Posted by MidgesMom on March 6, 2003, at 3:50:39
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES! , posted by Shel on July 18, 2000, at 1:35:45
I have been on Effexor in vrious dosages for several years now and am on my way off of it. It really helped at first but slowly through the years I began to notice little changes. Twitching of the hands, feet and legs during sleep mostly, where I'd wake up from it, nervous stutters later on, forgetfullness, not being able to remember if I took the pill or not; very fuzzy logic, and lastly, sweating through the night. Sound like I am getting older? I'm not even thirty. Finally informed my doctor that I couldn't handle the side effects anymore to get the benefit of a calm presence of mind. He has been stepping me down slowly to smallest dose and onto Wellbutrin, with Buspar on the side. It works. I haven't had the sickness of withdrawal symptoms, and I am in more control now than ever before in my life. But what had to change as well as the medicine was me realizing that taking a pill alone wasn't going to make my life easier; I had to take a strong inventory of what it is was that made me so mad on a moments notice. And being able to get mental control, when I have a physical inability to make enough of the chemicals my body needs has really helped. And exercise, along with yoga as really helped me even out my life. It's been just amazing. Had I to do it over again with Effexor, for the record I would, it gave me a chance to realise how rotten I had been with my well meaning friends and family, and it gave me the power to get better control of my life; but the side effects get worse the longer you are on it; so the benefits must be carefully weighed. Ultimately, it's a personal decision. Best of luck to you in yours!
poster:MidgesMom
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030301/msgs/206365.html