Posted by Fathe on January 22, 2005, at 16:58:10
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by roobie on January 22, 2005, at 13:26:16
I think deciding if the benefit outweighs the withdrawal is up to the individual. Before my withdrawal from Effexor, I would have said 'yes '. Effexor is a very effective medicine and provided me relief from symptoms of anxiety and "the blues". And it may very well be after I have fully completed my withdrawal period that I may need some meds again sometime in the future but now I can clearly say that if and when I do, it will NEVER be Effexor. If Prozac or Zoloft etc..can provide the same relief but will enable me to avoid the withdrawal when I decide to stop it, than why would I pick Effexor ? Just makes logical sense at this point.
My withdrawal was centered mostly on the symptoms of the intense nausea, headache, nightmares and sensitive emotions. I did have the brain zaps but the benadryl regimen helped alot. It was the nausea, since I commute 2 hours each way by train to work, which sometimes makes me motion sickness anyway, that really disrupted my daily activities. But I took steps to combat it..I always made sure I ate light, sat facing in the direction the train was moving, went to a different car if the car I was in was overly warm , avoided sitting near people with heavy perfumes etc...and always armed with my Dramamine. It was not easy at all as somethings you cannot control but I have managed ok. I still get nauseous but I feel I am able to battle it. The important thing though is this is now going on 3 weeks..that is a long time to not feel well.
So was all this worth the benefits of Effexor? I can only speak for me but I would have to answer with a resounding "NO". Next time, different drug !
poster:Fathe
thread:1016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050119/msgs/445797.html