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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Robert Pineiro on July 31, 2003, at 0:35:17
Hey,
Went to see my doctor @Jan of 2002. Diagnosis: Dep., man. Wife let doctor know of symptoms. Doctor prescribed Effexor, Effexor XR (started out at 37.5mg, worked my way to 300mg before throwing in the towel). Dep. symptoms worse for me than not being on it. Why? Probably because I got over the Dep. shortly after taking it. Effexor, I pray to God you don't have the roadtrip I had. Constipation bad enough to cause internal bleeding. Manic e'sodes. General feeling of "I could care less". Sexual side lines (couldn't keep it up for long...) But that wasn't near as bad as if I missed my meds or try to "weinie" off or cold turkey. I can see why 9% of the clinical trial folks committed suicide while on this shit. Chemo-neuro. transmitter screwups in my brain (kinda like your brain is sticking its tongue on a 9 volt battery). I crapped stomach acid and bled for 4 days. Couldn't sleep, didn't want to eat. Kicked the shit out of my puppy and I felt no guilt (the manic side effect). I have been trying to get off this shit for over 4 months. I took my last 150mg of Effexor last Tues. (7/22/2003). I had 7 days of Hell on Earth (and in my anus). The manic is gone, I have a conscience now, and I stopped being mean to my wife, kids, and even the puppies. The chemo-neuro transmitter screwups are still around as well as the nausea, light diarreaha, and fatigue. From my understanding I may have to deal with those kind of symptoms for some time (or even permanently). I am happy again with the exeption of the addiction I have developed to this non-addictive Anti-Dep.drug. I wish I knew beforehand what I was going to have to go through for 1.5 years. I definately would not have signed up for this. Why am I telling you this? I didn't want you to think that all those stories and rumors were false. There are people tripping out on this stuff. Wyeth(of course) won't take responsibility, my Doctor just has a blank look on her face and still sticks by her decision. My wife is still just as naive as she was when she was so excited when I got on anti-Dep. I feel so alone with this, even though I know that there are others who have went through what I am still dealing with. Joining the hundreds if not thousands waiting in line hoping for litigation by an attorney with balls enough to take on Wyeth (by the way, Wyeth made 3.1 billion off this drug last year, I don't think they are going to throw in the towel too easy) Take care, God bless. Post message if you began to feel bad while on this junk. I most definitely will be able to empathize with you.
Bubba
Posted by galkeepinon on July 31, 2003, at 2:35:24
In reply to Bad, bad, Effexor, posted by Robert Pineiro on July 31, 2003, at 0:35:17
wow very strong post buddy-I hear you-Im still wondering about this med. I'm a little confused by your post, are you happy with Effexor or no??
Get back to me
Hey,
> Went to see my doctor @Jan of 2002. Diagnosis: Dep., man. Wife let doctor know of symptoms. Doctor prescribed Effexor, Effexor XR (started out at 37.5mg, worked my way to 300mg before throwing in the towel). Dep. symptoms worse for me than not being on it. Why? Probably because I got over the Dep. shortly after taking it. Effexor, I pray to God you don't have the roadtrip I had. Constipation bad enough to cause internal bleeding. Manic e'sodes. General feeling of "I could care less". Sexual side lines (couldn't keep it up for long...) But that wasn't near as bad as if I missed my meds or try to "weinie" off or cold turkey. I can see why 9% of the clinical trial folks committed suicide while on this shit. Chemo-neuro. transmitter screwups in my brain (kinda like your brain is sticking its tongue on a 9 volt battery). I crapped stomach acid and bled for 4 days. Couldn't sleep, didn't want to eat. Kicked the shit out of my puppy and I felt no guilt (the manic side effect). I have been trying to get off this shit for over 4 months. I took my last 150mg of Effexor last Tues. (7/22/2003). I had 7 days of Hell on Earth (and in my anus). The manic is gone, I have a conscience now, and I stopped being mean to my wife, kids, and even the puppies. The chemo-neuro transmitter screwups are still around as well as the nausea, light diarreaha, and fatigue. From my understanding I may have to deal with those kind of symptoms for some time (or even permanently). I am happy again with the exeption of the addiction I have developed to this non-addictive Anti-Dep.drug. I wish I knew beforehand what I was going to have to go through for 1.5 years. I definately would not have signed up for this. Why am I telling you this? I didn't want you to think that all those stories and rumors were false. There are people tripping out on this stuff. Wyeth(of course) won't take responsibility, my Doctor just has a blank look on her face and still sticks by her decision. My wife is still just as naive as she was when she was so excited when I got on anti-Dep. I feel so alone with this, even though I know that there are others who have went through what I am still dealing with. Joining the hundreds if not thousands waiting in line hoping for litigation by an attorney with balls enough to take on Wyeth (by the way, Wyeth made 3.1 billion off this drug last year, I don't think they are going to throw in the towel too easy) Take care, God bless. Post message if you began to feel bad while on this junk. I most definitely will be able to empathize with you.
> Bubba
>
>
Posted by Robert Pineiro on July 31, 2003, at 10:47:54
In reply to Re: Bad, bad, Effexor » Robert Pineiro, posted by galkeepinon on July 31, 2003, at 2:35:24
Yea, In my opinion, DON'T take Effexor. It is just too risky and the benefit is minimal at best. Watch the psyco-babble. People swear by this stuff but the clinicals prove it is not that great of medicine. Big Brother (FDA) no longer watches out for us. I've worked in medical labs before and I can't understand How Wyeth got this garbage approved for consumer use based on its clinical trials. Foreign Effexor is even worse, by other's opinion. If you decide to, make sure your doctor understands ALL the risks and is willing to deal with symptoms you might have. Some of the symptoms are strange and the medical community does not know how to deal with it yet (the "brain shivers" is one of them).
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 15:14:04
In reply to Re: Bad, bad, Effexor, posted by Robert Pineiro on July 31, 2003, at 10:47:54
"Kicked the sh*t out of my puppy and I felt no guilt..."
"...I stopped being mean to my wife, kids, and even the puppies. "
"My wife is still just as naive as she was when she was so excited when I got on anti-Dep."Interesting paragraph you wrote earlier. One question: Why was your wife excited that you were prescribed an Anti-Dep?
As one of the Psycho-Babble People, part of the Effexor Club even, I present both sides, the ups and downs, of Effexor. It worked for me. It doesn't work for everyone. Effexor wouldn't work for someone who would perhaps need... an anti-psychotic, for example. The major thing that we have always stressed, if you decide Effexor isn't for you, taper off gently. I'm concerned about the day I have to stop taking it (after experiencing a missed dosage).
I hope your bad experience with Effexor doesn't keep you away from the help another AD could give you. My husband is on Paxil (low dosage) and it really helps him control his anger. He too kicks dogs when angry.
God Bless,
KDi in TexasDr.Bob, I probably got close to crossing that line. If I did, I'm sorry.
Posted by cyclistguy on July 31, 2003, at 16:59:40
In reply to Effexor bad for you, perhaps, not everyone » Robert Pineiro, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 15:14:04
I weened myself off effexor and have now been off it for 4 days.... so far heres what's happened... severe brain shivers, extreme irriatability, insomnia, diarhea, lethargic, and complete loss of touch with reality.
The first day I noticed the brain shivers but couldn't even figure out what the hell was going on... then I slept for about 6 hours woke up and couldn't sleep for 46 hours. Then slept for 15 hours... woke up... brain shivers... diarhea... and severe irriatability... like I knocked the remote off the couch on accident... then grabbed it and threw it accross the room without even thinking about it. I have a real desire to go scream at my doctor for putting me on this terrible medication after only talking to me for 10 minutes. I came in about a year ago suffering from depression that had only lasted about 3 weeks. Yes it was bad.... but I think all I really needed to do was get out and exercise more. Effexor seemed to help with the depression but I felt really drugged out while on it, and had trouble sleeping along with sexual side effects..... my doctor kept talking like I should just be on it the rest of my life and I really just didn't think I should be on something like this for my whole life when I feel that I don't really need it. So far I'm not depressed at all.... but feel like breaking my doctors car with a baseball bat.... (everything pisses me off right now.) and the brain shivers are terrible... I called my doctor and left him a message today.... we'll see what he says...
in my opinion... unless effexor keeps you from killing yourself or other people.... you really shouldn't touch it.... because if you ever want to get off it.... it's a friggin nightmare....
keep it real people....
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 17:17:28
In reply to Re: Effexor bad for you, perhaps, not everyone, posted by cyclistguy on July 31, 2003, at 16:59:40
i'll never discount the withdrawal and i would never recommend Effexor for the first line of defense against depression. it's powerful, with powerful side effects. not a miracle drug at all. but if it works for you when Zoloft, Paxil, Wellbutrin didn't, it's pure GOLD.
KDi in Texas
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 31, 2003, at 19:25:05
In reply to Bad, bad, Effexor, posted by Robert Pineiro on July 31, 2003, at 0:35:17
> I can see why 9% of the clinical trial folks committed suicide while on this sh*t... Kicked the sh*t out of my puppy and I felt no guilt (the manic side effect). I have been trying to get off this sh*t for over 4 months.
I understand you may be angry, but please don't use language that could offend others, thanks.
Bob
PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies, and complaints about posts, should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration; otherwise, they may be deleted.
Posted by stjames on July 31, 2003, at 20:01:09
In reply to Re: Effexor bad for you, perhaps, not everyone, posted by cyclistguy on July 31, 2003, at 16:59:40
> keep it real people....
>
Here is some reality. I have been on effexor since 1995 and it saved my life, when the other AD's I took quit working.
Posted by Robert Pineiro on August 2, 2003, at 11:09:14
In reply to Effexor bad for you, perhaps, not everyone » Robert Pineiro, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 15:14:04
Hey,
I apologize Dr. Bob, I'll keep it clean. Effexor was bad for me. I don't or ever expect it to be bad for everyone. Visited my Dr. yesterday. Like other, it seems no one wants to take responsibility. It appears that I am held responsible because I took the drug. I am held responsible because I should have read the insert to the drug. What ever happened to integrity in the medical field? My Dr. prescribed this medication base on her own medical expertise. I made the decision to take it base on her expertise. It was the wrong decision for me, I realize that NOW. I could have made a better decision if I was better informed. I I was totally informed then I am totally responsible. Her reason for not informing me about the side effects: if she told all her patients about the side effects, nobody would take Effexor. What a brilliant observation! If it works for you, great! My purpose was to let others know that there can be serious problems taking this drug that isn't so easy to shake off! The allergy medication Allegra-D caused me to have upper respiratory infection, just as the manufacturer stated in the drug insert might possibly happen. So I stopped taking it and everything was fine! I now only take Allegra (not Allegra-D)for my allergies. Works fine, I feel great. My point? I quit taking it and I was fine. However, I stop taking Effexor and I am a mess (understatement). For those who say that Effexor was bad for me and not for you I merely say: Mountain climbing is not bad for me (I still do it), but it killed my 3 friends! Would you like to go mountain climbing with me?!
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 4, 2003, at 4:01:39
In reply to Re: Effexor bad for you, perhaps, not everyone, posted by Robert Pineiro on August 2, 2003, at 11:09:14
This is the end of the thread.
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