Q. I have been taking Effexor XR for two years. At first I was pleased that it relieved the anxiety, depression and excessive worrying I had been suffering. Then I began experiencing insomnia and night sweats and decided to taper off this antidepressant.
After cutting my dose in half I have brain zaps (impossible to explain) and pressure in my ears. It is truly a hellish experience. Most doctors don’t warn you about withdrawal or tell you how to get off these drugs. Do you have any information that will help?
A. Many people find that antidepressants such as Effexor (venlafaxine), Cymbalta (duloxetine), Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine) or Zoloft (sertraline) are helpful for depression. But there can be a dark side to such medications.
Stopping this type of drug may lead to withdrawal symptoms that are extremely disruptive. Symptoms may include dizziness, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, sweating, visual disturbances and difficulty concentrating. Many people complain of shock-like sensations in their head (brain “zaps” or “shivers”).
We are sending you our Guide to Dealing with Depression with some tips on phasing off such drugs and some alternate approaches for coping.
