I have seen this, but it’s been awhile. Call pharmacy you usually get prescription from and ask them. Tell them about side effects of withdrawal, feeling depressed, and being unable to schedule appointment until next week. I would call pharmacy and ask right now. Also tell them how many days until your appointment.

quote:
When I called the psychiatrist's office earlier this week I only spoke with the receptionist. Should I have emphasized that I was out of medication and I was feeling symptoms of depression?

Is there a nurse or medical assistant? Probably not for a psychiatrist, but ask to leave a message or voicemail about depression and irrational thoughts problem for the doctor or assistant if there is one.

Surely office has to have a way for an established patient to communicate issues with a prescription or emergencies to the doctor and not just rely on next available appointment. After hours message might give options to leave messages about medical issues. I would also try that tonight. And then call office again tomorrow and follow up.

Say its not an emergency yet, and that’s what you want to avoid before your upcoming appointment.

quote:
so I may end up going to a doc in the box to see if they will write me a prescription if my pharmacy can't give me a few days worth.

Bring proof of past prescriptions. If they don’t want to fill a week (or less) of effexor they still might give you a couple of days of something for the anxiety.

With effexor its seems like it gets hard to tell what is withdrawal side effect and what is not having your symptoms treated. Withdrawal for it and Pristiq seem worse than for many other depression meds. I just looked up brand name for newer version (Pristiq), and effexor shocks or brain zaps with withdrawals came up prominently.

I would stop relying on the text reminders from the doctor.

Edit: to add I am neither a pharmacist or a doctor.

This post was edited on 1/18/24 at 8:05 pm