Posted by RealTim on March 11, 2003, at 20:29:43
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Below is a site that discusses the unusual side effect referred to as brain shivers.
http://depression.about.com/library/weekly/aa052598.htm
Here is a quote from it: "One of the most disturbing things I was told by ASDers was that the "brain shivers" often continued long after the medication was stopped. Some expressed the fear that the brain was being permanently altered by their medication. It does indeed seem that the side-effect profile of Effexor is not fully understood. After collecting data on reported side-effects, Priory Lodge Education Limited has expressed the opinion that because side-effects are more severe than previously thought, Effexor should be used only in cases of depression resistant to other medications."
I have personally not encountered this effect.
I do agree with the recommendation that the 13 year old boy get a second opinion, especially in light of that quote above. I have a 10 year old boy and he is the whole world to me. You are trying your best to help your baby and it does you tremendous credit that you are even doing the research unlike so many others who are willing to give their kids pills without a second thought.
Good for you, keep hunting to help. The internet is also a powerful tool if you spend the time and read everything with a degree of skepticism. No one will help you like you can help yourself. Conclusions can only be reached after developing patterns in the things you read. No one knows your little guy like you do.
These issues and others are why I am weaning off of Effexor. My Dr had me on Wellbutrin for 6 months with zero side effects for me. I went a year with no meds no problem, and then a semi-traumatic event caused relapse but my Dr jumped to the conclusion that I needed something more "long term". Thus Effexor.
It did the trick, like a miracle. In fairness, he did recommend therapy too but I just can't bring myself to spend the time and money on it (even with insurance at co-pays of $40USD for 2X per week it ain't cheap)
Now that I am much better I am tapering off from 150 to 75. Cold turkey was so harsh with the "sea sick" feeling and weird/vivid dreams that I could not take it. No problem at 75. I will probably consult with my Dr before reducing to 37.5. I want to see if I can get some samplers of Prozac or something because there appears to be a consensus out there that Prozac 10 mg can help ease effexor withdrawl.
And to answer one posters question: I have read of withdrawl ranging from 0 days to 180 days, but the average appears to be 10 days or less...
Good luck all.
poster:RealTim
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030310/msgs/208220.html