Posted by Sarah T. on July 6, 2005, at 22:28:15
In reply to Rediculous anti-depression medications (EffexorXR), posted by Doom Behemoth on July 2, 2005, at 17:28:02
Dear Doom Behemoth,
I love your screen name. One thing is clear: Neither your depression nor your antidepressants have taken away your imagination and humor.
It's possible that the physical effects you experience when you stop Effexor are due to withdrawal (or what the clever pharmaceutical companies call "discontinuation syndrome"). I think it would be a good idea to find a good psychopharmacologist who can help you withdraw from Effexor VERY, VERY slowly and carefully, over many weeks or months. Then, see how you feel. Finding a good psychopharmacologist (or "pdoc") is essential. You need someone who will work WITH you. You need someone who will spend time with you, not just 10 minutes writing out a prescription. You need someone who is willing to find out who YOU are, both on and OFF medications. I can't tell you how many times ignorant pdocs diagnose patients based on their reactions to the side effects of the drugs or on their responses to withdrawal. I've come across people here who've gotten 8 or 10 different diagnoses in as many months, each diagnosis based on the adverse effects of a different drug, and not on who the patient really is.
If you do decide to withdraw from Effexor, it is absolutely critical that you do it as slowly as possible, no matter how eager and impatient you may be to get off of it. Stopping psychotropic medications quickly almost always causes rebound problems that can be worse than we were at baseline.
Can you tell me how long you've been on antidepressants and why you went on them in the first place? Is your psychiatrist a talk therapist and a psychopharmacologist or just a psychopharmacologist (i.e., one who prescribes drugs?).
I hope you will continue to post here. There are many helpful, knowledgeable people here.
Sarah T.
poster:Sarah T.
thread:522630
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050702/msgs/524439.html