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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 Effexor survivor on October 16, 2010, at 12:50:39
Hello, I am new to this site concerning the posts on negative reactions to effexor and most ssri's. I am surviving my own that took place almost 4 years ago. I remain drug free today. But many things are evident that were not part of who I was before this nightmare occured. I still can not ingest supplements, or medication of any kind since it seems to induce the most horrific flashback, depression, bad feelings similiar to when the initial reaction took place. I still can not formulate good sentences as i seem to speak in delayed robotic like unelaborite answers, i still feel emotionally numb, and extremely self centered as a result of being lost in your own post traumatic stress or depression, it is hard to relate to others, apathy, social anxiety still evident, there is also an induced negative feeling wheever i consume highly acidic foods, i still have spasm, or stitch like contractiojns running down my eye and right side, i still have severe premature ejaculation, terrible confusion when under stress, and just feeling like this nightmare will never resolve. Does anyone recover fully from this type of experience/ IT HAS BEEN 4 LONG YEARS. i AM AFRAID. PLEASE HELP.
Posted by Lil'Deb on October 16, 2010, at 18:33:20
In reply to my personal update, posted by Effexor survivor on October 16, 2010, at 12:50:39
I'm sorry that you are having these terrible experiences. Are absolutely positive your experiences were caused by the Effexor? Has you physician addressed this issue with you? I would urge you to discuss with your doctor. If he/she cannot help, maybe a neurologist or other specialist can provide guidance. Good luck to you.
Posted by Abby Cunningham on October 16, 2010, at 20:19:10
In reply to my personal update, posted by Effexor survivor on October 16, 2010, at 12:50:39
Welcome to Psychobabble. I am sorry you are feeling so badly. I can relate when I was tapering down my xanax - felt very hypersensitive to noise, depersonalization, derealization, felt as though I could not form sentences or even think clearly to be able to do much of anything, felt frozen and extremely fearful and depressed - all of this on a valium taper, very gradual taper.
I don't care what anyone says, and will not change my mind; psych drugs can really screw up your brain (not saying they never help anyone). I think everyone should read "Anatomy of an Epidemic" by Robert Whitaker. Very eye-opening re psych drugs. Astonishing rise of mental illness in America despite psych drugs. More people on disability than ever -- there you go - if psych drugs help that much, less people should be on social security disability insurance!!!
Posted by Phillipa on October 16, 2010, at 22:49:27
In reply to my personal update, posted by Effexor survivor on October 16, 2010, at 12:50:39
Welcome to babble. I too am sorry for your pain. I do understand as I've never been able to tolerate any antidepressants except the mere 50mg of luvox that has me trapped and unable to wean down even slowly. Benzos weaning no problem. And also supplements especially B complex act differently than in the past. Did you google effexor on this site long thread dating back many years. Please keep posting as know others would love to hear what you discover. Phillipa
Posted by Effexor survivor on October 18, 2010, at 13:11:34
In reply to Re: my personal update, posted by Abby Cunningham on October 16, 2010, at 20:19:10
> Welcome to Psychobabble. I am sorry you are feeling so badly. I can relate when I was tapering down my xanax - felt very hypersensitive to noise, depersonalization, derealization, felt as though I could not form sentences or even think clearly to be able to do much of anything, felt frozen and extremely fearful and depressed - all of this on a valium taper, very gradual taper.
>
> I don't care what anyone says, and will not change my mind; psych drugs can really screw up your brain (not saying they never help anyone). I think everyone should read "Anatomy of an Epidemic" by Robert Whitaker. Very eye-opening re psych drugs. Astonishing rise of mental illness in America despite psych drugs. More people on disability than ever -- there you go - if psych drugs help that much, less people should be on social security disability insurance!!!
>
>
Did your problems resolve? Speech issues, hypersensitivity? These issues seem to be common among a percentage of past users who shared similiar reaction stories on paxilprogress, or antidepressantfacts.com. My question is, did you get better?
Posted by huxley on October 18, 2010, at 17:13:04
In reply to Re: my personal update, posted by Effexor survivor on October 18, 2010, at 13:11:34
Head over to paxilprogress.org
You will find many similar cases to your own with people still suffering 3-4 years down the road.
They do seem to recover eventually.
Posted by bleauberry on October 18, 2010, at 18:58:51
In reply to my personal update, posted by Effexor survivor on October 16, 2010, at 12:50:39
I think longterm use of SSRIs is a dangerous thing. We see it pop up more and more. Some have called it post-ssri syndrome. Basically hypersensitivity to many things...supplements, herbs, meds...and paradoxical reactions being the norm rather than the exception. Brain fog, inability to feel pleasure...but not necessarily depressed. Almost as if something in the dopamine and norepinephrine circuits got screwed up from all the serotonin.
But someone may say Effexor is an SNRI, not SSRI. That's a nice marketing gimic. In reality, Effexor has very little impact on norepinephrine. It is predominantly a potent serotonin med with some as yet unidentified link to the opioid system, and a smidgen of norepinephrine at higher doses and a smidgen of dopamine at even higher doses. But still, almost all serotonin the whole time no matter what dose. It is not anywhere close to being balanced. Marketing, not reality.
For longterm users I strongly prefer to see balanced approaches such as Zoloft+Nortriptyline, so that the treatment does not artificially impact one particular neurotransmitter at the expense of its cousin. Results are usually faster, more complete, and long lasting that way. Psychotripical.com has a lot to say on that topic that I happen to agree with.
So where to go from here? Well, no one knows what is happening, only a few even recognize it is happening, so it's hard to know what to do. We don't know what we're dealing with.
With me, it means starting any new supplements, herbs, or meds, at ultra low doses. Really small. I've gotten good at making tiny custom doses from pills or capsules. With me, it means strict attention to food choices. Only from experimentation can one discover which foods favor them and which are not doing any favors. Food is more powerful than people think it is.
I believe the immune system and hormones have been impacted.
It makes sense to turn to plants that are known for repairing, dealing with stress, fixing what is broken. The knowledge of these comes from thousands of years of use and literally hundreds of studies. They include such plants as eleuthero, licorice root, japanese knotweed, teasel root, and others. Some of the mushrooms...Reishi, Cordyceps...beneficial. These kinds of things are specific for balancing an array of biochemical processes.
The single best med I know of for this situation? LDN. Low dose naltrexone. Learn more about it at its home page. Improvement in brain fog, depression, energy, and a wide array of healing for all kinds of things. I think the discoveries on LDN are just in the early stage but are already more than impressive.
Since I suffer from the same experience as you, with chronic infection layered into to, I can attest to the goodness the above items can bring to an ailing body/nervous system. The trick...super tiny doses when starting anything.
I do not personally believe this is something that time will heal. Something has definitely been thrown out of whack and will stay that way endlessly until nudged back into place.
LDN first. Then experiment with the healthy plants of the world. For every disease or condition, there is a plant to treat it.
Posted by Effexor survivor on October 19, 2010, at 13:13:26
In reply to Re: my personal update, posted by bleauberry on October 18, 2010, at 18:58:51
Thanks for scaring me and telling me time will not heal. How long have you been messed up? I do believe you are correct in most of what you wrote. I only took effexor for 8 months along with mirtazepine, and tryptophan, alot of serotonin. So, now what?
Posted by Phillipa on October 19, 2010, at 21:00:36
In reply to Re: my personal update, posted by Effexor survivor on October 19, 2010, at 13:13:26
My guess is that you will do fine. I know people who have been on effexor and come off no problems later on. Phillipa
Posted by creepy on October 20, 2010, at 13:13:23
In reply to my personal update, posted by Effexor survivor on October 16, 2010, at 12:50:39
These drugs are all serious business. For antidepressants, discontinuation syndrome is a possibility. NRIs, SSRIs and SNRIs probably in that order of risk.
Since no one can tell me absolutely what will work and what the long term side effects may be I have to be very careful in judging the risk versus benefit ratio.
If it was me, I would always treat the bare minimum required to get back on track. enough to get into and endure therapy. Perhaps EMDR, CBT or standard therapy.
Im avoiding SSRIs and SNRIs until absolutely necessary. The effects on my physical health have not been worth the mental results.
This is the end of the thread.
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