Posted by musky on June 23, 2006, at 23:22:58
In reply to PANES-persistent adverse neurological events, posted by NancyDenver on June 21, 2006, at 10:35:08
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interesting article.. thanks for posting.. I always feared this.. i normally am not on this thread but just glanced at it.. I have been on Remeron which affects even more pathways than effexor, etc.. I worry that I too may have long lasting Panes.. I have been off 1month and still have that agitation... scalp twitching that is described "fluttering sensation" in one article, and off and on muscle tension in face, jaw. scrunching etc, and disconnected feeling..
they need to ban all these drugs!! i just hope that I fully recover.. been on it 3yrs. with no permanent damage..damn those drug companies and the docs who push stuff under the rug.. they never tell you the risks when you take it .. figures...
Musky
I'm so glad to hear your doctor stopped prescribing Effexor because of the severe discontinuation syndrome. I understand your reluctance to "buy into" the discussion of permanent damage, but I have found some information to support the possibility. See "PANES: Persistent adverse neurological effects following SSRI discontinuation." by Dr Ben Green. (http://www.priory.com/psych/panes.htm). Another article" "Venlafaxine--long term adverse effects" by Richard Lathe (http://www.priory.com/psych/venlafax.htm) Both doctors are British--for some reason the Brits are way ahead of the Americans on this, but I also found Harvard Dr Glenmullen (Prozac Nation) admitting in an interview the possibility of permanent brain damage from SSRIs. According to Dr Green, there seems to be a similarity here with the "the effects seen after benzodiazepine discontinuation (Ashton 1987)." Of course, doctors will be reluctant to admit that a drug they have prescribed for years may be maiming people for life. It's important to rememember, effexor discontinuation syndrome is "individual" (a word used in Wyeth's British label). Just because you didn't experience persistent neurological events, doesn't mean others aren't. Even Wyeth in their most recent drug label (June 2006) says in most cases discontinuation effects are "self-limiting"--meaning they will go away on their own, but in some cases they are "serious"--what does this mean? If they are not self-limiting, then permanence is implied. Unfortunately there are no controlled studies of EDS, and if we just rely on anecdotal evidence, we won't know for years. It took doctors 20 years to admit the permanent neurological damage caused by anti-psychotics in the 70s (see tardive dyskenesia). The discussion continues. You need to have an open mind if you are to understand EDS.
poster:musky
thread:660431
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060602/msgs/660824.html