Posted by tinytasha on April 6, 2005, at 2:42:18
In reply to Re: About the Effexor XR Withdrawal, posted by gardenia girl on March 31, 2005, at 21:43:54
I have been on effexor for just a bit over 3 years now. Quite frankly, it saved my life at the time I began it, and also resulted in a reasonable explanation for a depression I had been under since I was a child.
Apparently, I have a brain chemical deficiency, including seratonin and melatonin. I don't precisely know what this means, however I do know that for the first time, I felt like I had always thought a "normal" person should feel within about a week of taking effexor.
Another (I believe) positive side effect of the Effexor was the seemingly effortless ability to quit smoking after nearly 25 years...I quit within 2 months of beginning the effexor and have now been entirely smoke free since March 25, 2002. After quitting smoking, however, I gained over 120 lbs in less than 4 months, and at first I attributed this to the quitting smoking even though my eating habits had not changed. I am only now beginning to lose this weight now, thanks to herbs I have been taking to target such things as adrenals, thyroid, liver, etc.
While I highly vouch for the effects of the Effexor in myself, about a year ago, I began to notice some things that could be termed "side effects". The "brain buzz" would begin literally within 30 minutes of forgetting to take a dose (I was on 75 mg for most of the 3 years). Hot flashes got so bad, I thought I might be going thru menopause, even though I'm rather young for it. I started to feel depressed because of my weight and my inability to lose it, particularly when because of it, I began to experience problems in all my leg joints, and developed what my doctor believed was severe plantar faciitis. This caused morning foot pain which resulted in my inablitity to support my own weight in the mornings. At first I would have to crawl to the bathroom for my morning toilet...which for some reason, always helped alleviate the pain...the use of the toilet, that is, not the crawling....after a couple months, I had done so much damage to my knees, I had to use my arms, wrists and shoulders to lever myself up and support myself with my dresser, then literally hang from the door jamb by my arms to get to the bathroom. This has now resulted in damage to my wrists, elbows and shoulders.
The only advice I was able to procure was "lose weight", yet I was eating everything healthy, and exercising as much as I could. No doctor believed me, even the doctors I had seen since I was a small child.
A few weeks ago, the depression got so bad, I thought about suicide for the first time in my life. And this occurred while taking the effexor.
Because of the reason for my needing effexor, I assumed this is why every other antidepressant I had ever been prescribed had never worked in the least. I felt that this was my only alternative, and while I still fought the over weight aspect, I was still quite happy with the drug. I suppose I should also mention that I was assured by several doctors that Effexor was completely and for sure, non addictive.
The problem arises in the simple cost of the prescription. To even maintain the current levels costs me about 1/4 of what I earn. Since I am the single mother of a teenager, I simply cannot afford this, so, about 2 weeks ago, realizing that I could no longer maintain my prescription, I had my last prescription issued in 37.5 mg dosages. I have been taking these, and suffering through the brain zaps and other symptoms, and ran out of meds about 4 days ago. I had not gone through my doctor since I had to relocate to another city due to work, and, wouldn't you know it, have not been able to find a doctor yet who is taking new patients. It has been very difficult finding any doctor, even in emergency situations and walk in centres willing to prescribe such a medication anyway.
Most of the side effects I am currently suffering I also suffered while taking the medication....diarrhea, alternating with constipation, dizziness, brain buzzing, tingling in my toes, numbness in my legs and arms, etc. The worst, by far, is the brain buzz and dizziness. I have no money whatsoever until next week, so taking any effexor is not possible at this time, and since the worst of my symptoms so far are more irritating than painful, I am willing to live through them for now.
I am, however, wondering if there is a natural alternative I can take which will help alleviate some of these symptoms. Due to the problems caused by the initial weight gain, I have several types of herbs in my cupboard, but I only take those specific to a need. St John's Wort has not particularly ever done anything for me, and again I think it is because my depression is not caused by mental/emotional reason, but chemical.
I truly wish I could have tapered more slowly than this, however it just isn't possible...not if my daughter and I are to have such luxuries as food also.
I would appreciate any feedback
TT
poster:tinytasha
thread:469497
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050323/msgs/480577.html