![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 738 to 762 of 1313. Go back in thread:
Posted by annesand on April 29, 2004, at 15:03:25
In reply to Re: TELL OPRAH YOU HATE EFFEXOR, posted by Camille Dumont on April 29, 2004, at 13:08:42
Effexor probably saved my life six years ago too. But nobody told me about the long-term side effects, or how very difficult it would be to go off. Why did I only learn about this after the fact, from friends and from anecdotes on the Internet??!! I just think prescribers should give us the whole picture from the get-go so we can make educated choices.
Posted by noa on April 29, 2004, at 20:17:55
In reply to TELL OPRAH YOU HATE EFFEXOR, posted by maxziggy2002 on April 28, 2004, at 20:38:42
After a struggle to find an AD that would treat my refractory depression, Effexor came along and it worked. It is not perfect, and certainly isn't for everyone and the withdrawal problems need to be taken into account, but I certainly wouldn't advocate for it being taken off the market.
Posted by noa on April 29, 2004, at 20:35:02
In reply to Re: TELL OPRAH YOU HATE EFFEXOR » maxziggy2002, posted by PoohBear on April 29, 2004, at 10:28:05
Pooh Bear's point is well taken:
>The posters here are a very small minority of the vast number who are being helped by this drug.
I usually skip these threads. I have been stable on Effexor for a long time now. Not without some SE issues, so I know it's not perfect. But it is working for me, and because I don't have pressing issues or concerns about it, I don't post about Effexor except rarely, like now.
So, I would say that it is probable that these negative threads about Effexor, though perfectly valid and representing the true experiences of these posters, are not representative of all Effexor users. We don't know the numbers--those who have serious problems with it vs. those who don't. But my sense is that one has to be careful generalizing from these threads because there is intrinsically more reason for people having problems with the med to post about it.
It is a serious med with potentially serious SEs, yes. And has serious WD issues (I've experienced them myself) that I believe should be stated up front; and over time, as these become more evident, I hope the prescribing MDs are being more upfront about it. I don't see it as a "first line" strategy for most people, as I believe there are other options that are less complicated.
But it is not, as Pooh said, "a monster".
Posted by maxziggy2002 on April 29, 2004, at 21:50:03
In reply to Re: are these posts representative?, posted by noa on April 29, 2004, at 20:35:02
While I am sure that Effexor helps a large number of people, my concern is how it is being prescribed and marketed.
I was put on Effexor as a first attempt to improve my energy, mood, and concentration. Other alternatives, such as therapy, diet and lifestyle, were never addressed.
In addition, I was told that I might experience "flu-like" symptoms if I stopped taking them suddenly, which was the understatement of the century. It took me more than 4 months of agony to detox, which is 4 times as long as it takes to get off heroin.
These extremely powerful psychotropic drugs should not be put in the hands of untrained general practitioners. Furthermore, they should not be prescribed until other options have been exhausted. The potential for disaster is far too high. Doctors would never prescribe morphine at the first sign of pain. Yet they pump out these heavily marketed drugs on request.
If I can stop one person from going on this drug by posting here, I will.
Posted by TanyaJean on April 29, 2004, at 22:45:21
In reply to Re: TELL OPRAH YOU HATE EFFEXOR, posted by Camille Dumont on April 29, 2004, at 13:08:42
> If this were to push for better information, I would jump in but trashing a medication because it doesn't work for you or some people have bad side effects is like saying that the forecast guy on tv is always wrong ... which is not true but you tend to remember teh times that he is wrong more than the 97% of the time when he is right.
>
> Effexor needs more info on quitting side effects but its still a good medication ... its just not for everybody.
>
> Without it, I would probably be 6 feet under right now.**That's great that it works for you! However, it seems odd to me that 2 of my friends were on this medication and are having serious complications from trying to come off of it. Myself included. All three of us were on it for different reasons. It may work well while you're on it and you may very well be on it for life. But the problem is that our physicians are just handing this stuff out like candy. My doctor gave it to me because I have chronic pain. It may be too strong to say "TAKE THIS OFF THE MARKET", but people need a lot of education on what they're putting into their bodies and we're not getting that education. We're getting handed medication that doctors either don't know the serious side effects or they're not telling us, as patients. Coming off of this drug has been pure hell. I'm sure my doctor had no clue what I would experience when I eventually would have to come off of this. I'm very sure, however, the drug companies know full well.
Posted by TanyaJean on April 29, 2004, at 23:00:36
In reply to Re: Effexor works for me!!, posted by noa on April 29, 2004, at 20:17:55
> After a struggle to find an AD that would treat my refractory depression, Effexor came along and it worked. It is not perfect, and certainly isn't for everyone and the withdrawal problems need to be taken into account, but I certainly wouldn't advocate for it being taken off the market.
**I said in a previous post that advocating EFFEXOR being taken off the market probably isn't fair as all of us don't have the same reactions. If it works for you, that's very good. However, I don't agree, as I'm sure no one does, with doctor's handing out anti-depressants as candy and not really knowing the side effects and effects while trying to come off this medication. I doubt my doctor had any idea that four weeks after totally being off EFFEXOR, I would still be sick to my stomach most days. We really need education on what we're putting into our bodies and we're not getting it. We have to resort to educating ourselves and that can be a very challenging process. A lot of us haven't gone to school to learn specifically about meds and aren't scientists that create these drugs. I'm sure the drug companies know full well what can happen. People need to know. I was on a tricylic anti-depressant about 10 years ago. I weaned off of it and NEVER had problems. 4, going on 5 weeks now, I'm still very ill. Effexor never changed a thing for me aside from being very negative. My physicians still very much wanted me to be on them.
Posted by TanyaJean on April 29, 2004, at 23:09:50
In reply to Re: are these posts representative?, posted by noa on April 29, 2004, at 20:35:02
"So, I would say that it is probable that these negative threads about Effexor, though perfectly valid and representing the true experiences of these posters, are not representative of all Effexor user."
**That's true. Although it's interesting to me that 2 of my friends who went on EFFEXOR for completely different reasons than myself are still very very ill after being off EFFEXOR for 2-3 weeks. I've been off totally going on 5 weeks now and am still very ill. Yes, EFFEXOR works for people. But the problem is we're NOT BEING EDUCATED by our physicians. I don't even think our doctor's know what the side effects are or what can happen when eventually we'll need to come off this drug. There are some people that will have to be on this drug for life. I think that's a small percentage. But for the rest of us who have to wean off and then stop taking it, it's hell. I'm sure the drug company knows full well the side effects. We're left with educating ourselves and that is a very tricky process. We should all know what we're putting into our bodies and when the doctor strongly urges us to be on an anti depressant, we're not conditioned to ask why. NOW I would ask why. NOW I would ask questions. I wish I would have before. As ill as I am now, I wonder what in the world has happened to my body. What damage have I caused that will not go away? If I do a search on EFFEXOR, I find a ton of information like this. People having very negative side effects from this drug. It's something that can't be ignored.
Posted by seeknsolace on April 30, 2004, at 5:33:17
In reply to Re: are these posts representative? » noa, posted by TanyaJean on April 29, 2004, at 23:09:50
Again, its been like 2 weeks off effexor, prozac for one week to help with withdrawals.. now been off prozac one week, flying solo.
The symptoms I'm having: entired damn body hurts, head, feet, arms, hands, some cramping like sensation as during menses (maybe anxiety), eyes hurt, tension in the neck, pain in the head resembling a sinus migraine, body feels sorta numb, tingling, yet hurts, very sensitive to cold.. hurts my fingers, when its hot, dont feel your typical overheated symptoms such as summer time.. body just feels somewhat swollen and get nauseaus. I'm sure gaining 20 pds while on the shit doesnt help the matter, but still overeating to find comfort and to distract myself from how I feel.
Anyone else experienced this????? When does it end? or does it????????
Posted by roomy on April 30, 2004, at 7:40:35
In reply to Does it ever end? When?, posted by seeknsolace on April 30, 2004, at 5:33:17
> Again, its been like 2 weeks off effexor, prozac for one week to help with withdrawals.. now been off prozac one week, flying solo.
>
> The symptoms I'm having: entired damn body hurts, head, feet, arms, hands, some cramping like sensation as during menses (maybe anxiety), eyes hurt, tension in the neck, pain in the head resembling a sinus migraine, body feels sorta numb, tingling, yet hurts, very sensitive to cold.. hurts my fingers, when its hot, dont feel your typical overheated symptoms such as summer time.. body just feels somewhat swollen and get nauseaus. I'm sure gaining 20 pds while on the shit doesnt help the matter, but still overeating to find comfort and to distract myself from how I feel.
>
> Anyone else experienced this????? When does it end? or does it????????
Yep! It will end. I am finally coming around and have been off it for 4months. I actually enjoy doing some of the things I used to do. I have gotten out and gotten a second job, I am out working in the yard and getting my garden ready to plant and I got my oil paints out again. I had no desire to do these things before. I am becoming me again. Hang in there. It will get better. (I even lost 14lbs of the Effexor weight)
I read the posts here about people defending the drug and it kinda bothers me. The drug does possibly work for some. Heck I thought it was great too ...AT FIRST!! After the increased dose time and time again and 6 years later...not so great. Besides, I dont think anyone posting here is condemning anyone else ON Effexor, we were there, remember?! Its more of a board to post to or VENT to, if you will. It helped me get thru the insanity of the withdrawl and I hope my posts will help others the same way. Its why I still hang out now and again to take a peek at how folks are doing.
Posted by Camille Dumont on April 30, 2004, at 7:57:46
In reply to Re: are these posts representative? » noa, posted by TanyaJean on April 29, 2004, at 23:09:50
Although its sad for you and your friends, 3 ppl is very very far from a statistically significant sample of people and can in no way be representative of the general effexor-using population ... not to mention that there is probably a "selection bias" in that people who are experiencing trouble with it are more likely to search on teh net for it ... and hence, there is probably an overepresentation of "bad effexor experiences" on psychobabble.
I do however agree on teh education thing. I only found out about the withdrawal the hard way on a weekend when I forgot my meds. Companies should definately be more prudent and give more information on what happends when you stop taking their product.
Posted by Camille Dumont on April 30, 2004, at 7:59:13
In reply to Does it ever end? When?, posted by seeknsolace on April 30, 2004, at 5:33:17
Did you stop cold turkey? You have to diminish the dose VERY VERY slowly, otherwise, you will feel very bad for very long. You have to give your system time to get used to not having the drug in you.
Posted by SLS on April 30, 2004, at 8:06:58
In reply to Re: are these posts representative? » noa, posted by TanyaJean on April 29, 2004, at 23:09:50
Hi.
> People need to know. I was on a tricylic anti-depressant about 10 years ago. I weaned off of it and NEVER had problems. 4, going on 5 weeks now, I'm still very ill.
If you have already been asked this question, I apologize. What exactly are the symptoms you are experiencing? I think I might want to look into this further. Personally, I've been on and off Effexor of several times. I weaned myself from it gradually, using only fractions of a capsule at a time. I can get off of 300mg within in two weeks this way, and without much discomfort at all. Of course, everyone is different. The persistence of Effexor-induced adverse effects beyond two weeks of the last dose seems bizarre to me. Obviously, it does happen, but this phenomenon is very foreign to me because I've never seen it for myself. I'd like to know more about it.Because so many people I know personally have benefited from Effexor, and rely on it to lead a normal life, I would be extremely upset to see it withdrawn from the market. I don't know. I don't fully understand the motives of people who are so emoted to rip away from people a drug like Effexor without consideration of how it benefits so many others, and often without adverse effects. OK, someone has been assaulted and punched in the gut by Effexor. Now they want to punch something in return? It seems very selfish to me. That's just how I feel.
> People need to know.
Definitely. There should be full disclosure to the patient what are the risks versus benefits of taking any drug. Obviously, this is not happening.
- Scott
Posted by annesand on April 30, 2004, at 8:37:14
In reply to Re: are these posts representative?, posted by Camille Dumont on April 30, 2004, at 7:57:46
I feel sort of patronized by the drs. Like they don't trust me enough to give me full info. Like a depressed person can't be trusted with all of the facts. Maybe they think that if they tell me about the possible side effects, I'll have them, and if they don't tell me, I won't. Because it's all in my head anyway. Sorry, I'm just a little bitter that I had to suffer and blame myself for so long before realizing the meds were causing many of my problems. And that I only found that out from places like this, not my dr.
Posted by worm on April 30, 2004, at 11:31:48
In reply to Re: are these posts representative?, posted by Camille Dumont on April 30, 2004, at 7:57:46
> Although its sad for you and your friends, 3 ppl is very very far from a statistically significant sample of people and can in no way be representative of the general effexor-using population ... not to mention that there is probably a "selection bias" in that people who are experiencing trouble with it are more likely to search on teh net for it ... and hence, there is probably an overepresentation of "bad effexor experiences" on psychobabble.
>I agree, and would add that some of the symptoms are vague - "flu-like" muscle pains, etc. I have to admit that when I first started reading these posts, I said "I have that . . . and that too" not all can really be explained by Effexor, and some are suggestible - "Oh yeah, I had muscle aches yesterday", etc. The brain zings are REAL, however, and it is the best thing that has happened to me to read these posts and to realize I am not alone and I am not having some sort of seizure ! There is a reason for the things that have been happening to me, at least some of them, that is logical.
I have been off for about 6 weeks now, no ill effects, no weakness, no brain zings, and I feel that I am thinking more clearly - not as hopeless, or helpless, sitting here thinking of "offing" myself, like I was before. Some of that may have to do with Springtime, but I'm taking advantage of the weather to try to get "clean" of all AD medications. It may happen that, come November, I may be on one or another yet again . . time will tell. For now, I am going to enjoy being out in the sunshine once again . . .
Maggie
Posted by TanyaJean on April 30, 2004, at 13:55:36
In reply to Does it ever end? When?, posted by seeknsolace on April 30, 2004, at 5:33:17
> Again, its been like 2 weeks off effexor, prozac for one week to help with withdrawals.. now been off prozac one week, flying solo.
>
> The symptoms I'm having: entired damn body hurts, head, feet, arms, hands, some cramping like sensation as during menses (maybe anxiety), eyes hurt, tension in the neck, pain in the head resembling a sinus migraine, body feels sorta numb, tingling, yet hurts, very sensitive to cold.. hurts my fingers, when its hot, dont feel your typical overheated symptoms such as summer time.. body just feels somewhat swollen and get nauseaus. I'm sure gaining 20 pds while on the shit doesnt help the matter, but still overeating to find comfort and to distract myself from how I feel.
>
> Anyone else experienced this????? When does it end? or does it????????I have no idea!! I wish I knew. 5 weeks of me totally being off Effexor and just when I thought I was better, I spent most of last night being sick and convulsing. No herbal thing has worked for me either.
Posted by TanyaJean on April 30, 2004, at 14:11:26
In reply to Re: are these posts representative?, posted by Camille Dumont on April 30, 2004, at 7:57:46
> Although its sad for you and your friends, 3 ppl is very very far from a statistically significant sample of people and can in no way be representative of the general effexor-using population ... not to mention that there is probably a "selection bias" in that people who are experiencing trouble with it are more likely to search on teh net for it ... and hence, there is probably an overepresentation of "bad effexor experiences" on psychobabble.
>
> I do however agree on teh education thing. I only found out about the withdrawal the hard way on a weekend when I forgot my meds. Companies should definately be more prudent and give more information on what happends when you stop taking their product.
**As a lot of people stated before, this message board is really a venting forum for those of us going through some really tough times physically. I of course know that *3* people are not representative of the mass population. I was using that as an example. There are more than a handfull of us having major health issues because of this drug. Like I said, it's great that it helped you. But there are a lot of us out there that are having adverse side-effects. Had I known EFFEXOR would do this to ME, I would never have touched it. 5 weeks after totally being off of this, I spent last night convulsing and being sick to my stomach. It's the same thing that happened to me if I missed a day, or even a few days. It's just not normal. What happened to me is NOT representative of the majority, but when you skip a drug for a day and have those adverse side effects, how is that normal? If I sound argumentative, I'm really not trying to be. At all.
Posted by TanyaJean on April 30, 2004, at 14:31:26
In reply to Re: are these posts representative? » TanyaJean, posted by SLS on April 30, 2004, at 8:06:58
"If you have already been asked this question, I apologize. What exactly are the symptoms you are experiencing? I think I might want to look into this further. Personally, I've been on and off Effexor of several times. I weaned myself from it gradually, using only fractions of a capsule at a time. I can get off of 300mg within in two weeks this way, and without much discomfort at all. Of course, everyone is different. The persistence of Effexor-induced adverse effects beyond two weeks of the last dose seems bizarre to me. Obviously, it does happen, but this phenomenon is very foreign to me because I've never seen it for myself. I'd like to know more about it.
Because so many people I know personally have benefited from Effexor, and rely on it to lead a normal life, I would be extremely upset to see it withdrawn from the market. I don't know. I don't fully understand the motives of people who are so emoted to rip away from people a drug like Effexor without consideration of how it benefits so many others, and often without adverse effects. OK, someone has been assaulted and punched in the gut by Effexor. Now they want to punch something in return? It seems very selfish to me. That's just how I feel."
**I'm not advocating EFFEXOR being taken off the market, at all. I learned very little about this drug and my doctor at the time always spent the full half an hour appt. with me, discussing medications. With EFFEXOR he didn't I'm sure he thought there would be no problem. I'm very surprised I've had this reaction to a drug..I have never been sensitive to a drug ever. I've taken narcotics for pain and could stop one day and be fine the next. That's what the effexor was for in the first place, my chronic pain (Rheumatoid Arthritis).While on this med, I noticed I was really obsessed with death. Not normal for me at all. I wasn't suicidal, just obsessed with death and dying.
My symptoms from missing one dose were dizziness, nausea and and this odd wooshing sound in my ears. After being off effexor for 2 weeks, I spent 4 days vomiting and convulsing and the sound in my ears was very very pronounced. My anger was up and down. I found out after being off Effexor, that my crushing fatigue also left. I feel awful, but I don't have that fatigue that kept me from doing most things. Now just the vomiting is keeping me from doing most things. But I'm awake!
When I first started posting on here, I was very angry. After reading the many posts, I find the most common occurance with a lot of us is we didn't get the full disclosure. Any other med I have ever been on, I was educated and felt I knew what I was putting into my body. I knew what the side effects were. With EFFEXOR (and also PAXIL), anytime I missed a dose, I was very ill. Even though EFFEXOR didn't do anything for me, I continued to take it because I knew what would happen if I didn't. Had I known that 5 weeks later I'd still be feeling this bad, I may have even stayed on it longer.
I'm sure when a lot of us say we want it taken off the market at first, it's because we're so angry. I can speak only for myself. I was so mad that I was having these symptoms. I'm already dealing with pain and then to have the vomiting and dizziness on top of that was almost unbearable. Right now I'm spending a lot of time in bed. I hear that after a few months, people start to feel better.
Again, I'm realy surprised I'm having this reaction to EFFEXOR. I've not been a sickly or sensitive person physically. If there was a side effect to any med, I knew I wouldn't be the one to have it.
Posted by Sinnielou on April 30, 2004, at 15:19:02
In reply to TELL OPRAH YOU HATE EFFEXOR, posted by maxziggy2002 on April 28, 2004, at 20:38:42
> To everyone out there who is suffering or has suffered from Effexor related hell: This drug and others like it will never be taken off the market until the mainstream media takes up the cause. So many of us are suffering in shame and silence. I believe that if enough people write to Oprah and suggest this as an idea for her show, they will make one. We need the media if we want this suffering to end, if we want our suffering to mean something, if we want the drug companies to stop peddling this crack! Contact Oprah and ask your friends and families to do so as well. Together, we can stop this monster!
Why on earch would you tell people that Effexor is a monster?? Why would you make sure to scare every single user of this drug?? Effexor IS NOT a monster and it has helped alot of people. Just because you have had a bad experience with the drugs doesn't mean that everyone does. I think it was very selfish act of you to post a message saying everyone should email Oprah to pull this medication off the market. Why don't you sit back and remember why you were put on the drug in the first place and think maybe some people are suffering worse or less than you are. I am on Effexor, the drug saved MY LIFE and to think because of people like you who don't think before they type someone like ME could be dead.
Posted by howard laporte on April 30, 2004, at 17:16:18
In reply to Re: Does it ever end? When? » seeknsolace, posted by TanyaJean on April 30, 2004, at 13:55:36
I have been off of this med since October of last year. I had a daily dosage of 300mg and tapered it down to 50mg a day for the last two weeks before finally going off of it completely. The side effects even on this low of a dosage were devastating to me.
Yes, it took a long time for the effects to dissipate to where I could live with myself again (about 6 weeks). I had only been on the drug for a total of 6 months and it seemed to take forever for the brain zaps to go away. I have subsequently lost the weight and I have been off of all SSRI's since October. I have been through a little depression since then but nothing compared to the symptoms of which effexor put me through. During the withdrawals from effexor I was constantly nauseated, all my extremities hurt (like I had just been stretched on a rack!), but it was my head that hurt the most. It was hard to hold a thought long enough to act on it (except suicide).
Loratab helped me quite a bit during the 1st week (I would take 1-2 a day), benadryl didn't do squat for me. Cocaine works wonders, but its effects (addiction) can be just as scary as those of effexor, and I really wonder if I should advocate its use here except to say that in moderation, it worked for me.
It took a long time before I could even say to myself that I was feeling better. Effexor left my body very slowly and it seemed that just one day I woke-up and all was cool. There were many times that I almost started back on the drug just to forego the effects of withdrawal. I am glad to say that I finally won the battle against it and I feel healthier now than ever. I can still remember how it was on the drug and wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy. I hope that this helps somewhat. This is the first post that I have put in here. I just found some documentation from this site in my desk draw and thought I would see if there were still people suffering from this shit out there.
Posted by noa on April 30, 2004, at 18:21:51
In reply to Re: Effexor works for me!! » noa, posted by TanyaJean on April 29, 2004, at 23:00:36
I won't argue with what you said about education. I agree.
And perhaps another aspect of all of this is the managed care trends which have led to more people not getting proper psychiatric care--for example--
*being seen for psychiatric care by general physicians (primary care docs) and not by psychiatrists with adequate psychopharm knowledge
*if seen by pdocs, not with close enough attention (length of eval sessions, length of med management sessions, frequency of med management sessions, accessibility when something isn't going well with a med, etc.)
*health plans restricting coverage for therapy
*health plans putting only certain meds on their formulary, which makes the others very expensive for plan members because they have to pay the difference in price, or even pay totally out of pocket, which can lead to doctors prescribing only formulary meds, or health plans making them substitute supposedly equivalent meds that we know are not at all chemically equivalent (this may be cost-savings related mostly, although who knows, it may go along with the marketing issues you and others have mentioned, just on a more institutional level rather than on the individual doctor level)
Posted by maxziggy2002 on April 30, 2004, at 18:26:21
In reply to Re: TELL OPRAH YOU HATE EFFEXOR, posted by Sinnielou on April 30, 2004, at 15:19:02
What I wonder is this:
If you are SO happy with your effexor experience, why are you cruising an anti-effexor message board? I don't cruise websites critcizing Advil, for example, with which I am satisfied.
It seems to me that anyone who would spend their time reading and replying to these posts must have a vested interest in effexor, say by being an employee or investor in Wyeth, the drug manufacturer. Or maybe you work for one of the advertising agencies that makes a bundle peddling this crack on behalf of Wyeth. Or maybe you're a doctor who gets a kickback from Wyeth for prescribing it.
Effexor and its maker are monsters. They lied to us to get us on it; then, when we couldn't get off, they told us through our doctors that we were crazy. And what do they get out of all of this? The billions of dollars that WE paid to use their product and continue to pay when we can't get off.
Heroin dealers could be so lucky. At least when you use heroin, you know what you're getting yourself into.
Posted by Sinnielou on April 30, 2004, at 18:39:05
In reply to Re: TELL OPRAH YOU HATE EFFEXORSinnielou, posted by maxziggy2002 on April 30, 2004, at 18:26:21
> What I wonder is this:
>
> If you are SO happy with your effexor experience, why are you cruising an anti-effexor message board? I don't cruise websites critcizing Advil, for example, with which I am satisfied.
>
> It seems to me that anyone who would spend their time reading and replying to these posts must have a vested interest in effexor, say by being an employee or investor in Wyeth, the drug manufacturer. Or maybe you work for one of the advertising agencies that makes a bundle peddling this crack on behalf of Wyeth. Or maybe you're a doctor who gets a kickback from Wyeth for prescribing it.
>
> Effexor and its maker are monsters. They lied to us to get us on it; then, when we couldn't get off, they told us through our doctors that we were crazy. And what do they get out of all of this? The billions of dollars that WE paid to use their product and continue to pay when we can't get off.
>
> Heroin dealers could be so lucky. At least when you use heroin, you know what you're getting yourself into.I knew what I was getting into before I started the Effexor. Every single question I had I wrote down and every symptom I had I wrote down as well and I tokk everything with me for my very first doctors appointment. Effexor wasn't my first drug and I'm sure it won't be my last, but I also educate myself before I even step foot into the dcotors office. The bottom line is my doctor isn't god nor does she know very single thing also the makes of all anti depressents aren't god as well. If it wasn't for sites with useful information people with all the trust and faith in there doctors will be land slided when it comes time to be medicated. I came to this site because of another medication not Effexor and when I saw posts I felt maybe the fact that I had a good expierence with the drug would be helpful for someone else. Like I said just because it works for me doesn't mean it will work for someone else. Just because Advil works for you it doesn't work for me so am I going to slander Advil?? I think not.
Posted by noa on April 30, 2004, at 18:49:22
In reply to Re: are these posts representative? » Camille Dumont, posted by TanyaJean on April 30, 2004, at 14:11:26
I agree that there should be full disclosure, of course. And better education.
When Effexor was first coming into use, I was more forgiving of MDs who didn't realize, and therefore didn't tell patients about or were surprised by the occurence of withdrawal symptoms--there just was not very much experience with this yet. I wasn't as patient with MDs I heard about who seemed to dismiss what people were telling them about SEs and withdrawal experiences, though. I believe docs need to be open to learning from their patients, and be openminded about reality possibly being different than what the med manuscript says. ESPECIALLY with these relatively new meds, etc.
I did see it more as an omission of the manufacturer. But even then, I don't know what doses they were doing their large scale studies on and how much data they had early on.
But now that there has been a decade of widespread use of this med and it is clear that there is the risk of withdrawal symptoms, I do find it irresponsible of MDs who don't disclose this, and even moreso those MDs who don't believe their patients when they say they are experiencing them. And, of course, if manufacturers still try to dismiss real people's experiences.
I did find out the hard way, too, like Camille--initially by experiencing what happened when I dealyed my short-acting Effexor even by an hour or so. But I told my pdoc and he listened. Then when I switched to XR, which was better than the short acting for this very reason--ie not so dependent on dosing at the exact precise minute, we discussed the need to be regular with the XR every day because of this, even if there was more leeway in terms of exact dosing time. I did have one really awful experience when I ran out of the med and therefore missed two days and it really drove the point home for me in a BIG way. I made sure to tell my pdoc about it at the next appointment, and he validated what I'd experience and we talked about strategies if I should run out of or forget my med again (in that case, by the time I filled the scrip it was well into the second day. I had begun to feel not so well by the night of the first day but not awful. Since I dose in the morning and have difficulty with sleeping from this med, I'd made the decision that it would be too late to take it the day I got the scrip filled, because of the potential of total interference with sleep, only I realized later on that night, and very much so into the next day or so that it would have been far better to just go sleepless than to experience the malaise of withdrawal).
BUT, as I said before, I don't see this as a need to call for the med to be withdrawn. Better education, yes. Fuller disclosure, yes. MDs who can help educate patients how to use this med for best outcome and who know how to help patients deal with SEs or withdrawal if they experience it. YES. But dumping the med and making unsubstantiated claims about the extent of damage? No, I cannot agree to that.
But I do understand the frustration and anger and need to vent. I just wish people would find a way to do that without too much sensation.
Posted by seeknsolace on April 30, 2004, at 20:26:28
In reply to Re: Does it ever end? When?, posted by howard laporte on April 30, 2004, at 17:16:18
Hey howard, thanks for taking time to post. It sucks going thru this but good to know that I'm having common withdrawl symptoms and thank you for the hope that it will get better.
I had begun thinking that some how effexor may have caused some permanent damage and this is now the quality of life I have, now I know it will pass. It's tough having pains and symptoms that you cant even explain to friends and family, but as I'm finding out in life, as much as you try to reach out to get support thru this, no one really gives a shit and no one understands except those who have suffered as well.
I don't agree with advocating cocaine as a means of coping, but then again, you do what you gotta do to survive, as long as it doesnt become a form/habit of life.
I was on the prozac for one week after effexor, it took the edge off and I felt good at times, like on speed.. adrenaline rush, everything felt sunshiney, but that ran out as it was to be used only short term, so been feeling like shit since but am able to function, faking the raging hell inside my body.
If I ever get to feeling better, hope I gain the ambition to lose this weight I've gained while being on it, but not beating myself up, because the number one priority is to be able to live and get thru this.
Thanks again!
> I have been off of this med since October of last year. I had a daily dosage of 300mg and tapered it down to 50mg a day for the last two weeks before finally going off of it completely. The side effects even on this low of a dosage were devastating to me.
> Yes, it took a long time for the effects to dissipate to where I could live with myself again (about 6 weeks). I had only been on the drug for a total of 6 months and it seemed to take forever for the brain zaps to go away. I have subsequently lost the weight and I have been off of all SSRI's since October. I have been through a little depression since then but nothing compared to the symptoms of which effexor put me through. During the withdrawals from effexor I was constantly nauseated, all my extremities hurt (like I had just been stretched on a rack!), but it was my head that hurt the most. It was hard to hold a thought long enough to act on it (except suicide).
> Loratab helped me quite a bit during the 1st week (I would take 1-2 a day), benadryl didn't do squat for me. Cocaine works wonders, but its effects (addiction) can be just as scary as those of effexor, and I really wonder if I should advocate its use here except to say that in moderation, it worked for me.
> It took a long time before I could even say to myself that I was feeling better. Effexor left my body very slowly and it seemed that just one day I woke-up and all was cool. There were many times that I almost started back on the drug just to forego the effects of withdrawal. I am glad to say that I finally won the battle against it and I feel healthier now than ever. I can still remember how it was on the drug and wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy. I hope that this helps somewhat. This is the first post that I have put in here. I just found some documentation from this site in my desk draw and thought I would see if there were still people suffering from this shit out there.
Posted by TanyaJean on April 30, 2004, at 21:29:51
In reply to Re: TELL OPRAH YOU HATE EFFEXOR, posted by Sinnielou on April 30, 2004, at 15:19:02
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