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Suggest Treatment For Severe Sweating And Hot Flashes While On Effexor

Posted on Fri, 4 Sep 2015

Question: My doctor is taking me off Effexor 75mg because of severe sweating. I have asked to be switched to Celexa. I started taking Effexor 75mg for post menopause hot flashes, 2 /12 years ago my son passed away unexpectedly and I am not only worried about Effexor withdrawl but depression. Do I start the Celexa before completely withdrawing or wait until withdrawl is complete. My endocrinologist tells me he is unsure of steps in withdrawing. I asked my pharmacist and he had no answers.

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
cross tapering of drugs recommended.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.

Sorry to hear about sad demise of your son. Please accept my condelences.

I have read your query and understand your concerns.

I would recommend cross tapering of drugs because you are at the risk of falling into depression.

My recommendations for you woul be:

Continue with effexor 75mg and start celexa 10mg for initial two weeks.
Then, reduce effexor to 37.5mg and increase celexa to 20mg for another two weeks.
Then, stop effexor and increase celexa to 30mg if needed.

This a basic clinical approach which I follow.
This cross tapering can be done more slowly depending on patient's drug tolerability.

Kindly discuss this with your doctor.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.

Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD (Psychiatry).

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)

I will begin this tapering on Sunday. Are there any changes I should aware of, ie: severe fatigue? I am also on Glumetza 1000mg, divan/hctz 320/25, simvistatin 10mg, I have just been started on invocana and vitamin d 50,000 once a week. I forgot to list these medications before.

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
may experience some discomfort.

Detailed Answer:
There can be symptoms like mood swings, restlessness and fatigue.
If these symptoms are intolerable, then you can go more slow while tapering the drugs.

Your other drugs should not interfere with this.

Kindly keep your doctor informed about this.

I wish you well.

Please close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.

Thanks.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar