Diary From the Front Line: Irritable Bowel...or Simply Irritable?

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TG is a 42-year-old fellow whom I have been treating with venlafaxine XR for hisfirst bout with depression. He had been significantly symptomatic for about ayear before treatment and responded to a 150-mg dose and counseling. Well, ithas been about a year, and spring has been beautiful, so we have decided towean him from his medication. In spite of a slow taper, twice he developedsignificant dysphoria that persisted for several days and completely resolvedby resuming a 37.5-mg dose.