Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Effexor XR and Serotonin Syndrome
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
|
Effexor XR and Serotonin Syndrome
by jmg72, Mar 20, 2005 12:00AM
This is the first time I’ve posted, although I’ve read many of the discussion threads hoping to come across someone who has experienced something like what I am. I’ve been on Effexor XR for at least a year and a half, maybe more. For pretty much the entire time, I’ve been on 150mg (75mg in the morning, 75mg at night). About 6 weeks ago, I started noticing that in the late afternoon, about 2 hours before the night dose, I’d get very mild “electric-shock” type feelings in the back of my head (I’ve experienced the severe version before when trying to go off of the drug). They don’t interfere with my daily routines, but I couldn’t help thinking that it probably wasn’t a good sign. When I’d take the evening dose of Effexor, the feeling would subside. I finally saw my FNP last week and (as I feared), she suggested that we try increasing my dose and she gave me several “starter packs” (which include the 37.5mg capsules) so we could give that a try.
Last night, on a whim, I started reading through the info enclosed with the Effexor, hoping there might be something about long-term effects of Effexor XR (i.e., whether you can experience symptoms from being on it too long). I came across a reference to serotonin syndrome, and after doing some research on the web, I figured I’d better ask someone how likely it is that I could have it, because I’ve been experiencing many of the symptoms described (the “electric shock” feelings, which could be described as lightheadedness, headaches that don’t respond to Advil, IBS (about 2 weeks now), occasional nausea, and, although I haven’t seen this anywhere, a stiff neck and pressure in my cheeks and behind the eyes, which could, of course, be a sinus thing and not at all related). I’ve read that serotonin syndrome can range from mild to severe, so if I do have it, it would obviously still be a mild case. My fear here is that if it is being caused by the Effexor, then increasing the dose is the last thing I should do.
Finally, if it is seriously unlikely that I do have serotonin syndrome, I’m still wondering whether there are negative effects caused by being on Effexor XR for too long. Thank you very much for any information you can provide.
Last night, on a whim, I started reading through the info enclosed with the Effexor, hoping there might be something about long-term effects of Effexor XR (i.e., whether you can experience symptoms from being on it too long). I came across a reference to serotonin syndrome, and after doing some research on the web, I figured I’d better ask someone how likely it is that I could have it, because I’ve been experiencing many of the symptoms described (the “electric shock” feelings, which could be described as lightheadedness, headaches that don’t respond to Advil, IBS (about 2 weeks now), occasional nausea, and, although I haven’t seen this anywhere, a stiff neck and pressure in my cheeks and behind the eyes, which could, of course, be a sinus thing and not at all related). I’ve read that serotonin syndrome can range from mild to severe, so if I do have it, it would obviously still be a mild case. My fear here is that if it is being caused by the Effexor, then increasing the dose is the last thing I should do.
Finally, if it is seriously unlikely that I do have serotonin syndrome, I’m still wondering whether there are negative effects caused by being on Effexor XR for too long. Thank you very much for any information you can provide.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Apr 04, 2005 12:00AM
, Apr 04, 2005 12:00AM
These symptoms are so hard to diagnose like this. yes it may be a serotonin effect or it may be not enough. Both could cause the same kind of symptoms. The only way is to experiment. In order to be perfectly safe,you might ask your doctor to experiment with lowering the dose first to see what happens.
There are no good data for very long term use, but you are certainly in the safe zone now.
There are no good data for very long term use, but you are certainly in the safe zone now.
So I stopped all those meds and my MHFNP suggested I start Effexor XR at 37.5 mg 1st week and 75 mg 2nd week and to return to see how things were going.After 2 weeks I'm back in her office saying I have painful bloating and gas, drowsiness and shortness of breath. She asked me when the shortness of breath started and I advised her that it started when I started the Effexor XR. She checked her palm pilot for side effects and said there was not data showing shortness of breath as a side effect and ended up sending me home with a prescription for Effexor XR 150mg. I went home and typed in EFFEXOR and shortness of breath and thank God I did because there were many sites addressing this issue. I called my MHFNP back on Friday to try and advise her I saw this on the internet. I was unable to speak with her Friday but based on the information I saw online I did not take the Effexor 150mg. I've been off the Effexor for almost 1 week now and my shortness of breath is not completely gone and I have been having that mild electric-shock feeling others are describing. I describe and compare it to an old TV with static going accross it, like after the stations have signed off. It has also been difficult to drive. I have to really concentrate when driving as it is still affecting my reaction time and focus. I was so concerned that something might happen to me that I made my 5 !/2 year old memorize our home phone number and taught him how to dial our number on my cell phone. That static feel makes me feel like I might not make it to finish daily errands like grocery shopping. I told my son, now if you see mommy laying on the ground and can't talk to you and looks like she needs help while she's grocery shopping I want you to call daddy. This is after the starter doses and 2 weeks!!! I'm glad I didn't increase my dose! Oh to boot, my HMFNP calles her Effexor drug rep about my case and her rep tells her no one has reported shortness of breath and that the are going to report mine and that it will be the first one reported.Hmm what is wrong with this? It's all over the internet. Also, why doesn't the Effexor information paper in the Effexor sample box address shortness of breath as a side effect? They say it's an allergy? Not! It's a side effect, just like the static tv feeling that perpetuates on and off throughout the day now. Has anyone had this feeling and then had it stop after 1 week?
I am so mad at my shrink for not ever informing me of the horrible side effects I was someday going to face. I have been experiencing nausea, vomiting, uncontrollable crying, body sweats, hot/cold spells, severe headaches, diahrrea, mood swings, body aches and my hands and feet turned bright red and itch like a mother...and that's just what I can name off the top of my head. Which still is not all there. I can barely focus enough to come to work and driving is extremely scary. I don't know whether I'm coming or going. Please, if anybody is going through this or has already gone through this. How long do these withdrawal symptoms last?? I am trying so hard not to go pop another pill just to make all this go away.
hard. I tapered off then quit. The day I started tapering off the symptoms began. Horrible, closest thing to death I have experienced. Head shocks, stomache spasms, inner thigh spasms, severe short term memory loss, confusion, dizziness, (shouldnt have been driving)CRYING, sobbing every hour on the hour, suicide thoughts, screaming at other drivers, MAD!! (not me at all)..and so on...this went on for two weeks steady, then started to taper off BUT....still cry every day...feel like I have lost my mind in a sense. I am unable to work with my Insurance as I am so confused. Cant add/subtract right now. Scared...HOPING IT WILL GET BETTER.... Went to Psychiatrist and she said I have rapid cycling bi polar. Hey, I am 57 years old and never had that ****. So I just got it after Effexor. We should sue this company. My life is poo poo from it. I wonder how many people are in prison from taking this stuff and getting out of control. I am a serious christian woman who smiles and is kind to all. Or I was. The other month a nice policeman tried to give me a ticket. I said awful things to him and when he was finished told him, "I hope you die." (what scared me is I didnt care what happened to me) Come on, not me in the least way...What I did frightened me very much. I am over that part of the EVIL EFFEXOR thank God....But something has happened to me from it. Any hope? I dont think I am bi polar/rapid cycling. I think I am still in withdrawal. I am in the fourth week of withdrawal. Any hope would be appreciated.
So, I broke my neck a few years ago, and have chronic acute pain. On Effexor Xr I do relatively well, that's why I'm on it, it's not only for depression, but they also use it for people like me who have chonic severe acute