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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Lorraine on March 19, 2001, at 9:11:05
In reply to Re: Suffering from Effexor, posted by JennyLynn on March 19, 2001, at 7:11:46
Do a search under discontinuation syndrome and you will find a lot of suggestions for how to alleviate it. Search the tips area. Short form is take a long half life drug like Prozac about 10 mg for little while--2-3 days.
Posted by blazer on March 19, 2001, at 10:01:42
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
> Hi there,
>
> Anyone care to comment on the use of Effexor? Anyone
> "happy" with it? I have tried Prozac (too much anxiety),
> Serzone (too sedating). I am currently on Buspar for anxiety.
>
> Been reading many different reports... Effexor seems
> to have a lot of success...
>
> please share your thoughts on this.What are the most common side effects??
Posted by Noa on March 19, 2001, at 11:40:38
In reply to Re: Suffering from Effexor, posted by Lorraine on March 19, 2001, at 9:11:05
I am very skeptical about discontinuation syndrome if you only took one dose of the medication, especially after 11 months.
What you are describing sounds a lot like a panic attack. It may be that the effexor triggered a panic attack. I think that it could be possible that once the panic attack was triggered, you experienced panic about the panic, and this what has hung around. I think it is common for people to feel panic about their panic symptoms.
This is assuming you have investigated all other possible reasons for chest discomfort (ruled out heart problems, etc.).
Panic attacks are real--they can come out of the blue, can be triggered by stress, can be triggered by medication, or by illness, etc. The physical manifestations are very real and can be frightening.
It seems plausible that the effexor set off a panic attack initially. But I would have a hard time believing the effexor is still having a direct contribution to these sensations, or that it is discontinuation syndrome, since you report only taking one dose.
I would suggest that you talk to your pdoc about either medication or therapeutic strategies for panic symptoms, or both.
Good luck.
Posted by McGuyver on March 19, 2001, at 13:51:59
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by blazer on March 19, 2001, at 10:01:42
Blazer,
I'm figuring out that some of the people on this sight are making way too much of this drug. For the first week or two I felt weird but now i'm just fine. I've got better things to do than sit around and worry. I smoke, used to drink a lot, and used to do a lot of other nasty things to my body, that last thing I'm worried about is effexor. People here are overanalizing it, and making thier own problems in their heads. I'm not one to believe in better living through chemistry, but in this case I couldn't go on without taking something. It seems to be working fine. I'm sure the withdrawl symptoms are no worse than the ones I've gone through with other substances. And I did that cold turkey with no medical supervision. Along with finding some good people to talk to. I guess the point I'm getting to is take anything these people say with a grain of salt, It might work for you, it might not. Just like anything else. Keep yourself busy, and let what happens happen. Trust me, the side effect are no worse than what thousands of others go throug every day without even realizing. Side effects shmide effects. Yeah so what you feel strange few days. Anyway Blazer, let me know what happens, maybe we can trade addresses. Again, don't believe everything your read. I don't know if your in the US or not, but media controlls everything. People just sit their and nod thier heads at whatever the newspeople say or right. Think for yourself, and maybe you won't feel all these effects.
McGuyver
P.S. As you can tell by my angry demeaner, I'm getting back to normal. It's bright outside, and I'm enjoying my day!
> > Hi there,
> >
> > Anyone care to comment on the use of Effexor? Anyone
> > "happy" with it? I have tried Prozac (too much anxiety),
> > Serzone (too sedating). I am currently on Buspar for anxiety.
> >
> > Been reading many different reports... Effexor seems
> > to have a lot of success...
> >
> > please share your thoughts on this.
>
> What are the most common side effects??
Posted by Lorraine on March 19, 2001, at 16:55:26
In reply to Re: 4 Wks off Effexor-/joint pain , posted by Jan Schmidt on March 19, 2001, at 15:51:18
Two thoughts on the muscle pain. First, Fibromylagia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome both involve muscle/joint pain and are frequently misdiagnosed as depression. It is possible that your daughter has one of these conditions and it hasn't been properly diagnosed. The other thought is that I had some hip pain while I was on Effexor. It went away when I got off it--I don't know how long it took. I never made the connection until I got back on it and the pain returned. Good luck.
Posted by Leo on March 19, 2001, at 18:06:54
In reply to Re: 4 Wks off Effexor-/joint pain » Janie, posted by Lynn V on March 17, 2001, at 22:51:46
Here's my update. Now entering my seventh week of no effexor. My mental state has improved remarkably sense discontinuing the drug. No depression, no anxiety, no agitation. All of which were dominating my daily life while on the drug. I still experience moderate to severe headaches and moderate fatigue. I am still experiencing what I call the "flashback syndrome" every few days or so. The joint and muscle pain is consistent, and at times, extremely painful. I have never experienced joint pain until getting off the effexor. Taking my doctors advice, I am now working with a physical therapist and nutritionists to rehab my physical body. I have absolutely no doubt that the effexor caused my severely degraded physical state. Only until getting off the drug, did I come to realize how bad off I was physically and emotionally. I have undertaken some in depth investigation about effexor. I am taking the posts on this site as well as several others and am compiling all the commonalities that are discussed. So far, what I have come up with is that between 80-90 percent of effexor users are all suffering from a wide variety of long term and permanent side effects. There are certain people on this site that try to neutralize what people are saying about this drug. However, there is absolutely no way these people can dispute, justify or explain why there are so many people complaining about the drug. I have interviewed several doctors, who have become aware of the severe problems directly related to effexor, especially the addiction aspect accompanied by the withdrawal, and no longer prescribe the drug to their patients. There is also action being taken against the drugs manufacturer. I have also notified two of the major TV network investigative reporting programs as to what is going on with effexor. They have been supplied with an abundance of information, both good and bad, about the drug and have been supplied with internet resources to see for themselves what the patients taking the drug are experiencing. Now, I know that there are Weryth-Ayerst employees that monitor and contribute posts to this site so I’m sure that what you are reading here is most likely old news to you but there are people who are suffering because of this drug. It is my goal to see that anybody who is taking this drug be made completely aware of what this drug is doing to their minds and bodies. Depression and anxiety are terrible, terrible diseases to have to live with day-in and day-out. I don’t think that those of us who have had to live through this and are having to continue to live with it now need a drug on the market whose side effects have not been fully disclosed by the company that makes it. Especially when, the condition of the majority of people who take it, seems to be inflamed by the effexor, not to mention the debilitating physical side effects of the drug.
Posted by blazer on March 20, 2001, at 8:53:57
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » blazer, posted by McGuyver on March 19, 2001, at 13:51:59
> Blazer,
>
> I'm figuring out that some of the people on this sight are making way too much of this drug. For the first week or two I felt weird but now i'm just fine. I've got better things to do than sit around and worry. I smoke, used to drink a lot, and used to do a lot of other nasty things to my body, that last thing I'm worried about is effexor. People here are overanalizing it, and making thier own problems in their heads. I'm not one to believe in better living through chemistry, but in this case I couldn't go on without taking something. It seems to be working fine. I'm sure the withdrawl symptoms are no worse than the ones I've gone through with other substances. And I did that cold turkey with no medical supervision. Along with finding some good people to talk to. I guess the point I'm getting to is take anything these people say with a grain of salt, It might work for you, it might not. Just like anything else. Keep yourself busy, and let what happens happen. Trust me, the side effect are no worse than what thousands of others go throug every day without even realizing. Side effects shmide effects. Yeah so what you feel strange few days. Anyway Blazer, let me know what happens, maybe we can trade addresses. Again, don't believe everything your read. I don't know if your in the US or not, but media controlls everything. People just sit their and nod thier heads at whatever the newspeople say or right. Think for yourself, and maybe you won't feel all these effects.
>
> McGuyver
>
> P.S. As you can tell by my angry demeaner, I'm getting back to normal. It's bright outside, and I'm enjoying my day!
>
>
> > > Hi there,
> > >
> > > Anyone care to comment on the use of Effexor? Anyone
> > > "happy" with it? I have tried Prozac (too much anxiety),
> > > Serzone (too sedating). I am currently on Buspar for anxiety.
> > >
> > > Been reading many different reports... Effexor seems
> > > to have a lot of success...
> > >
> > > please share your thoughts on this.
> >
> > What are the most common side effects??Thanks alot McGuyver!!! At least your in the sun. Where do you reside? Send nme an email
Posted by kid47 on March 20, 2001, at 11:45:39
In reply to 7 WEEKS--EFFEXOR FREE, posted by Leo on March 19, 2001, at 18:06:54
> Here's my update. Now entering my seventh week of no effexor. My mental state has improved remarkably sense discontinuing the drug. No depression, no anxiety, no agitation. All of which were dominating my daily life while on the drug. I still experience moderate to severe headaches and moderate fatigue. I am still experiencing what I call the "flashback syndrome" every few days or so. The joint and muscle pain is consistent, and at times, extremely painful. I have never experienced joint pain until getting off the effexor. Taking my doctors advice, I am now working with a physical therapist and nutritionists to rehab my physical body. I have absolutely no doubt that the effexor caused my severely degraded physical state. Only until getting off the drug, did I come to realize how bad off I was physically and emotionally. I have undertaken some in depth investigation about effexor. I am taking the posts on this site as well as several others and am compiling all the commonalities that are discussed. So far, what I have come up with is that between 80-90 percent of effexor users are all suffering from a wide variety of long term and permanent side effects. There are certain people on this site that try to neutralize what people are saying about this drug. However, there is absolutely no way these people can dispute, justify or explain why there are so many people complaining about the drug. I have interviewed several doctors, who have become aware of the severe problems directly related to effexor, especially the addiction aspect accompanied by the withdrawal, and no longer prescribe the drug to their patients. There is also action being taken against the drugs manufacturer. I have also notified two of the major TV network investigative reporting programs as to what is going on with effexor. They have been supplied with an abundance of information, both good and bad, about the drug and have been supplied with internet resources to see for themselves what the patients taking the drug are experiencing. Now, I know that there are Weryth-Ayerst employees that monitor and contribute posts to this site so I’m sure that what you are reading here is most likely old news to you but there are people who are suffering because of this drug. It is my goal to see that anybody who is taking this drug be made completely aware of what this drug is doing to their minds and bodies. Depression and anxiety are terrible, terrible diseases to have to live with day-in and day-out. I don’t think that those of us who have had to live through this and are having to continue to live with it now need a drug on the market whose side effects have not been fully disclosed by the company that makes it. Especially when, the condition of the majority of people who take it, seems to be inflamed by the effexor, not to mention the debilitating physical side effects of the drug.
Hi Leo. Sorry you have had such a bad experience with FXR. I have been taking FXR XR @225 mg for about a year. I have tried alot of AD's. FXR is the first to offer any relief from my depression & anxiety. For me it has truly been a life saver. But as we all know your mileage may vary. No I do not work for any drug companies. I am an electrical engineer. There have been many drugs throughout history that have done a great deal of good for some & have harmed others. I agree that everyone should be made aware of potential risks of any med & I also believe it is a consumers responsibility to diligently check available info. My concern is that someone who potentially might be helped from FXR won't even consider the drug after reading your post. I know you are posting with the best intentions. I do believe you had a terrible experience involving FXR & you feel compelled to warn others. Maybe FXR should not be a first line AD. I don't know. What I do know is there are people like myself that were helped by FXR when all other meds failed. If I had seen your post before being offered FXR I might never have tried it. Please remeber as committed as you are to discouraging FXR's use, this also carries the responsibility of potentially depriving someone who is in a vulnerable frame of mind from exactly the right medication. Thanx for your attention.
Posted by Marilyn on March 20, 2001, at 20:27:07
In reply to Re: Suffering from Effexor, posted by JennyLynn on March 19, 2001, at 7:11:46
JerryLynn, I don't have your e-mail address, so please e-mail me! Mailto: idontwantthisanymore@usa.net
Marilyn
> I took effexor only one time, last April to be exact, and am still to this day suffering with these strange chest sensations, which are followed by high anxiety, as I explained in an earlier post I sent to the list. I think it definitely caused some kind of neurological damage, but of course the dr. cannot find anything wrong, they are trying to put it off as stress. But I still believe it is way too coincidental that the one time I took the drug, and had horribly bad side effects, that these chest things have been there ever since that night. It is so scary because I feel like it will never go away, and it is even more discouraging that my dr. cannot find out why these things won't go away. If anyone has had similar chest convulsions, please email me. Or if anyone has been properly diagnosed with this, and has found something to counteract what the Effexor caused, please let me know. I don't want to have to live the rest of my life like this. I am now on Xanex for when these chest sensations kick in really bad, because it makes me so terrified and anxiety ridden, that I get all freaked out. At least I know now that I am not the only one to experience a weird side effect from a drug I only took one time!!
> JennyLynn
> > > Suffering terribly, Effexor XR Symptoms. My Doctor put me on Effexor about 8 months ago. My body began to twitch and I have "Brain Shivers" also called "Electric Shock-like sensations. My Doctors didn't know what it was. Through my research, I have found that Doctors are unaware of what Effexor does to people and they think these symptoms are Neurological (which is exactly what happen to me). I told my doctor of my symptoms and he increased my dose and sent me to a neurologist. They did an MRI and EEG and found nothing. I have been searching the Internet for months trying to find my own answers. I finally found the answer. Effexor cause SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome causing severe intolerable symtoms. While on the medication I suffered from the twitching and electric shocks. I cannot endure this anymore, so I have decided to take myself off of the drug completely. It has been a week now and I am suffering terribly. The electric shocks are brutally intense. I feel as if I keep getting shocked every few seconds. I am very tired and very sick nausea feeling. I do not recommend this drug to anyone. Anyone who wants to get off of it because of the side effects, has to suffer even more severely. I have read that the syndrome shouldn't last more than 3 weeks. I am suffering now, but hopefully in 3 weeks I will be over this living hell. Doctors do not know what they are doing to people.
> >
> > How long after you started taking it did you get the Brain Shivers? I have only been on it for 3 days and I am starting to feel real strange. Head tingling and so forth.
> >
> > Thanks
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> If you want to change anything, please do so in the box into which you typed
>
>
> > > Suffering terribly, Effexor XR Symptoms. My Doctor put me on Effexor about 8 months ago. My body began to twitch and I have "Brain Shivers" also called "Electric Shock-like sensations. My Doctors didn't know what it was. Through my research, I have found that Doctors are unaware of what Effexor does to people and they think these symptoms are Neurological (which is exactly what happen to me). I told my doctor of my symptoms and he increased my dose and sent me to a neurologist. They did an MRI and EEG and found nothing. I have been searching the Internet for months trying to find my own answers. I finally found the answer. Effexor cause SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome causing severe intolerable symtoms. While on the medication I suffered from the twitching and electric shocks. I cannot endure this anymore, so I have decided to take myself off of the drug completely. It has been a week now and I am suffering terribly. The electric shocks are brutally intense. I feel as if I keep getting shocked every few seconds. I am very tired and very sick nausea feeling. I do not recommend this drug to anyone. Anyone who wants to get off of it because of the side effects, has to suffer even more severely. I have read that the syndrome shouldn't last more than 3 weeks. I am suffering now, but hopefully in 3 weeks I will be over this living hell. Doctors do not know what they are doing to people.
> >
> > How long after you started taking it did you get the Brain Shivers? I have only been on it for 3 days and I am starting to feel real strange. Head tingling and so forth.
> >
> > Thanks
Posted by Marilyn on March 20, 2001, at 20:33:35
In reply to Re: 7 WEEKS--EFFEXOR FREE, posted by kid47 on March 20, 2001, at 11:45:39
Hi kid 47,
Just wait untill you wanna get off FXR!
Marilyn
> Hi Leo. Sorry you have had such a bad experience with FXR. I have been taking FXR XR @225 mg for about a year. I have tried alot of AD's. FXR is the first to offer any relief from my depression & anxiety. For me it has truly been a life saver. But as we all know your mileage may vary. No I do not work for any drug companies. I am an electrical engineer. There have been many drugs throughout history that have done a great deal of good for some & have harmed others. I agree that everyone should be made aware of potential risks of any med & I also believe it is a consumers responsibility to diligently check available info. My concern is that someone who potentially might be helped from FXR won't even consider the drug after reading your post. I know you are posting with the best intentions. I do believe you had a terrible experience involving FXR & you feel compelled to warn others. Maybe FXR should not be a first line AD. I don't know. What I do know is there are people like myself that were helped by FXR when all other meds failed. If I had seen your post before being offered FXR I might never have tried it. Please remeber as committed as you are to discouraging FXR's use, this also carries the responsibility of potentially depriving someone who is in a vulnerable frame of mind from exactly the right medication. Thanx for your attention.
Posted by Noddie on March 21, 2001, at 2:27:31
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » blazer, posted by McGuyver on March 19, 2001, at 13:51:59
Dear Mcguyver, I just want to tell you , you are SO right. I can't believe the overanalization that is occurring on this sight! No offense to anyone! I have taken things that have made me feel a lot STRANGER than Effexor. Besides, everyone is different. We cannot all benefit from the same medication, because not only are we all different, we are all taking it for different reasons! If I don't like it, I will simply stop taking it, heaven forbid. That's all,
Noddie
Posted by Leo on March 21, 2001, at 8:27:59
In reply to Re: 7 WEEKS--EFFEXOR FREE, posted by kid47 on March 20, 2001, at 11:45:39
I am very happy to hear that the effexor you have been taking has offered some relief against your depression and anxiety. I, like you, felt the same way when I first started taking the drug. It is only now, 5 years later that I have come to realize that the effexor, my little dose of 37.5mg taken everyday, had stopped offering relief against the depression and had only helped to maintain its misery. And yes, there have been quite a few drugs throughout history that people have raved about only to find out later that the effects of the drug had harmed them. Lets consider Fin-Fin. Trial studies were incomplete. It was rushed to market. However, as the drug became more widely used by what would become victims of its use, was discovered that it damaged the heart....a life or death organ. The manufacturer had a heads up on what was going on with their drug long before they were FORCED to pull it from the pharmacy shelf and failed to issue the appropriate warnings. Maybe, had that information been disclosed to the medical community and the end user, EDUCATED decisions would have been made as to its use. And yes, you are correct when you say that the consumer of any medication should be responsible and diligent in checking out whatever information is available about the medication they are taking. Lets just hope that the manufacturers are responsible and diligent enough to supply ALL the information about the drug being prescribed so the Doctor and his patient aren’t broad sided by side effects that they weren’t aware of. If you don’t have all the facts and you don’t have all the information……..you can’t make an EDUCATED decision. If these posts that I write, as well as the other ones on this site, help to educate and inform someone who is considering the use of effexor, then I and others out there are posting vital information about the drug that is not being disclosed by the manufacturer. This is information that a potential user should have so they can make an EDUCATED decision about whether or not they should go forward with taking effexor. Had this information been available when I first started taking the drug, I and my doctor would have most likely, being the responsible and diligent people that we are, and most assuredly looked at all the alternative options available in the treatment of depressive disease. The brain is, without a doubt, the most uncharted territory within the human body, yet it is the place where depression and anxiety do the most damage. Drugs specifically developed to alter brain activity in hopes of relieving a major disease should be thoroughly tested before being unleashed on the vulnerable people that you speak of. These people need to have all the facts so that they know that they are taking exactly the right medication. A medication that will help them. In the MAJORITY of people taking the drug, it is exacerbating the problem and creating a whole new set of problems that have to be dealt with. A major one of these problems is addiction. If you suffer from drug withdrawal....you have an addiction. As more people discontinue its use, there will come a reality as to a whole new regime of the long-term, harmful effects and problems caused by the drug that will have to be dealt with. Good luck to you. I hope you continue a successful journey to overcoming your disease.
Posted by PrplTrtl on March 21, 2001, at 20:05:02
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I've been on Effexor XR for close to a year now after a failed stint with Paxil. As is normal, my doctor started me at 37.5 mg. At one point, my dosage was as high as 150 mg/day, but I have decreased it to 75 mg/day with some positive effects. While Effexor has helped me to hang on to my sanity (I was extremely suicidal and considering entering an institution because of it), I consider my vacation to be more therapeutic than the most skilled therapist. Having the time to keep working on my inner-issues without the pressure from others as to where I should be with my life and what I should be doing has helped more than anything else. But Effexor is what has helped me to hold on long enough to accomplish this.
One note on withdrawal: Due to an insurance mix-up, I was without for a period of about a week. During that time, I had severe nausea and headaches and diarrhea. I actually puked so much that I sprained the muscles behind my eyes. Once dosage resumed, the symptoms disappeared. Have had no bad symptoms other than mild drowsiness since then. Cold turkey is not the pleasant way to go on this drug (or any drug, I suppose).
Hope this helps some.
Posted by vanroni on March 21, 2001, at 20:37:32
In reply to Discontinuing Effexor, posted by Leo on February 16, 2001, at 12:56:18
>I am just now starting to wean from 75mg effexor xr per day. the dr is giving me 37.5 xr per day for 2 wks then going to every other day and so on....
i want to know if anyone else has done it this way & if so how was it... AND will i lose the 25lbs i've gained!!! i've never eaten better or exercised more & yet i seem to gain weight by the day!! that is really the main reason that i'm stopping.... i've been on the med for about 11
months... any input/feedback is appreciated/...
Thanks, V-
Posted by cjf on March 21, 2001, at 20:47:55
In reply to Mcguyver I SO agree with you, posted by Noddie on March 21, 2001, at 2:27:31
>Noddie
You are entirely right, we all take these kind of drugs for different reasons. I also believe that Effexor or most drugs for that matter affect people in a variety of ways. BUT if you think this sight is anal then don't participate. I don't know if you are on this drug or if you have come off of Effexor with little or no side effects. If you have had very little or none of the side effects then consider yourself very, very lucky. I think it can be scary just to know that medication is needed just to get yourself through a day, any day. But then to finally feel strong enough to go off the drug and experience any number of these horrible side effects, it makes you wonder if you really are crazy. It is a very dismal thought to find what you thought was helping you could have been debilitating to you instead. Don't be so condescending until you have walked a mile in any one of these peoples' shoes.
>cjf
> Dear Mcguyver, I just want to tell you , you are SO right. I can't believe the overanalization that is occurring on this sight! No offense to anyone! I have taken things that have made me feel a lot STRANGER than Effexor. Besides, everyone is different. We cannot all benefit from the same medication, because not only are we all different, we are all taking it for different reasons! If I don't like it, I will simply stop taking it, heaven forbid. That's all,
> Noddie
Posted by Noddie on March 21, 2001, at 23:31:32
In reply to Re: Mcguyver I SO agree with you » Noddie, posted by cjf on March 21, 2001, at 20:47:55
> >Noddie
> You are entirely right, we all take these kind of drugs for different reasons. I also believe that Effexor or most drugs for that matter affect people in a variety of ways. BUT if you think this sight is anal then don't participate. I don't know if you are on this drug or if you have come off of Effexor with little or no side effects. If you have had very little or none of the side effects then consider yourself very, very lucky. I think it can be scary just to know that medication is needed just to get yourself through a day, any day. But then to finally feel strong enough to go off the drug and experience any number of these horrible side effects, it makes you wonder if you really are crazy. It is a very dismal thought to find what you thought was helping you could have been debilitating to you instead. Don't be so condescending until you have walked a mile in any one of these peoples' shoes.
> >cjf
>
>
> > Dear Mcguyver, I just want to tell you , you are SO right. I can't believe the overanalization that is occurring on this sight! No offense to anyone! I have taken things that have made me feel a lot STRANGER than Effexor. Besides, everyone is different. We cannot all benefit from the same medication, because not only are we all different, we are all taking it for different reasons! If I don't like it, I will simply stop taking it, heaven forbid. That's all,
> > Noddiecjf,
I was actually addressing McGuyver, but thanks for responding anyway! You have some very good points! I appreciate you reading my post so thoroughly and carefully. Sounds like you have some things to work out. Good luck to you! In the meantime, I think I will go walk a mile or two in other people's shoes, and then I might come back. If I still feel like you are anal, I will be sure to let you know.
Thanks again,
Noddie
Posted by Janie on March 22, 2001, at 0:25:17
In reply to 7 WEEKS--EFFEXOR FREE, posted by Leo on March 19, 2001, at 18:06:54
> Here's my update. Now entering my seventh week of no effexor. My mental state has improved remarkably sense discontinuing the drug. No depression, no anxiety, no agitation. All of which were dominating my daily life while on the drug. I still experience moderate to severe headaches and moderate fatigue. I am still experiencing what I call the "flashback syndrome" every few days or so. The joint and muscle pain is consistent, and at times, extremely painful. I have never experienced joint pain until getting off the effexor. Taking my doctors advice, I am now working with a physical therapist and nutritionists to rehab my physical body. I have absolutely no doubt that the effexor caused my severely degraded physical state. Only until getting off the drug, did I come to realize how bad off I was physically and emotionally. I have undertaken some in depth investigation about effexor. I am taking the posts on this site as well as several others and am compiling all the commonalities that are discussed. So far, what I have come up with is that between 80-90 percent of effexor users are all suffering from a wide variety of long term and permanent side effects. There are certain people on this site that try to neutralize what people are saying about this drug. However, there is absolutely no way these people can dispute, justify or explain why there are so many people complaining about the drug. I have interviewed several doctors, who have become aware of the severe problems directly related to effexor, especially the addiction aspect accompanied by the withdrawal, and no longer prescribe the drug to their patients. There is also action being taken against the drugs manufacturer. I have also notified two of the major TV network investigative reporting programs as to what is going on with effexor. They have been supplied with an abundance of information, both good and bad, about the drug and have been supplied with internet resources to see for themselves what the patients taking the drug are experiencing. Now, I know that there are Weryth-Ayerst employees that monitor and contribute posts to this site so I’m sure that what you are reading here is most likely old news to you but there are people who are suffering because of this drug. It is my goal to see that anybody who is taking this drug be made completely aware of what this drug is doing to their minds and bodies. Depression and anxiety are terrible, terrible diseases to have to live with day-in and day-out. I don’t think that those of us who have had to live through this and are having to continue to live with it now need a drug on the market whose side effects have not been fully disclosed by the company that makes it. Especially when, the condition of the majority of people who take it, seems to be inflamed by the effexor, not to mention the debilitating physical side effects of the drug.
____________Leo and All
I am now OFF the bloody drug (4-week withdrawal), and with VERY FEW side effects, I might add. I did a slow, hour-by-hour taper and only experienced slight ringing in my ears, and some mental fuzziness. If the withdrawal effects became tooooo bad, I just popped a little 37.5 mg cap and kept on going. I already feel lots better, more energy and passion for life, and don't expect to suffer permanent damage. May I suggest that ones MINDSET regarding the withdrawal experience may, indeed, DEFINE the actual experience you have. My joints are now OK, and I trust the condition will only get better.Janie, RN
Posted by Leo on March 22, 2001, at 8:29:37
In reply to Re: 7 WEEKS--EFFEXOR FREE » Leo, posted by Janie on March 22, 2001, at 0:25:17
Janie,
I'm glad to hear that you are doing better. Keep the positive comments coming. I'm sure that we can all benefit from what you have to offer. I took a moment and read through all your previous posts and thought I'd attach them so everyone could read what your experinces have been. I'm curious though, did the experiences you wrote about really occur or were they just defined by your mindset? I suppose that the hundreds of us that have been writing about our bad experinces with effexor would like to know if what we have been going through is a manifestation of the mind or have they actually occured? Or are these experiences just merely a difinition of our mindset?
Regards,
LeoHere are your previous posts...................
> Leo and All
> I am now OFF the bloody drug (4-week withdrawal), and with VERY FEW side effects, I might add. I did a slow, hour-by-hour taper and only experienced slight ringing in my ears, and some mental fuzziness. If the withdrawal effects became tooooo bad, I just popped a little 37.5 mg cap and kept on going. I already feel lots better, more energy and passion for life, and don't expect to suffer permanent damage. May I suggest that ones MINDSET regarding the withdrawal experience may, indeed, DEFINE the actual experience you have. My joints are now OK, and I trust the condition will only get better.
>
> Janie, RNHi. I have just the opposite problem. I can't get up in the mornings and feel lethargic all day. I'm starting today on a wean from 75mg to 37.5mg. It's nice to have the anxiety controlled, but what good does it do if you're too apathetic to get dressed and go out?--Janie
Hi. I have just the opposite problem. I can't get up in the mornings and feel lethargic all day. I'm starting today on a wean from 75mg to 37.5mg. It's nice to have the anxiety controlled, but what good does it do if you're too apathetic to get dressed and go out?--Janie
Hi
Glad you mentioned this problem. I've been taking Effexor since June of last year, and actually lowered my dose from 75mg to 37.5mg/day because of the somnolence. I STILL can't get my butt out of bed in the mornings. What good would it do to take it at night? If one is still sleepy 24 hours after ingestion, could you ever get up just 8 hours later? Thank God I'm a nurse and work the evening shift!!! Is anyone else experienceing the sleepiness on such a low dose...and also fatigue, I might add?
Thanks,
Janie
Hi guys. I'm rolling through these Threads again because I have been on a reduced dose of Effexor XR, 37.5 mg/day since last October, and I think the lethargy and sleepiness gets worse over time. I am also considering weaning off the drug. I have to FORCE myself to go to the gym, I rarely leave the house on off-days, wash my hair about once a week, and have no interest or motivation for doing anything except sitting in front of the computer, smoking cigs. That's another problem. My smoking has increased, and I have NO motivation to control or stop it. Sometimes I feel like I've been reduced to an infantile state again...just eat, sleep, and veg out. This has got to stop...there must be more to life, and perhaps a little anxiety is what I need to get me moving again.
Pocahontas
I met with my MD last week, and am also beginning to withdraw from 37.5 mg/day over a 7-8 month period. I am an RN, and here is my plan of action. I am decreasing the dose literally by hours, beginning with taking 37.5 every 36 hours instead of 24. I have already had some of the withdrawal symptoms you describe, but very mild. The next step will be to go to 37.5 every 48 hours. If this goes well, then I will move to 25 mg of regular Effexor for a period of time, and then down to 12.5 mg until I can finally withdraw totally. I agree, the drug SUCKS!! But I'm lethargic and sleepy all the time on it, so hope my energy picks up. It can't go down.
Leo and All
I am now into my 3-4 week of weaning off the Effexor XR, tapering down from 37.5 mg/day to just taking a dose when I REALLY can't function, which is now about every 4-5 days. I am very interested in feedback on joint pain, mentioned above. I have been on aspirin for many years for arthritis. The joint pain became worse while I was taking Effexor, and I have recently been placed on Celebrex to control my arthritis. Have others experienced complications involving the joints? I did not make the connection until reading this post
WOW!!! My complications pale in comparison to what you describe above. So far, my withdrawal has been tolerable, but then my daily dose was only 37.5 mg. Is there a correlation between severity of withdrawal and daily dosage? I don't know. My joint pain was most severe in the lower back, but I just felt achey all over, and had no motivation to work out in the gym...joints or apathy? Who knows. Lynn, how long was your daughter on Effexor before you noticed a deterioration in her health?
Posted by McGuyver on March 22, 2001, at 10:01:40
In reply to Re: Mcguyver I SO agree with you » cjf, posted by Noddie on March 21, 2001, at 23:33:47
I guess this will be more to "cjf" than anyone. I respect everything you have all gone through, and I have carefully read everyone of your (everyone) posts, I also may have failed to mention about the phsycology degree's my family members and close friends hold) I personally have come off horse, and blow both cold turkey and have not expierienced side effects as bad as these people are talking about. I have been sober for a long time now, without help. But, now in order to get through the day, unfortionatlly I do need something like effexor. How many of the people on this drug do you think actually check this site out, or take time to write? Your right, I'm anal, oh well. I guess that's why I am where I am in life. I see the same problems on this sight that I do in the rest of the USA and world. It kind of makes me sick. Gang up, sue. My mom smoked during her maternity with me, should I sue the tabacco companies too? It's the same thing with PHen phen, effexor, that new stuff with prozac. Yes, I will quit posting at this sight, no problem. I have walked a mile in these peoples shoes,..hence the many stiches up and down my wrists. And that's from the times long before, and long after I uses the "bad" stuff. You people need to come up with your own decisions, and quit letting people influence you. It's just not worth it. It's no conspirecy theory. Face the facts people, just try something, and try to get along with your life. If you sit at a pc all day and believe everything you read, of course you'll have problems. I don't know if your all American or not, but even if not, you all have the freedome to make your own choices, and you do not have to be influenced by the medis, or other people. You all hold your lives in your own hands. A drug just may help you get a better grip, but it's not a save all. Take care all, I wish you all the best of luck in the future. I do not mean any disrespect to you, but this site just got on my nerves. I guess I'm a little cocky, but so be it, again, that's why I am where I am today.
again, sorry,
mcguyver
> > >Noddie
> > You are entirely right, we all take these kind of drugs for different reasons. I also believe that Effexor or most drugs for that matter affect people in a variety of ways. BUT if you think this sight is anal then don't participate. I don't know if you are on this drug or if you have come off of Effexor with little or no side effects. If you have had very little or none of the side effects then consider yourself very, very lucky. I think it can be scary just to know that medication is needed just to get yourself through a day, any day. But then to finally feel strong enough to go off the drug and experience any number of these horrible side effects, it makes you wonder if you really are crazy. It is a very dismal thought to find what you thought was helping you could have been debilitating to you instead. Don't be so condescending until you have walked a mile in any one of these peoples' shoes.
> > >cjf
> >
> >
> > > Dear Mcguyver, I just want to tell you , you are SO right. I can't believe the overanalization that is occurring on this sight! No offense to anyone! I have taken things that have made me feel a lot STRANGER than Effexor. Besides, everyone is different. We cannot all benefit from the same medication, because not only are we all different, we are all taking it for different reasons! If I don't like it, I will simply stop taking it, heaven forbid. That's all,
> > > Noddie
Posted by Lilian on March 22, 2001, at 11:17:48
In reply to beginning to wean hopefully losing weight, posted by vanroni on March 21, 2001, at 20:37:32
> >I am just now starting to wean from 75mg effexor xr per day. the dr is giving me 37.5 xr per day for 2 wks then going to every other day and so on....
> i want to know if anyone else has done it this way & if so how was it... AND will i lose the 25lbs i've gained!!! i've never eaten better or exercised more & yet i seem to gain weight by the day!! that is really the main reason that i'm stopping.... i've been on the med for about 11
> months... any input/feedback is appreciated/...
> Thanks, V-I'm in the same boat!
I was taking 225mgs for 6mths gained 24lbs!
Now I am taking 37.5mgs a day and the odd 75mgs when I feel I really need it. I eat very little (although well balanced)and I excersise to..I have not even lost an ozs let alone a lb! I am doing quite well on the effexor xr for my major depression and I really do not want to give it up completely. I have been off work for the last 6mths and I am only now thinking about returning in the near future..BUT THIS WEIGHT IS MAKING ME DEPRESSED AGAIN...HELP!
LILIAN
Posted by goofy on March 22, 2001, at 12:33:28
In reply to beginning to wean hopefully losing weight, posted by vanroni on March 21, 2001, at 20:37:32
> >I am just now starting to wean from 75mg effexor xr per day. the dr is giving me 37.5 xr per day for 2 wks then going to every other day and so on....
> i want to know if anyone else has done it this way & if so how was it... AND will i lose the 25lbs i've gained!!! i've never eaten better or exercised more & yet i seem to gain weight by the day!! that is really the main reason that i'm stopping.... i've been on the med for about 11
> months... any input/feedback is appreciated/...
> Thanks, V-Hi, I have been reading these post for a couple of months now. I want to thank all of you for the info. I have been effexor free now for 12 days with no bad side effects. I TRIED TO GO COLD TURKEY. IT DID NOT WORK. My doctor told me I should have no problems just stopping. OF COURSE HE WAS WRONG. The way I was able to do it was as follows: I was on 75.mg for 1 yr. when I decided to quit because of the side effects. I went to 37.5 for 10 days. 18.75 for 5 days, 9.375 for 5 days. 4.68 for 5 days, then i went off the drug. It has been 12 days and I feel great. I opened the capsules and divided the contents as previously suggested by some of these posts. I want to thank you all because IAM NOW EFFEXOR FREE and I did not have to go to another drug to help withdrawl from this horrible drug.
goofy
Posted by Janie on March 22, 2001, at 14:04:25
In reply to Real or Mindset » Janie, posted by Leo on March 22, 2001, at 8:29:37
> Janie,
>
> I'm glad to hear that you are doing better. Keep the positive comments coming. I'm sure that we can all benefit from what you have to offer. I took a moment and read through all your previous posts and thought I'd attach them so everyone could read what your experinces have been. I'm curious though, did the experiences you wrote about really occur or were they just defined by your mindset? I suppose that the hundreds of us that have been writing about our bad experinces with effexor would like to know if what we have been going through is a manifestation of the mind or have they actually occured? Or are these experiences just merely a difinition of our mindset?
>
> Regards,
> Leo
>
>Leo,
It was NOT my intention to imply that all the side effects experienced with taking or withdrawing from Effexor are a figment of ones imagination. The only side effects I incurred with the drug had to do with drowsiness and lethargy. I'm still not convinced that Effexor had anything to do with the exacerbation of my joint pain. As for weaning off the drug, I undertook what I considered to be a reasonable approach to withdrawal. My physician was willing to work closely with me during this time; I would expect all MDs involved with posters to this site would feel the same.I believe the number of individuals who attend this site represent a small percentage of Effexor users, No? Actually, after reading many of the posts here, I ANTICIPATED the need to quit my job and withdraw also from the world for a year. Fortunately, that didn't happen. I also find it difficult to believe that ONE DOSE of Effexor can cause lifelong, debilitating physical conditions. One might wonder why anyone would continue to take this medication month after month if the side effects were soooo debilitating and crippling. As for me, personally, I was willing to take "the good with the bad" for 9 months...so now I'm off completely.
Regards,
Janie
>
> >
Posted by Janie on March 22, 2001, at 14:48:13
In reply to 7 WEEKS--EFFEXOR FREE, posted by Leo on March 19, 2001, at 18:06:54
> Here's my update. Now entering my seventh week of no effexor. My mental state has improved remarkably sense discontinuing the drug. No depression, no anxiety, no agitation. All of which were dominating my daily life while on the drug.
Leo,
With all due respect, am I missing something here?
I thought the purpose of taking Effexor was to ELIMINATE all of the symptoms you experienced while on the drug. How long did it take you to get the CLUE?Janie
Posted by Leo on March 22, 2001, at 15:52:49
In reply to Re: 7 WEEKS--EFFEXOR FREE » Leo, posted by Janie on March 22, 2001, at 14:48:13
>
> Leo,
> With all due respect, am I missing something here?
> I thought the purpose of taking Effexor was to ELIMINATE all of the symptoms you experienced while on the drug. How long did it take you to get the CLUE?
>
> Janie
I'm the straw that stirs the drink aren't I? And yes, you have MISSED QUITE A BIT.....not only in what I've been writing about as well as the others on this site, but All of the other sites on the net, besides this one, talking about what a "wonderful" drug effexor is. Take care.Regards,
Leo
Posted by Marlane on March 22, 2001, at 18:19:01
In reply to Real or Mindset » Janie, posted by Leo on March 22, 2001, at 8:29:37
You know, I had a wonderful post but wasn't registered and apparently lost it in that process. I am very upset by that because it was good and took a very long time for all the process. Suffice it to say that I have many side effects of this EffexorXR, and it has only been the last 2 days that I have figured out those side effects are from this drug! It is not a mindset. I thought there were other reasons, but the skin rash finally made me look for other answers. I am a mess because of this drug, I am weaning myself off of it! I don't deny that it got me out of my deep depression last Dec., but I had to raise the dose to 300mg.to have it work. Now the myoclonus, weight gain,sleep disturbances, joint and muscle pain, including TOS,plus more have been answered for me, for many here have had these and more problems. I will use other means for serotonin support, I know of a couple things that will work. Write me if you wish!
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