Withdrawal Reactions Associated with Venlafaxine

@article{Parker1998WithdrawalRA,
  title={Withdrawal Reactions Associated with Venlafaxine},
  author={Gordon Parker and Jenny Blennerhassett},
  journal={Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry},
  year={1998},
  volume={32},
  pages={291 - 294}
}
Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe discontinuation syndromes associated with abrupt and tapered withdrawal of venlafaxine, and to document that withdrawal symptoms may occur after missing a single dose. Clinical picture: We report on two patients prescribed venlafaxine. One developed a broad range of serious side effects after reaching a dose of 300 mg a day, and a severe withdrawal syndrome (including hallucinations) during a slow taper regime. The second had severe… 
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Discontinuation Symptoms with Nefazodone
TLDR
Nefazodone discontinuation can result in withdrawal symptoms and therefore needs to be tapered gradually, and those who have experienced discontinuation symptoms with other antidepressants in the past may be at increased risk.
Venlafaxine withdrawal syndrome.
TLDR
The case of a 70-year-old patient who discontinued of her own accord to take venlafaxine, which she had been taking regularly at a daily dose of 225 mg for more than a year, withdrawal syndrome occurred with severe symptoms resembling a stroke, and the patient fully recovered.
Venlafaxine and serious withdrawal symptoms: warning to drivers.
  • D. Campagne
  • Medicine, Psychology
    MedGenMed : Medscape general medicine
  • 2005
TLDR
Clinical evidence about withdrawal symptoms is presented that may indicate incidents in noradrenergic activity irrespective of dosage, and patients are explicitly urged to adhere to a strict medication routine or not to drive a car.
Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndromes
TLDR
Discontinuation symptoms have received little systematic study and most of the recommendations made here are based on anecdotal data or expert opinion, so research is needed to provide a firm evidence base for future recommendations.
Invited comment
  • A. Connolly
  • Psychology
    Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica
  • 2009
TLDR
A study examining the frequency of antidepressant discontinuation reactions by analysing calls to a psychiatric medication helpline found that the prevalence of withdrawal effects was the highest with venlafaxine and paroxetine.
Is There a Potential of Misuse for Venlafaxine and Bupropion?
TLDR
The dopaminergic, stimulant-like, bupropion activities may be associated with its possible recreational value and present data may confirm that the occurrence of a withdrawal syndrome may be a significant issue for venlafaxine-treated patients.
SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR DISCONTINUATION SYNDROME : UNDERSTANDING, RECOGNITION, AND MANAGEMENT FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS
TLDR
Psychologists increasingly provide psychotherapeutic services to patients receiving concomitanl pharmacotherapy and collaborate with physicians and other prescribing clinicians to prevent or manage the discontinuation syndrome.
Venlafaxine Extended-Release
TLDR
As an effective and well tolerated antidepressant, venlafaxine XR should be considered as a first-line pharmacological treatment in patients with major depression and was at least as effective as fluoxetine or parxetine and more effective than venl Lafaxine IR.
Prevention of the serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome.
  • L. Sher
  • Medicine
    Medical hypotheses
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Discontinuation symptoms: comparison of brief interruption in fluoxetine and paroxetine treatment
TLDR
The effects of shorter treatment interruption, as would occur if patients miss just a few doses of medication, on patients treated with fluoxetine appeared to be protected by its longer half-life, consistent with reports suggesting abrupt interruption of treatment with paroxetines is more often associated with somatic and psychological symptoms.
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