Venlafaxine drug withdrawal

Antidepressants Desipramine, imipramine, sertraline, fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, bupropion, nefazodone, mirtazapine, gepirone, amineptine Mixed findings suggest that better designed studies may find a niche for some of these drugs. Amineptine was effective for withdrawal symptoms. 

When ceasing use of an antidepressant, the dose should be reduced over at least 6 weeks to avoid a discontinuation syndrome (symptoms include anxiety, agitation, nausea and mood swings). Discontinuation of SSRIs and venlafaxine are associated additionally with dizziness, electric shocklike sensations and paraesthesia. Short-acting drugs that do not produce active metabolites are most likely to cause such problems. Paroxetine in particular is associated with severe withdrawal symptoms including bad dreams, paraesthesia and dizziness (which can be misdiagnosed as labyrinthitis). 

Antidepressants (especially venlafaxine), bromocriptine, buspirone, carbamazepine, clozapine, desfulrane, ketamine, metoclopramide Clonidine//J-blocker combination Pheochromocytoma /J-blocker without a-blocker first Street Drugs and Other Natural Products Cocaine and cocaine withdrawal ... 

Whenever venlafaxine is being discontinued after more than 1 week of therapy, it generally is recommended that the patient be closely monitored and the dosage of the drug be tapered gradually to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms. 

Information about the adverse antimuscarinic adverse effects due to an interaction between fluoxetine and venlafaxine seems to be limited to the reports cited, all by the same author. The incidence is not known, but if venlafaxine and fluoxetine are given concunently, be alert for any evidence of increased antimuscarinic adverse effects (such as dry mouth, blurred vision and urinary retention). It may be necessary to withdraw one or other of the two drugs. 

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