Posted by Andy Drinkard on March 13, 2003, at 17:56:14
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal Geoff , Keroppi, posted by Tina P on February 16, 2003, at 9:26:06
>>>People tell me please...
I am a sufferer of clinical depression, and I have found that anti-depressant drugs relieve my misery miraculously. I would never, EVER want to stop taking my Effexor and go back to the sadness I was living with. So, why are so many of you doing this, and struggling with these awful side affects? I guess I have no concept of why anyone would want to stop taking this drug when it is so helpful to me and has improved my quality of life so much. Would some of you please share your scenarios with me so I have a better understanding, and perhaps I can be better prepared for the possibilty of having to give up this drug in my future? So far, the only withdawl I've had to deal with was switching from Paxil to Effexor XL, and that was because the Paxil was causing weight gain. (I would have avoided the Paxil altogether, but it's the only drug my doc could offer me during my pregnancy). After the baby was born, I made the switch, and it wasn't too difficult. But to give up my medication completely and go through withdrawls like those I'm reading about in your posts, I would never attempt it!!!!! I hated the way I felt before taking my meds anyway! Any input for me?<<<Your question is not unfounded, but some of the wording sure makes it seem like you think we're all retards for getting off the meds. Nonetheless, I'm glad you asked, and I'll give the answer my answer for why I'm letting go of Effexor:
I'm now 19 years old. My depression hit hard around age 16. The doc started me with Wellbutrin, and, upon deciding that I also had ADD, stuck me on Adderall. Wellbutrin did it's job and relieved me of that depressed hell. Adderall did it's job and let me concentrate. Together, they worked overtime to make sure I never got another minute of sleep. So, we tapered off of Adderall (a painless process). Sleep problems continued. So, we decided to let go of the Wellbutrin to see if perhaps the depression could stay away for good. Well, no luck there. In about 6 months, which is exactly when my doctor had told me it might come back, the slumps started again. ADD, which seems very secondary when compared with depression, returned as soon as Adderall fled the battlefield. So, time to get started on meds again. This offensive drive consisted of both Wellbutrin and Effexor XR, and Concerta was called upon to counter the ADD (sorry about the weird wording, I'm just trying to make this slightly entertaining). The doc decided going with 150mg of Effexor XR would do the trick. He was right. It slaughtered my depression as fast as it had returned. Unfortunately, all wars have civilian casualties. In this case, the victim was my sex drive. It was about as dead as dead gets. Concerta, by the way, is the best drug I have ever taken (in terms of effectiveness vs. side effects). Anyway, after several months on Effexor, we decided to taper off the same that we had with Wellbutrin in the beginning in hopes that the depression was just plain gone. Fast forward to the present, and here I am, two days off of Effexor (after being on the lowest dose for about three weeks). Currently, I'm in living hell. Concerta has helped keep me afloat, but the withdrawal symptoms of Effexor FOR ME have been awful. The "brain shivers" are awful. I'm hallucinating sounds. I feel like someone is violently rocking my head back and forth. Ever time I move my eyes, for any reason, my brain screams. I'm writing this in a half-daze from being so dizzy, and without Concerta, I probably wouldn't be able to begin.
Well, I read earlier that someone said that these symptoms had disappeared after 3 or 4 days, so I'm hopeful.
To directly answer your question, it's all just a balancing act. For me, I'm willing to accept that depression might reappear in order to get my sex life back. I don't know what side effects if any you are having from Effexor, but it sure sounds like to you nothing makes getting off of the drug seem worth it. More power to you! I hope that your success with Effexor continues for good.
In all honesty, I expect to be right back in the doc's office in 6 months with a renewed depression and a new need for help fighting it. However, for the next 6 months I won't have to pick between happiness and erections...
Thanks,
Bad Andy
poster:Andy Drinkard
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030310/msgs/208817.html