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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety And Brain Fog
Question: I decided to stop taking my antidepressants after taking them for almost 30 years . My Dr. had me on a tapering off program for 90 days . I was taking 300 mg of Effexor a day and tapered down to 37.5 mg before stopping completely around Feb 2nd. I am still dealing with the withdrawl symptoms, most noteably anxiety and brain fog. I have made a commitment to myself to stay off . Do you have any advice as far as the brain fog and when it will subside. I have also heard horror stories of psychiatric drugs causing permanent brain damage. I know of course that everyone's physical makeup is different . I had the brain fog when I was on the drug, but it isn't subsiding. Please advise
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Brief Answer:
omega-3 fatty acids and multivitamins; prozac substitution.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
Effexor is notorious in causing discontinuation/withdrawal symptoms.
You still suffer from anxiety and brain fog after stopping effexor since 2nd Feb.
I usually employ either of the two strategies for my clients:
1. Giving omega-3 fatty acid capsules and multivitamin supplements. Along with this, I prescribe them Prozac (Fluoxetine) for a short period of around one month. This drug and its metabolite has long life (1 week) and negligible chances of withdrawal symptoms.
2. Restarting effexor at minimum dose again (37.5mg) and then considering a more slower tapering of it; say 37.5mg daily for 10 days, then 37.5mg at alternate days and so on and stopping completely after around 1 month.
Since you have had brain fog even while taking the drug, I would prefer the first strategy for you. This is what is recommended in most of the treatment guidelines as well.
You can discuss these two strategies with your doctor.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD (Psychiatry).
omega-3 fatty acids and multivitamins; prozac substitution.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
Effexor is notorious in causing discontinuation/withdrawal symptoms.
You still suffer from anxiety and brain fog after stopping effexor since 2nd Feb.
I usually employ either of the two strategies for my clients:
1. Giving omega-3 fatty acid capsules and multivitamin supplements. Along with this, I prescribe them Prozac (Fluoxetine) for a short period of around one month. This drug and its metabolite has long life (1 week) and negligible chances of withdrawal symptoms.
2. Restarting effexor at minimum dose again (37.5mg) and then considering a more slower tapering of it; say 37.5mg daily for 10 days, then 37.5mg at alternate days and so on and stopping completely after around 1 month.
Since you have had brain fog even while taking the drug, I would prefer the first strategy for you. This is what is recommended in most of the treatment guidelines as well.
You can discuss these two strategies with your doctor.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD (Psychiatry).
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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