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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can Withdrawal Symptoms Of Venlafaxine HCL Be Managed?

My physician changed my depression medication from Venlafaxine HCL 150 mg once per day to Sertraline HCL 100 mg once per day for two weeks and then two per day. I am having very severe withdrawal symptoms. I cannot reach my doctor and wonder whether I was supposed to stop the Venlafaxine all at once or take both. I made this change last Wednesday and the withdrawal seems to get worse each day.
Fri, 2 Jun 2017
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
hello there, I can understand your concern about withdrawal symptoms you are going through now. Venlafaxine is short acting anti depressant so it is known to give withdrawal symptoms but those are short lasting. It is recommended to gradually taper venlafaxine before stopping. Looks like you have stopped venlafaxine all at once. Sertraline you can build gradually as your doctor suggested but if you are going through withdrawal symptoms then I suggest you to take venlafaxine again with sertraline. There will not be side effects but you will get relief from withdrawal symptoms for sure. You can gradually reduce it later after consulting your psychiatrist.
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How Can Withdrawal Symptoms Of Venlafaxine HCL Be Managed?

hello there, I can understand your concern about withdrawal symptoms you are going through now. Venlafaxine is short acting anti depressant so it is known to give withdrawal symptoms but those are short lasting. It is recommended to gradually taper venlafaxine before stopping. Looks like you have stopped venlafaxine all at once. Sertraline you can build gradually as your doctor suggested but if you are going through withdrawal symptoms then I suggest you to take venlafaxine again with sertraline. There will not be side effects but you will get relief from withdrawal symptoms for sure. You can gradually reduce it later after consulting your psychiatrist.