Posted by Phoenix1 on January 11, 2008, at 8:59:21 [reposted on January 16, 2008, at 2:47:46 | original URL]
In reply to Question about Combining Medications, posted by clipper40 on January 11, 2008, at 8:32:03
> I have a friend who is on a 150 mg. of Effexor that he recently built up to. He's also in the process of withdrawing from a high daily dosage of a benzo. Between these two meds, he has A LOT of anxiety and is barely functioning. Is there any reason a doctor wouldn't or couldn't prescribe some Zyprexa, Remeron or doxepin etc. to help him out now?
I worry about making too many changes at the same time. If it were me, I would rather stabilize on the Effexor before reducing the benzo. Effexor worsened my physical anxiety. Now, it is hard to know if your friend's anxiety is caused by the Effexor or by the reduced benzo dose, or a combination of both. If you are looking for something instead of a benzo, then the atypical AP's are not a great choice for anxiety unless the friend is Bipolar. Maybe he could try Gabapentin or Lyrica. My experience with these is that they do reduce anxiety but are as hard to quit as the benzos. Others feel differently on this.
Hope this helps,
Phoenix1
poster:Phoenix1
thread:806916
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20080114/msgs/806917.html