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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rjk on July 19, 2002, at 7:23:25
I never felt remotely myself when I was taking Effexor and put it down to the fact that I was still unwell. It was only when I stopped taking it that I realised Effexor was actually making me feel worse. Perhaps everyone who has been on meds for a long time should give themselves a break to see whether or not they actually still need them.
Posted by Phil on July 19, 2002, at 9:15:51
In reply to Effexor sucks!, posted by rjk on July 19, 2002, at 7:23:25
That's okay for people with minor depression but those who have been on meds 20+ years, it's a no brainer. Don't stop meds. I know this from what the doctors say and what I experience.
The black dog always returns.
Posted by taun on July 19, 2002, at 11:49:40
In reply to Effexor sucks!, posted by rjk on July 19, 2002, at 7:23:25
regarding not feeling "yourself" i didn't know how "myself" felt,until i started on effexor xr.
in the first 2 weeks i realized that "the ache"
was going away....and is now completely gone.
this allows me to deal with the overwhelming issues that have caused the hurt in the first place.i can think and make decisions in a rational
way.. emotion is still there,but is "normal" and controllable.it is an odd feeling....and at first i thought the drug was not allowing me to feel anything,having "felt " things so abnormally for so long.(years) i describe it to my family like this,"i feel like i just got here!, to the planet i mean!)and that does make me sad, i've missed out on so much....i have no intention of going off this drug unless my dr recommends it!oh, and for those of you concerned about weight gain,my experience has been the loss of 35 pounds.i still eat,but i just don't want to eat as much. i also don't have the craving for sweets that i used to have! i consider this a bonus!
i did have dry mouth for about a week,and i slept about 14 hours a day for the first 2 weeks,(which was wonderful after having slept for 3-4 hours a day for years!)now i can sleep 6-8 hours, it's great! the stress and issues are still there
but i am gaining on them....i will never let this
nasty thing
"get" me again!!!!
Posted by jay on July 19, 2002, at 15:31:57
In reply to Effexor sucks!, posted by rjk on July 19, 2002, at 7:23:25
> I never felt remotely myself when I was taking Effexor and put it down to the fact that I was still unwell. It was only when I stopped taking it that I realised Effexor was actually making me feel worse. Perhaps everyone who has been on meds for a long time should give themselves a break to see whether or not they actually still need them.
Well, there are risks to going off it too. When I went off it, I became suicidal, so that's not exactly the smartest thing either. As someone else said on here...there are side effects while on meds, and side effects to life off meds.
Jay
Posted by BekkaH on July 19, 2002, at 23:51:42
In reply to Effexor sucks!, posted by rjk on July 19, 2002, at 7:23:25
Hi rjk,
I did very poorly on Effexor, too. I call it "Ineffexor." A friend of mine calls it "Side Effexor."
Bekka
Posted by McPac on July 22, 2002, at 16:58:37
In reply to Re: Effexor sucks! - rjk, posted by BekkaH on July 19, 2002, at 23:51:42
Bekka
How about "Ef-Effexor" (as in "F*** Effexor, lol)
Posted by Gabbi on July 23, 2002, at 4:25:16
In reply to Re: Effexor sucks! » rjk, posted by jay on July 19, 2002, at 15:31:57
I think recommending that someone 'go off' there medication to see if they still need it, is really a slippery slope. Perhaps if they are dysthymic, but not for clinical depression.
I found when I stopped taking my medication and (it took me 3 times to clue in) that the depression is insidious, its not like you wake up one morning and think "Oh I'm depressed"
For me it was so slow in its return that I thought each time it was external in its cause and that I was completely helpless. I've O'd'd
three times, because of this. When l am well unable to recall how horrifying and how "real" it feels.
This is a bit reductive, but I wouldn't recommend someone not take their medication to just see if they have another heart attack or not, and depression is deadly too.
Posted by hildi on July 24, 2002, at 19:42:17
In reply to Effexor sucks!, posted by rjk on July 19, 2002, at 7:23:25
I recently tried again to go med-free. I remember feeling pretty good for the first couple days, experienced feelings that were hidden underneath the meds. I could think clearly again- what a joy!
Then it hit. My depression is an anxiety-filled type. The experience of being in this is nothing short of hell. Nothing I can do or say will calm me down out of my agitated, anxious, hyper mania state I get into when I'm med-free.
I don't have a choice. I cannot live like that. It wouldn't be possible, unless I kept myself stoned and drunk 24/7- but that almost killed me , too.
Now I am slowly trying to get on meds again. I'm having a hard time finding something to work for me, but when I do find something I can take that helps me I will not try to go med-free again.
Hildi
This is the end of the thread.
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