Posted by estorianna on November 13, 2003, at 15:35:56
Hello, I have been reading your threads on the effects of Effexor and it seems a pretty unstable kind of drug and some of you have mentioned 'dark thoughts'. I have never taken anti-depressants so maybe I shouldn't even be here but I am concerned about the side-effects of Effexor. My brother was on Effexor for ten days and had not been on antidepressants before. He took his own life.He was 52 years old but looked ten years younger. A friend of mine's brother did the same two months later. He was 48 years old. Both took Effexor. Neither knew each other. The incidents were totally unconnected.
This is a difficult subject. I have read some of you have found help with Effexor. Many of you are struggling on it. I feel my brother was overwhelmed by emotion at the time but that he would not have done this had he not been on Effexor. However, he was depressed (circumstances at the time for him were depressing. Personally, I see this as a normal, healthy reaction when circumstances are like that).
Please forgive this very sensitive question, but it is haunting me and I feel this is a way to find out from those who really know - not the pharmaceutical companies, nor the GPs, nor psychiatrists - but you guys. I thought you maybe able to help me understand things better.
May I add that I truly believe my brother would regret having died. He took pleasure in the small and simple things of life: he loved animals and walking in nature. I feel the moment of immense anguish he must have felt would have passed and so please if ever you feel these feelings go and find someone to talk to or pick up the phone. Quickly. Anything, but get help for that moment will pass. Also I would suggest you question if you feel the medication is causing this anguish within you. If so, then I suggest that it is not a medication which is safe for you. If enough of these reactions are reported perhaps the possibility of safer drugs will be researched.
I hope you will forgive my post - but if something good can come out of someone's pain, then it is worth pursuing. I hope someone out there agrees..
thanks for listening.
poster:estorianna
thread:279442
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031111/msgs/279442.html