Posted by noa on February 24, 2002, at 15:58:02
In reply to Cut and Paste from the Feb 2. issue of the BMJ, posted by BobS. on February 21, 2002, at 19:14:42
Interesting.
IMHO, I think it is good that the press is bringing this out, and that the manufacturers need to acknowledge the withdrawal problems of medications.
However, I wouldn't want the pendulum to swing the other way--ie, not getting meds approved if there are withdrawal effects. Perhaps, instead, they can be approved as long as the withdrawal effects are noted for doctors and patients, just like other unwanted effects. Also, maybe they could do some research on antidotes to the withdrawal effects, and that could be part of the insert information on proper use of the medication, along with those instructions we get about taking with or without food, etc.
In other words, I hope the baby doesn't get thrown out with the bathwater. Would I have elected to take Effexor if I had known about the withdrawal effects? I don't know. I think it is impossible to say at this point, 6 years later. Now that I have been taking it for 6 years, despite its not being perfect---annoying side effects, etc.---it has saved my life, so knowing that now, I would choose it again despite withdrawal effects potentials.
But clearly, having the information to be able to anticipate and plan for the withdrawal effects of Effexor (and Paroxetin, et al) is clearly essential in the informed consent process.
One more thing--I think the assumption that the advocate from Social Audit makes---that difficulty in discontinuation leads to dependence--is possibly a faulty or hasty one. It depends on what you mean by dependence, of course (is that a Clintonism or what!?), but his assumption suggests that the withdrawal effects of these meds is akin to withdrawing from substances that users feel cravings for. IMHO, they are quite different. These ADs do not generate these kinds of cravings, and I have my doubts about there being a lot of people who have stayed on such meds because of the withdrawal symptoms---it may be hell getting through it, but, at least from the folks here whose posts I read, I certainly don't see evidence of a life-long addiction in cases where the person decides to go off of medication.
Thanks for sharing the journal article.
poster:noa
thread:94977
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020222/msgs/95329.html