When can I start taking SAM-e after weaning off Effexar IR?

[internationalstudent]

Hi, I was on effexar from August of 2017, in January decided to talk to my doctor about weaning off the medication because I did feel like myself, I was too emotional, panicking, and just not good. Like I felt okay, but I did not think it is worth taking so serious medication and pay money for it, and depend on it and feeling just okay.

I was on 150mg XR, for a month I switched to IR of 37.5 3x daily. Next two weeks 37.5 2x, and now then on 37.5 a day for also two weeks. I have one week left, can I start taking SAM-e now, at least little dose? I'm not in good emotional place right now as so many things happening in my life including heartbreak which really makes me depressed. I'm scared and I do not want to end up in the hospital. Please, any advice on how to make this easier and successful?

[Paxiled]

I'd wait.  You seem to suffer from anxiety, not just depression, and Effexor is a more stimulating antidepressant that can exacerbate anxiety in many people.  SAM-e is also a stimulating antidepressant because it's part of the process the body uses to produce energy for many things.  Effexor is a difficult med to stop taking, so wait for the process of stopping to complete so you can know if you're going to have lingering withdrawal problems before you start a new program of any kind.  Because SAM-e can cause anxiety in some people, wait until you're over this withdrawal process before you do that one.  Also, you're still on Effexor, and both it and SAM-e have an effect on serotonin, so another reason to wait.