Posted by Kym on April 3, 2001, at 21:32:43
In reply to Long term effects of Effexor/permanent , posted by Leo on February 13, 2001, at 11:55:34
> 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.
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I agree with you totally, I tried to quit cold turkey 3 times until finally, I took only one pill every 3 days and let me tell you by then I was ready to just stop the "terrible" way I felt. But I stuck with it and after 2 months of that I went to 5 days for a month and then I just stopped altogether, I have been off now for 2 months but I still feel lightheaded and sick sometimes and I have gained 20 pounds, I have never had any kind of problem with weight and all of a sudden I can't seem to get rid of this weight, I am constantly bloated, which started when I started to quit, Does anyone have any idea, how long these "after effects" last?
poster:Kym
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010403/msgs/58589.html