication.

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  • bigbhome
    bigbhome Member Posts: 840
    edited October 2017

    Stillivin, JFL is right. I told MO that I wanted off Effexor, he said that I would need the help of a psychiatrist. He said it would be extremely difficult and he was not sure if it was worth the physical and emotional stress. For me, now is not the time. With the proper help you can do it.

    Hugs and prayers,

    Claudia

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  • Stllivin
    Stllivin Member Posts: 103
    edited October 2017

    Thank you Bigbhome for the info. I finally shared with my 26 yr old DD what was happening and she shared with me that for her this happened in college. Wellbutrin is not for us. She also wants to set me up with her therapist who knows good psychiatrists who could help with the switch if I still want to try it. I'm not sure I will, it's only because of the weight gain it is causing me and I'm not sure it's worth the major freak out. I will just have to learn to accept the new me. :(.

    Suzy

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