abdominal cramps / IBS / lower GI problems while coming off venlafaxine (Effexor)

[julleri]

Hello all,

I am currently titrating venlafaxine (generic form of Effexor/Effexor XR). I have been having off and on awful abdominal pains and/or cramps that I believe to be a withdrawal side effect. I already suffer from some IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) with both constipation and diarrhea specifics that comes and goes. Are lower GI problems a common symptom of weening off of SSRIs/SNRIs? I do get other common symptoms like the dizziness, brain zaps, and excessive sweating that we all know so well. However, lower GI symptoms seem to be hit and miss with regards to coming down on these types of drugs. The pain had gotten really bad last month when I was doing a 225 -> 150 mg titration of the medicine using water. The pain was like a "tearing" feeling in my colon, and some days I would not make full stools, and sometimes the stool would contain "pieces" in it. I've never seen what I thought was blood in the stool, which I know can be a sign of very very bad underlying conditions, however, I am scared that this could be the case. I'm in a period of "holding" right now, meaning that I'm not currently titrating and am taking a break by maintaining the same dosage amount each day for the whole month of June at 150mg/day to let my symptoms subside and let my brain adjust. The pain has subsequently subsided and my bowel movements have become more normal. Has anyone on this board ever experienced symptoms similar to those that I'm having while coming off Paxil or venlafaxine/Effexor? Any insight anyone has about this will really help me out and is greatly appreciated. Please, give me some words of encouragement as I endure this nightmare!

Jason

I would like to add that if a flare up of these kinds of symptoms returns, I am going to go see my general practitioner, as I am scared that it may not be related to SNRI withdrawal. My concern with this besides the cost of the medical visits and tests would be that my general practitioner isn't very knowledgeable in regards to withdrawal symptoms from SNRIs. As a matter of fact, he is the doctor who got me on 300 mg of Effexor XR a couple years ago in the first place. What should I tell him my concerns are if I do see him regarding my pains and all signs look "normal"?

[scotty]

GI problems are commonly reported with withdrawal, especially snri's like Effexor. But never assume that something is withdrawal, especially something as drastic as the symptoms you're describing. Better to get it checked out and rule out anything else...then you can assume it's withdrawal related.