Posted by Diane J. on May 26, 2001, at 22:33:15
In reply to Effexor: Notable Facts, posted by SalArmy4me on May 25, 2001, at 23:42:36
Hi,
I have taken Effexor for about 3 years. I am at 225mg right now, but I was once at 300mg. I tried to withdraw because I felt I was doing so well that I didn't need it anymore. The withdrawal experience was very difficult, and I felt very ill. I found a site on the Internet which detailed the withdrawal effects, and I was amazed at what I read. (Dr. Bob is on the advisory board for this site on tele-psychiatry.) I also learned through further research that these withdrawal effects were not known until rather recently, and the package insert for the drug had to be ammended to include this information. I do not consider the drug addictive.One of the other reasons I tried to withdraw was because I had become involved with Dr. David Burns and the information he discusses in his book Feeling Good. His list of 10 cognitive distortions continues to be helpful to me. The problem was, Dr. Burns feels that antidepressant use isn't such a good idea. I exchanged several e-mails with him about the use of these drugs. It upset me a bit because not only was I taking an antidepressant, but so was my daughter, and she had been taking Paxil since she was 5 1/2. She had been seeing a child psychologist for a year before we tried the medication, and the effects were nothing short of miraculous. I argued with Dr. Burns quite a bit over this because it made me angry that he would make a blanket statement that would apply to everyone' s situation. Finally I realized that sometimes it is just no use to debate with someone who has already made up his mind. So, what happened is, I tried his way. And it was disastrous. Without the Effexor I was not only feeling ill, but my anxiety was growing and my compulsive symptoms were reemerging with a vengeance. I am now back on Effexor, and I am staying on it.
I still think a lot of what Dr. Burns says is excellent, and it has been very helpful. There are people who can live well without medication. But there are also people who need meds, and my daughter and I happen to be two people who do. I have accepted that.
By the way, I have appreciated your help and insight on this forum.
Diane J.
> Effexor is a viable option for you because:
>
> *It has the possibility of affecting serotonin, norepinephrine, _and_ dopamine--more chemicals--thus increasing your chances for relief.
> *It has no anticholinergic side-effects.
> *Sexual disturbances are reported less than with SSRIs.
> *It has gained the acceptance of psychiatrists worldwide in less than 8 years of U.S. FDA approval.
> *It has few significant interactions with other medications.
> *The idea of it being addicting due to withdrawal effects is unfounded; if it had any chance of being addicting, it would have been labeled at least a Schedule IV substance by the U.S. DEA.
>
> I myself took Effexor XR up to 375 mg. The only side-effects I had were sexual in nature, and these were remedied by mirtazapine.
poster:Diane J.
thread:64295
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010522/msgs/64381.html