Posted by JouezMoi on March 18, 2007, at 11:34:21 [reposted on March 24, 2007, at 16:04:41 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Sudden Effexor Withdrawal, posted by FredPotter on March 17, 2007, at 19:11:13
Hi Fred,
Is honestly think that Effexor is a very effective drug. I also believe that the only reason that the withdrawal nightmore is now coming to the fore, is that people are only now starting to come off of it. There are several reasons for this. This drug was originally used for serious clinical health concerns -- like OCD, and bi-oplar I/II, or severe depression where the patient's well-being was clearly at risk, so the benefits far outweighed the risks, and the patient was expected to be on the mediciation for the long haul .. "for life".
Now that its use has become more mainstream, doctors are prescribing it for less severe ailments with the intention of shorter periods of use. So suddenly, the problems associated with coming off have been exacerbated by the increase of short-term users, and the possibility of long-term users only now coming off.
This is no drug-company bashing. This is real. I know my experiences, and in many cases, the doctors have all been taken by surprise, to the extent that they themselves did not want to admit that there was a problem.
Incidentally, I have been on and off Xanax for decades, without any addiction problem. I plan in future, when I need help with my anxiety I will go back to short-term Xanax or Ativan which worked for me. For depression, a short course of one of the tri-cyclics will do.
I want to stay far from these new "designer" drugs. They are potent, and very effective, but I am concerned that in my case, they may have done more harm than good. My eye-sight has not been the same since Effexor, and I had 20/10 vision.
There has also been concerns from one doctor that I know, that long-term use may lead to stroke in some patients. He is seeing it more and more with patients in their early forties who have been on SSRI's for more than 15 years (i.e. from inception).
The overall verdict is not out, and won't be until there is more emperical data to assess.
> Hiya all I've found this blog (it takes you straight to my entry)
>
> http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/focussober/vpost?id=1744192&pid=16652993#post16652993
>
> I've never taken much interest in withdrawal complaints before as I believed it was drug company bashing. Hower this Blog and posts, our forum, have been saying for a long time that Effexor has more weird side effects and withdrawal effects than any other psychotropic drug (possible excepting Zyprexa and Xanax). At least with Xanax you have a feel for what's going on - it's called craving.
>
> No-one on the blog seems to be withdrawing from Effexor in order to start another drug. But I start Nardil in 3 days. My doc and pharmacist roughly agreed 1 week to 10 days was enough to get rid of all Effexor traces. But my doc also told me to "stop taking the Effexor". So what does he know? Some people have said it might take a year to taper off
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> The last quarter of my life has mostly been spent in an inner world. Is that the illness, the drug or the effect of changing doses? Is Effexor a serious concern?
>
> Much love
>
> Fred
poster:JouezMoi
thread:457503
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20061224/msgs/743748.html