Posted by Cam W. on February 12, 2000, at 12:40:24
In reply to Re: Blood pressure and effexor - will it go back down?, posted by Caz on February 12, 2000, at 8:15:44
> > > I'm tapering off my effexor to see if it will reverse the raised BP I have had since I've been taking it (75mg SR daily for 8 months).
> > >
> > > Does anyone know if it will go back to normal and how long that might take?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > Caz
> >
> > Caz - Effexor usually raises and sustains blood pressure only moderately (5-10mm Hg) by the second month of use. Increases higher than this is cause to withdraw the drug. Blood pressure usually returns to baseline (pre-drug levels) within a week or two of stopping the drug. *Remember* it is important to SLOWLY withdraw Effexor, decreasing the dose gradually over a 2 to 4 week period, even at your low dose. This will avoid Serotonin Withdrawl Syndrome (flu-like symptoms, headaches, dizziness, restlessness, sleep disturbance). These effects can be quite troublesome. When these effects happen in some people, they mistake them for a relapse of depression or may mistake them for a manic episode (which they aren't). Good luck - Cam W.
>
> Thanks, that is reassuring. I went from 120/80 to 150/90 plus gained weight with no change in diet or exercise. I am reducing to 37.5 daily for 2 weeks first, then 37.5 alternate days. I also have xanax 0.5mg which I use infrequently for anxiety, I guess I'll take that if I feel restless or sleepless.
>
> If you have a source for this information I would love to be able to print and inform my doc.
>
> Regards
> CazCaz - Info on BP changes was found in the Candian CPS (Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties) and in an old article released by Wyeth-Ayerst in 1994. Don't see BP literature much (Feighner JP,
The Role of Venlafaxine in Rational Antidepressant Therapy, J Clin Psychiatry, Sept 1994; 55 (9) (suppl A): 62-68.) I'm sure there are some newer articles if you search Medline.Info on Antidepressant Withdrawl Syndrome I have seen in many places. A easy readable source is available in the library of Medscape website (www.medscape.com) in S.H. Preskorn's great book - Outpatient Management of Depression: A Guide for the Primary-Care Practitioner, PCI, 1999. (Chapter 6 - under Antidepressant Withdrawl Syndrome & for a quick nmeumonic -FLUSH in Table 6.13). You can print this whole book from the Medscape website (if you have a heck of a lot of toner). It is a quick and easy to read reference by a guy that I consider to be extremely knowledgeable about depression and it's treatment. Hope this helps -Cam W.
poster:Cam W.
thread:21207
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