Posted by Sioux on November 7, 2002, at 17:03:52
In reply to Effexor Newbie, posted by japonica on November 7, 2002, at 14:00:21
Hello to you, too, Japonica!
I'm delighted to read of your success with Effexor. It sounds exactly like the situation for which the drug was designed and I'm glad you found it. I wish you every good thing.
Speaking only for myself, my negative relationship is not with the drug per se. I believe it does well what it was designed to do. My concern has been with what I experience as irresponsible prescribing. This is to say, prescribing without a proper diagnosis, prescribing inappropriate levels of the drug, prescribing without the patient's truly *informed* consent (i.e. not telling folks about the side effects), and inappropriate attention to the patient's report of the experience with the drug. The irresponsible prescribing of this drug is on a par with irresponsible surgery. The surgery itself may be good, but its inappropriate application can have seriously deleterious effects on the patient.
(Actually, I can talk like that too if I remember to put my teeth in first... <G>)
Love and very best wishes. Thanks for your post.
S
> Hello group,
>
> I have been taking Effexor XR for 1 month now. I read many of these postings prior to beginning the medication. Although there is much negativity here, I saw some hopeful posts. As someone who has tried various medications since the age of 19 (I am now 42) I am pleased to say I am VERY encouraged by my early experience with Effexor.
>
> I was off medication more than on throughout the duration of my struggle with dpression. Many years ago before SSRIs and the newer generations of drugs I was placed on some harsh chemicals at a time when I felt literally "out of my mind." Drugs like Lithium. These only served to convince me there was no hope and furthered my steady decline into depression. After the birth of my first child I was able to redirect my energies for quite some time and lead a relatively normal life. Then I had my second child and continued to maintain.
>
> Around the time my younger child turned 2 I began, again, a steady downward spiral and immediately went for help. I was presribed Prozac which saved my life. The only problem was I went from 110 to 87 pounds (I'm very small). That coupled with the fact that my spouse could not handle the stigma of my need for medication in order to be "normal" made me decide to quit --I had no side effects.
>
> In February of 2001 I had another major depressive episode and again sought help. Prozac again. Except this time it didn't help. I "bucked-up" (bad idea) and decided to go it alone again.
>
> In Jan. of 2002 I separated from my husband and felt not only depression but anxiety. I went on Zoloft in June of 2002 and was close to losing my professional job of 16 years because I could no longer concentrate. After 4 weeks on Zoloft gained 25 and felt, in general, like cr*p.
>
> Am now on Effexor XR, have lost all of the weight and have been given some high prioity tasks at work, the kind I'm used to being assigned to.
>
> My only side-effect was a yeast infection (immediately)for which I took Ascidophilus (spelling?). These are the "active cultures" found in yogurt. It cleared up immediately and I feel very well.
>
> Sorry for the long post. I wanted to introduce myself and say thank you to all who give their time here. You have been most helpful.
>
> japonica
poster:Sioux
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021101/msgs/126869.html