Posted by Sad Panda on May 7, 2004, at 20:43:45
In reply to Re: Effexor, Suicide Tapering Off Meds, posted by harryp on May 7, 2004, at 13:43:16
> Laurie,
>
> What a horrible experience! Thank you very much for sharing it. I am so glad that you are all right.
>
> I was curious if you were using Prozac to relieve the Effexor withdrawal symptoms?
>
> I had a bad reaction to Remeron that your story somewhat reminded me of. The first dose basically turned me into a zombie. I quit taking it, and the next day I wound up spending in a twisted position in my apartment, completely unable to move. I experienced this horrible physical/mental anguish that reminded me of things I had read about heroin withdrawal. I remember being strongly suicdal--not because of depression--but to escape this unbearable sensation. I have a lot of woodworking tools, and I couldn't stop thinking of a fantasy of sawing off my forearm with the mitre saw so I would bleed to death! Thank God I felt better the next day.
>
> I am disturbed because your experience reminds me of some of the "SSRI" suicides I have read about--in which someone not previously suicidal or impulsive suddenly "decides" to kill themselves. You may have read that this effect has been observed in studies of adolescents on SSRI's, and in that poor girl who hanged herself during the E. Lilly (?) drug trial.
>
> If you decide to go off Effexor again (and I think you should eventually--that drug should have a black box warning at least) be careful to have close supervision and Prozac to manage the withdrawal.
>
> I would use TCA's, Welbutrin, or MAOI's in the future. The SSRI's (which is Effexor's main effect as well) drugs are just too risky psychologically, in my opinion.
>
> God bless you, and once again I am so happy you survived. This shouldn't have ever happened to you.
>
>What is sadly ironic is that SSRI's got their foot in the door because they are a lot safer in overdose than the TCA's, only thing is you are more likely to have a paordoxial suicdal or homicidal reaction SSRI's.
Cheers,
Panda.
poster:Sad Panda
thread:344345
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040505/msgs/344564.html