Posted by eeyorena on January 1, 2005, at 22:05:08
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR...yes.(long), posted by not2late4u on December 30, 2004, at 22:05:24
Actually, Wyeth posting that information and attaching it to their print advertising for Effexor is relatively new.
I know, because I am a researcher who searched high and low for evidence of Effexor withdrawal effects during the summer of 2002. Two doctors (my meds doc and my primary care physician) also searched. We all came up empty.
I was having so many problems getting off of Effexor (I had been on it for 3 years) and the symptoms were so bad that these two doctors and one other plus specialists thought that I might have multiple sclerosis or a neurological problem that was showing up coincidentally during the time of my withdrawal. After all, there was no information from Wyeth about withdrawal symptoms and my symptoms were extremely intense.
I was so desperate, I even wrote a rough draft of a letter for my psych to forward to Oliver Sacks, if we could get him. That's how extreme and unusual this case was. I was newly married (my husband is amazing) and completely despondent because I could not envision living with the physical pain I was in. I could stand the seizures, but not the pain.
After CAT scans and an MRI and tilt table tests and blood tests (et al.), I found some anecdotal evidence that other people were having problems withdrawing from Effexor. In discussing it on a message board, we took a LOT of heat from other patients who just loved the drug. Those were hard days to make it through.
In 2003, I saw the first Effexor print ad with any kind of "official" withdrawal information attached. My psych doc and I felt betrayed. (He's a very good and wise person.)
I don't think that prescribers are all negligent. I think that the drug companies don't make this information easy to find, there are many promises sold to medical providers about the benefits of drugs, insurance companies are pushing drugs versus therapy (it's cheaper), doctors are overwhelmed with a mountain of new drug information every year.
And no one wants to see their patient in pain or severely depressed.
My primary care physician has already stopped prescribing any drug which has not been out for at least 1 year. She is one of the most conservative doctors I have. But my problems ON Effexor didn't start until 1.5 years after starting it. And it was so new, few patients had gone off of it.
Now I'm on an MAOI (which has been absolutely terrific) but I'm still trying to get off of Neurontin and Ativan, both of which have been adversely affecting my sleep effectiveness and memory.
I'm hoping that the chronic pain I suffer, at age 38, after being an active climber and hiker for most of my life, is temporary and that someday I can resume my very active life again. I can't tell you if it is related to any drug I've taken. But the timing between the beginning of problems with effexor and the onset of my chronic pain problems (even though I have been off of it for 2.5 years now) is too convenient.
I'm frustrated and want to get back to my career and school and social life. I want my life back.
poster:eeyorena
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041228/msgs/436598.html