Depression Medications - Switching from Celexa to Effexor

Author

Switching from Celexa to Effexor

~Susie~

2006-08-28, 9:25 pm

Hi I am a long time lurker here. I have suffered from depression for
many years without a lot of good results from meds.
I have also been in lot of therapy. I don't have any understanding
people to support me. Just my boyfriend and he doesn't handle it well. I
have no family or friends in the area because I moved to different
state to be with my boyfriend. (Just a little of my background.)

I had been on Celexa 40mg daily for about a year. I had recently been
starting to feel real depressed and I have had no ambition for many
years. A week ago my doctor switched me from the Celexa to Effexor XR
300mg. She told me to just stop the Celexa and start taking the Effexor.
I was doing pretty good until this past weekend. Saturday night I became
very angry and depressed. Taking things out on my boyfriend and
everything in general. It continued through Sunday and today. I am
almost in a rage at times.
My life does pretty much suck and I am getting tired of it, but I don't
usually carry on like this.

Could the Effexor itself be causing this or could changing the meds so
quickly be the cause? Should I have made the transition more slowly? Or
am I just angry and depressed? I have major depression and
anxiety problems. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Susie

Nom dePlume

2006-08-29, 2:31 am

"~Susie~" <DREAMWEAVERSUE@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:19124-44F38C95-139@storefull-3111.bay.webtv.net...
> Hi I am a long time lurker here. I have suffered from depression for
> many years without a lot of good results from meds.
> I have also been in lot of therapy. I don't have any understanding
> people to support me. Just my boyfriend and he doesn't handle it
> well. I
> have no family or friends in the area because I moved to different
> state to be with my boyfriend. (Just a little of my background.)
>
> I had been on Celexa 40mg daily for about a year. I had recently
> been
> starting to feel real depressed and I have had no ambition for many
> years. A week ago my doctor switched me from the Celexa to Effexor
> XR
> 300mg. She told me to just stop the Celexa and start taking the
> Effexor.
> I was doing pretty good until this past weekend. Saturday night I
> became
> very angry and depressed. Taking things out on my boyfriend and
> everything in general. It continued through Sunday and today. I am
> almost in a rage at times.
> My life does pretty much suck and I am getting tired of it, but I
> don't
> usually carry on like this.
>
> Could the Effexor itself be causing this or could changing the meds
> so
> quickly be the cause? Should I have made the transition more slowly?
> Or
> am I just angry and depressed? I have major depression and
> anxiety problems. Any input would be appreciated.

It's hard to say (which isn't what you wanted to hear). Both Celexa
and Effexor (most antidepressants, really) require a gradual tapering,
unless you are replacing one with a similar medication. In this case,
I wouldn't really expect you to have major withdrawal effects from
Celexa, since Effexor qualifies as similar (though this is less so
going the other direction), but I couldn't swear this is the case.
However, I would be more inclined to think that Effexor is the
culprit.

My advice would be to watch your mood carefully, be aware that your
rage may be chemically induced, and call your doctor right now to let
him know what is happening. You may need to stop Effexor. If your rage
doesn't abate, I expect that you will need to.

--
Nom dePlume, Ph.D.
Why, yes, in fact, I am a rocket scientist.

Guide to Medications for Mental Illness:
http://www.geocities.com/nomdeplume1000/

=====

Don W. McCollough

2006-08-29, 8:25 am

"~Susie~" <DREAMWEAVERSUE@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:19124-44F38C95-139@storefull-3111.bay.webtv.net...
> Hi I am a long time lurker here. I have suffered from depression for
> many years without a lot of good results from meds.
> I have also been in lot of therapy. I don't have any understanding
> people to support me. Just my boyfriend and he doesn't handle it well. I
> have no family or friends in the area because I moved to different
> state to be with my boyfriend. (Just a little of my background.)
>
> I had been on Celexa 40mg daily for about a year. I had recently been
> starting to feel real depressed and I have had no ambition for many
> years. A week ago my doctor switched me from the Celexa to Effexor XR
> 300mg. She told me to just stop the Celexa and start taking the Effexor.
> I was doing pretty good until this past weekend. Saturday night I became
> very angry and depressed. Taking things out on my boyfriend and
> everything in general. It continued through Sunday and today. I am
> almost in a rage at times.
> My life does pretty much suck and I am getting tired of it, but I don't
> usually carry on like this.
>
> Could the Effexor itself be causing this or could changing the meds so
> quickly be the cause? Should I have made the transition more slowly? Or
> am I just angry and depressed? I have major depression and
> anxiety problems. Any input would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Susie

Sorry you feel bad. That's a lot of Celexa and Effexor to be instantly
switching.
People report withdrawl from Celexa and they definitely report it with
Effexor.
So where is the sense in switching you so quickly?
You might is being chemically "switched up" at a rapid pace and you could be
resisting or reacting
to the change. That could be causing you get upset.