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Taking Effexor For Depression. Is It Safe To Substitute Effexor With Cymbalta?
My husband is on Effexor 150 mg daily for depression. I am on Cymbalta 60 mg for pain and depression. He is out of the Effexor until our mail order pharmacy gets it sent to us (We were late in reordering it), and wont be here for about 1 week. Can we substitute safely with the Cymbalta 60 mg or 30 mg, which I have extra of, so he doesn't have to go without, which is not safe at all?
Thu, 7 Nov 2013
Hi,
Both Effexor and Cymbalta belong to the same group of drugs as both are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Therefore to some extent, Cymbalta may be able to reduce the discontinuation symptoms that are seen when Effexor is suddenly stopped. But I do not expect that it will completely be able to prevent any worsening. If there is no other way out then go ahead, but please be more careful in future as this can cause a relapse of depression.
Best wishes.
Both Effexor and Cymbalta belong to the same group of drugs as both are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Therefore to some extent, Cymbalta may be able to reduce the discontinuation symptoms that are seen when Effexor is suddenly stopped. But I do not expect that it will completely be able to prevent any worsening. If there is no other way out then go ahead, but please be more careful in future as this can cause a relapse of depression.
Best wishes.
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