Posted by on-the-wave on February 3, 2004, at 13:16:53
In reply to Re: STAY OFF EFFEXOR IF YOU CAN » on-the-wave, posted by PoohBear on February 3, 2004, at 10:33:08
You to are entitled to your opinion, but be sure it is an informed opinion and not a view blinkered by your current status quo.
My point and the point of the book in question (which i admit i have not completed yet)is that there are several KNOWN effects of these drugs which are sometimes ignored.
Firstly the generally accepted initial physical side affects, which in most cases far outweigh the psychological benefits of SSRI's.
Secondly and far more importantly, SSRI's DO WEAR OFF over time. I started on 75mg effexor and eventually peaked at 300mg which i stayed on for 3 years. Once the inital affects (maximised at 150mg) started to wear off, it became a constant battle to maintain an equilibrium state of existance. This existance included bouts of uncontrolled rage, physically damaging myself and property, anxiety attacks and depression. Was this a mini-withdrawal due to the effectiveness wearing off and to physical reactions which the current dose could not cope with? Having gone through withdrawal, I can almost guarantee that it was. Increasing the dosage as i did had minimal effect, but i never achieved the same benefits i experienced when i first used effexor. (I note that I was on Luvox at increasing dosages for about 3 months with absolutely no effect before switching to effexor I stopped increasing the effexor at 300mg because i couldn't afford the monthly expense.).
Macmullen raises the question as to what happens when the drug starts to wear off? There is no correct answer to this question, because nobody is addressing the issue. What will you do?
Thirdly do SSRI's cause brain damage? No-one can say "no it doesn't" just as no-one can prove it does. Just be sure you are aware of the risk, the current information, etc. when you take the decision to start.
Fourthly, what are the physical effects of tolerance to inhibiting seratonin up-take. Once your nervous system is accustomed to high doses of SSRI's and starts to tolerate them (i.e. the efficacy of the drug deminishes) what pharmocological action should be taken. For example you are as depressed and anxious as before you started SSRI's only now you have added XXXmg of an extremely powerful psycho-analeptic into the mix, which i think we all know is playing havoc with your emotional, psychological and nervous system.
Anyone experiencing withdrawal can testify to the power of these drugs. My concern is the residual effect, after the initial 12 hour effect has passed. If the so-called "half life" of the drug is about 12 hours, what is physical and neuroligical change that has occured that causes the withdrawal symtoms for weeks after? I don't have this answer, neither to i believe any-one does. Be aware.
And lastly withdrawal, are you intending to stop effexor at some stage? My experience after the difficulties of the second attempt, was that no matter how difficult the withdrawal, i would not take 1mg more of effexor. If the withdrawal effects are so dire, what on earth is the drug doing inside my brain.
As an example of how the eficacy of a drug can cause people to ignore the facts. remember a drug that came out in the 50's that was marketed to help nausea in pregnant woman. It was the wonder drug of the day. thalidamide caused severe birth defects on over 10 000 babies.SSRI's will obvioulsy not have the same impact due to their use in depression, anxiety, etc. I can't tell you that SSRI's will cause x, but at the same time you cant tell me it won't. DO the benefits outweigh the negative effects. I don't know. Am i willing to take the risk, in retrospect, absolutely not. Two years ago, i would have given the same answer you gave above.
poster:on-the-wave
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040131/msgs/308920.html