HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Effexor and Cymbalta together?

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/18/2012 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
I went back to the doctor today. I've been on Effexor (37.5 twice daily) for about 4 months, but it just wasn't helping the pain. In fact, all it did was give me anxiety and insomnia. (And I don't even have a mood disorder!!) :-/

My doctor started me Cymbalta (30 mg), and told me to take on Cymbalta in the morning and one Effexor at night for three days, then one Cymbalta in the morning and one Effexor every other day for four days.

Has anyone else been weaned off of Effexor in this manner? I've heard all about the withdrawls from Effexor, so I'm a bit nervous about the whole process. I'm also a little concerned about taking two SNRIs at the same time. All thoughts and comments are appreciated!
Posted 7/18/2012 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
With the low dosages of both I don't think it would be an issue. I know cymbalta has normal dosing of 120 MG and can be taken 1-2X a day. Effexor can also be taken safely at much higher doses. I think that the stepdown program sounds about right. Very similar to the stepdown I had when I switched.

However if you start to have symptoms of seratonin syndrome hit an er ASAP.
Posted 7/18/2012 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with mxnova, you're on quite a low dose of effexor and probably won't experience a withdrawal syndrome. That said, some ppl are majorly sensitive to meds and do. If that's you, just take a deep breath and know it'll pass. Let us know how you get on.

Effexor needs to be taken at approx 250mg or higher for the noradrenalin effect to kick in. Up until then it's just a ssri, whereas the noradrenalin effect of cymbalta is present at a low dose.

Meg
Posted 7/18/2012 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds good to me too. Good luck with the transition. Let us know how the cymbalta works for you. I took 375mg of effexor daily for many years. about two years ago I switched to pristiq. Did it in a similar manner as you did. It worked well. I think as long as you have another antidepressant similar going into your system, the transition is rather smooth.

Take care, and keep us posted as to how you are doing.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/19/2012 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
I tried to switch from Effexor to cymbalta and I didn't last because cymbalta gave me suicidal thoughts and severe depression..maybe my dr didn't dose it right or it's because my age but it was awful for me ..
Posted 7/19/2012 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
When I was switched from Zoloft to Cymbalta, I took the Zoloft in the morning and the 30mg Cymbalta at niht for a week. Then cut out the Zoloft totally after week 2 and increased the Cymbalta to the full 60mg dose.

It's not uncommon to taper off one and taper on another. :) Good luck on the switch. Cymbalta doesn't work for everyone (just like any other drug) but I've had good luck with it so far. I've been on it for a year.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply