Posted by Jack Smith on April 4, 2003, at 18:17:33
In reply to Effexor XR - Very Dangerous drug??, posted by hageshe on April 4, 2003, at 18:06:33
> Hi, I'm a 36yr male. Have been on Effexor XR for 3+ years. It is ruining my life. It was wrecked my sexual functions (no drive, no ejaculation, no orgasm...once in a while I can ejaculate but it is comes out whenever it wants...no control). And the bad part is that I don't really care about the sexual part. The other problems:
> -Can't focus eyes (this is a documented problem)
> -Can't get energized (seriously risking my employment)
> - can't think/concentrate (my IQ is 165...and I am a internationally rated chess player; well I was before Effexor)
> - high blood pressure (another documented problem) I was once ready to try out for the US Olympic bike team...rode 400 miles per day. My blood pressure was as good as it gets.
> - weight gain (how about 100lbs? sound fun? I was 185lb...now 285.)
> - No "zest" for life...didn't think of killing myself anymore after starting Effexor...but found I had no desire to get up in the morning anymore.
>Then why did you stay on it for three years? Just curious because if a drug did that to me, I would not stay on it. Also, what dose were you on?
Three things re withdrawl:
1. Visit Dr. Bob's tips section for ways to deal with it.
2. A few doses of prozac will take care of withdrawl symptoms, I have not heard of anyone where this did not work. Prozac will inhibit the reuptake of seratonin, doing what effexor does, but unlike effexor has a half life of 5 or 6 days, rather than 4-10 hours.
3. Use Benadryl for relief of symptoms. But I suggest you contact your doc and get a few doses of prozac.
Jack
poster:Jack Smith
thread:216285
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030402/msgs/216292.html