Drug Withdrawal
A surprising variety of medications can cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped too abruptly. Even certain over-the-counter drugs can cause such problems.
Can You Overcome an Afrin Addiction?
Have you ever become addicted to your nasal spray? Millions of people do. Decongestant nasal sprays can be used safely for only a few days before they start to produce rebound congestion that can be q…
Getting Off Venlafaxine Can Be Incredibly Challe…
Many years ago we heard from a reader who was trying to get off alprazolam (Xanax). It was not commonly recognized that short-acting benzodiazepines (benzos) could pose unbearable withdrawal symptoms …
The Zyrtec Itch is Unbearable | Where’s th…
We first heard about the Zyrtec itch over eight years ago. A reader reported horrible itching within three days of stopping Zyrtec (cetirizine is the generic name for this antihistamine). He reported …
Why Is Antidepressant Withdrawal So Hard?
It is estimated that one out of every eight Americans takes an antidepressant medication (JAMA Internal Medicine, Feb. 2017). According to the New York Times, roughly 25 million Americans have been ta…
Stopping Duloxetine Leads to Terrible Withdrawal…
Before anyone starts taking an antidepressant, the prescriber should give them some guidance on how to quit. As it turns out, getting off a medication like duloxetine can be extremely difficult becaus…
Can You Avoid Family Fights Over the Holidays?
In these highly polarized times, family gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas can be stressful. Many people may worry about interacting with relatives whose political views differ. Just thinking …
Will Stopping Aspirin Lead to A Heart Attack?
Many people take low dose aspirin, usually 81 mg, to prevent cardiovascular complications. Doctors frequently prescribe aspirin after a patient has had a heart attack or after a stent has been placed …
How to Stop an Antidepressant Without Difficulti…
Have you ever tried to stop an antidepressant abruptly? We have heard from many people who have found that this can trigger an extremely unpleasant experience. They report a discontinuation syndrome t…
Stopping Cetirizine Led to Itching Like Crazy
Who would guess that stopping an antihistamine taken for allergies could lead to dramatic hives and itching? Although it may seem improbable, scores of readers report that they developed dreadful itch…
Could Mom Be Suffering Cough Syrup Withdrawal?
Stopping certain medications suddenly can lead to symptoms that are extremely uncomfortable. Many readers are familiar with the withdrawal symptoms from pain medicine or antidepressants such as duloxe…
How Can You Get to Sleep Without Zolpidem?
Americans tend to be sleep deprived, and the problem may be getting worse. Watching the evening news could be enough to make a person anxious, and anxiety frequently leads to insomnia. No wonder so m…
How To Stop Tramadol Without Withdrawal Symptoms…
We have heard from hundreds of visitors to this website about the serious side effects of tramadol (Ultram). They include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, headache, drowsiness, dizzin…
Can an Antidepressant Really Help with Hot Flash…
Menopause offers women numerous challenges, but the most significant symptom is probably hot flashes (vasomotor symptoms in doctor-speak). This may also be among the most variable symptoms. Some women…
How Can You Stop Taking Klonopin for Insomnia?
When you are feeling stressed and can't seem to get to sleep, medicines can help. Many people have found, however, that it is too easy to rely on a sleep aid. Then, when you no longer feel you need th…
Serious Tramadol (Ultram) Side Effects & Wi…
America is undergoing a massive opioid anxiety attack. It has been called an epidemic by lawmakers and the media. While many people used opioids responsibly for chronic pain, there has been substantia…
Stopping Zyprexa Safely So You Can Lose Weight
Treating serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia is difficult, so psychiatrists are often willing to accept the side effects and drawbacks of drugs such as aripiprazole (Abilify) or olanzapine …
Stopping Xyzal Triggers Horrible Itching
Allergy season has already begun in some parts of the country. Sufferers are reaching for antihistamines to reduce the runny nose and calm the itchy eyes and other pollen reactions. There is a new opt…
Should You Worry About Kidney Damage with PPI He…
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are incredibly popular. By one estimate, nearly 8% of adults took a prescription drug like esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) or omeprazole (Prilosec) in the …
1 Out of Every 6 American Adults Takes Psychiatr…
The numbers are startling: one in six American adults has taken a psychiatric drug. This is the finding from a study reported in JAMA Internal Medicine (online, Dec. 12, 2016). The researchers reviewe…
Add Strokes to the Scary List of PPI Side Effect…
Proton pump inhibitors like esomeprazole, lansoprazole or omeprazole are the most popular treatments for heartburn and reflux disease. It is estimated that 15 million Americans spend $10 billion on su…
Have You Had Problems with Generic Cymbalta (Dul…
Brand name drugs like Cymbalta have become unaffordable for many patients. That's why most people are dispensed generic Cymbalta (duloxetine). We have received complaints that some generic formulation…
Did Sleeping Pill Cocktail Leave Insomniac Zombi…
Tens of millions of people have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep. They are frequently told that inadequate sleep can contribute to a variety of health problems from weight gain and hypert…
How to Stop Prilosec by Taking Papaya
Popular heartburn medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can be great for alleviating symptoms. If a person decides it is time to stop taking one of these PPIs, however, the withdrawal can t…
How Can You Get Off a PPI Without Withdrawal?
When proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs were first introduced decades ago, the perception was that these heartburn drugs had hardly any side effects. Both doctors and their patients were convinced that…
Running Out of Zyrtec on a Remote Island Causes …
Some medicines can be unexpectedly difficult to quit. By now, most people realize that benzodiazepine drugs such as alprazolam (Xanax) or lorazepam (Ativan) used to treat anxiety can cause distressing…
Stopping PPIs Suddenly Triggers Heartburn That M…
Doctors occasionally assume that if symptoms return when a medication is stopped, the original problem is reasserting itself. That seems to indicate an ongoing need for the drug. That may be true in m…
Stopping Cetirizine Suddenly Leads to Unbearable…
When you get a prescription for a specific health problem, there are a few questions that you should ask. What is it? Why am I taking it? When (and how) should I take it? When should I discontinue it?…
Fennel Seeds Help Overcome Heartburn Drug Withdr…
We hear often from people who have had difficulty discontinuing a proton pump inhibitor drug such as omeprazole, esomeprazole or lansoprazole. These acid-suppressing drugs are widely prescribed for st…
Stopping Lyrica Suddenly Can Trigger Withdrawal …
Many drugs are capable of causing physiological dependence, so that when a person quits taking the medicine he immediately experiences side effects. In many cases, these reactions may be similar to th…
More Drug Recalls From India – Do You Trus…
The overwhelming majority of generic drugs are now made abroad. India supplies a large proportion of those formulations. In recent days two large Indian drug companies have received bad news from the …
Stopping Allergy Medicine Abruptly Leads to Itch…
Spring allergies are in full force in some parts of the country, and people are looking for ways to alleviate their congestion, sneezing and itchy eyes. A non-sedating antihistamine can be extremely h…
Reader Was Enraged by Advice about Stopping Cymb…
We were taken to task recently by a reader who thought our answer to a question from someone having a terrible time with Cymbalta withdrawal indicated a lack of respect. None was intended. Q. You blew…
Stopping Cymbalta Suddenly Led to Disaster
Certain medications have the potential to cause a very disorienting withdrawal syndrome if they are discontinued abruptly. People should be warned about this possibility before they begin taking the d…
Stopping Pristiq Cold Turkey
Q. What are the side effects if I stop taking Pristiq cold turkey? A. This is a very bad idea. Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) can trigger severe withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly. These include: dizzi…
Celexa Withdrawal Triggered Sound of Eyes Moving
Q. I was concerned about a swooshing sound when my eyes move. Thank goodness I found your website. I thought I was losing my mind. I had been taking Celexa for generalized anxiety for the last eight y…
Stopping Cymbalta Suddenly Triggered Emotional R…
Q. Due to a change in my insurance, I wasn't able to refill my prescription for the depression drug Cymbalta. Saturday was my last dose and by Monday I felt like I was losing my mind. Today was the wo…
Sertraline Withdrawal Symptoms Make Stopping the…
Antidepressant medications can be very helpful in getting a person through a really difficult time. But are patients warned before they start such medicines, especially SSRI drugs, that they might hav…
Intense Itching From Stopping Zyrtec (Cetirizine…
Q. "I took Allegra for years, and then switched to Zyrtec (cetirizine) about seven years ago. Over the years, when I tried to stop Zyrtec, I experienced intense itching EVERYWHERE -- feet, palms of ha…
Painless Ways to Stop Heartburn Drugs Despite Re…
Q. I know PPIs have tons of side effects, but the trouble is I've taken them for years. Now I am stuck with them. I've tried to get off of them several times, and each time it ended in failure. Please…
Cymbalta Withdrawal Syndrome Was Terrifying
Whenever a doctor writes a prescription, a savvy patient will ask about stopping it: when should you stop taking it? What is the best approach for discontinuing? The physician should warn that Cymb…