Posted by kitkat on September 21, 2002, at 9:06:33
In reply to Re: problems with joint or muscle using efexor? » wr , posted by halck on September 20, 2002, at 10:03:17
I've been taking Effexor for 8 years now, (usually 225 mg./day)and only recently have experienced swelling, joint pain and hand numbness.
Neither I nor my doctor blame Effexor. I'm not familiar with the drug she switched from, was that for depression or something else?
You don't indicate age of your friend, occupation or lifestyle. Has she had blood tests showing any abnormalities? (Mine kick out low B12, high sugar, liver abnormalities and more and I'm going for hepatitis and glucose tests.) I also found that buying a new mattress helped with some of the pain!
Considering that Suzanne Somers had liposuction for the swelling and edema associated with her cancer treatments, has your doctor addressed these symptoms as a possible side effect of that?
Also, I believe from knowledge of 30 to 40-something friends and family (all female) diagnosed with lupus, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia that the depression associated with these diseases is often treated first without looking for the underlying causes. (You must be crazy if we can't find a quick diagnosis?)
I realize this is a long post, but I know how frustrating it can be to search for answers to physical symptoms while struggling with depression and certain side effects of medication.
Is your friend in a cancer support group? I'd think that'd be helpful, and she might find answers to her questions there.
Hope you hang in there and keep asking your doctors questions, and keep insisting that appropriate tests be run until some answer is found.
p.s. Anyone out there familiar with any studies on long-term use of Effexor? I feel like it's not working as well as it used to, don't know if I'm down because of my physical problems or developing a resistance to Effexor.
poster:kitkat
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020914/msgs/120606.html