Judge it!
After I went to ER with really bad headache. I was
told Too Much Coffee. Then I was put in Sheppard Pratt. And I too was told Bi Polar Bull shit.
Criminal Mal Practice. Drug Free 6 Months and feeling better except my liver bugs me but I have been told Gall Bladder stones. But at this point I don't trust them. Due to the fact that 6 Doctors never said crap about serotonin withdrawal and having my blood taken about 10 times.
Plus muscle aches put it will probably take another 6 months.
Nor did any Doctor say you were being made sick from Effexor. Pathetic really.
Comments (Page 33)
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Dear Pitboss and anyone else who is feeling horrible while taking this drug...I started taking Effexor XR 5 years ago - I had been on and off antidepressants from the time I was 18. I was very active and healthy - physically demanding work daily, up until last October, too much pain - thought it was old injuries....
In the past year I have had: a scope of my bladder - hard to treat infections; a barium enema - for inconsistent bowels and pain; ultrasound on my thyroid - for unknown swelling; ultrasound on my kidneys, bladder, pelvic region - for irregular periods, kidney pain, bladder infections; I have had IV antibiotics on 2 different occassions - bladder and a scrapped leg from baseball - the antibiotics would not work on these infections until a strong IV dose. Night sweats all the time; Easily overheated - sweating Vivid dreams; high cholesterol; weight gain; irregular thyroid hormones; headaches; body aches - like I have been hit by a truck!! Obsession; Lack of emotion catch every cold or bug out there; irritability; loss of libido; MRI; xrays; sent to specialists - 3 different ones. I have experienced vertigo for three months - accupuncture seemed to help; Could not recover from muscle injuries.... acne; Increased sebum - or very oily skin; Major lack of focus; major fatigue........ My doctor and I decided to up my dose during all of this.... I recently went to a licensed Naturopath - he explained that the hypothalmus and pituitary gland are not able to communicate - thus causing mixed messages to the thyroid; thus causing my hashimoto disease like symptoms and such. He went on to explain the fatigue, the cholesterol - an increase in cortisol, and that then causes the fat building - which I am told is harder to loss than regular fat - I am now 207 lbs - I was 150 lbs and a size 9 when I started. I can go on and on and on..... but I am soo dissapointed that after all of the invasive tests and fears and horrible dreams - I quit smoking, caffeine, changed my eating habits and diet..... The doctors never told me it could be the Effexor... It really helped me when I needed it - I was not able to take my life and my moods in my own hands - I did not have the skills. Now that I have done soo many things to improve my life, my quality of life is soooo horrible right now. The medication has served its purpose and now I must take the helm... otherwise I will just keep getting worse.... The naturopath that is treating me put me on a plan - to improve my body functions and get off the effexor. I am done 1 week of a three week plan - did not take my 150mg today and have not experienced the horrible "ZAPS" that normally would have started around 10 am. I do feel a little off - but considering.... I will take my usual 150 mg dose tomorrow then none the next day - the following week only 2 pills all week - he has given me homeopathic remedies to help with the withdrawal symptoms. As for the rest of the stuff for three weeks - there have been some not so great effects - but it has to get worse before it begins to get better - the 3rd day I set my treadmill up and speed walked for 20 mins after my 3 kids went to bed. I have had NO extra energy for at least 4 months!!!! I will post how well my withdrawal is from the effexor further down the road - I am confident that I will have less effects than some of the other people that have posted - because of the naturopath. If interested here is a link to his site - perhaps his info can help others find a practitioner in their area.... http://www.natureshealthclinic.net/testimonia... I am so thankful for this forum - I had no idea and everyone should be made aware of the ramifications of taking this med. Take care all - good luck Pitboss and all others ........ |
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TanaBear,
I will bet you will start feeling better in a Month or 2 once you go off. I am 50 year old man. I am losing weight (i too went up) I don't sweat as much and I don't fall asleep out of the blue driving. I now have more energy. In the beginning the Effexor seam to make me feel good just made me sweat. But it turned on me and almost killed me. No more acid reflux No more ankle pain Leg pain still (needs to work of system) More energy losing weight and confusion is going away (while on Effexor at the end of my experience I too was on 5 years)I was losing my car. I could not find it twice (my wife had to find it.) I was falling asleep at the dinner table right after eating. that is gone too. I got really bad dandruff about 2 months after being off and some hair fell out. I have been off since 04-19-09. I could not even remember what ER Entrance I was driven too. enterence. |
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I was on effexor for nearly 5 years going from 150 mg a day to eventually 325mg
In the end I was more dpressed on this drug than off of it I slept constantly had no interest in life and has serious sexual disfunction. I hated the fact that if you missed a dose the world started moving in all directions and you sweated gallons for no reason. I weaned myself off this drug in a week by taking two 20 mgs doses of prozac it helped with the side effects massively... However three years on I still get brainzap as I am waking out of sleep... still over sensitive to both heat and cold still get muscle cramps and pains and tingling numb hands. It's the best thing I ever did getting off this drug I needed it in the begining but it eventually became part of the problem and the withdrawl effects are absolutely horrendous! I try and manage my depression and anxiety (which is severe) with really vigorous exercise (when I can manage) and seeing a psychotherapist once a week... I will never be rid of my depression or anxiety completely but I know that the alternative (taking antid's)is so awful that I will manage some how! |
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Thank you so much for your info Howdy...It is truly frightening what this drug can do in the long term. As I mentioned, I began taking Effexor at 180 lbs and 5'10; I am now 240lbs and lack the energy to do anything. I have changed diet and try to exercise, however, nothing seems to work. I look forward to your updates and greatly appreciate your words...Take care all... |
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my dr. prescribed effexor for menopausal symptons. what a big mistake. after about 1 yr it stopped working, so i started experiencing hot flashes again. so I decided to get off. I went from one pill every other day, to skipping two days, then 3 days and finally 4 days. No matter, I'm sick as hell. I'm now experiencing flu-like symptoms and sleep all day. It's been 11 days drug free. Can't say that I'm back to normal and its been 5 months withdrawing. Still no sex drive. Unbelievable!
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Oh my god, I know exactly what your going through. I forgot to refill my prescription so I didnt take it for 1 day. I was in hell-I couldnt focus, I was shakey, everything was blurry, I could not concentrate, and the tingling and zapping so uncontrollable. This is a LIFE drug. |
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i was on effexor xr 150mg a day for about 4 months, prior to that it had been 75 mg a day. i had gained about 50 pounds over two years prior to the increase, but following the increase... WOW
I began having excessive sweating, heart rate problems, blood pressure problems, and when i would have the sweating issues, it was like someone was pouring acid on my skin!!!!! I'm off of it altogether now, but I continue to have horrible blood pressure problems and heart rate problems as well. I'm so glad to be off of it. I can walk to my classes without breaking out in a stinging sweat, but continue to have heart problems. It worries me a great deal. I hope the makers are held accountable in some manner. |
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I too had kidney issues 18 infection in 2 years same here with the different infections they continued even after I quit effexor for anther 6months or so. MRI's specialist ditto plus much more. I went to three different hosp in three cities and nobody could or would tell me why I was vomitting bile and couldnt eat plus a ton of nuerological problems. I am 2 years post cold turkey today I am better still have pain ruq (right upper quadrant) Had liver cysts they say are gone but liver is still fatty. I had my gallbladder out in 98 so it isn't that. While waiting on mri results for suspected ms I went to a health food store where they recommended fish oil I took it for year before I quit effexor. I have been scouring the internet trying to find an answer. Time and a very slow taper is what I have found so far. I am thinking you may be in pooped out have reached tolerance so you are in withdrawal already while still taking the drug- or that is my understanding and experience with it all. Due to the short half life of effexor maybe a lower dose on a reg basis would be a better idea just a thought. Since you do have access to a homeo doc already and there is not way I can afford one I was wondering if you would run this link by him. It states chronic fluoride toxicity as a result of antidepressant use it is odd the some symptoms coincide with what we here about side effect and withdrawal.http://www.healthya lterego.com/index.php/2009/11/ protect-your-kids-iq quotes from the article If you are taking an antidepressant for years then you are at risk for chronic fluoride toxicity. joint pain and weak tendons, joint pain, cloudy thinking, headaches, bowel disorder such as bloating and constipation or diarrhea, increased occurrence of infertility, thyroid disorders I have contacted the author and asked for links to scientific studies but have not heard back yet. |
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I also have the same intimacy problem. I find that I can stop taking effexor for a day or two (ie skip friday night dose) and im ok for the weekend. If the side effects dont bother you then maybe that is worth a try. Doctors are apparently also catching onto this an have started recommending it. |
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Intimacy is a huge issue more so for married people I guess but I sure miss sex going on 4 years now without any at all and longer than that for any sex that I could say I really felt. Sexual numbness is a horrid thing I am talking here about sex organs being numb not having any desire is the side of this ball both sides suck. So if I come off as angry at the drug companies I am and wonder how mad they would be if their sex life disappeared for 5 years:( I HATE EFFEXOR!
I am 2year off the sexual feelings on a strange nature come back rarely at this point but it is nothing useful a strange sexual feeling washes over in the middle of the grocery store and believe me when I say my thinking is not lining up at all with my physical sexual feeling. It makes me feel like a freak now I am glad it is coming back in some fashion it gives me hope but at 2years off there is nothing useful or human about the type of sexual feelings that have returned. |
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I have printed off your post and will ask my doc about the article and it's relations.... I will get back to you with his answer soon - I have now reduced my dose to 37.5mg every second day - I have a homeopathic drop that helps with the irritability and zaps, a tablet that helps with anxiety and another tablet that helps the depression - I use these when I experience the withdrawal symptoms so my body doesn't think it needs the effexor anymore. I am already not sweating as much, my energy has increased immensly and I can think clearly more often now..... I will keep you posted... |
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Thank you can't wait to hear what your doc has to say. I have been thinking about the salt cravings many get in pooped out and suggested long ago we were needing the iodine as many reported fatigues during the cravings. I think humans have survived this long because our bodies are smart and is some cases we mess up because we think we are smarter :)
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I personally would not do everyother day. The Drug has a half life of 5 hrs. I would think you are going up and down. You mght want to do the bead counting thing. Since NOT one of 7 Doctors told me anything about anything I am concerned about what they were doing. Me in the ER was told. "TOO MUCH COFFEE." Then I was placed in the Shrink Palace and put on Depakote and Risperdal. I had thought I had had a stroke or something. Nobody told me anything. Those 2 drugs almost killed me my legs swelled to balloons in a week. I went into panic and started researching all this crap on the web. I removed myself off these drugs IMMEDIATELY. Chopping them up to wean myself. I was placed (without my approval) in ONE of the Best Shrink Palces in the USA. yea Not a Happy Camper. |
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I took Effexor Xr for approximately 4and 1 half years. The side effects that i suffered have nothing to do with sex. I took it for depression and anxiety. I have lost a good deal of memory. It sometimes takes me 15 minutes to think of a word that i need to use in a sentence. I have also the inability to comprehend new information. I do not understand what is being said to when people speak to fast. It has ruined my life. I can no longer to the job that i did for over 20 years. This drug needs to be taken off the market and re evaluated. Class action suite...Hell yes
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Joined: Jan 19, 2009 Comments: 4 |
WHAT IS THE ANSWER?! I've read many of these listed blogs and see that several of you have had the same problem I have encountered over the prolonged use of Effexor XR. Weight Gain. I cant stop it! I jog an hour a day (4 days a week); Watch what I eat (not dieting, though); Rarely eat out. I've gained 60 pounds. It sucks! I've gone from a size 7 to a size 13. I'm ready to throw away these pills. Somebody tell me? How do I stop this weight gain before I explode!!!!! PLEASE!
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I have been on Effexor 375--yes three hundred and seventy five--and I'm pretty sure it's killing me slowly. Try getting off it--it's impossible unless you have 2 weeks to spare to puke, shiver, cry, and want to die. Avoid unless you are at the very very last possible option. it works on depression--but the cost is that you are hooked for life.
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Woah--effexor reaches its peak at what it can do at 375. it is my opinion based on informal research that you are on 75 too much. I have been on 375 since 2000. I hate what it is doing to me, and no I cannot get off it without major side effects. We are hooked. We make the drug company money at the cost of our lives and well-being. The only thing I can suggest is to go off it VERY VERY slowly and at VERY VERY small decreases at a time. Best of luck to you. |
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I had the same problem. The difference between you and I is that you appear to be aware of your issues while still experiencing them. For me I was too dense to know I was dense. It is only after getting off effexor that my brain came back online enough to be aware of what had happenned. While in that state I lost all too including my home and very was very close to losing my life. I shudder to think of all the things that could have been. Tho I am bitter and angry at all the loss I am now aware of how lucky I am to be here at all. When I think of all the crazy things I did and chances I took. I hope you can get off safely. |
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Daily Horoscope for December 15
Sagittarius
A little tact goes a long way today, enabling you to navigate your way through what has the potential to be a tricky situation. Luckily, things will work out well and you'll be pleased with the way you handled everything. If you're talking to a neighbor or close relative, beware of raising their hopes about something if you already know that it won't be happening.
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