SSRI Detox

[OXFORD]

My therapist has recommended me to detox off effexor due to it giving me bad blood pressure. Once off I will see how my mental illness is and if I need more. Now I've never done this before so I'm a little nervous about how I should get off, do I wean or quit cold turkey. What symptoms should I expect and how do I deal with them?

[nandm]

I would strongly recommend talking with your doctor on how to wean off the effexor. He may be able to prescribe a lower dose and taper you off. He also may be able to prescribe something to help control the withdrawl symptoms while you are coming off the med. I do know that it can be miserable to stop an SSRI cold turkey and would never recommend it to anyone.

[Stubborn1]

You definitly need to taper off or replace it with another SSRI. It usually takes months to taper. You can have serious issues if you just stop or wean down too fast. He should know this.

[Morning Glory]

Don't quit cold turkey.

Talk to your doctor about gradually decreasing the dose.
The withdrawal symptoms are individual. I've heard some say they did just fine and others have a horrible time stopping. You won't know until you try it.

This is from the FDA med watch.

Effexor

Discontinuing Effexor (venlafaxine hydrochloride) Symptoms associated with discontinuation of Effexor, other SNRIs, and SSRIs, have beenreported (see PRECAUTIONS). Patients should be monitored for these symptoms when discontinuing treatment. A gradual reduction in the dose rather than abrupt cessation is recommended whenever possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered. Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose but at a more gradual rate.

Effexor

PRECAUTIONS
General Discontinuation of Treatment with Effexor Discontinuation symptoms have been systematically evaluated in patients taking venlafaxine, to include prospective analyses of clinical trials in Generalized Anxiety Disorder and retrospective surveys of trials in major depressive disorder. Abrupt discontinuation or dose reduction of venlafaxine at various doses has been found to be associated with the appearance of new symptoms, the frequency of which increased with increased dose level and with longer duration of treatment. Reported symptoms include agitation, anorexia, anxiety, confusion, coordination impaired, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, dysphoric mood, fasciculation, fatigue, headaches,hypomania, insomnia, nausea, nervousness, nightmares, sensory disturbances (including shock-like electrical sensations), somnolence, sweating, tremor, vertigo, and vomiting. During marketing of Effexor, other SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors),and SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), there have been spontaneous reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of these drugs, particularly when abrupt,including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances(e.g. paresthesias such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy,emotional lability, insomnia, hypomania, tinnitus, and seizures. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms.

Patients should be monitored for these symptoms when discontinuing treatment with Effexor. Agradual reduction in the dose rather than abrupt cessation is recommended whenever possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered. Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose but at a more gradual rate

[gerryP]

Originally Posted by OXFORD

My therapist has recommended me to detox off effexor due to it giving me bad blood pressure. Once off I will see how my mental illness is and if I need more. Now I've never done this before so I'm a little nervous about how I should get off, do I wean or quit cold turkey. What symptoms should I expect and how do I deal with them?

Why is your therapist advising you to detox from Effexor? I'm assuming your therapist isn't an MD? If he/she is then I would suggest you ask he/she. If the therapist is not an MD speak to your Dr., who may not advise detox, but switch your dosage or put you on another med.

[OXFORD]

Originally Posted by gerryP

Why is your therapist advising you to detox from Effexor? I'm assuming your therapist isn't an MD? If he/she is then I would suggest you ask he/she. If the therapist is not an MD speak to your Dr., who may not advise detox, but switch your dosage or put you on another med.

yep therapist is an MD, sorry I didn't mention that before. I'm being weaned off due to effexor not being recommended for people with high blood pressure. I'll be taking 37.5mg as opposed to the 75mg.

[nandm]

Is your MD considering starting you on a different SSRI? I have high blood pressure and am on Cymbalta which works well for me. Just a thought to consider if you find that you wind up back into a depression without the SSRI. There are several types of depression but the main two general categories are chemical and situational. If you have a chemical depression then your body does not produce enough of the chemicals needed for the brain to keep you from being depressed. Situational depression is what many alcoholics/drug addicts have when they stop drinking. It is centered around life's problems and usually clears once the immediate problems are cleared up. Good luck to you and I sincerely hope your depression is situational as I would not wish chemical depression on my worst enemy.

[Bella_Fox]

I just started Effexor two days ago, after being on Zoloft for several months. I accidentally ran out of my Zoloft (prior to officially weaning down) and the withdrawal was awful -- brain shivers, mood changes, etc.! Coming off Paxil in my teens (a low dose just for migraines) was even worse. So I hope that if I have to get off Effexor at some point, it can be done without the horrible effects.