Can anyone tell me about severe stroke like symptoms related to withdrawal from effexor,and or klonipin?

Question

My friend is experiencing stroke like symptoms,slurred speach, impaired motor skills, dizziness, headache, and clicking sounds. She has been on effexor for several years. there was some confusion at the pharmacy re. her refills. she went 5 days without the medication. Sunday am she began experiencing the above symptoms. By pm she was having problems walking and speach was so slured she was almost unable to communicate. The physicians put her back on effexor monday and today tuseday she can walk better and her speach is a little better. She has had a MRI and a CAT scan they have ruled out stroke. Do you think the physicians are on the correct path? Do you have any suggetions?Have you heard of this in the past? What is the prognosis?

Answer 1

I know from experience myself and from being a medical assistant that Klonopin is nothing to play around with. That is what the symptoms sound related to. Klonopin should not be stopped suddenly!! I don't think the Effexor would cause such severe withdrawal symptoms but the Klonopin definitely would. Some people have died from Klonopin withdrawals.
If the doctors have r/o stroke, did they mention anything about withdrawals? Does she take Klonopin on a regular basis along with the Effexor and has she started taking it again?
If I can be of any help to you, feel free to e-mail me.
Good luck and hope she gets better and figures out what is causing her symptoms.

Answer 2

Generally, there are no physical withdrawal symptoms with marijuana because it's not addictive in that sense. The symptoms you are experiencing are most likely mental, just because you are used to smoking all the time. You shouldn't have withdrawal symptoms like someone who is an alcoholic or addicted to other drugs. You may have some headaches, or not feel like eating as much just because you are used to smoking. It does, however, take about a month for it to clear from your system, so I think it's mostly just your mind clearing up. You'll feel better soon.

Answer 3

Yeah it probably is due to the withdrawal. A withdrawal from klonipin can produce those symptoms.

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/klo1214.shtml

Not so much with effexor, the dizziness and headache, but those are side effects of almost every drug.

A stroke is caused by blockage or rupture of an artery leading to the brain.
Since neither effexor or klonipin is blood related medication, more psychological disorders i doubt it would cause stroke. But anything's possible right?
Anyway, a cat scan would have ruled out stroke so i think the physicians are on the right path. It's probably just the mix up with her medication. She'll get straightened back out once she starts takeing her medicine correctly

Answer 4

I took effexor for about 3 days before finding out that it just wasn't for me. Previously, I was on zoloft for about 5 years. I can tell you that the withdrawal effects from stopping an antidepressant are HORRIBLE. I went through something very similar. I weaned myself off the zoloft very slowly over a couple months time and I still had the withdrawals when I came completely off it. I think that is the case with your friend. She quit cold turkey for 5 days. It will take her body a little bit of time to recover and get the medicine back into her system again. I am willing to bet that in another day or two she will be fine. Good luck.
Is she taking the Effexor for anxiety or depression?
Do a search on withdrawal effects of antidepressants and read for yourself what can happen. If she was on both meds (Effexor and klonopin) then withdrew from both. the effects would possibly be even worse.

Answer 5

You're suppose to taper both drugs before discontinuing. Klonopin is supposed to be tapered 10-25% of your dose every two weeks. I've heard of dizziness and irritability of side effects of withdrawal. However, they normally resolve fairly quickly.
On my list of klonopin withdrawal side effects, I do see confusion.
For Effexor, I did notice muscle twitches and sensory disturbances.
Your friend probably went through a very severe withdrawal. When you discontinue Effexor, your brain cells, neurons, are actually less sensitive to Norepinephrine. It takes a while for normal sensitivity to come back, and that is why you taper dose.

Answer 6

Effexor is quite a powerful drug, and is prone to have side effects, especially on withdrawel. It affects the blood pressure for sure. It also affects the tongue in many cases. It sounds like your friend is experiencing side effects from withdrawel of the drug. It should only be withdrawn in slow steps over a period of time. If this is done properly then I would say the prognosis is good, but your physicians are I think on the right track.