Development of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Following Abrupt Discontinuation of Venlafaxine

an article by Maximilian Gahr and Markus Alexander Kölle (University of Ulm, Germany) and Christoph Hiemke (University Medical Center of Mainz, Germany) published in frontiers in Psychiatry

Abstract

Withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation of antidepressants are common and have long been known. Typical symptoms after dose reduction or discontinuation of antidepressants are dizziness, drowsiness, headache, flu-like symptoms, hyperarousal, imbalance, insomnia, irritability, and nausea. Rebound, relapse, or recurrence associated with the underlying mental disorder may also occur.

The occurrence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) following abrupt discontinuation of antidepressants have not yet been reported. Here we report the development of OCS (obsessional suicidal thoughts) in a patient [my bold] with major depressive disorder and absence of a previous obsessive-compulsive disorder following abrupt discontinuation of venlafaxine.

Treatment with escitalopram facilitated remission of OCS.

We discuss a possible causal link between abrupt discontinuation of venlafaxine and development of OCS under consideration of pathophysiologic aspects regarding obsessive compulsive disorders, the chronological sequence of symptoms in the present case, and pharmacodynamic and -kinetic aspects. Our case report suggests the possibility of the occurrence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms following abrupt discontinuation of Venlafaxine.

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Hazel’s comment:
I know that extrapolating the findings from one patient to many is simply not what researchers should be doing but …
I have been on the receiving end of “stop taking this drug (Venlafaxine) right now” and I would not wish it on my worst enemy. Therefore I suspect that testing the findings outlined by this paper may be very difficult because nobody will volunteer!
I did not experience OCS but I think I went through most of the other withdrawal symptoms.

Labels:
Venlafaxine, obsessive_compulsive_symptoms,

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