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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Leo on February 12, 2001, at 23:51:06
I have been taking Effexor since 1997. At first, I thought this was a wonder drug. I started feeling much better. Now, after all these years, I think I've been wrong. I just recently began to ween myself off of this drug. I have experienced all the withdrawl side effects but even more so, have experienced additonal effects of Effexor that have recently come to light and that may be permanent. I would like to caution all of you on this drug. I strongly reccemend that you look into this drug before you commit yourself to another perscription. Of the posts that I have read, many of you seem to be on very high doses of this drug. I'm not so sure that the dosage taken plays into what happens when you try to get away from this med. I have been taking only 37.5mg and the withdrawl effects are as severe as those of you taking those massive doses. My fear is for those of you that are are taking these large daily doses. I can't imagine what you will experience or what permenant damage has been done when you try to get off of this stuff. I have also determined, through my own personal experience, that Effexor isn't what you may think it is in the beginning. It masks things. It effects your thought process. It adversly effects
your memory. As I fight my way out of the withdrawl and during the periods when the side effects don't have me flat on my back, I feel fantastic. I'm ambitious and motivated. I suggest that you go to some of the sights that appear to be uncovering the truth about this drug. I visited the effexorfx.com that someone else posted on this sight and found it to be right on the money with everything that is says. Don't waste your time with the others. I sincerely hope, for all of us that have been taking this drug that we haven't been some drug company's money making lab rats. I am going to launch an investigation into the drug and the company that developed and manufactured this drug. My reasons for doing this are not financial. I am a surviving cancer patient. I went through one year of pure hell being treated for that 15 years ago. I'll be damned if I'm going to let some drug company that has been hiding the truth about Effexor get away with possibly degrading the quality of my life any further than it already has been. Take some advice from someone who's been where you are. Get off this drug. Get you doctor to prescribe something else. Ask questions and get answers and then get well. I don't think Effexor is going to get you where you want to go.
Posted by willow on February 13, 2001, at 10:49:52
In reply to Re: Effexor long term effects/withdrawl, posted by Leo on February 12, 2001, at 23:54:37
"It masks things. It effects your thought process. It adversly effects your memory"
My memory and thought process was adversly affected before effexor, so much so that I wasn't able to function. It is improving my cognitive abilities and as a result my hopes for the future are returning to normal. The only thing it has adversly affected are my negative symptoms.I do agree with you that perhaps it shouldn't be one of the first meds tried and maybe only for those desperate, but for myself it is the only thing that has really helped so far.
Posted by MarkinBoston on February 16, 2001, at 0:37:04
In reply to Effexor long term effects/withdrawl, posted by Leo on February 12, 2001, at 23:51:06
> I have been taking Effexor since 1997.
Most doc's suggest staying on a med for a year to cut the chance of a relapse. Thanks for saying there is risk staying on Effexor for a long time too. There never are long term studies for FDA approval, and many docs don't like using any general med that hasn't been on the market at least 10 years for just this reason.
I don't like staying on meds much after getting through an episode because the side effects become my biggest problem: apathy, anorgasmia, sweating. Yeah, I've been on and off Effexor 3-4 times in the last 7 years, with more to come, surely, but never had trouble going off. The funny thing is this time, I had less trouble with side effects titrating up too.
This is the end of the thread.
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