title: Emergence of adverse events following discontinuation of treatment with extended-release venlafaxine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The rate of adverse events following discontinuation of treatment with extended-release venlafaxine was compared with the rate associated with discontinuation of placebo administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 20 outpatients with major depressive disorder who had participated in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of the new extended-release formulation of venlafaxine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 3 days after discontinuation of treatment with the study drug, seven (78%) of the nine venlafaxine-treated subjects and two (22%) of the nine placebo-treated patients reported the emergence of adverse events, a statistically significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that clinicians discontinuing venlafaxine treatment should consider tapering the medication dose gradually.
authors.affiliation: Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. favam@A1.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mulroy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alpert
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nierenberg
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D003511:Cyclohexanols; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride