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Suggest Remedy For Anxiety And Nervous Feeling While Weaning Off Effexor
Posted on
Fri, 9 Jan 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 9 Jan 2015
Answered on
Mon, 9 Feb 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi doctor, I tried to take myself off of Effexor and was down to half of a 35.5 tablet. Was under stress and had a major anxiety attack. My doctor put me on 75 and I've been on it for 10 days. I'm still feeling shakey and nervous in the mornings. I also take a tynal pm with half an adivan to sleep at night. Could these two drugs that help me sleep create the anxienty in the morning that I experience? How long before the Effexor takes affect?
Brief Answer:
The symptoms are due to withdrawal and drug will take time to show effect
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I have read your query and I can understand your concern. Effexor is Venlafaxine and the drug is from SNRI group of antidepressants drugs. You were taking the drug since last 10 years at 75 mg doses and then tried to go off the drug under supervision. You decreased the doses to 37.5 mg and then developed major anxiety attack. You are still having shakiness and nervousness in morning. You are also taking Tynal PM and Ativan (Lorazepam) for sleep.
Tynal PM cause sedation and Lorazepam is a hypnotic drug these drugs help in sleep but as per my opinion these drugs could not be the cause for your anxiety in morning.
As you have been on this drug for last 10 years so tapering should have be done with gradual reduction of doses. So probably the reason for your anxiety and restlessness is withdrawal from Venlafaxine. You have recently increased the doses to 75 mg again (since last 10 days) and as per my opinion the drug will start showing effect again in about a week or two. Usually when the drug is started it start showing effect in about 4 weeks but you were already taking the doses so it will take less time.
If anxiety and nervousness are resulting in significant impact to your functioning you can discuss with your psychiatrist and can take low dose benzodiazepine like lorazepam in low doses on SOS basis. This will reduce anxiety and in the same time venlafaxine will start showing its effect again.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts in follow up questions.
The symptoms are due to withdrawal and drug will take time to show effect
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I have read your query and I can understand your concern. Effexor is Venlafaxine and the drug is from SNRI group of antidepressants drugs. You were taking the drug since last 10 years at 75 mg doses and then tried to go off the drug under supervision. You decreased the doses to 37.5 mg and then developed major anxiety attack. You are still having shakiness and nervousness in morning. You are also taking Tynal PM and Ativan (Lorazepam) for sleep.
Tynal PM cause sedation and Lorazepam is a hypnotic drug these drugs help in sleep but as per my opinion these drugs could not be the cause for your anxiety in morning.
As you have been on this drug for last 10 years so tapering should have be done with gradual reduction of doses. So probably the reason for your anxiety and restlessness is withdrawal from Venlafaxine. You have recently increased the doses to 75 mg again (since last 10 days) and as per my opinion the drug will start showing effect again in about a week or two. Usually when the drug is started it start showing effect in about 4 weeks but you were already taking the doses so it will take less time.
If anxiety and nervousness are resulting in significant impact to your functioning you can discuss with your psychiatrist and can take low dose benzodiazepine like lorazepam in low doses on SOS basis. This will reduce anxiety and in the same time venlafaxine will start showing its effect again.
Thanks, hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts in follow up questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
