About B. Todd Troost, MD Expertise vertigo, benign positional vertigo, BPPV, and related ailments.
Experience
Past/Present clients More than 2000 patients with vertigo.
Chairman of Neurology Department for 18 years and examiner for American Board of Neurology for over 25 years. Extensive information is provided on my commericial free website at www.ivertigo.net
Follow-Ups to Answer from Expert B. Todd Troost, MD
Erick Turner, M.D. writes on 2006-11-02 00:07:46
I realize that the original questioner probably no longer is seeking an answer, but perhaps this may help someone else.
The problem with Paxil and Effexor is that they both have a very short half-life, so that, with a decrease in dose, the blood levels drop quickly. The probability of withdrawal symptoms is probably linked to how quickly the blood levels drop.
I would recommend a gradual stepwise switch cross-taper to a long half-life SSRI such as fluoxetine (Prozac). Once fully on the longer half-life SSRI, it can be tapered more easily. In fact, for most people, the half-life is so long that no taper in the dose is necessary.
