Posted by jujube on September 23, 2004, at 12:55:37
In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal inevitable, posted by AIK on September 23, 2004, at 12:44:30
I agree with you that, if a patient is uncomfortable with a particular medication, it should be raised with the prescribing doctor and a decision made as to whether or not continue treatment with the particular med or switch to another. As patients, I think we need to be a bit more assertive in this approach and in our treatment. We are the ones who need to take these meds and we are the ones suffering the side effects and the withdrawal symptoms. If I had been more assertive, I probably would not have been on Effexor XR for 6 months. I told my prescribing doc many times that I didn't think Effexor XR was helping me (I was growing increasingly apathetic, but not in a depressive state, anxiety was horrible (and that's really what I was on Effexor for) and, with each dose increase (up to 225 mg), I found myself growing more and more apprehensive about even my most routine activities. At the end of August, I finally asserted myself, and I am now off Effexor. The doc switched me to Celexa, although I had simply wanted to try something natural. It has been two weeks, and I feel like I have been slowing coming out of the fog I had been in for the past 6 months. Sorry to be so long-winded (and hope I don't sound to negative). I am starting to feel enthusiastic and motivated again, and it's almost scaring me (weird?).
Thanks for listening.
> I quess it depends why the doctor has prescribed it for you (your condition). My opinion only is this drug is being prescribe as a "cure all" in lieu of other medications that could be used for treatment (without the abuse or withdrawal potential). Today I started another dosage decrease as I am attempting to taper down every 7 days by 1/2 of a 37.5 mg tablet (1/2 in the am & 1/2 in the pm). That didn't work 2 weeks ago, so I upped it to one 37.5 in the am and 1/2 tab pm. I've been on 37.5 mg. twice a day for a year and a half, and the sickness in my head and stomach when I tried to stop were worse than any hang-over I ever experienced. Hangovers go away a day later; I was sick for 4 days and nights straight until I took an Effexor-I chirped up pretty quick. Please tell your doctor if you are uncomfortable taking this medication and perhaps he can prescribe something else for your condition. Good luck.
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poster:jujube
thread:12459
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040921/msgs/394128.html