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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Poohz on October 26, 2002, at 20:11:30
I just posted this info but it didn't show up - don't know if it will later or not.
I'm suprised at the questions about side effects, nearly all of which are listed on the printed material folded inside the medication box. Doesn't anyone read that ? It is not reader friendly, very small print and you have to wade thru a lot of technical info to get to the warnings and possible side effects lists - but it is there, the list of "frequent" side effects is impressive and should be sobering to anyone.
More info can be found at the website: www.effexorfx.freeuk.com
The site also gives many references and links for information on how this medication got on the market with very inadequate research and how the manufacturer has admitted hiding significant information on the frequency of some of the most serious side effects.I looked this up yesterday due to my closest friend being given this medication (without prescription, the doctor gave her samples she had on hand) by an internist she saw for a complete physical and cardio stress test due to some symptoms she was having that included occasional chest pains.
Finding nothing abnormal, the internist questioned her about her personal life, discovered my friend is dealing with some stress, declared her "depressed" and told her to take Effexor. When my friend asked about possible side effects or any problems discontinuing the medication later, she was told the medicine had no side effects and stopping it was never a problem. Bullsh**
I am thoroughly alarmed and disgusted with this doctor - if I hadn't looked the info up my friend was going to take this serious medication for a very mild stress problem and not been aware of any of the nasty and maybe permanent side effects she could encounter.
Poohz
poohz@citlink.net
Posted by sleepy lizard on October 26, 2002, at 23:53:29
In reply to Effexor - Side Effects Info, posted by Poohz on October 26, 2002, at 20:11:30
Yes, I agree, it seems irresponsible not to notify patients of the side effects of medications before they start. I had a similar experience and also suffered a great many of the listed side effects. Withdrawing from the drug is also difficult and some withdrawal symptoms have lasted over 7 weeks now.
Posted by Poohz on October 27, 2002, at 0:04:00
In reply to Re: Effexor - Side Effects Info » Poohz, posted by sleepy lizard on October 26, 2002, at 23:53:29
How long were you taking Effexor?Not to mention side effects and difficulty with withdrawl is one thing, but to deny it when asked both questions directly by the patient is beyond irresponsible - I don't know which answer is worse, that the doctor was lying or ignorant.
Posted by sleepy lizard on October 27, 2002, at 0:21:33
In reply to Re: Effexor - Side Effects Info » sleepy lizard, posted by Poohz on October 27, 2002, at 0:04:00
Sometimes I think the doctors don't want to scare the patients with the details. Nevertheless it seems irresponsible. Some non-psychiatric doctors may actually not have much knowledge about the drugs. I took Effexor XR from June 1, 2002 to September 3, 2002, so about 13 weeks, with dosages up to 225 mg per day. I stayed at 75 mg per day and 150 mg per day the longest.
Posted by AnneL on October 27, 2002, at 0:32:15
In reply to Effexor - Side Effects Info, posted by Poohz on October 26, 2002, at 20:11:30
It is really the truth. Withdrawing from this drug stinks. I don't like the symptoms, they are frightening and interfere with my activities of daily living. I vacilate between anger and feelings of helplessness and fear. Will I ever be able to get off of this medication? Getting off of Effexor makes giving up Nicotine seem like child's play. It feels like it is literally going to take me forever to go from 225 mg. daily to zero. I am at 150 mg. and I had the biggest, splitting headache all day long and am irritable and feel sorry for myself. OK, now that I have vented, I am going to take it one day, one headache, one brain zap, one dizzy spell at a time. In my opinion, perserverance is the only thing that is going to help me get off of this blinkin' med and of course a so slow taper. Does Prozac really help with the withdrawal and if so when in the taper process is it generally initiated? Thanks, from one who is trying to Un-Effexor. Anne :)
Posted by Poohz on October 27, 2002, at 13:43:47
In reply to Current Effexor Withdrawal - It Sucks, posted by AnneL on October 27, 2002, at 0:32:15
I only started learning about this drug a couple of days ago, researching info for my friend who is not going to start taking it.
The website I mentioned in previous posts has a section of info and advice on withdrawl - there is also the e-mail address of a woman to ask for info and advice there. Website address is:
www.effexorfx.freeuk.comGood luck to you, I admire your determination to get off this drug. I'm interested, if you care to say, in what type of physician prescribed this drug for you, if he/she made an official diagnosis before prescribing it. Were you told ahead of time that it could be difficult to get off this drug?
My friend was only asked a few questions by her internist and then handed the pills to take. I don't understand why physicians other than psychiatrists are allowed to prescribe this drug.
Poohz
It is really the truth. Withdrawing from this drug stinks. I don't like the symptoms, they are frightening and interfere with my activities of daily living. I vacilate between anger and feelings of helplessness and fear. Will I ever be able to get off of this medication? Getting off of Effexor makes giving up Nicotine seem like child's play. It feels like it is literally going to take me forever to go from 225 mg. daily to zero. I am at 150 mg. and I had the biggest, splitting headache all day long and am irritable and feel sorry for myself. OK, now that I have vented, I am going to take it one day, one headache, one brain zap, one dizzy spell at a time. In my opinion, perserverance is the only thing that is going to help me get off of this blinkin' med and of course a so slow taper. Does Prozac really help with the withdrawal and if so when in the taper process is it generally initiated? Thanks, from one who is trying to Un-Effexor. Anne :)
Posted by sleepy lizard on October 27, 2002, at 22:53:08
In reply to Current Effexor Withdrawal - It Sucks, posted by AnneL on October 27, 2002, at 0:32:15
I'm sorry, I've been through it too. I'm sorry for both of us, others too. I dropped at a rate of 75 mg steps, one week between reductions, from 225 mg to 150 mg to 75 mg to 0 mg. There was always a mood "crash" three days after reduction for me. The "shocks" were strange too and continue frequently for about a month at high-medium strength, after that occassionally at low strength. The shocks seem to be visual and balance related. You may have to focus on a spot prior to movement. I suppose this is not so bad as the extreme mood fluctuations and crying spells. Withdrawal time is definately not a good time to try to resolve relationship issues. It is diffucult to sort the emotions out. I encourage you to persevere because you can get off of the medication and the emotional turmoil will subside.
Posted by Amberlin on October 28, 2002, at 19:30:00
In reply to Re: Current Effexor Withdrawal - It Sucks, posted by sleepy lizard on October 27, 2002, at 22:53:08
Withdrawal from Effexor was terrible for me. Even if I forgot to take it one morning, by the end of the day I would be nauseated and severely dizzy. The doctor didn't believe that this could happen with Effexor. I had the same problem when I came off of Paxil.
I was on Effexor for two years and it was tolerated pretty well, except for when they increased my dosage and my blood pressure shot up, and with that came increased anxiety. I persevered for three months on the higher dosage, and then requested that it be lowered again because of no significant changes--positive ones for that matter.
Other than that, I had a fairly good experience with Effexor. The only reason why I was switched recently is because i was put on a stimulant, Provigil, for my fatigue. Effexor has an agent in it (ends in ephedrine..can't remember) that was raising my blood pressure combined with the Provigil.
Posted by sleepy lizard on November 1, 2002, at 0:58:47
In reply to Re: Current Effexor Withdrawal - It Sucks, posted by Amberlin on October 28, 2002, at 19:30:00
I read that Effexor would increase blood pressure at higher doses. It increases norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Provigil stimulates the noradrenaline alpha-1 receptor. Maybe the two together increase it too much. Too bad you could not continue on Effexor, but the fact that the dosage had to be increased must have ment that it was loosing effectiveness. Has the Provigil helped with the fatigue?
Posted by Amberlin on November 1, 2002, at 7:39:00
In reply to Re: Current Effexor Withdrawal - It Sucks » Amberlin, posted by sleepy lizard on November 1, 2002, at 0:58:47
I've been taken off Provigil entirely. I was just switched from Celexa (which I had been on for a month after Effexor) and am now on Lexapro.
Posted by KathyA on November 2, 2002, at 12:13:43
In reply to Current Effexor Withdrawal - It Sucks, posted by AnneL on October 27, 2002, at 0:32:15
Reading this thread was an eye-opener for me. I was just switched from Effexor to Paxil without any break or weaning off the Effexor. My doc said that I didn't need to wean off it if I was switching. Well, the Paxil (or the switching) did not sit well with me so I stopped after 2 days and I experienced some of the same things as I've read here. Boy, was I miserable for a couple of days! I went back to a half dose of Effexor for two nights then started taking half doses of Zoloft (that I had leftover from before the Effexor) which seemed to take the edge off. (I had stopped taking Zoloft because of the numbing effect which now sounded pretty appealing.)So I think there may be something to taking another SSRI to relieve the withdrawal symptoms of the Effexor. I had never had any problem with withdrawal on anything before, but Effexor was a different story. I don't think I'm over it yet but I'm more hopeful and not quite as miserable. Good Luck to you!
Kathy
Posted by AnneL on November 3, 2002, at 1:34:23
In reply to Re: Current Effexor Withdrawal » AnneL, posted by KathyA on November 2, 2002, at 12:13:43
Thanks, Kathy for your reply. I am back on Effexor at 225 mg. and feel OK. Really just fine.
But I sure would like to have a chance to get off of medication and see what I really feel like. If I need to go back on something, so be it. I will be speaking with my pdoc in a week and see if he can help me taper off. He is not for me getting off of meds, though. He thinks that if something is working, don't mess with it. It does work, no question. :) Anne
Posted by sleepy lizard on November 4, 2002, at 21:31:39
In reply to Re: Current Effexor Withdrawal - It Sucks, posted by Amberlin on November 1, 2002, at 7:39:00
I hope the Lexapro works for you.
Posted by kurtis0763 on November 7, 2002, at 0:03:21
In reply to Re: Current Effexor Withdrawal - It Sucks » Amberlin, posted by sleepy lizard on November 4, 2002, at 21:31:39
My wife just stopped taking her Effexor XR She took 75MG once a day for the last 4 months or so. I was with her at the doctors when he prescribed it and she asked if it was addictive because she is very drug sensitive. The answer he gave us was no. She stopped taking it a couple of days ago and today had a real rough day with all the systems of withdrawal. She called the Dr and the nurse told her it's not a problem to go off it completely. Since this morning we have figured out it was withdrawals she has experienced and I have been reading for 3 1/2 hours since including www.effexorfx.freeuk.com
Does anyone have a general idea how long the symptoms last once going cold turkey? She really doesn't want to go back on but I think she may have to and reduce the amount she takes or go with Prozac and slowly get off that. Any insight would be helpful.Kurt
PS I’m planning on calling her doctor tomorrow to have a little chat about his lack of education to the effects of this. I'm not a happy camper!
Posted by lucky on November 13, 2002, at 1:33:37
In reply to Re: Effexor - Side Effects Info, posted by sleepy lizard on October 27, 2002, at 0:21:33
Did you have any side effects when you started or while you were taking effexor?
I had some minor side effects when i started, but it stopped after a couple of weeks. I started in Sept and am on 150mg a day.
Posted by sleepy lizard on November 15, 2002, at 7:31:23
In reply to Re: Effexor - Side Effects Info-Sleepy, posted by lucky on November 13, 2002, at 1:33:37
> Did you have any side effects when you started or while you were taking effexor?
>
> I had some minor side effects when i started, but it stopped after a couple of weeks. I started in Sept and am on 150mg a day.Yes, I had some side effects when I started and during taking of Effexor XR. I continued to get the sexual side effects of delayed orgasm that I had from previous medications and eventually anorgasmia. It was stimulating so I accomplished more, and lost my desire to eat. I run 2 miles a day, so I need to eat, and was loosing weight. I was also very hot and had to sleep without covers sometimes. My skin became numb and my anxiety increased, and I had increased reflexes and some tremors. To overcome side effects we had added wellbutrin (after two months on Effexor, I was at 150 mg o.d.). Many of the side effects increased after adding Wellbutrin SR. After talking with my doctor, it seems that it increased my norepinephrine too much. I stopped taking the effexor Sept. 3, 2002 and the Wellbutrin Sept. 4, 2002 due to the side effects. (I am now taking Remeron.)
Posted by mari6526 on December 12, 2002, at 8:41:52
In reply to Re: Current Effexor Withdrawal - It Sucks, posted by Amberlin on November 1, 2002, at 7:39:00
After preparing myself by taking 10 mg of lexapro for one week, I just went down to 37.5 effexor xr. I had been on A dose of 75 mg for over 2 years and mainly I got tired of it/felt it wasn't doing the job. I tried increasing to 112.5 (big 75 pus 37.5 pill) but this made me zombie -like and have no sex drive. So I have been on this 75 limbo pill...not quite doing the job, not quite able to get off it. I have a numb feeling one day and then racing obsessive thoughts the next day. I read a book called "You're drug May be the Problem -How and why to stop taking Psychiatric Medications" I recommend this book to any1 who wants to stop meds! Mainly, I want to quit anti-depressants entirely. I had such an awful time weaning off effexor the last time I tried--Electric zaps in my head, uncontrollable crying, irritable and eating constantly!!, I figure I need the help of a low dose medication which has less side effects and withdrawal symptoms. I plan to be on this 37.5 dose for a month and then go to every other day till I can quit the effexor entirely. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it. I suffered from anxiety and depression and also some obsessive thoughts/behaviors. I feel lexapro is a better drug for these symptoms from my research and the way I now feel on it.
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 14, 2002, at 11:29:59
In reply to Re: Current Effexor Withdrawal - It Sucks, posted by mari6526 on December 12, 2002, at 8:41:52
> I read a book called "You're drug May be the Problem -How and why to stop taking Psychiatric Medications" I recommend this book to any1 who wants to stop meds!
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature here:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
But I don't mean to be pushy. Did you deliberately not use it to link to Amazon? If so, I'd be interested in why, over at Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
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