Posted by Sunnely on August 26, 2000, at 23:18:46
In reply to Withdrawal from Antidepressants 101, posted by stjames on August 26, 2000, at 2:40:49
James,
Thanks for the great post. Please allow me to add a couple of suggestions.
For some, SRI (selective reuptake inhibitor) withdrawal symptoms can be protracted and very distressing even with very slow taper of the antidepressant, or switching to a drug with a long half-life (e.g., Prozac). The following are a couple of innovative approaches to ease these withdrawal symptoms.
1. An Expensive Proposition.
For those who continue to experience nausea, headaches, stomach distress, and diarrhea, despite slow taper of the antidepressant, ondansetron (Zofran) may help. The plausible explanation is that ondansetron relieves the nausea and headache by acting at the central (brain) 5HT3 receptors, whereas it relieves the stomach distress and diarrhea by acting at the gastrointestinal 5HT3 receptors. Ondansetron is a medication more commonly used for the treatment of nausea and vomiting during radiation therapy and chemotherapy. (See reference # 1).
2. A Cheap Trick.
For those who continue to experience nausea, sensation of dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, and feeling of "spaced out," the use of ginger root may be of help. Ginger root has been widely used as an alternative treatment in the dysequilibrium associated with motion. Its use in seasickness and vertigo has been established. (Vertigo means the disorientating sensation that the world is whirling around you, or you around it.) The dose of ginger root is 1100 mg (two 550-mg capsule) three times a day. Partial or complete amelioration of symptoms has been reported within 24 to 48 hours without ginger root side effects. Treatment should be continued for approximately 2 weeks after SRI discontinuation. (See reference # 2).
References:
1. Raby WN: Treatment of venlafaxine discontinuation symptoms with ondansetron (letter to editor). Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 1998;59:621-622.
2. Schechter JO: Treatment of disequilibrium and nausea in the SRI discontinuation syndrome (letter to editor). Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 1998;59:431-432.
poster:Sunnely
thread:43762
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000822/msgs/43807.html