Posted by maids on September 14, 2006, at 11:42:01 [reposted on September 14, 2006, at 15:24:40 | original URL]
My side effects trying to get off of the medication have been so bad that it has made me stay on. I have been on it since 2000-it's now 2006. I still have panic attacks even with it, though rare. I must say that my personality has changed with this somehow. You know how it makes you feel like 'it's ok, everything will work out' well, this kind of translated into some negative decisions I've made because I thought it was no big deal. My personality has changed a LOT. On the good side, I have been more successful in business and more confident. I can't stand the side effects of feeling like I'm going to throw up if I don't eat and being constipated and continually tired. I hear that your body actually has better metabolism when you are NOT on effexor, because effexor relaxes you. I have actually lost some weight with this medication--5-10 lbs over all. I want SO bad not to be dependant on this drug. I have no others. Since when did it become NORMAL to be on medication our entire life???? It is possible to live without it, I'm just scared now cause I've been on it for so long. Word of advice, don't EVER go off cold turkey, or too fast. If you get off, or decrease your dosage, change it over several months time period. I have decreased from 225 mg daily to 75mg daily this way. It's hard work. Take St. Johns' Wort (im no doctor) but this really has helped me as a supplement getting lower on Effexor. Good luck:))))
poster:maids
thread:685972
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060809/msgs/685972.html