[colder]

I was just starting to feel better on Effexor when my psychiatrist discontinued my medications. All of them. They won't return my calls and I'm terrified I'll get sick again. Why would he do this?!!

[LucyG]

I have no idea.

When I was on meds, my Pdoc told me how her husband who was also a Pdoc at a huge clinic in the area would cut people off benzos if he thought they were getting addicted. It was very strange--kind of like she was talking to a girlfriend, not a patient...

[gayleggg]

Find a new doctor and fast. I can't imagine why he would do such a thing.

[*Laurie*]

Very weird. I agree with gayleggg - find a new doctor ASAP.

[ofthevalley]

That's terrible. I'd agree with the others, find a new one.

[with or without you]

Unless there is more to this story it sounds like malpractice. He's not even returning your calls? Get out of there fast.

[bintuae]

Because he's an asshole.

[DelusionsDaily]

Originally Posted by colder

I was just starting to feel better on Effexor when my psychiatrist discontinued my medications. All of them. They won't return my calls and I'm terrified I'll get sick again. Why would he do this?!!

Find a new pdoc asap! This is unacceptable behavior from a pdoc. I'd file a complaint with government level agency that oversees licensing. Effexor is known to be absolutely terrible to come off cold turkey like that. How many times have you called? This has got to be unethical to rip someone off med they were starting to feel better on(effexor no less) without proper taper and not return calls and no explanation. I'd take an empty bottle to emergency and explain that you need the med and your situation with this pdoc? They will certainly help you out.

[amandalouise]

I didnt recognize your user name so I went back and read some of your past posts. some of them mention eating problems drastic weight changes that were causing you problems, some medications can cause a person to gain too much weight or lose too much weight too fast and cause these same problems that you recently posted about, it may be that the psychiatrist wants to give you a medication vacation (have a period of time off medication to stabilize the weight and eating disorder problems) then when all that is stable again introduce meds at a slower rate so these problems dont happen again.

Im just guessing mind you. in order to find out what and whys you will have to ask your psychiatrist why he did this. usually they tell patients first before doing it, so maybe he can remind you of why he did this.

[-jimi-]

I've also been treated like this and there was no reason. The doctor just FELT like doing it.

Without contacting me. Without me being able to contact her. Without a taper plan.

That stuff is malpractice, plain and simple. At least we need an explanation... and a taper plan. In case there is a real reason to end the medication. A doctor shouldn't just let a patient guess what the heck happened.

That is unprofessional.

[with or without you]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

I didnt recognize your user name so I went back and read some of your past posts. some of them mention eating problems drastic weight changes that were causing you problems, some medications can cause a person to gain too much weight or lose too much weight too fast and cause these same problems that you recently posted about, it may be that the psychiatrist wants to give you a medication vacation (have a period of time off medication to stabilize the weight and eating disorder problems) then when all that is stable again introduce meds at a slower rate so these problems dont happen again.

Im just guessing mind you. in order to find out what and whys you will have to ask your psychiatrist why he did this. usually they tell patients first before doing it, so maybe he can remind you of why he did this.

I have heard of psychiatrists wanting to do a "washout" of meds as well, but communication about this should go without saying. OP, I hope you consider reporting him. Effexor withdrawal is UGLY even with a proper tapering off!

[-jimi-]

Possible trigger:

A friend of mine cold turkey'd herself off of Effexor, and it got so bad she committed suicide. To have a DOCTOR doing that to someone is strange and unethical, and potentially dangerous. Some people react OK to getting off Effexor, for some it is hell on earth.

[DelusionsDaily]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

Possible trigger:

A friend of mine cold turkey'd herself off of Effexor, and it got so bad she committed suicide. To have a DOCTOR doing that to someone is strange and unethical, and potentially dangerous. Some people react OK to getting off Effexor, for some it is hell on earth.

I think Effexors withdrawl symptoms are down played by the professionals. I personally had no problem but way too many have MAJOR issues getting off. Some even with prolonged tapering schedule have issues. It's sad that a lot of dr's fail to recognize possible severity of withdrawl symptoms from this drug. Sorry about your friend that was definitely preventable and almost certainly negligent on her dr's behalf.

[with or without you]

Originally Posted by DelusionsDaily

I think Effexors withdrawl symptoms are down played by the professionals. I personally had no problem but way too many have MAJOR issues getting off. Some even with prolonged tapering schedule have issues. It's sad that a lot of dr's fail to recognize possible severity of withdrawl symptoms from this drug. Sorry about your friend that was definitely preventable and almost certainly negligent on her dr's behalf.

I agree with you - especially your first sentence. I tapered off Effexor over an even longer amount of time than what my pdoc said, and I still felt lingering withdrawal symptoms for months after stopping completely. I think he thought that since I was introducing a new drug at the same time the symptoms wouldn't be as prolonged, but that wasn't the case. In contrast, when this pdoc first started seeing me, he had me taper off Paxil (another drug NOTORIOUS for withdrawal symptoms, prescribed by a former pdoc) and slowly introduced Effexor. I had no problems with withdrawal from the Paxil. (Incidentally, the first time I took Paxil, I tapered without replacing it with a different med and it was hell on earth)