Does Intake Of Effexor Help In Treating Withdrawal Symptoms Of Luvox?

Posted on Wed, 10 Aug 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 10 Aug 2016 Answered on

Tue, 30 Aug 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello,
My son is 14 and has been diagnosed with GAD and panic disorder. He was on Zoloft for two years and it stopped working. So this spring he started weening off and taking Luvox. Total nightmare with side effects/withdrawl effects! Dr. has him on Seroquel at night to quiet the brain. And as of today wants to start Effexor. I researched some and it sounds horrible!! Are the reviews correct? Should he start this drug? Verry worried!
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Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
I think it is not horrible

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

I read your query and understand your concerns.

It seems that you are afraid of going for effexor for your son as you have read some reviews over the internet. To some extent the reviews can be believed but they are not terrible as you read over internet.

I will not be able to comment on the truth of those reviews but from my practical experience I can state that it is as safe as other antidepressant medications which includes zoloft, lexapro, celexa, pristiq and many others. I have never encountered a single patient who experienced horrible side effects. I mean to say that yes there are side effects but mostly they are mild and never life threatening.

Regarding the reviews, as you know it is always uncensored thoughts which sometime mix the emotions with true experiences. This could be the reason for this reviews.

Regarding your questions about " should he start this drug? I feel he should definitely start the medication as SSRI are not working for him and we need to go for second line medications which includes SNRI (effexor) and tricyclic antidepressants.

I hope this assists you further.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
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Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (38 minutes later)

Thank you for your response.
I do understand that you can't believe all that you read, but we'are very afraid of another experience like the one he is going through right now.And the reviews sound very scary.
Also, I would like to ask you, he was on the zoloft for two almost two and a half years and the dr. got him off in four days. He started the luvox on the fifth day. Does this seem correct to you? And could another SSRI be appropriate if the symptoms he was having were side effects/withdrawls from the zoloft and not that the luvox wasn't working?

Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
SSRI are the first choice

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.

Yes I do agree that we need to take every sentance with little doubt and never at face value.

Since he changed from one SSRI to another there was no need to taper it down slowly. The chance of withdrawal symptoms get minimized when you lower the dose gradually or replace the person with different medication of same class.

Regarding another SSRI if he was responding to zoloft earlier SSRI should be fiirst choice for his treatment. OTHERWISE BIG NO.

I hope this assists yoy further.
Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad