![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by daniel v on November 25, 2005, at 23:27:55
Hi my name is Daniel V Im new to this site. Im 19 tears old and I started when I Effexor Xr when I was 17 years old. I started because I had panic attacks most constant sweating and Jell-O brains. I was on it in the beginning for 7 moths worked complete and abruptly quite wrong move disastrous move. So I went back on again for about the same period and quite now my life is at a complete stand still. I haven't left my house in about a year my mind is going crazy. And I only have one thing to blame EFFEXOR Xr. My life is ruined what actions can I take what can I do . I doubt you’re a doctor but I lost I hope in physicians. Is there any legal action that can be taken against this company. I'm lost and afraid to try any other anti-depressants. I want to sue. Please contact me . I got no one to talk too please.
Posted by overtheedge on November 25, 2005, at 23:27:56
In reply to Self Isolation, posted by daniel v on November 25, 2005, at 10:20:24
Daniel, are you still on the effexor?
If so how do you get it? you have to leave the house to see the dr? right? see i isolate but mine is by choice, i choose to do it, i feel better like that, plus i also suffer from an, and feel more in control that way, can your isolation really be caused by depression? Just an idea?
Posted by Racer on November 25, 2005, at 23:27:56
In reply to Re: Self Isolation, posted by overtheedge on November 25, 2005, at 11:31:28
I'm sorry you're in so much pain, Daniel. That sounds terrible.
You life, though, really isn't ruined. At 19, believe it or not, you've got a lot of time to do something about it -- if you choose to. There are a lot of things you could try, starting with just plain walking around your block, and moving through options like therapy, medications, and even intensive outpatient programs. Really and truly, you can do something about your situation, if you choose to do so.
As for Effexor, it can be a very effective antidepressant, and it can help with anxiety disorders, too. The down side is that it has a wicked discontinuation syndrome attached to it, because of its short half-life. Coming off it cold turkey is highly discouraged, and for very good reason. If you're still suffering directly the effects of withdrawal, it is probably worth going back on it long enough to stop the withdrawal, and then tapering slowly off it. Otherwise, trying another medication, something with a longer half-life, like Prozac, might be very helpful in getting you past your current misery.
I hate to say it, kiddo, but suing the drug company won't do much, because they're pretty up front about the discontinuation syndrome, and most of the literature is pretty dang clear about not stopping abruptly. That precludes any sort of suit against them for it.
Welcome to Psychobabble, and good luck getting past your current pain.
Posted by Chairman_MAO on November 25, 2005, at 23:27:56
In reply to Self Isolation, posted by daniel v on November 25, 2005, at 10:20:24
I can empathize with you, and hate to hear of people feeling this way. First off, you must somehow enter into therapy with someone who is competent to effectively treat such a problem completely, IMHO. I know this can be hard if you want to isolate, but the caring vibes alone can sometimes help such problems.
That said, it seems drug therapy is often essential for many people (such as myself). The best combination for social anxiety (which I imagine would work for panic just as well) is MAOI opioid. I recommend trying 1mg/kg phenelzine (Nardil) for 6-8 weeks; you most likely will have a dramatically positive response. Stick with it; the side effects take months to go away, but most usually do. Any other ones CAN be dealt with using additional medication. Do NOT abandon Nardil for any reason until you have waited at LEAST 3-4 months for side effects to abate. Do not consider the sexual dysfunction intractable until you have tried testosterone as an antidote. In my case, Nardil is the ONLY drug out of all of them (including other MAOIs) that provides complete relief. I don't really have much of a life without it, so being testosterone-dependent and having to take a sleep aid for the rest of my life in addition to Nardil is really nothing compared to what life is like without it. If I want to have children, I may have to dump the testosterone, though, and that worries me.
Buprenorphine is, IMHO, the best opioid to use for psych purposes (cannot overdose on it, limited abuse potential, kappa antagonist, long half-life, etc). Opioids are anxiolytic, anti-panic, and help tremendously with phobias. If you truly cannot tolerate Nardil, isocarboxazid (50-80mg/day) or tranylcypromine (1.5-2mg/kg often works better than the more common 0.7mg/kg for anxiety/phobias) could work.
Best of luck,
--cm
Posted by med_empowered on November 25, 2005, at 23:27:56
In reply to Re: Self Isolation, posted by Chairman_MAO on November 25, 2005, at 13:14:40
hey! OK, when I was 19, I had panic issues, too...I personally found that a benzodiazepen (Klonopin) was really the only thing that helped, at the time at least. Of course..benzos have discontinuation syndromes, too, but those can usually be managed. In addition, benzos are very, very effective, so it might be worth the withdrawal later to be able to leave your house now. Ativan, another benzo, supposedly has a pretty mild withdrawal syndrome. As for suing...probably not going to help. Doctors have really dropped the ball when it comes to warning patients about these issues; the Effexor people, in particular, have been pretty good about warning health professionals that these drugs can cause problems upon discontinuation.
You still have a life, and you still have a future.
Good luck!
Posted by willyee on November 25, 2005, at 23:27:57
In reply to Self Isolation, posted by daniel v on November 25, 2005, at 10:20:24
I remember i was 19 also when i was handed my first drug with very little evalutaion,that drug was effoxor.
I was very suicidal on it,and of course comming off it.
I feel that med for me personaly did some major harm long term,just my opinion.
Posted by Phillipa on November 25, 2005, at 23:27:57
In reply to Re: Self Isolation, posted by willyee on November 25, 2005, at 19:37:02
Willyee could that have been Dr. Parker? Our little secret. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by willyee on November 25, 2005, at 23:27:57
In reply to Re: Self Isolation » willyee, posted by Phillipa on November 25, 2005, at 19:43:15
Yepper good ole Dr. Parker put me on drugs faster than the first payment can go through.
Posted by Phillipa on November 25, 2005, at 23:27:57
In reply to Re: Self Isolation, posted by willyee on November 25, 2005, at 21:39:52
Wonder if he's still practicing? He did have a heart attack before I left. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by daniel v on November 26, 2005, at 9:21:44
In reply to Re: Self Isolation, posted by overtheedge on November 25, 2005, at 11:31:28
I'm not on Effexor anymore and I think I'm still depressed manic or something. I have lost all my courage and I don't know why. I wish i could return to the state I was before the medicine. I isolated my self in the beginning because of the withdrawls and i couldn't take it, now it's pure emmbarsment and shame. Thanks for all your replys and support. I'm new to dr-bob thread becUSE i need support and i want out of this situation. I know i can't sue a billon$company, I'm just made about the adverse effects its had on my life.again thank you
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 26, 2005, at 23:39:18
In reply to Re: Self Isolation:-to all, posted by daniel v on November 26, 2005, at 9:21:44
> I'm new to dr-bob thread becUSE i need support and i want out of this situation. I know i can't sue a billon$company, I'm just made about the adverse effects its had on my life.again thank you
Some people do focus on lawsuits... But for medication, let's go back to the main board. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051126/msgs/582588.html
Sorry about bouncing you around!
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.