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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Theresa M on June 4, 2001, at 9:00:52
i WAS DIAGNOISED WITH HAVING ANXIETY ATTACKS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AGO. FIRST, I WAS PUT ON CELEXA, I STILL HAD ATTACKS, SO MY DR UPPED CELEXIA. STILL HAVING ATTACKS. DR THEN PUT ME ON EFFEXOR XR. I WAS ON 300MG OF CELEXIA, SO HE PUT ME ON 300MG OF EFFEXOR XR. AFTER BEING ON EFFEXOR FOR, I GUESS PRETTY MUCH A YEAR NOW, IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF SEXUAL PROLBEMS FOR MY HUSBAND AND I. LUCKILY, I HAVE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND, AND HE TRYS TO UNDERSTAND, ALTHOUGH HE REALLY DOSENT. i ASKED MY DR IF I COULD BE PUT ON SOMETHING ELSE, HE SAID WE COULD TRY WELLBUTRIN SR @ 300 MG A DAY. I ENDED UP HAVING TO GO BACK ON EFFEXOR XR BECAUSE I COULDNT HANDLE THE WITHDRAWL. I CALLED MY DR, AND HE TOLD ME TO ONLY TAKE 1 150 MG OF WELLBUTRIN SR. THEN IT STILL DIDNT GET BETTER, SO HE TOLD ME TO STAY ON EFFEXOR. i HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON EFFEXOR XR, AND HAVE FOUND OUT YOU ARE SUPOSE TO HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH YOUR DR, AND THAT IF A PATIENT GOES OFF EFFEXOR, YOU HAVE TO BE WEENED OFF, SLOWLY. i HAVE TRIED TO WEEN MYSELF OFF EFFEXOR-XR.
I AM COMPLETELY TERRIFIED OF THE WAY I FEEL RIGHT NOW, ALSO, I FLY OFF THE HANDLE MORE THAN EVER. I FEEL 10 TIMES WORSE THAN I DID 1.5 YEARS AGO. I HAVE TO WORK, AND DRIVE. I CAN NOT CONCENTRATE, MY HANDS SHAKE ALMOST ALL THE TIME, I AM ETREMELY NERVOUS, AND CRY AT ANYTHING. IF MY SYMPTOMS DO NOT GET ANY BETTER,I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TALKING TO A LAWYER, ALL THE PAPER WORK I GOT FROM MY DR, AND OR THE PHARMACY, SAID NOTHING ABOUT THIS. I AM TRULY SCARED OF THE WAY I FEEL.
Posted by DebbieLynn on June 4, 2001, at 11:08:24
In reply to EFFEXOR-XR NEED WARNING FOR WITHDRAWLS, posted by Theresa M on June 4, 2001, at 9:00:52
> i WAS DIAGNOISED WITH HAVING ANXIETY ATTACKS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AGO. FIRST, I WAS PUT ON CELEXA, I STILL HAD ATTACKS, SO MY DR UPPED CELEXIA. STILL HAVING ATTACKS. DR THEN PUT ME ON EFFEXOR XR. I WAS ON 300MG OF CELEXIA, SO HE PUT ME ON 300MG OF EFFEXOR XR. AFTER BEING ON EFFEXOR FOR, I GUESS PRETTY MUCH A YEAR NOW, IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF SEXUAL PROLBEMS FOR MY HUSBAND AND I. LUCKILY, I HAVE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND, AND HE TRYS TO UNDERSTAND, ALTHOUGH HE REALLY DOSENT. i ASKED MY DR IF I COULD BE PUT ON SOMETHING ELSE, HE SAID WE COULD TRY WELLBUTRIN SR @ 300 MG A DAY. I ENDED UP HAVING TO GO BACK ON EFFEXOR XR BECAUSE I COULDNT HANDLE THE WITHDRAWL. I CALLED MY DR, AND HE TOLD ME TO ONLY TAKE 1 150 MG OF WELLBUTRIN SR. THEN IT STILL DIDNT GET BETTER, SO HE TOLD ME TO STAY ON EFFEXOR. i HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON EFFEXOR XR, AND HAVE FOUND OUT YOU ARE SUPOSE TO HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH YOUR DR, AND THAT IF A PATIENT GOES OFF EFFEXOR, YOU HAVE TO BE WEENED OFF, SLOWLY. i HAVE TRIED TO WEEN MYSELF OFF EFFEXOR-XR.
> I AM COMPLETELY TERRIFIED OF THE WAY I FEEL RIGHT NOW, ALSO, I FLY OFF THE HANDLE MORE THAN EVER. I FEEL 10 TIMES WORSE THAN I DID 1.5 YEARS AGO. I HAVE TO WORK, AND DRIVE. I CAN NOT CONCENTRATE, MY HANDS SHAKE ALMOST ALL THE TIME, I AM ETREMELY NERVOUS, AND CRY AT ANYTHING. IF MY SYMPTOMS DO NOT GET ANY BETTER,I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TALKING TO A LAWYER, ALL THE PAPER WORK I GOT FROM MY DR, AND OR THE PHARMACY, SAID NOTHING ABOUT THIS. I AM TRULY SCARED OF THE WAY I FEEL.Hi! If you read Effexor Xr's drug monograph, it does tell you side effects following discontiunation, I read it yesterday. I also take Effexor XR 225 mg a day. The funny thing is that my family doctor initially put me on Effexor XR, and I did not like the side effects (extreme dryness) so she put me on Wellbutrin 75mg 2x day of the immediate release. Wellbutrin and Effexor are two totally different drugs. When I switched from Effexor to Wellbutrin--I completely crashed! I started seeing a psychologist and he told me to start the Effexor again also. Wellbutrin blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine and Effexor blocks reuptake of seretonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, at different doses. I am sure someone else can explain it better than I can. I understand how it works though.
They are very different. My psychologist said she should not have switched me like that, and of all things Wellbutrin. Most of the antidepressants have withdrawal effects. It takes awhile for them to work, you must go slow to get were the dose is right for you. Just the opposite, when you want to come off...you MUST TAKE IT SLOW! I know I have been on Effexor XR for about 6 months--at the 225mg dose for about 6 weeks...and I feel great on it. There are alot of positive things people have said about it as well. Wish you the best!
Good Luck to you!
Debbie
Posted by N.P. on June 4, 2001, at 14:36:54
In reply to EFFEXOR-XR NEED WARNING FOR WITHDRAWLS, posted by Theresa M on June 4, 2001, at 9:00:52
Great idea, by the way (about talking to a lawyer). Why didn't anybody suggested it earlier?
It sounds like a dangerous dgur and docs never ever tell you about withdrawal effects. Every kid knows now about heroin, but not telling people about this kind of stuff is fo unfair. Will I get my "please, be civil" for that, Dr. Bob? :-)> i WAS DIAGNOISED WITH HAVING ANXIETY ATTACKS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AGO. FIRST, I WAS PUT ON CELEXA, I STILL HAD ATTACKS, SO MY DR UPPED CELEXIA. STILL HAVING ATTACKS. DR THEN PUT ME ON EFFEXOR XR. I WAS ON 300MG OF CELEXIA, SO HE PUT ME ON 300MG OF EFFEXOR XR. AFTER BEING ON EFFEXOR FOR, I GUESS PRETTY MUCH A YEAR NOW, IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF SEXUAL PROLBEMS FOR MY HUSBAND AND I. LUCKILY, I HAVE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND, AND HE TRYS TO UNDERSTAND, ALTHOUGH HE REALLY DOSENT. i ASKED MY DR IF I COULD BE PUT ON SOMETHING ELSE, HE SAID WE COULD TRY WELLBUTRIN SR @ 300 MG A DAY. I ENDED UP HAVING TO GO BACK ON EFFEXOR XR BECAUSE I COULDNT HANDLE THE WITHDRAWL. I CALLED MY DR, AND HE TOLD ME TO ONLY TAKE 1 150 MG OF WELLBUTRIN SR. THEN IT STILL DIDNT GET BETTER, SO HE TOLD ME TO STAY ON EFFEXOR. i HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON EFFEXOR XR, AND HAVE FOUND OUT YOU ARE SUPOSE TO HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH YOUR DR, AND THAT IF A PATIENT GOES OFF EFFEXOR, YOU HAVE TO BE WEENED OFF, SLOWLY. i HAVE TRIED TO WEEN MYSELF OFF EFFEXOR-XR.
> I AM COMPLETELY TERRIFIED OF THE WAY I FEEL RIGHT NOW, ALSO, I FLY OFF THE HANDLE MORE THAN EVER. I FEEL 10 TIMES WORSE THAN I DID 1.5 YEARS AGO. I HAVE TO WORK, AND DRIVE. I CAN NOT CONCENTRATE, MY HANDS SHAKE ALMOST ALL THE TIME, I AM ETREMELY NERVOUS, AND CRY AT ANYTHING. IF MY SYMPTOMS DO NOT GET ANY BETTER,I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TALKING TO A LAWYER, ALL THE PAPER WORK I GOT FROM MY DR, AND OR THE PHARMACY, SAID NOTHING ABOUT THIS. I AM TRULY SCARED OF THE WAY I FEEL.
Posted by stjames on June 4, 2001, at 14:44:27
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR-XR NEED WARNING FOR WITHDRAWLS, posted by N.P. on June 4, 2001, at 14:36:54
> Great idea, by the way (about talking to a lawyer). Why didn't anybody suggested it earlier?
> It sounds like a dangerous dgur and docs never ever tell you about withdrawal effects. Every kid knows now about heroin, but not telling people about this kind of stuff is fo unfair. Will I get my "please, be civil" for that, Dr. Bob? :-)James here....
We really do not know how many people have this problem with Effexor, this list is not a good gage of this problem.
James
Posted by N.P. on June 4, 2001, at 16:03:22
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR-XR NEED WARNING FOR WITHDRAWLS, posted by stjames on June 4, 2001, at 14:44:27
> > Great idea, by the way (about talking to a lawyer). Why didn't anybody suggested it earlier?
> > It sounds like a dangerous dgur and docs never ever tell you about withdrawal effects. Every kid knows now about heroin, but not telling people about this kind of stuff is fo unfair. Will I get my "please, be civil" for that, Dr. Bob? :-)
>
> James here....
>
> We really do not know how many people have this problem with Effexor, this list is not a good gage of this problem.
>
> JamesHi, James.
Just go through archives here. Pick the thread "anyone had success on Effexor?" and read posts. I don't think THAT many people would lie.
Posted by stjames on June 4, 2001, at 16:30:32
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR-XR NEED WARNING FOR WITHDRAWLS, posted by N.P. on June 4, 2001, at 16:03:22
> Hi, James.
> Just go through archives here. Pick the thread "anyone had success on Effexor?" and read posts. I don't think THAT many people would lie.James here....
Did I say anything about people lying ? For the 1,000,000 th time (this is basic statistics), this board does not in any way make up a fair sample of psyco-med users, in fact it is highly weighted toward those who have trouble with psyco-meds. Therefor, you cannot draw any conclusions on the rates of problems in the general population
from this list. All this means is the some do have trouble, as with any med.James
Posted by Sulpicia on June 4, 2001, at 19:09:50
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR-XR NEED WARNING FOR WITHDRAWLS, posted by N.P. on June 4, 2001, at 14:36:54
> "Every kid knows now about
heroin, but not telling people about this kind of stuff is fo unfair."
NP: if your analogy were correct, nobody would want to get OFF the med. It's not addiction
as clinically defined but it sure can be a nasty time for some. I guess this is what the
product inserts call discontinuation syndrome.Theresa -- I'm sorry you're going thru such a rough time. The best and only
advice is to do the slowest taper possible. Can you ask your doc if effexor comes
in an elixir? Several friends have stopped paxil with a precise steady taper using the
elixir with little discomfort -- you can control your dosage and no fussing with pill
splitters and the like.
Feel better soon,
S.
Posted by Kristi on June 4, 2001, at 21:34:51
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR-XR NEED WARNING FOR WITHDRAWLS, posted by Sulpicia on June 4, 2001, at 19:09:50
Boy, I keep posting this.... but it won't appear. I'll try again. :-)I agree with James..... the people on this board, and responding negatively to the effexor threads, really isn't a good sample of how this drugs affects people. We have to realize... people posting are having difficulies and are looking for answers and people to share with. More than likely, the general population this drug has helped, is out and about doing other things. If you think about how many people have actually posted negatively.... to how many people in the world taking the drug, it's probably a small amt. experiencing these problems. I'm not defending effexor.... It didn't work well for me and I was one that came to this board for that fact... but I also realize that everyone happy with it isn't on the computer searching for answers to effects, ya know? Just my 2 cents. Good luck to everyone, Kristi
> > "Every kid knows now about
> heroin, but not telling people about this kind of stuff is fo unfair."
> NP: if your analogy were correct, nobody would want to get OFF the med. It's not addiction
> as clinically defined but it sure can be a nasty time for some. I guess this is what the
> product inserts call discontinuation syndrome.
>
> Theresa -- I'm sorry you're going thru such a rough time. The best and only
> advice is to do the slowest taper possible. Can you ask your doc if effexor comes
> in an elixir? Several friends have stopped paxil with a precise steady taper using the
> elixir with little discomfort -- you can control your dosage and no fussing with pill
> splitters and the like.
> Feel better soon,
> S.
Posted by T.T. on June 8, 2001, at 9:59:34
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR-XR NEED WARNING FOR WITHDRAWLS, posted by Kristi on June 4, 2001, at 21:34:51
You are not alone. The side effects I've experienced have caused me to possible lose everything I've worked so hard for over the last 13 years. Please know you are NOT ALONE. T.T.
>
>
> Boy, I keep posting this.... but it won't appear. I'll try again. :-)
>
> I agree with James..... the people on this board, and responding negatively to the effexor threads, really isn't a good sample of how this drugs affects people. We have to realize... people posting are having difficulies and are looking for answers and people to share with. More than likely, the general population this drug has helped, is out and about doing other things. If you think about how many people have actually posted negatively.... to how many people in the world taking the drug, it's probably a small amt. experiencing these problems. I'm not defending effexor.... It didn't work well for me and I was one that came to this board for that fact... but I also realize that everyone happy with it isn't on the computer searching for answers to effects, ya know? Just my 2 cents. Good luck to everyone, Kristi
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> > > "Every kid knows now about
> > heroin, but not telling people about this kind of stuff is fo unfair."
> > NP: if your analogy were correct, nobody would want to get OFF the med. It's not addiction
> > as clinically defined but it sure can be a nasty time for some. I guess this is what the
> > product inserts call discontinuation syndrome.
> >
> > Theresa -- I'm sorry you're going thru such a rough time. The best and only
> > advice is to do the slowest taper possible. Can you ask your doc if effexor comes
> > in an elixir? Several friends have stopped paxil with a precise steady taper using the
> > elixir with little discomfort -- you can control your dosage and no fussing with pill
> > splitters and the like.
> > Feel better soon,
> > S.
Posted by Karen L on June 9, 2001, at 16:23:20
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR-XR NEED WARNING FOR WITHDRAWLS, posted by Kristi on June 4, 2001, at 21:34:51
>
>
>
> Boy, I keep posting this.... but it won't appear. I'll try again. :-)
>
> I agree with James..... the people on this board, and responding negatively to the effexor threads, really isn't a good sample of how this drugs affects people. We have to realize... people posting are having difficulies and are looking for answers and people to share with. More than likely, the general population this drug has helped, is out and about doing other things. If you think about how many people have actually posted negatively.... to how many people in the world taking the drug, it's probably a small amt. experiencing these problems. I'm not defending effexor.... It didn't work well for me and I was one that came to this board for that fact... but I also realize that everyone happy with it isn't on the computer searching for answers to effects, ya know? Just my 2 cents. Good luck to everyone, Kristi
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> > > "Every kid knows now about
> > heroin, but not telling people about this kind of stuff is fo unfair."
> > NP: if your analogy were correct, nobody would want to get OFF the med. It's not addiction
> > as clinically defined but it sure can be a nasty time for some. I guess this is what the
> > product inserts call discontinuation syndrome.
> >
> > Theresa -- I'm sorry you're going thru such a rough time. The best and only
> > advice is to do the slowest taper possible. Can you ask your doc if effexor comes
> > in an elixir? Several friends have stopped paxil with a precise steady taper using the
> > elixir with little discomfort -- you can control your dosage and no fussing with pill
> > splitters and the like.
> > Feel better soon,
> > S.I call this medicine - I don't give a s--t meds. They made me numb to the world. I needed a medicine to help me with what I was going through last year. I had filed for a divorce, my daughter had a brain tumor, and I her son who is 13 years old and has CP lived with me. As you can see I needed help to deal with all of this.
To make a long story short. I have tried to quit, three different times. Once was cold turkey. DON'T. It was terrible. Second time I tried as my Doctor suggested. Didn't work either. Made my mind up last Sunday, and this is the third time. This is day six, and the withdrawl is still the same as going cold turkey. I am somewhat better. I have these impulses I can feel go through my brain, the sweats are awful, and the dreams are so vivid. My dose started at the lowest dose - then went to 75 - then to 150. SHAME ON THE DRUG COMPANIES.The medicine works, but wait when you want to get off Effexor XR. My Doctor said I had two choices. Go through the withdrawls, or continue the pills. She told me she is having trouble with her patients coming off Paxil too. Check the web and read the horror stories about this drug. I am sure in due time, there is going to be a class action lawsuit on this drug.
Karen L
Posted by rosalinda on June 10, 2001, at 21:40:39
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR-XR NEED WARNING FOR WITHDRAWLS, posted by Sulpicia on June 4, 2001, at 19:09:50
> > "Every kid knows now about
> heroin, but not telling people about this kind of stuff is fo unfair."
> NP: if your analogy were correct, nobody would want to get OFF the med. It's not addiction
> as clinically defined but it sure can be a nasty time for some. I guess this is what the
> product inserts call discontinuation syndrome.I don't know about clinical definitions of addiction, but in colloquial usage, if you're taking a substance and cessation of consumption of that substance makes you feel violently ill, you are suffering from an addiction.
I would like to respectfully disagree with something that someone said elsewhere in this thread, too. It's true that boards like this are not "scientific"--there is indeed likely to be a higher percentage of people posting when they are in distress than when they're satisfied with their medications. HOWEVER, surely the high number of complaints about the severity of Effexor withdrawal merits serious consideration. Perhaps these boards can be useful not only in providing support for patients, but also in helping researchers identify patterns that merit further study. I do hope that all of the angst generated by Effexor withdrawal at least inspires somebody to do the research that will determine what percentage of users suffer this withdrawal syndrome, how it can be mitigated, and whether or not it warrants FDA intervention.
Admittedly, I am biased, because I have suffered excruciating withdrawal symptoms even after reducing the dosage very gradually. At the very least, I think that patients should be warned about the potential of withdrawal difficulties when they start taking the drug so that they can weigh the potential benefits against the risks.
This is the end of the thread.
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