Posted by Maeve on September 1, 2003, at 14:11:37
In reply to Re: electric shocks proper stopping of Effexor, posted by Johnlund on August 31, 2003, at 22:56:44
> >
> > Well excuse me, but I am not talking about having side effects while ON the medication...I realize they all have some, what I am talking about is the lack of education on the withdrawls coming OFF the medicine. I have been trapped on this medicine for 8 years ONLY because the withdrawls are so severe when stopping this medicine. That is NOT fair. I wished I would have been told of these things before taking it so I could have made a better decision to take it. I don't mind experiencing a minor withdrawl or two when coming off the medication, but I do mind that it has totally STOPPED my life until they are over with. I don't have a job because of the symptoms, I wouldn't be able to function...I shouldn't have to put my life on hold or stay on something for 8 years because of the fear of stopping a medication. This is what I am angry about and I have that right! So what works for you is great and more power to ya, but wait until you stop this medication...Good luck to you!
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> Thanks for the feedback. I hope you find a way off the medication. There has got to be some way off of Effexor that can be tolerated while you find a better AD that works for you. Actually, I have stopped taking Effexor for a while and experience all the withdrawl symptoms. It is not fun, so I went back on Effexor. So I have pretty much consigned myself to the fact that I will be on Effexor, or a better AD when it comes along. My point is that it should not be taken off the market, and you are probably right that the termination side-effects should be laid out better. But I would still take it even if ending the drug meant I would die. A pretty drastic statement, but it has given me a pretty close to normal life, and for that I believe it is worth the price, Also, I hope you get better and find a job. Never give up.
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>************************************************ I just wanted to add a side-bar here... I hope you don't mind....I had the same problem coming off of Paxil.
My doctor at the time (15 years ago) did not believe me... The electrocuting head buzz. So. I took time off of work, unplugged the phone, had my long suffering BF stop in from time to time to check on me, ate or drank nothing but water and chicken broth, shut the draps, and went cold turkey. It was pure hell.
It took about two and a half weeks. When it was over, I thanked every known god and my dad for handing down a very high tolerance for pain.
I've been on Effexor a while and I'm pretty sure it's gonna do the same damned thing.
They say women handle pain better than men. We have babies after all. Squirting out a watermellon is not painless, but I also think its a state of mind too.
Go to a chinese hypnotist, tell him what you are planning, then suck it up, and go cold turkey.
Unless you have a seizure disorder or something that can land you in the hospital, then you should check with your Doc first (who is not listening to you anyway...) cold turkey is the way to go.
I mean, does anyone stay on the same drug 8 years??!! Not in the psych world anyway... And I also think you nead a more compassionate head shrinker who will listen & work with you in feeling better.
It's all about you baby. Don't let 'em sell ya a bridge.
This is not some casual head buz - it's scary and can be a sign of TIA's..... ahhh hmm - so now that I've said all this stuff..... get thee to a new Doctor post-haste young man! Yeah - I'd feel better if you went that route first.
Take care - many thoughts, prayers and good wishes sent you! :)
poster:Maeve
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030828/msgs/256137.html