RE: Just say NO to Effexor

[Guest guest]

I was on Effexor for several years and did not have that kind of withdrawal. My doc weaned me slowly while bringing me up on another antidepressant. Each person's tolerance to a drug is different.

Dusty

-----Original Message-----From: VulvarDisorders [mailto:VulvarDisorders ] On Behalf Of Sandi SharpSent: Friday, April 07, 2006 8:29 AMTo: VulvarDisorders Subject: Just say NO to Effexor

Hi ,

Don't go on Effexor if you are concerned about withdrawal. It was a nightmare for me. I had no problem getting off Neurontin, ELavil, Tegretol, Doxepin, ZOloft. Effexor is very addictive to your body ( not the mind addiction). I was disabled from the dizziness and head zapping when I phased off of Effexor gradually. I called the pharm company and they said that this was a common experience. There are some support websites like this one dedicated to Effexor withdrawal and there are people who have tried to get off of it for months and years.

It didn't help my pain at all either but does help some.

Sandi

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[Guest guest]

Dusty, I weaned slowly too . As slow as possible. If you look on the net you will see that this is a dangerous med when it comes to withdrawal. I think the reason you didn't get the withdrawal is b/c you took another antidepressant while weaning. I have heard of that helping. You were very lucky! Sandi

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[Guest guest]

That is true. It is even directed that patients taper off when quitting in the patient information pamphlet enclosed with the drug.

Dusty

-----Original Message-----From: VulvarDisorders [mailto:VulvarDisorders ] On Behalf Of anne1105@...Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 6:10 PMTo: VulvarDisorders Subject: Re: Just say NO to Effexor

hi,

i haven't posted here in a long time because my symptoms have abated, but i saw the post on effexor and wanted to add my experience. after being on effexor for about 6 months, i missed two days dosage and had terrible anxiety...a meltdown. i decided to get off it but it took 3 months of lowering the dose to finally stop taking it. effexor is one of those drugs you have to be very careful about stopping suddenly. anyway, that was my experience.

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry Sandi, I didn't mean to sound like you don't know of what you speak. I know without question that there are withdrawal problems. It states it very clearly in the patient information pamphlet. Many other antidepressants have the same side effect. In fact, as I mentioned in my earlier email , many drugs for many ailments also have such serious side effects. I am a testament to it. My doc had me withdraw cold turkey from HRT and I am today, as a result of that idiotic direction, a member of this list and suffering from vulvodynia! What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't make this a 'dangerous' drug - or at least any more dangerous than anything else the pharmaceuticals concoct for us. It depends on an individuals chemistry. Some people would quit HRT cold turkey and never have a bad day again.... I wasn't so lucky. Neither were you on Effexor. That's all I'm saying.

I had to taper off of Effexor, Xanax , Serzone and a few others for they all have severe withdrawal symtoms if not gradually reduced. Conversely, I had to go up slowly as well, gradually adding dosage. Had to do the same with my thyroid meds and my HRT.

My goodness, there are studies that prove that cold turkey stopping of daily meds for pain cause withdrawal headaches (simple things like aspirin and tylenol), so we are advised to taper from those.

In the end though, that doesn't mean that the drugs themselves , when in use and being used properly, aren't beneficial to the users.

Sorry I wasn't clear

Dusty

-----Original Message-----From: VulvarDisorders [mailto:VulvarDisorders ] On Behalf Of Sandi SharpSent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 6:35 PMTo: VulvarDisorders Subject: RE: Just say NO to Effexor

No Dusty,

I did a lot of research on this at the time - last January. There are many, many people going through withdrawal - it is known as the hardest antidepressant to get off of. The people who do not have problems are those that are switching to another antidepressant. I am not a unique experience. I would guess that over half the people who get off of Effexor have SERIOUS problems with it - even when they wean slowly. If anyone would like to know more they can call the pharmaceutical company directly like I did. They freely admitted that the terrible disabling brain zapping is very common and they informed me it can take up to 6 months for the zapping to go away. You were lucky Dusty. I know what I am talking about.

Sandi

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[Guest guest]

Hi Dusty, My point is though that Effexor IS more dangerous to get off of than the others. Not just my experience. It is a huge problem and there are support groups like this one just for people, who have had no problems with other antidepressants, who can't get off of Effexor. Effexor's unique withdrawal problems is not due to my bad luck. I think that Effexor has helped some women so it has its good points. But users should know that it is very "addictive" in the fact that people can go through nightmares getting off of it EVEN WHEN WEANING. I think there are even class action lawsuits b/c of this problem. ANyone using it should be aware of this problem. I think that ther best way to get off of it is to taper down it and TAPER UP another antidepressant. That will greatly reduce your risk of being disabled from the

electrical zapping that is unique to Effexor withdrwawl. Sandi

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[Guest guest]

I took myself off HRT patch and that was the beginning of the vulvodynia for me!! love, ML

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul [mind, will and emotions] and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

<< a My doc had me withdraw cold turkey from HRT and I am today, as a result of that idiotic direction, a member of this list and suffering from vulvodynia! What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't make this a 'dangerous' drug - or at least any more dangerous than anything else the pharmaceuticals concoct for us. It depends on an individuals chemistry. Some people would quit HRT cold turkey and never have a bad day again.... I wasn't so lucky. Neither were you on Effexor. That's all I'm saying.

I had to taper off of Effexor, Xanax , Serzone and a few others for they all have severe withdrawal symtoms if not gradually reduced. Conversely, I had to go up slowly as well, gradually adding dosage. Had to do the same with my thyroid meds and my HRT.

Sorry I wasn't clear[ >>

[Guest guest]

I am getting in this discussion kind of after the fact, sorry.

Sandi, I had just tapered up to 150 mg of Effexor when I read your

comments about it from about a year ago. I was shocked that nobody

had warned me about this.

It has helped a little bit. NOt really cured but it does blunt the

pain to where it doesn't get all that bad. I'd class it as somewhat

better than Amatriptyline.

I tapered off from Zoloft prior to starting Effexor. That was

*interesting*. Everything seemed to be moving very slowly but in

fact I was speeded up relative to the rest of the world. It was

weird.

> I think that Effexor has helped some women so it has its good

points. But users should know that it is very " addictive " in the

fact that people can go through nightmares getting off of it EVEN

WHEN WEANING. I think there are even class action lawsuits b/c of

this problem.

>

> ANyone using it should be aware of this problem. I think that

ther best way to get off of it is to taper down it and TAPER UP

another antidepressant. That will greatly reduce your risk of being

disabled from the electrical zapping that is unique to Effexor

withdrwawl.

>

> Sandi

>