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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 9, 2001, at 8:54:13
Effexor is a viable option for you because:
*It has the possibility of affecting serotonin, norepinephrine, _and_ dopamine--more chemicals--thus increasing your chances for relief.
*It has no anticholinergic side-effects.
*Sexual disturbances are reported less than with SSRIs.
*It has gained the acceptance of psychiatrists worldwide in less than 8 years of U.S. FDA approval.
*It has few significant interactions with other medications.
*The idea of it being addicting due to withdrawal effects is unfounded; if it had any chance of being addicting, it would have been labeled a Schedule IV substance by the U.S. DEA.I myself took Effexor XR up to 375 mg. The only side-effects I had were sexual in nature, and these were remedied by mirtazapine.
Posted by KarenB on April 9, 2001, at 10:51:52
In reply to The Truth About Effexor, posted by SalArmy4me on April 9, 2001, at 8:54:13
Dear SalArmy,
With all due respect...
Everyone is different.
You certainly do trust the FDA and DEA. I'm afraid I don't trust them with my life.
Using words such as "unfounded," when so many have suffered very real withdrawal effects could possibly be taken as offensive.
Karen
Posted by stjames on April 9, 2001, at 12:03:12
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor » SalArmy4me, posted by KarenB on April 9, 2001, at 10:51:52
> Using words such as "unfounded," when so many have suffered very real withdrawal effects could possibly be taken as offensive.
>
> Karen
james here...Actually, he said "The idea of it being addicting due to withdrawal effects is unfounded", and this is true. Effexor is not addictive and the withdrawal effects are not related to addiction.
James
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 9, 2001, at 12:36:20
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor » SalArmy4me, posted by KarenB on April 9, 2001, at 10:51:52
Why not trust the FDA? They have done a great deal of good for sufferers of mood-disorders in just the last 10 years, by bringing out: Celexa, Depakote _ER_, Effexor XR, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, REMERON, Serzone, Neurontin, LAMICTAL, Topamax, Risperdal, ZYPREXA, SEROQUEL, Geodon, Provigil, Ambien, and Sonata.
{And they have done wonders for sufferers of AIDS by speeding antiretroviral drugs onto the market before people die needlessly.}
> Dear SalArmy,
>
> With all due respect...
>
> Everyone is different.
>
> You certainly do trust the FDA and DEA. I'm afraid I don't trust them with my life.
>
> Using words such as "unfounded," when so many have suffered very real withdrawal effects could possibly be taken as offensive.
>
> Karen
Posted by Michele on April 9, 2001, at 13:02:26
In reply to The Truth About Effexor, posted by SalArmy4me on April 9, 2001, at 8:54:13
Sal........
It sounds like you were using the past tense at the end of your post. Did you stop taking effexor xr? If so, can I ask why? And to what effect where your discontinuation symptoms?
Thanks...... michele
Posted by KarenB on April 9, 2001, at 15:59:44
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor, posted by stjames on April 9, 2001, at 12:03:12
> > Using words such as "unfounded," when so many have suffered very real withdrawal effects could possibly be taken as offensive.
> >
> > Karen
>
>
> james here...
>
> Actually, he said "The idea of it being addicting due to withdrawal effects is unfounded", and this is true. Effexor is not addictive and the withdrawal effects are not related to addiction.
>
> JamesJames -
Fair enough. But, to what, if not addiction, do you attribute the severe withdrawal effects we have read so much about here?
Karen
Posted by KarenB on April 9, 2001, at 16:09:26
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor, posted by SalArmy4me on April 9, 2001, at 12:36:20
> Why not trust the FDA? They have done a great deal of good for sufferers of mood-disorders in just the last 10 years, by bringing out: Celexa, Depakote _ER_, Effexor XR, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, REMERON, Serzone, Neurontin, LAMICTAL, Topamax, Risperdal, ZYPREXA, SEROQUEL, Geodon, Provigil, Ambien, and Sonata.
>
> {And they have done wonders for sufferers of AIDS by speeding antiretroviral drugs onto the market before people die needlessly.}SalArmy,
I don't see the FDA as the ones responsible for "bringing out" the drugs you mention, only for allowing them to be marketed in our country. The "bringing out," I credit to the pharmaceutical companies involved. It's just my perspective.
Maybe I was spoiled by living 5 years in a third world country (for reasons you would understand). I self medicated for the most part and did a pretty fine job, because virtually everything was available over the counter - mostly European drugs that have been tried and true for literally decades -- yet NOT approved by our FDA.
WHY NOT??
Respectfully...
Karen
Posted by stjames on April 9, 2001, at 18:14:20
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor » stjames, posted by KarenB on April 9, 2001, at 15:59:44
> Fair enough. But, to what, if not addiction, do you attribute the severe withdrawal effects we have read so much about here?
>
> KarenJames here....
Addiction has several critera which Effexor does not meet. I equate the W/D effects to a regulated system adjusting to not having an outside agent (Effexor) to regulate it.
James
Posted by ajappley on April 9, 2001, at 18:38:56
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor, posted by stjames on April 9, 2001, at 18:14:20
>
> Addiction has several critera which Effexor does not meet. I equate the W/D effects to a regulated system adjusting to not having an outside agent (Effexor) to regulate it.
>
> JamesHi James,
can you be more specific about these criteria?
Just curious.
AJ
Posted by KarenB on April 9, 2001, at 18:39:23
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor, posted by stjames on April 9, 2001, at 18:14:20
> > Fair enough. But, to what, if not addiction, do you attribute the severe withdrawal effects we have read so much about here?
> >
> > Karen
>
> James here....
>
> Addiction has several critera which Effexor does not meet. I equate the W/D effects to a regulated system adjusting to not having an outside agent (Effexor) to regulate it.
>
> JamesThanks James...didn't know that.
Karen
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 9, 2001, at 19:47:07
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor-sal, posted by Michele on April 9, 2001, at 13:02:26
I stopped taking Effexor XR after having taken doses of it that would kill an elephant (600 mg), only because it didn't work. But my father in clinical practice says that Effexor and the SSRIs work for a majority of patients.
I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms after going off of it cold-turkey. This is perhaps because the other medications I was on took care of certain symptoms somehow--BuSpar, Mirtazapine, Dramamine, Depakote, Tegretol....
> Sal........
> It sounds like you were using the past tense at the end of your post. Did you stop taking effexor xr? If so, can I ask why? And to what effect where your discontinuation symptoms?
> Thanks...... michele
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 9, 2001, at 19:55:19
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor » stjames, posted by KarenB on April 9, 2001, at 15:59:44
Ask anyone in Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous about addictive drugs, and they will tell you that Effexor DOESN'T EVEN RESEMBLE an addictive drug.
Posted by willow on April 9, 2001, at 22:39:09
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor, posted by stjames on April 9, 2001, at 18:14:20
"I equate the W/D effects to a regulated system adjusting to not having an outside agent (Effexor) to regulate it."
I agree with James's statement. The thing that I find interesting is that I've suffered with all the symptoms being described by people who quit the drug cold-turkey and effexor has almost completely resolved them for me. Regarding the question of it being addictive, the best example I can give is of a deep sea diver. They can't surface too quickly.
What I do find alarming is how many doctors do not help their patients to taper off this medication. What I suggest is to contact the company to inquire how they would advise a person to withdraw if on effexor for x time and on y dosage. Then bring this information in to the doctor with the phone number. I think this would help to solve alot of the needless suffering that people are having because of their doctor's ignorance.
Willow
PS After reading some of the posts concerning withdrawal I asked my doctor about it just to see how he would respond.
Posted by stjames on April 9, 2001, at 23:56:19
In reply to Re: The Truth About Effexor-james, posted by ajappley on April 9, 2001, at 18:38:56
>
> >
> > Addiction has several critera which Effexor does not meet. I equate the W/D effects to a regulated system adjusting to not having an outside agent (Effexor) to regulate it.
> >
> > James
>
> Hi James,
> can you be more specific about these criteria?
> Just curious.
> AJjames here....
We have discussed this issue at least once before so you can check the archives or do a search on addiction.
james
Posted by Kathi on April 11, 2001, at 19:06:25
In reply to Ask Someone in AA about Effexor Sometime, posted by SalArmy4me on April 9, 2001, at 19:55:19
> Ask anyone in Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous about addictive drugs, and they will tell you that Effexor DOESN'T EVEN RESEMBLE an addictive drug.
>
>To salarmy4;
The withdrawl effects of effexor for some of us is VERY INTENSE AND REAL...and to see you balk at other peoples pain makes me wonder what your agenda is really about. For people such as yourself who have not had any or little problems with coming off effexor is WONDERFUL, but to keep promoting the product as if it has NOT affected many others(when there is so much documentation in the posts, and other places) is unethical. It might be a worthwhile drug for some people to try, but they deserve to know the potential effects it can cause them, and they are not getting the correct info from the Dr's out there. That much we know! There is also a site out there from the FDA regarding new side effects with effexor and a quick survey they want from folks who have had these. As soon as I find it again I will post for everone. So the FDA has finally decided to take more action into peoples withdrawl symptoms.
>Kathi
Posted by vlvtelvis on April 11, 2001, at 19:49:30
In reply to Re: Ask Someone in AA about Effexor Sometime, posted by Kathi on April 11, 2001, at 19:06:25
Seems like the problem here is simply a disagreement on in the definition of addiction. It's true enough that the AD's in question are not physicaly addictive. You feel like hell when you come off them, but you don't crave them. Maybe "rebound" would be a better term for what happens when one comes off of an AD? Having personaly experienced both (though with 40mgs Paxil for 2 years rather than effexor), I'd have to say that both sides are right here. Neither is any fun at all, and both are pretty incapacitating.
> >
> >To salarmy4;
> The withdrawl effects of effexor for some of us is VERY INTENSE AND REAL...and to see you balk at other peoples pain makes me wonder what your agenda is really about. For people such as yourself who have not had any or little problems with coming off effexor is WONDERFUL, but to keep promoting the product as if it has NOT affected many others(when there is so much documentation in the posts, and other places) is unethical. It might be a worthwhile drug for some people to try, but they deserve to know the potential effects it can cause them, and they are not getting the correct info from the Dr's out there. That much we know! There is also a site out there from the FDA regarding new side effects with effexor and a quick survey they want from folks who have had these. As soon as I find it again I will post for everone. So the FDA has finally decided to take more action into peoples withdrawl symptoms.
> >Kathi
Posted by Bob on April 11, 2001, at 23:13:16
In reply to The Truth About Effexor, posted by SalArmy4me on April 9, 2001, at 8:54:13
> Effexor is a viable option for you because:
>
> *It has the possibility of affecting serotonin, norepinephrine, _and_ dopamine--more chemicals--thus increasing your chances for relief.
> *It has no anticholinergic side-effects.
> *Sexual disturbances are reported less than with SSRIs.
> *It has gained the acceptance of psychiatrists worldwide in less than 8 years of U.S. FDA approval.
> *It has few significant interactions with other medications.
> *The idea of it being addicting due to withdrawal effects is unfounded; if it had any chance of being addicting, it would have been labeled a Schedule IV substance by the U.S. DEA.
>
> I myself took Effexor XR up to 375 mg. The only side-effects I had were sexual in nature, and these were remedied by mirtazapine.***************************************
The ONLY side effects you had were sexual in nature? That's it? You're kidding, right? No somnolence? No yawning? No jaw clenching? No jitteriness? No fatigue? No headache? No insomnia? No hypersomnia? Or... what about weight gain - especially with Mirtazapine? How long were you on that that double regimine of Effexor XR and Remeron? It usually takes months for things like weight gain and response loss to develop, and I notice that you are using past tense in your thread.
Why did you stop taking this combo if it was so great?
Bob
Posted by KarenB on April 12, 2001, at 22:18:36
In reply to Ask Someone in AA about Effexor Sometime, posted by SalArmy4me on April 9, 2001, at 19:55:19
> Ask anyone in Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous about addictive drugs, and they will tell you that Effexor DOESN'T EVEN RESEMBLE an addictive drug.
Dear Kind Friend of Wm Booth,
AA-rs are experts at one thing -staying sober. Oh, and realizing there is a God who can keep them that way. That makes them smarter than most. They are not, however, a source of accurate medical information.
Karen
Posted by Noa on April 14, 2001, at 12:20:00
In reply to Re: Ask Someone in AA about Effexor Sometime, posted by Kathi on April 11, 2001, at 19:06:25
I don't define Effexor as addictive. Yes, there is a physical dependence that develops, hence the withdrawal symptoms. But there is no craving sensation, nor a desire to take increasing amounts of it.
This is the end of the thread.
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