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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on July 9, 2000, at 16:47:34
A great deal of attention is paid to the withdrawal syndromes that occur upon the discontinuation of various antidepressants, particularly Paxil (paroxetine) and Effexor (venlafaxine). Both of these drugs are potent serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) that have relatively short half-lives. However, I don't find that we have a consensus of specific strategies to deal with this here on Psycho-Babble.
The main signs of SSRI and Effexor withdrawal are dizziness, vertigo, headache, nausea, and flu-like symptoms as well as anxiety, confusion, irritability, excessive dreaming, and insomnia.
I think it would be productive to find out what strategies people have used to successfully discontinue Paxil and Effexor with minimal withdrawal symptoms.
How did you successfully discontinue your medication?
If anyone would like to offer input...1. Which drug did you discontinue?
2. How did you go about it?
3. What withdrawal symptoms did you experience?
- Scott
Posted by julesvox on July 9, 2000, at 18:35:57
In reply to Paxil and Effexor Withdrawal Strategies - Input ?, posted by SLS on July 9, 2000, at 16:47:34
i discontinued effexor after taking it for about eight months and trying several augmentations. i'd been taking trazadone for sleeping for about 15 mos. i had been taking 75 mg effexor twice a day and cut down to 75 mg + 34 1/2 mg (half a pill) a day for a couple of weeks and started 30 mg remeron/day. i continued to decrease the effexor dose and stopped taking trazadone bcs the remeron was sedating. i didn't experience any real noticeable withdrawal effects except a lot of fatigue, which seemed attributable mostly to the remeron. the whole process lasted nearly a month and i was working with my psychiatrist. jules
Posted by rgreene on July 9, 2000, at 18:44:51
In reply to Paxil and Effexor Withdrawal Strategies - Input ?, posted by SLS on July 9, 2000, at 16:47:34
I have attempted to discontinue Paxil 3-4 times with questionable success. Years ago, before anyone talked about it, I stopped cold turkey and experienced EXTREME vertigo, a feeling that my head was hollow, and irritability within two days after stopping. Later that week, came down with flu symptoms and was in bed for two weeks. Back on Paxil. The second time I slowly weaned down from 20mg to 10mg (duration of taper about three weeks) and anything lower than 10mg the above symptoms returned. I tried to "tough it out" and a week later was diagnosed with shingles. What is known about discontinuing and immune system compromise? Back on Paxil. The last two times I've tapered down slowly as above, then when withdrawl symptoms appear took 20mg Prozac either daily or every other day for 1-2 weeks. Both times, withdrawl symptoms returned (although admittedly minor in comparison) when Prozac was discontinued.
For the record, it's been approximately 7-8 weeks since I discontinued Paxil, and about 2-3 weeks since my last Prozac. Still have minor vertigo and that empty feeling in my head (at times, similar feelings to caffeine withdrawl). I'm starting to think 6 years of Paxil (about 3 years on 20mg, 2 years up to 30mg, and last at 40mg) had permanently altered my brain chemistry or neuroanatomy and I'll never return to normal functioning.
I realize I did not answer the question regarding how I successfully discontinued Paxil, but at least I've learned how to avoid the EXTREME withdrawl with a slow taper and then short-term use of a longer half-life SSRI (Prozac). Like I said, I'm learning to accept that I may have minor symptoms for the long-term.
Posted by stjames on July 10, 2000, at 2:13:55
In reply to Paxil and Effexor Withdrawal Strategies - Input ?, posted by SLS on July 9, 2000, at 16:47:34
If anyone would like to offer input...This is a great idea, Scott !
1. Which drug did you discontinue?Effexor and Effexor XR
2. How did you go about it?No taper, due to #$^! HMO sometimes not paying for it. Took 1 mg Atavin as needed, usually 1-2 a day for 3-5 days.
3. What withdrawal symptoms did you experience?None if I took Atavin. If not, electric shocks and would cry in situations where I would not normally.
james
Posted by Liz from Phoenix on November 14, 2000, at 14:42:03
In reply to Paxil and Effexor Withdrawal Strategies - Input ?, posted by SLS on July 9, 2000, at 16:47:34
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> How did you successfully discontinue your medication?
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> If anyone would like to offer input...
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> 1. Which drug did you discontinue?
I discontinued Paxil.
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> 2. How did you go about it? tapered off paxil as I increased effexor for a period of 3 weeks.
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> 3. What withdrawal symptoms did you experience?
Until I began reading the posts about Paxil, I never thought I had any. I stopped paxil on several different occasions for different reasons, ie: 2 pregnancys, tried to quit smoking and skin picking, and hypomania. Everything I tried I gave up on, celexa, zoloft, now effexor xr which I have been taking 5 weeks now that I am considering discontinuing because of headaches, irritabilty, crying,. Perhaps these are paxil withdrawal symptoms? I also quit smoking a pack a day, and cut all caffien out of my diet. All I know is I feel pretty crappy and I want my Paxil back.
> Liz
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This is the end of the thread.
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