Posted by SadWren on October 18, 2004, at 18:24:11
I know a lot of people had withdrawal problems with Effexor, so thought I would share my different experience as another data point.
I was on Effexor XR for about 10 weeks for depression and anxiety, went up to 225mg for the last 3 of them. It did not help me, but did cause me to feel completely dysfunctional (I am a PhD student and did 0 work for 2 months despite trying to break things down, work for short bursts, etc.). I also had more frequent and action-oriented suicidal thoughts, tired all the time but insomnia too, bizarre dreams when I slept and constipation that no fiber product could aid. I cried less, but also never laughed and was basically zoned out or in panic.
I had become much more stressed out / depressed over my inability to do anything than I was before I got on the drug. I finally got fed up a week ago and just stopped taking it (figuring if withdrawal kicked in I would taper instead). Aside from continuing weird dreams that may be more negative than before, I have had no withdrawal symptoms at all. I actually have energy and mental clarity and no suicidal obsession. Even a good mood and ability to be silly.
This was my first major depressive episode and I got Effexor at my first pdoc visit, about 2 months into when I had felt depressed (at that time I was operating below normal but reasonably functional). Depression was not caused by any event and I have a fam history of depression and bipolar.
The whole thing made me wonder a couple things:
- if it doesn't work for you, are you less likely to have withdrawal from it?
- could I have been given too strong a drug for my case? should this be the first drug I get?
- if it was too strong, would that make it less effective for me? would that make the side effects worse for me?
Just wondered if anyone had insights/thoughts on this. I have decided to go med-free for now and keep up with therapy (I do love a weekly captive listener).
Best wishes to all and thanks for advice I have received in the past.
Wren
poster:SadWren
thread:404514
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041018/msgs/404514.html