Posted by ndavis on March 25, 2003, at 10:40:04
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal is Serious, posted by lovemybabies on March 24, 2003, at 16:09:08
> Ok, I don't get it. I'm on Effexor now and am SO thankful for this drug. No, my doctor didn't 'warn' me of withdrawal problems; I think if someone puts an idea in your head, then you make it come true. Doctors probably steer clear of mentioning all the negatives right at the get-go for this reason. In my case, I was seriously depressed/anxiety-ridden and needed chemical intervention FAST. It's the first antidepressant I've been on and it's worked wonders for me. Also, I know two people personally who experienced only minor withdrawal symptoms, lasting only a couple of weeks. They tapered. Said it was like cycling through the start-up symptoms, only at a faster rate. No big deal.
-------------------------------------------------
I, like you, was depressed and needed a quick fix. This drug worked wonders for the depression, but I started to get a little nervous when I missed a dose, even by a hour. I would get so dizzy, nauseous, and would have horrid electrical shocks. I started doing some researching, and have found so many article about the dangers of Effexor that I went to my doctor and started the tappering off program. The withdrawal symptoms have been horrible. I have had to take time off work because I have passed out a few times (I have only been completely off the drug for 5 days) in the last 4 days, I have vomited, I am extremely dizzy and have had the electrical shocks constantly. As far as returning depression, I haven't noticed any. The main articles that got my attention were these: neurological side-effects represent abnormalitites in the "motor system":induced Parkisnsonism, Muscle Spasms and "Tardive Dyskinesia; SSRI's cause shriveled and corkscrew shaped brain cells; SSRI induced hypoglycemia and raised cortisol levels cause brain cells to die; SSRI toxicity by inhibition of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes; combining SSRIs can cause stroke; and so many more articles. Serotonin Syndrome is a major problem with both SSRI's and SNRI's. Even though effexor is not a SSRI, but a SNRI, both are extremely similar in problems brought on. Some people have suffered from irreversible brain damage. For me, there has to be a different way to treat depression than letting my brain and internal organs become guinea pigs for the medical world. I am happy for you whose medication have helped as mine did, just don't disregard the facts that eventually these drugs can damage you dramatically.
poster:ndavis
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030325/msgs/212522.html