Posted by willow on March 8, 2001, at 17:24:06
In reply to Re: If you have ever used Effexor ... » willow, posted by Cam W. on March 8, 2001, at 7:04:30
"You can still find psychiatrists (but mainly GPs; who BTW, treat a majority of depressions) who still do not know of that the Effexor's short half-life is causing problems (in a majority of people, it is not - really).
There is a problem with withdrawl symptoms only if the withdrawl is not handled properly. It is up to the drug company (Wyeth-Ayerst) to launch an education campaign for the physicians (and possibly the patients, as well), on how to watch for and treat serotonin withdrawl."I was prescirbed effexor by my family doctor. After starting to read some of the threads concerning this medication I thought I would ask the doctor about it. He seemed knowledgable about the drawbacks of the medication but didn't seem concerned. He had orginally given me a sample which I presume he had recieved from a rep of Wyeth-Ayerst. Inside the samples were pamphlets with information regarding the medication, and I'm presuming the doctor must get a more detailed one.
"I would like to see a study done that actually determines the true extent Effexor withdrawl;"
Effexor was the first AD to list heart palipations as a side. I've had this and other side effects with other ADs. The doctors just disregarded them and said that I had anxiety about taking medications. I think we still have a lot to learn about how drugs interact with differnt people.
Regarding not wanting to post something that may have truth to it but people don't want to hear it, they always have the option of closing the window until they're ready to listen. I think the truth though even it can bring pain with it is a lot more helpful in the long wrong.
"... it is being used very extensively, at the moment."
Why is it being prescribed so much? Should it only be used after other medications have failed? I wonder if I would have tolerated the first three months if I had to go to work every day or function at home without support, and this was with increasing the dosage by 37.5mg every three to four weeks. Plus, knowing that the side-effects for myself weren't as bad as the other ADs I had used.
"With the efficacy and widespread use of Effexor, it is not going to be taken off the market any time soon."
This I am glad to hear!
"If emotion could be left out of the discussion of Effexor withdrawl, perhaps we could arrive at a consensus of the best ways to monitor for and treat this phenonmenon."
Myself having a somatisation disorder, I don't believe that we can ever seperate the emotional component from the physical. : ) I think this logic is showing your scientific background.
"the need for public awareness of serotonin syndrome, so that it will not take people by surprize. Perhaps Wyeth-Ayerst should begin a physician education campaign."
I'm not familar with serotonin syndrome, but will look it up for something to do.
"Effexor is too valuable a medication to be removed from the market."
I concur! But is there any reason I couldn't take this medication indefinitively?
Cam thanks so much again for your reassurance and taking the time to share your knowledge.
Willow
poster:willow
thread:55894
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010302/msgs/55950.html