Effexor side effects/withdrawl

[Sandy Schultz]

I've been reading the Effexor withdrawl symptoms with great gusto because I know EXACTLY what you all mean. It's like everything goes white for a microsecond and all you hear is static. I am trying not to drive right now because it interferes with my ability to see. Those microseconds are happening every 2-3 seconds at times. My doctor has stated I have a high sensitivity to medications. I've not been able to tolerate more than 75 mg.

I was not in a critical place when I started taking Effexor. My dx is PTSD, and we were trying to relieve anxiety. I think Effexor should be used like morphine: with great caution and in the most dire of circumstances. I feel this way because I, a completely healthy woman w/o ANY history of circulatory/immune disorders, had a heart attack. It was due to virally induced pericarditis. One of the side effects of Effexor is a reduced immune system. There is NO way any of you can state that a reduced immune system is "all in my head." If you want, you can see the chest x-ray of my swollen heart. If Effexor caused this kind of problem in the short run, I'm concerned about the future: possible cancer. I understand you all want to help, but LISTEN to your patients. I was a very unusual case in the ER. The doctor didn't make snap judgements like "35's too young", or "this isn't typical for a female", or "the chest pain is psychosomatic." The tests he ran showed I had the enzymes of myocardial infarction. My blood pressure had dropped to 90 over 50. I have not been believed on more than one occasion simply because a doctor knows I have a history of anxiety. One even told me to see a psychiatrist regarding menstrual pain w/o running tests. It turned out I needed surgery for an ovarian cyst. I don't get hysterical. I am a very logical person when describing what's going on. I even came in with a calendar that tracked my symptoms to my gynecologist. He didn't shut up long enough to look at it to see the patterns. There is no excuse for being treated this way just because of a history of depression.

Thank you for letting me vent.

[fiestynurse]

O.K.

[cheryldoug]

Effexor was really helpful for me...it alleviated serious depression and anxiety, however had severe side effects such as migraines/cluster headaches. Decided to go off of it....I felt like I was swimming through the air, the only way to describe it. Out of body is probably a good way to describe it. I remember going running one day and literally forgot where I was......stopped cold turkey and slept as much as I could for 3 days....finally felt better.

While it helped, I've had much better results with zoloft----

My 2cents!

cheryl

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

I guess I lucked out. My doc prescribed Celexa for me, and it has worked ever since. (Now I take its more expensive progeny, Lexapro--can't remember why we switched me.) I never really noticed the change, it's just when I did look, I noticed I wasn't so depressed any more. And for me, it didn't take more than a couple of days. Of course, it could have been the magic of Dr. Placebo.

I still think the combo of antidepressant and psychotherapy is the best--one takes the edge off and the other gives you skills to ward off depression in the future. speaking generally of course, I know there are those of us for whom the problem is totally biochemical and meds are necessary. Then again, one hardly ever hears about withdrawal from therapy, or SE's that are life threatening.

Shame on the docs who didn't believe you. Isn't it fascinating how they all seem to have taken (and apparently think they passed) that course in med school call mind reading????

LOL--hang in there! This too shall pass.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

I took Effexor for several years after I tried every other ADP and this was the ONLY one that actually helped keep me even keeled with no noticable side efx. I went off it (was on a sub-theraputic dose, since I am ultra-sensetive to all drugs) in 1997 and had horible withdrawls from only a 25 mg dose, which lasted a few days. I became quite down in my last semester of RN school in 1999, and went back on it thanks to my PCP who wrote the RX without question or telling me to get help. I didn't need counseling, just the med to correct my brain "imbalance"(?)

I would not go off it for any amount of money now. It helps, or at least doesn't hurt me. I remember withdrawls all too well to chance that again!