Posted by Zellie on February 3, 2004, at 12:32:51
In reply to Re: STAY OFF EFFEXOR IF YOU CAN » on-the-wave, posted by PoohBear on February 3, 2004, at 10:33:08
I hear your pain and frustration, PoohBear. Effexor has taken me out of the darkness and anguish, too, when nothing else would, after living 42 years of depression.
I appreciate the fears and concerns of those who have had a bad experience with Effexor, and my compassion and heart go out to all of you in that boat. But, as PoohBear has said, there are some of us who are exceedingly grateful for the tremendous lifesaver that Effexor has been for us. We appreciate hearing about your experiences, and I feel we will learn from them better by just reading about YOUR own life story, rather than by making pejorative statements about the drug.
Kindest regards,
Zellie> > My advice to any-one about to start effexor, paxil, zooloft, luvox, wellbutrin or any SSRI, STOP AND THINK WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO.
> >
> > Read a book called Prozac Backlash by Joseph Glen mullen.
> >
> > There is so much about these drugs that your psychiatrist doesn't know about.
> >
> > DO NOT TAKE SSRI'S without consulting a psychologist first. On no account accept a prescription from a GP for an SSRI.
> >
> > YOU ARE PLAYING WITH YOUR LIFE.
>
> This is just one book. Your opinion is yours and as such is valid, but it is irresponsible to say that an entire class of drugs is bad because of one author.
>
> These drugs have helped many, myself included. What do you say to those like myself who have a family history of depression, bipolar and alcoholism? I am nearly 47 and have battled depression, ADHD and the after effects of child abuse all my life.
>
> I have done that through a very strong, personal walk with Christ. But that faith and no amount of prayer helped lift the darkness that was always lurking in the background. Effexor was able to do that. It also helped me for the first time in my life to be able to control my thoughts.
>
> Many come to these boards looking for encouragement and instead go away more discouraged and confused than before because they don't have the ability to weed out the trash from the truth. Are there doctors who dole out drugs like candy without really knowing their effects or if they're really indicated for their patient? As surely as there's another charlatan with some hair-brained idea about the evils of drugs and how we're slowly killing ourselves...
>
> I'd rather live with the drugs and their side effects than the darkness in my mind any day. I will live forever. If my life here is made more effective by the drugs I need to take to help me function normally, but my life is cut short by a few years, what's that in light of eternity?
>
> I refuse to listen to narrow-minded authors with a bone to pick and an ax to grind against something that has helped many and me personally. Perhaps if my mother and her sisters had had Effexor or some of the other SSRI's or meds we take for granted now, they'ed be alive today, instead of dead long before their time.
>
> Tony
poster:Zellie
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040131/msgs/308911.html