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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by laura1220 on March 18, 2004, at 10:06:20
I have been taking Effexor for 6 months. I started out on 75 mg, and then went up to 150mg after 1 week.
My Dr. is a family Dr., not a psychiatrist. I went to her with anxiety, I wanted to take Xanax for a few days for the bad times... she said that she didn't want me to get addicted. LOL... addicted ... I can't even get off the effexor.
I really should have stuck to my guns, I don't have generalized Anxiety, I have anxiety for a reason, I was going through a difficult time.
while I was taking the Effexor, I started to get horrible pains in my body... down my arms and in my neck, pain in both hips. They diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and said that it was good that I was already taking effexor... that is what they prescribe to people with fibromyalgia. (or a different anti-depressant.)
Reading the very detailed pamphlet that is given with Effexor 'samples' I discovered that some people may have side effects like pain in their bones and muscles.
I was told that that was rare.. couldn't be me. Rare, yes... but it does happen, why not me.
I have begun weaning off the effexor, pain is gone... so much for fibromyalgia.
Now I am dealing with withdrawal.. I can't hardly stand it I feel like i can literally feel the inside of my brain... i get so dizzy, my face is going numb, I can't concentrate, i can't form sentences at times. tingling, crying, mood swings,
I do feel like I am getting a personality again. One good thing.Has anyone else had experiences like this?
Posted by linkadge on March 18, 2004, at 10:22:10
In reply to Effexor effects, posted by laura1220 on March 18, 2004, at 10:06:20
You need to see another doctor. A doctor should prescribe a benzodiazapine for situational anxiety, that is what they are there for.
I am sorry that you have to go through what you have. The bone pain excuse seems to me that they are feeling a little guilty and are looking for justification for their decision.
In 99% of cases benzo withdrawl is much easier than effexor withdrawl, you need to explain to another docotor what you have gone through and
why you think short term benzo use is appropriate.
Best of LuckLinkadge
Posted by rainyday on March 18, 2004, at 10:29:53
In reply to Effexor effects, posted by laura1220 on March 18, 2004, at 10:06:20
What can I say? There are oodles of posts here about side effects from effexor and withdrawl problems too. They seem to run the gamut of all possible discomforts.
From what my psychiatrist has told me (and I am in the process of decreasing the effexor because of problems with high blood pressure), it is key to titrate very slowly - much more slowly than the ramp up to the dosage you were on.
Good luck,
rainyday
Posted by King Vultan on March 18, 2004, at 11:07:45
In reply to Effexor effects, posted by laura1220 on March 18, 2004, at 10:06:20
I'm glad to see that you are able to think for yourself and apparently have more common sense than your doctor, as the reasonable conclusion to draw from your experience is that the Effexor was what was responsible for your fibromyalgia type effects, no matter how rare the pamphlet says it is. If I'm taking a drug and all of a sudden experience some weird-ass affliction that I've never had before, the prudent thing to do IMO is take a careful look at the drug and its adverse effects and assure myself beyond a reasonable doubt that it's not what's responsible. I'm also somewhat troubled by the reference to Effexor being used for fibromyalgia, as my understanding is that tricyclic antidepressants are much better meds for it than is Effexor. I am not an expert on the affliction, however.
The Effexor withdrawal symptoms will eventually go away. I've gone through two Effexor withdrawals myself and did survive, but the effects while in the midst of a withdrawal can be rather unpleasant. I also noticed that I seemed to have more of a personality off the med and felt that the positive aspects of this offset many of the negatives from the withdrawal symptoms.
Todd
Posted by laura1220 on March 18, 2004, at 11:58:51
In reply to Effexor effects, posted by laura1220 on March 18, 2004, at 10:06:20
Thanks to all for responding. I was going to go to the emergency room last night until I came upon this message board and saw that I was not dying. It is extreamly helpful here. thanks again.
This is the end of the thread.
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