Posted by MKB on December 1, 2004, at 20:21:48
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?ask, posted by ask on December 1, 2004, at 19:05:10
I have posted my experience with Effexor in previous threads, but I will try to summarize again here.
I went to the Dr. for blood pressure medicine. I mentioned that I wanted to renew my Wellbutrin which I had not taken in awhile. I was not seriously depressed at the time and I did not feel I had an urgent need, but I have dysthymia, so it helps to have a little something to lighten my mood. My doctor urged me to try Effexor because it would help with the depression and also help with some anxiety problems I was having due to unemployment. I didn't know anything about it, but I trusted her, so I said OK. She gave me a bunch of samples, but no prescription.
I started taking the medicine and did notice an improvement in my mood, along with feeling more relaxed in social situations. I also noticed that my mind was not ruminating as much as usual on negative thoughts. So in general, I was functioning better emotionally.
However, almost immediately, I noticed the following: fatigue, inability to get up in the morning, complete lack of energy to do anything physical, waves of hot flashes, increased blood pressure, dry eyes and skin, and weight gain. I believe MOST of these are listed as possible side effects by Wyeth. If this be so, then I still do not understand why my doctor gave it to me. She already knew I had high blood pressure. She never once mentioned any of these possible side effects to me. If she had, I would not have gotten started on it.
When I ran out of the samples before getting back to her for the prescription, I got the most unpleasant surprise of my life...no kidding. I woke up one morning very ill and could barely lift my head. I thought I had the flu. As the day wore on, I became more and more concerned as I felt really really sick. That's when I started looking on the internet to see if it could be the Effexor. I discovered that it was. Meanwhile, I became very teary-eyed over nothing and became more deeply depressed than I have EVER been in my life. I did feel suicidal. But even worse, I overreacted to a family member in such an uncontrolled emotional outburst, that I don't know if I can ever regain this person's trust.
When I went back to the doctor, she said she "usually" warns patients about the withdrawal. (But why didn't she warn me?) Then she gave me some printed information about it, told me Prozac might help, etc. So she really did know about the withdrawal, but she failed to tell me. We discussed trying a smaller dose for a longer period and she offered me samples. I told her I didn't want to keep someone else from getting the samples. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "They'll just bring me more." I took the samples, tried the low dose for a couple of miserable days, then decided to stop. I took one every other day for a few days before stopping completely. I did suffer the same miserable symptoms. Even my therapist said it was obvious I was in worse shape four weeks after starting the medicine than I was before I ever started. I was like a zombie, too tired to care for myself, too fat for my clothes, dragging in to my support group because I couldn't get out of bed, etc.
Since that time my doctor has told me that she has kicked the Wyeth rep out of her office because the rep claimed that Effexor did not cause serious withdrawal problems.
Now that I am off the Effexor, I feel healthy again. I will not take anymore antidepressants... ever. I've taken Zoloft, Paxil, Serzone, Wellbutrin, Depakote, and Effexor. Effexor was effective in treating my problem, but the side-effects while ON IT and while WITHDRAWING were too severe...much worse than any other medication. I feel that Effexor, even in the short time I was on it, has damaged my health. If I had not stopped, I am sure my vision would have been damaged as other people have experienced. I am sure my blood pressure would have become unmanageable. I am sure I would still be sleeping until noon and not getting anything done. To be put on a medicine when you don't have a serious need for it is irresponsible. I don't care who is offended by that statement; it's the truth. Judging from the posts on this board and elsewhere, Effexor is being pushed on patients who don't really need it and I think the reason is that Wyeth knows they will be facing legal challenges. It would seem to be in their best interest to get as many people as possible on it to increase their profits and to tilt the balance away from people who have suffered problems because of it.
I now take L-Tyrptophan, Omega 3 fish oil and vitamins. I have also resolved that I need to learn to solve my problems, not medicate them. This is not to say that I think everyone has to do the same. I would just make sure that you are aware of the extreme damage to your health that Effexor can cause and of the debilitating symptoms during withdrawal.
poster:MKB
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041201/msgs/423114.html