Effexor withdrawal symptoms are notoriously unpleasant and can be severe, so patients should never stop taking Effexor or decreasing the dose without consulting with their health care provider. Patients in online health communities like PatientsLikeMe can attest to experiencing withdrawal symptoms that are often as bad as or worse than the condition the medication is supposed to treat.
About the Antidepressant Effexor XR
Effexor XR – generic name venlafaxine HCl – is a prescription SNRI (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) antidepressant medication that can be used to treat both depression and anxiety disorders in mental health patients. Specifically, Effexor XR has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder in adult patients.
When medications like Effexor lose their effectiveness, their doctors may counsel a medication change. Because of the difficulties associated with coming off Effexor, many health care professionals will have their patients decrease the dosage gradually to minimize the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This is not always effective in preventing withdrawal symptoms from occurring.
Other patients may experience withdrawal if they forget to pick up their medication from the pharmacy on time or they otherwise miss a dose. Missing even a single dose of Effexor can result in painful withdrawal symptoms less than 24 hours after the missed dose.
Effexor Withdrawal Symptoms
Symptoms of Effexor withdrawal include the following:
- Agitation
- Anorexia
- Anxiety
- Balance and coordination impairment
- Confusion
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Dysphoric mood
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headaches
- Hypomania
- Insomnia
- Involuntary twitching
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Nightmares
- Sensory disturbances
- Somnolence
- Sweating
- Tremor
- Vertigo
- Vomiting
The sensory disturbances associated with Effexor withdrawal can range from ringing in the ears (tinnitus) to shock-like electrical sensations that many patients refer to as “brain zaps.” It took a number of years before some physicians would acknowledge the existence of these “brain zaps,” but the phenomenon now appears in the official study literature available from the drug manufacturer.
Patients who experience Effexor withdrawal symptoms should consult with their physicians as soon as possible to consider resuming treatment with the previously prescribed dose or following a more gradual decrease in the dosage. Some patients may find relief from Effexor withdrawal symptoms by the addition of prescription Prozac (fluoxetine).
This article is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult with your physician.
Sources:
For more information, please visit the official Effexor XR site from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, which recently merged with Pfizer.
Additional information is also available from About.com’s tips to reduce antidepressant discontinuation symptoms.
Christina Gleason - Christina Gleason is the founder of Phenomenal Content LLC, providing online copywriting services for Web content. She is a happily ...
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