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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Michele on April 20, 2001, at 20:07:37
Hi all. It's been a while..... I'm on my 10th day fron stopping effexor xr and no withdrawal symtoms. Thankfully.
Anyway... I am planning a vacation next week.... I'm wondering what you thought. Seeing as how I haven't shown any withdrawal symtems.... could they develop weeks after discontinuation? Have you ever heard of that? Or am I probably free if I've gone this far without. This vacation is very important to me.. and am willing to postpone it(as opposed to ruining it) if there is still a chance I'll feel something?!
Posted by Cam W. on April 20, 2001, at 23:42:40
In reply to Cam? Anyone.... I'm curious, posted by Michele on April 20, 2001, at 20:07:37
Michele - If you were going to have withdrwal symptoms, they would have happened by now. Just a couple of questions to clarify the situation for others, though.
1) What dose of Effexor were you taking and how many times a day when you quit taking it?
2) Were you taking Effexor or Effexor XR?
3) What were you taking the Effexor for (eg depression, anxiety, neuropathic pain, etc.)?
4) How long had you been taking the Effexor?
5) Did you taper the dose or stop cold turkey?
6) Are you taking another antidepressant, mood stabilizer, antipsychotic, or antianxiety meds (or any other meds, including herbal) right now?
Really, the Effexor (&/or SSRI) withdrawl effects are not that bad in most people. Some people are hypersensitive to the changing serotonin levels in the body. Some people watch more closely for any differences. Some people have rebound relapses of anxiety or depression when stopping a serotonergic drug cold turkey. I have seen more people not have problems stopping Effexor, than have problems.
The Effexor withdrawl effects can start with 12 hours of a missed dose of a regular tablet or within 24 hours of an XR capsule. Sometimes it takes up to 2 to 3 days to get withdrawl effects, seldom longer. I have never seen it after 10 days (this is not to say that it hasn't happened, only that I have never heard of it or been convinced that if problems occur 2 weeks down the line that it is a true withdrawl syndrome). I have seen rebound depression and anxiety occur after a week or two. This generally builds over that 2 weeks and then a full relapse may be seen. Again, this is not a common occurance.
I should be able to answer your question with more authority and confidence after you answer the above questions.
CAVEAT - And no, I do not work for Wyeth-Ayerst, although I have given lectures on serotonergic withdrawl syndrome, the company has not paid me for giving these (although, in the face of the Effexor backlash, I believe that they at least owe me a dinner :-). I have given these lectures as part of my job with Mental Health Services and I am a licenced community pharmacist, as well. The opinions I give are my own and are based on my clinical experience and that of evidence-based medicine and peer-reviewed journals.
I hope that this is of some help. - Cam
Posted by Michele on April 21, 2001, at 0:27:10
In reply to Re: Cam? Anyone.... I'm curious » Michele, posted by Cam W. on April 20, 2001, at 23:42:40
Cam.
Thanks for getting back to me. You've actually answered a lot of my questions before.. but I think there are 3 Michele's on here now.. so It gets confusing.
To answer your questions...
I was on effexor XR for close to 8 weeks
The last 6 weeks were 150mg.
I quit cold turkey... even knowing it's not the best choice... but I kept myself armed with some prozac and benadryl in case.
I stopped because I couldn't handle the side effects any longer. Major.. every one that has been mentioned on the board.
I don't believe I was given the correct medication for me... or for my problems... In other words, I don't trust that my doctor was treating me appropriately... just rushing me out the door. I have been thru some tramatic surgery due to an imcompetent doctor(who left a surgical towel in my chest) after surgery from a car accident. It has caused me some major deformaties. Now... I am depressed, mostly due to the obvious.. and mostly lack of self esteem. I feel this doctor ruined my body. Well... he did.
As far as other medication I take ultram. That's it.I realize I may need medication in the future to help me thu this(I am already feeling a rebound depression... altho I physically feel much better since I quit taking the drug)... but I want to try and handle this without first. If possible. I have who I think is a great therapist... am seeing her three times a week. I have to learn how to deal what has happened to me... and I'm afraid the doc's throwing the drugs at me is just going to mask it. I was never depressed before this... but the pdoc told me there is no such thing as situational depression so I must have been and I have to take AD's. I'm just not sure that is the case. Who knows. I have lost trust in doctors of any shape or form. I went back to the pdoc and told him I quit and how I felt... he just basically through celexa at me... really wasn't listening to my point. Anyway, sorry this ended up so long... I guess I'm just more comfortable to see if I have to take AD's to get through this... before they are thrown at me. Make sense? I'm sorry.. I through in way more than you asked for, but I really trust your knowledge(that's why I directed it to you. :-)) Thanks Cam, Michele
Posted by Michele on April 21, 2001, at 0:39:44
In reply to Cam? Anyone.... I'm curious, posted by Michele on April 20, 2001, at 20:07:37
Cam,
I just read your post below... and to be honest with you... I didn't realize times were tough for you right now... and I'm sorry to bombard you. You have enough to think about. All the posts I've read from you... were always so knowledgable... I thought it was more study than experience... I think I read you had a relative in the industry? Sorry to assume that you weren't dealing with this yourself.... and may you find a zillllion remissions!!!
Posted by Cam W. on April 21, 2001, at 0:46:56
In reply to Re: Cam? Anyone.... I'm curious » Cam W., posted by Michele on April 21, 2001, at 0:27:10
Michele - Sorry to hear about your experiences with the healthcare system. I hope that you are able to switch docs, if you can't patch things up with this one. A good patient/doctor relationship paramount in any therapy working (it is called concordance).
I'm lucky to be working in the field, so I basically get referred to the best by the best. My pdoc is excellent, but I was referred to him by one of the top docs in the province, who is also a friend. I guess that this is one of the perks of the job. As I was told, "We take care of our own, so we can take care of others."
As for your vacation, I realy think that you will be fine. It may actually help to take your mind off of your depression. I truly cannot see you getting any withdrawl symptoms at this late stage.
I hope that this is of some help. - Cam
P.S. Have a good trip.
Posted by Cam W. on April 21, 2001, at 0:56:44
In reply to Re: Cam? P.s., posted by Michele on April 21, 2001, at 0:39:44
Michele - Nope no relative in the industry. I have given talks for drug companies for dinners, hotel rooms, and airfare, and the occasional honorarium, but I don't "work" for drug company or endorse any drug over another (probably one reason why I don't get more "paying gigs").
The drug company thing was a nasty rumor on the big Effexor thread. I'm just a freelancer, with an inquenchable thirst for clinical knowledge.
- Cam
Posted by Michele on April 21, 2001, at 1:13:16
In reply to Re: Cam? P.s. » Michele, posted by Cam W. on April 21, 2001, at 0:56:44
Cam,
Thanks... thanks for the advice... and for you having that inquenchable thirst for knowledge which definately help a lot of us laymen.Actually.. I realize I didn't word it that well... but I wasn't implying the drug industry.. as far as that. I thought I might have read something about you working in a pharmacy.or a doctor of some kind .. but.. no, didn't hear the rumor. Anyone can tell your sincere. Thanks.... and the best of luck to you.
This is the end of the thread.
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