~Effexor Withdrawal...Brain Zaps And Other Issues The Drug Companies Forgot To Mention

2008-08-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

My sincerest apologies...
Sometimes LIFE gets in the way of us having the time to pursue the issues we find so very important. Unfortunately that is what has happened here...

This blog has been off-line for a very long time and after several attempts to recover my research information and your emails, after a computer meltdown in early 2008, (Can we say "back-ups"? :-), I am re-introducing it today in hopes that it will rekindle an interest in, and inform others of, the prescription medication known as EFFEXOR.

I am interested in your comments and your stories, so if you have something to share please send them to my new address:

effexorresearch@gmail.com

Additionally, for those of you who may be checking back...thank you for your continued support of this blog and please feel free to leave a comment here or email me at the above address with your updates as well.

2006-01-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

Please contact me using the following email address:

effexorresearch@gmail.com

2005-08-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am still doing my research...On EFFEXOR and other antidepressants

I also have a new email address for you...

I wanted to write and let everyone know how much I appreciate the words of encouragement and heartfelt support which you have given to me, both in my journey, and in the writing of my book. I get MANY letters each week asking if I am still working on the book
...the answer is YES!

I must admit that when I decided to embark upon this project, I thought it would move toward publication much faster than it actually has. Daily life, personal and family obligations have taken priority as well as another move, and after several months of "down time" I have picked up where I left off and am forging ahead with my research.

Being self employed has meant that I must make what money I can at every available opportunity, so that should it become necessary, I will be able to publish the book MYSELF since, as of this date, no one has offered to publish the information on this controversial subject. I will be looking at writing grants in the next couple of months so if anyone reading this has any ideas in that area please, I would appreciate your passing them along.

Now, for those of you who may have written in these past few months and have not received an answer from me, I want to apologize. I know just the writing is therapeutic for many of you, but I also know it is nice to hear from someone WHO HAS BEEN THERE! I have to tell you though, that I receive SO MANY emails in a week, that if I attempted to answer them all, it would leave me even less time to continue my work. I do read every single letter I receive however, and I think of the stuggles you are enduring... and it's those letters that keep me going, and keep me determined to get the word out to others about the side-effects and withdrawals that so many of us have suffered.

As I continue my research, I would like to ask today for your help...

If you have written in the past, please send me an update on how things are going now.

If you are now taking EFFEXOR or another antidepressant please write and let me know if you are having any difficulty with side effects etc.

If you are in the EFFEXOR withdrawal stage or have gone through ANY antidepressant withdrawal PLEASE tell me about it.

I really need anyone who has been there or is there right now to write and tell me YOUR STORY.

Please remember too that I may need to contact you, (either for clarification or I may just need more information), so please make certain that you include a current working email address as well.

I wish you well and again, if you would like to send me your story or any information regarding EFFEXOR or any other anti-depressant medication... I would greatly appreciate it.

My new email address for this research project is:

effexorresearch@gmail.com

Always,

~deb~

2004-05-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Day 55 Thanks for your letters...

Yes, withdrawal is HELL...And, it was enough to make ME want to start taking EFFEXOR again too. But I stood my ground and I threw out all my pills one day so there was no way I would surrender to them. It's as if we are their slaves isn't it?

My hope is that everyone can get to that point of never going back ...You will certainly thank yourself for it many times!

I have not updated my journal recently but I tried to keep up with all the letters I have received. I am falling behind once again though, so thought I would do this update for those who have written: (and you should see how many people write to me each day and ask this same question...."HOW MUCH LONGER DOES THIS GO ON??")

As for how long it lasts and how I am doing?... Well, I still have an occasional zap or two, but the really rough stuff is over and those awful dreams have settled down so now they only happen about once every week or 10 days...I would say that overall I am pretty much back to "normal" .

I do still cry, for no real reason at times, but even those little jags have started to subside and are less frequent than they were a few weeks ago.

I am hearing from some former users who say they are better after only a few days or weeks off EFFEXOR, while others tend to take up to 6 months to really feel whole again. Everyone's body is different so everyone will have their own timeline I suppose. I am still concerned about the LONG TERM EFFECTS OF THIS AND ALL THE OTHER AD DRUGS and am still working on my book. Any insight any of you wish to provide will be very beneficial to the project. Please drop me a line.

My excuse for not keeping up is that I have been pre-occupied with our upcoming move (this weekend), and am also suffering from a re-occurring sciatic nerve problem I have had for over 4 years.

The original nerve damage came about when I was walking along beside a young teen (who had been hit by a car so was a paraplegic), confined to a wheelchair. His wheelchair was one of those top of the line jobs, brand new with all the attachments. His left wheel left the sidewalk as we were walking along and caught itself in that little space between the sidewalk and the lawn. As he began to tip over sideways, I grabbed for the chair out of instinct. What I didn't know when I grabbed onto that chair was that it weighed over 500 lbs., (that still seems amazing to me).

At the point of my pulling on the chair though, I heard ripping and popping in my lower back, neck, shoulder and right arm. I knew I had done some serious damage. Someone happened by just then and saw the dilemma we were in so stopped to help. Even the two of us had a hard time pulling on that chair, trying to upright it, but finally with the help of the driver, (he used the forward and reverse levers to rock himself loose), it spun itself free he was able to drive it forward out of the hole.

Anyway, to end all my rambling here, I have suffered off and on with both shoulder and arm problems and the back/leg problem which is so bad at times I can barely walk. I am so hesitant to take any drugs since I am worried about their SIDE EFFECTS, that I usually just suffer through the 2 weeks or so of inconvenience and then I am fine again.
This time it has been a bit different. The pain has lasted over a month, I am living on Aleve and yet, I can still barely pull myself out of bed in the mornings and can't stand for very long at all.

Even through all this, (which, by the way, is still much easier than getting off the EFFEXOR was for me), I have somehow managed to find us a new home and now I'm trying to pack for our move this weekend.

I do apologize to everyone who has written and has not received a reply from me. I am still here and I STILL CARE!! I know what each of you is going through and I am still working hard on my research and I need to have everyone of you write to me and let me know HOW the withdrawal and the side effects have effected YOUR LIVES!

Take Care and keep me posted as to how your days go...REMEMBER...YOU CAN DO THIS AND MANY HAVE!!!
All my best,
~deb~
beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

Day 17 WITHOUT Effexor and why won't these aches go away?

I woke up this morning with a good attitude and a clear mind, both of which will help me today as I have a few phone calls to return, and a lot of miscellaneous chores to accomplish along with my work.

My plan was to go to the gym today too, and I still may do that, but I have been bothered by another problem that has just recently surfaced (within the last week anyway), and that is the fact that I am achy, and I woke up feeling it again this morning.

My lower back bothers me the most, but my legs, and even my feet hurt too. Has anyone else had this ACHY feeling? I attributed it to the “flu-like” feeling people wrote about experiencing during withdrawal but is this what its like?

Hopefully, it will go away long enough for me to get a few things done and
I really hope it’s not another “after-effect” of Effexor...

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-18T21:28:00.000-07:00

Day 35 Since Starting The Taper and Day 16 WITHOUT Effexor

I thought by now I would be back to my normal self...after 2 weeks...well, I guess can say I am much much better than I was that 1st week of withdrawal and even better now than the second, but why am I not “back to normal?”

I am still having:
brain zaps, (mostly in the afternoons now),
sudden bouts of crying,
some short term memory loss,
vision problems,
the problem of “swishing” in my head when I turn or raise it too quickly,
headache,
nausea,
vivid dreams,
bouts of extreme hunger,
dry mouth and dehydration, (at night only),
and trouble focusing long enough to make a decision.

Case in point regarding the focusing problem and decision making...I was shopping today and I picked up several items as I went up and down the isles. As I walked further I would stop and think about each one and gradually I was changing my mind and putting each of them back. When I got up to the counter to pay, I had hardly any items left to purchase! (Great way to save money but...It was exhausting to have done all that shopping and then to have placed so many items back and to have come home without some which I really did need.) All this because I just couldn’t decide! I hope this little annoying decision-making problem go away soon...it is very much NOT ME!

While I have experienced some of the above problems during the course of taking my medication, and others during the withdrawal, I expected them to be gone within a couple of weeks... They are still with me and it is very discouraging...

I'm hanging in there though...I know it can only get better from here but I wonder about how long it is going to take...

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-17T20:56:00.000-07:00

Day 34 Some UPS...Some DOWNS

I felt pretty good this morning. Again, no nausea, not dizzy, but I did have some strange dreams...only strange... not frightening. As the day progressed though things went from good to bad and then to worse and I almost wished... (at one point I DID wish), that I was on the Effexor again. This reminds me of the addiction I had with nicotine which I conquered 3 years ago. I have to keep telling myself that this too, is an addiction, and there will be some rough times.... (And I need to listen to myself when I’m talking too! :-)

I never cried like this when I was taking my pills....but now I cry for the littlest reason or sometimes, for NO REASON AT ALL! I want to quit that...

Hubby had to work today (and will have to again tomorrow), so that makes for a long weekend. I managed to get a lot done at home today (house stuff... NOT what I wanted to be doing...which is my RESEARCH!) I did get some shopping done and when hubby got off we met in town and had pizza (while we were waiting for my temperamental car to start). I picked up some DQ on the way home. Yes, I know...it’s time to stop being hungry for JUNK FOOD but I still am. Monday is my day though...I start eating better and exercising.

Oh, I read an article that Niacin Supplements and Folic Acid help with mood swings and depression...I checked on getting some but the dosages they suggested are already included in my daily multi.

I guess they should already be doing their thing huh?

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

Day 33 Please Take The Tears Away...

I am still having a lot of~~~ UNEXPLAINED CRYING~~~...I really hate it!
There’s absolutely NO REASON for this but I am told by some of you that you had this too...it seems like it is dragging on too long but do we really know?

I am also quite concerned about my eyesight. I am certain that I will have to have a BIG change in my prescription. I will be going in next month for a thorough eye exam but since it will be at a new office (we have moved since my last exam), I am going to contact my old eye Dr. and ask for my records to be sent so that the new Dr. can compare them and will be able to tell me to what degree they have changed.

If any of you has had blurred vision or other eye problems since you began taking Effexor (or any other antidepressant), I would appreciate your sharing that information. I might suggest also, that if you are due for an appointment you might ask for a comparison to YOUR LAST EXAM so you can see how much change has taken place.

I am almost convinced that ONE of the long term effects from taking these medications is going to be that changes in VISION will be permanent!

Oh, EYE hope not....but EYE am afraid it may be so.... :-(

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

Day 32 I am feeling better and yet others are begging for HELP!

I’m not nauseous today and I didn’t have dreams or the severe thirst last night...
3 great breakthroughs at once! :-)

I am hearing some very sad stories from users who have tried to quit and are either struggling with the withdrawal or after-effects or have gone back on their Effexor or other antidepressant. I am shocked to hear from so many who have actually been prescribed “cocktails” (which are a COMBINATION of antidepressants). They were not told about side effects or specifically, side-effects which could occur with the combination...Do the Doctor’s know enough to truthfully inform us? I don’t really think so.

I am still trying to get around to answering many of your letters...please keep writing and please bear with me in the answering. I am also working online for a few hours each day now, on my research again so my hours are well spent but pass too quickly :-)

I hope that I feel like starting my membership at the fitness center next Monday as I went out today and bought some new running shoes just for the occasion...
(I have never owned a pair of running shoes in my life! :-) Now, if I can just keep the nausea and dizziness at bay I should be able to get in at least an hour or so a day of real PHYSICAL work :-) as I am really looking forward to shedding the extra 40 lbs. I have gained! (Thanks again for THAT Wyeth!)

If you are reading this and you know of someone who may have an insight to share that will help in my research ( Antidepressants from the USER’S Point of view), please give them my email...and again, I PROMISE to get to each and every one of your letters soon!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

Day 31 Those pesky taxes have come and gone :-)

I struggled but I did it! I got the taxes done and sent online...not so bad...just not what I wanted to be doing!

Today I will go back to my ramblings about my research as I am feeling much better. (I am still waking up every night just parched...What is that all about?)

....After the holidays had passed I returned to my search for answers about Effexor withdrawal. It consumed me once again...I would sit for hours...sometimes an entire day, just reading and book-marking page after page after page. The forums seemed to have an enormous wealth of REAL information and stories coming from REAL PEOPLE!

I followed links to sites about other antidepressant drugs too...Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, Serzone, Luvox, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Celexa, Elavil, Norpramin, Tofranil, Aventyl, Pamelor, Pamelor, Remeron, Desyrel, Nardil, Parnate, etc. I was amazed at the things I read with regards to side-effects people were suffering from all of these drugs (which are discussed on-line by MANY), but I saw no mention of them in any of the drug manufactures’ brochures or ads. I was appalled.

I decided then that not only did I have to free MYSELF from the hold of Effexor, and do so right away, I had to do something to help others...Thus my project began.

Each day I receive several letters from users of antidepressant drugs, and from their family members too, some who have seen negative changes in their loved ones since they began taking or started weaning themselves from these horrible antidepressant drugs which I honestly believe were not thoroughly tested before they were released.

I have heard the heartbreaking truths of what some have suffered all because WE WERE NOT GIVEN THE FACTS UPFRONT about the side-effects, withdrawal symptoms, and drug interactions which could possibly result in either long term effects or sadly, DEATH.

I think we have all been lied to by omission of the truth!....

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

Day 30 A Bit DIZZY today...

I slept well...No dreams again! But I woke up with the worst feeling of nausea so far and a dizzy, room-spinning feeling. The dizziness went away shortly but the nausea ...UGH...I just hope I can get through these taxes today...In fact I will try this blog again later but may have to wait until tomorrow if I donÂt feel any more like sitting here than I do right now!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

Day 29 And I’ve Only Just Begun....

I woke up last night and it felt as though I had not consumed ANY FLUIDS for weeks. I got up and drank several glasses of water and then was able to sleep again...and without dreams too!

I am beginning to feel much more like my “old-self” most days, and although all of the symptoms are not COMPLETELY GONE, the ones that do remain, have lessened in their degree of intensity. So, for those of you who are on your way to this point...you may look forward to regaining some control very soon!

I feel a bit more like working on my research today too...That maybe I can focus for a longer period of time... But unfortunately, although I am otherwise very organized and meticulous, I have a terrible habit of waiting to think about the taxes until just before they are due to be in! THIS is where I must focus my efforts (and my thoughts), for the next few days...locating and compiling ALL THAT WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO THE IRS!

Oh how I wish I’d have done this BEFORE WITHDRAWAL!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

Day 28 Easter Sunday... And a Season of Renewal

Today was beautiful. The sun was shining, it was warm, it felt as if a new life would soon consume me.

I want so very much for this phase to be over. Again though,....I need Patience.

We went out to breakfast this morning, which has become our regular routine on Sundays as it is so often that hubby works 6 days a week and he is a SUNDAY BREAKFAST person...It's something he likes to do! I settled for "comfort food" myself. I actually had some mashed potatoes and gravy...Something I never dare to do because of all this weight but, after the week I have had, I felt I certainly deserved that much. It was good too... Obviously I was NOT NAUSEOUS!

We went for a drive after eating and ended up at the Casino 25 miles away. We stayed for about an hour and came out with about $30.00 more than we had going in, so that was a pleasant surprise, but for me it was just a nice feeling to be out and about. As we were leaving the Casino though, I began to feel dizzy again ... So I took it easy the rest of the day.

Once we got home I sat down to read the mail I have received the past 3 days... On average about 10-15 new people write each day after seeing one of my posts or my Blog. If you are one of them and I have not written back to you please forgive me...I am having trouble staying caught up on my responses. I will try to get to your letter soon!

I appreciate that you are all sharing your stories, helping with my research which many of you have asked about, so I will tell you how my project began...

About a year ago, I started my online search for answers to some medical problems I was having...night sweats, vivid dreams, "electric-like" shocks in my head, just to mention a FEW. I didn't even think to associate my ailments with any medication I was taking, but rather began by checking out a range of illnesses and diseases. I learned quite a bit too...About BRAIN TUMORS, STOMACH CANCER, SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH MENOPAUSE, AND I WAS ALWAYS RESEARCHING A NEW DIET.

I am not certain how it happened exactly, but one day while I was searching for information on one of my many ailments (and I have never been a hypocondriac), I somehow stumbled onto an article about the side effects of antidepressant drugs. Well, THERE WERE MY ANSWERS... Almost all of the things I was experiencing SINGLY, were now shown in a list COLLECTIVELY, as being SIDE EFFECTS from prescription antidepressant medication.

I couldn't believe my eyes! I spent the next few days in front of my computer and now that I had the "key," I was unlocking all sorts of information. I read and I read and I read. And then, based on all the information I had accumulated... I knew what I had to do...

I would quit taking my Effexor!

I had it planned. I had read some very sketchy descriptions about what "withdrawal" was like. Sketchy, I assumed, because once someone was going through withdrawal, or had gone through it, it was probably not a priority for them to return to the forums and boards and continue posting, to give a full accounting of the process they had experienced. Even after all my reading I still knew very little about withdrawal but I did know that this was not something one should do "COLD TURKEY." In September, after 1 year on Effexor XR, I was ready to start weaning myself off gradually,under my Dr.'s care, of course, when out of nowhere my husband was transferred with his job.

Packing, moving, and unpacking, consumed me for the next 2 months and then, when we had just settled in, the house we were "sitting" miraculously SOLD the day before Thanksgiving. (We were told before moving into this home to plan on staying until the market here picked up in THE SPRING, as we are in SNOW COUNTRY!)

Back to house hunting, packing, moving, and unpacking, not to mention that the Christmas Holiday Season was now upon us and our son and his wife were coming for a week. I couldn't even think about getting off my Effexor now...it would have to wait until after the New Year!

(More on my research tomorrow....)

And thanks to both of my wonderful sons who keep checking in on their mom!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

Day 27 It's Saturday and I am just ~~~ UNSOCIABLE~~~

I am still nauseous today but the peppermint sticks help. I have a tin of them leftover from the holidays. Nice chunky old-fashioned peppermint sticks. This morning I treated myself to a 1" chunk. By the time it was gone so was that round of nausea. I'm just resting today and dreaming of the day this will all be over and I can return to my "normal" life.

I did want to address something here today though:

There are always going to be those who truly DO NOT UNDERSTAND what happens during withdrawal both emotionally and physically. They have never had, shall we say, the MISFORTUNE to "walk in our shoes" but they will suddenly convince themselves that for some ~~~strange reason~~~ you are trying to IGNORE them by not answering their phone calls.

They're totally unable to understand that the reason you're NOT returning their calls has nothing to do with them PERSONALLY... it's because there are some days in this process, this journey, when YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ANYONE!! You have not singled them out for some unknown reason and decided not to answer THEIR calls. You just are not feeling "SOCIABLE", and so you figure you can call them another day. They'll complain though, and then tell you that they KNOW "you are just trying to AVOID them!"

On the other hand, I have a friend who calls me daily to check and see how I am doing. Now, SHE UNDERSTANDS when I don't want to be sociable...and if I don't return her calls she just calls again the next day and offers her thoughts and prayers. No questions, no accusations....A true friend!

I guess some people will never understand what it's like to live through "withdrawal" and I hope they never have to find out for themselves!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

Day 26 Dizzy and Nauseous... UGH!

I guess it was too good to be true! I thought after the great day I had yesterday that I would shortly be "Back on the Road Again"...Well, not yet I guess:-(

Patience is a virtue I know, but I am just not a very patient person...I do need to work on that!

I was really hungry this morning...I ate some toast and had orange juice early.
Then I had a blended iced mocha... WAS THAT LUNCH?
Must have been, because the next thing I knew it was 7 PM and I guess I really hadn't eaten anything all afternoon. I felt hungry (if that's possible while waves of nausea sweep over you...), so I decided to have a nice greasy piece of pizza hubby brought home tonight....

PLEASE NOTE:THIS NOT THE BEST IDEA IN THE WORLD IF YOU ARE THE LEAST BIT NAUSEOUS :-)

I am paying for that short moment of stupidity and am drinking a bit of Peppermint Tea. All I want to do now is climb into bed and curl up in the fetal position and go to sleep!

(I wonder what causes you to be nauseous during the withdrawal process?...I will have to check that out...Surely there's an answer as I have heard about that in DETOX centers for drug and alcohol addicts going through withdrawal. I will check on that one....)

Below is the request I have posted on some of the online forums and boards. Many of you have already sent in your response but for those who are seeing this for the first time....

Feel free to pass it on to friends and family, if you see that it would be pertinent to them, and send me your own answers too, if you haven't already done so.

Also, if any of you has a favorite (subject-related), board, forum, or newsgroup and you haven't seen it posted there, send me the link or page to it I'll be happy to submit it.
It will help immensely with my research...

Thanks again for all of your support and as soon as this nausea passes I'll be back.....(Right now it's hard to sit and look at this screen :-)

I am doing research for an upcoming book which will shed light on the problems associated with legally prescribed anti-depressant drugs and would be interested in hearing stories from anyone about their experiences with these drugs.

If you are the user of an anti-depressant medication yourself, or, if you are a family member or friend of someone who has used or is currently using anti-depressants, your personal perspective is important in this research.

I would like information concerning how and when you, (or they), started using the prescribed medication, the name and dosage, (if known), and also for what illness or condition the medication was prescribed.

Other important information for this research would cover side effects, which would include, but not be limited to, odd or strange feelings or actions encountered during the drug's use.

Additionally, if you, (or they), are now in the withdrawal stages, (or have been in the past), any information on length of time, dosage decreases, feelings, overall condition of health, etc. would be beneficial to my research.

If you are interested in sharing any portion or all of this information with me, I welcome your email to:
beach-lover@verizon.net

I addition, if you have any questions please feel free to drop me a line at the same address.

Thanks!

deb

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-08T19:03:00.000-07:00

Day 25 And So Much Better... Than The Day Before

The~~~foggy~~~feeling lifted today. I no longer feel as if I am walking through the eye of the storm,
but rather nearing the outer edge.

I felt so much better...It's a stark difference with the way the world revolved for me yesterday!

Oh, I'm still having the "ZAPZ" (I like the Z on the end :-), and last night I woke up just drenched from sweating. The tingling in my extremities is pretty much focused only on the hand and wrist of the "carpal tunnel syndrome", and I still forget that sudden quick movements leave a part of me behind, but I am able to do a few things now without the intense concentration and focus which was required these past few days. and that, for me, is encouraging!

More email today. It amazes me that so many people have actually written, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart... It's from those words of encouragement you send and even just the thought that you took the time out of your day to check in, that continue to give me strength.

I am gaining many new insights into this "crisis". (This is what I will call it today).

It's effecting people worldwide, not just here in the US. (I know this because I have actually received letters from the UK as well as the US).

This is not a "female" antidepressant drug issue, as many men have written too.
Believe me when I say ...these drugs are actually being prescribed for a host of ailments...
many which have NOTHING to do with DEPRESSION!

And age seems to make little difference.
I have received letters from persons who range in age
from 17 to 64!

Yes,all of us not only thought, but EXPECTED that when our doctors prescribed our antidepressant medication, that it had been thoroughly tested and that those results were documented on the inserts or that our DOCTOR himself, was informed enough to have given us any information we needed....THIS IS JUST NOT SO!!!

Because of the "non-information", "untruths", "failure to inform", (or whatever you want to call the cover-ups which make these big drug companies MONEY), many innocent lives have been lost, touched or harmed.

Take for instance, the parents of the poor children (merely teenagers), who have committed suicide while on one of these horrible drugs...Parents who listened to their children's doctors,...Parents who didn't think they had to question the drug maker about side effects or any other harmful effects for that matter. (Who would have thought?)
Now today, they suffer a loss many of us will never know...The loss of an innocent child!

AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED...

The policies (and politics), of these GIANT MONEY MAKING DRUG MANUFACTURERS MUST BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT AGAIN AND AGAIN.... AND THEY MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE OVER AND OVER AND WHAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO...
TO INNOCENT PRESCRIPTION DRUG USERS...Specifically those using antidepressants!

I have to admit that I have never been one to stand up and shout about my rights or the rights of others, but, after I started doing my research, (which originally began for my own information... to help answer some questions I had about the drug Effexor),
and after the things that I have uncovered during the past few weeks while living my own private HELL with withdrawal, combined with the letters I am receiving due to my log and the posts I have made to the forums and boards...
I know now that more of us, (MYSELF INCLUDED), need to TAKE ACTION...We need to stand up and protest for our right to know more about the medications we are prescribed BEFORE WE TAKE EVEN ONE PILL!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-07T20:12:00.000-07:00

Day 24 The Hardest Day Yet.... But I DID NOT GO BACK! :-)

I had absolutely no idea what “withdrawal” was all about.

I thought I did.

I imagined what it MIGHT be like.

I did my research.

I read through the Drug and Mental Health FORUMS online too. (Some entries were from those who’d finally “made it” in getting off their antidepressant...while many were from those who are still trying). I’ve also read lots of emails from those who’ve seen my journal and are checking in to share their own stories and to wish me luck. Strangers have written to me about feeling helpless...feeling like a JUNKIE. I read that and moved on.

All of these things, and the love from my family and friends gave me the strength to embark on my journey but none of them prepared me for today.

I wasn’t prepared.

Not physically.

Not mentally.

I really had NO IDEA this journey would be so difficult.

The morning was an emotional roller coaster...one minute I thought I was doing well and then out of no-where a feeling would come over me and I’d want more than anything to go BACK on the Effexor.

Can you believe it? I Can’t! Not even now that I’m writing it down...

I could feel myself breaking down several times late in the morning and for fleeting moments my mind would race with thoughts of taking a pill. I guess I was thinking if I did break down and take one then I’d be better in just a little while, that this horrible fog would lift and I’d feel “NORMAL” again.

Why did I think this?

Because that’s what I’ve always done.

When I’d forget to take my pill in the past, I’d notice feeling “funny” within a few hours of missing it. (Feeling “funny” was always hard to describe before, but now I know it as a withdrawal symptom...a sort of disoriented “out of your body” feeling, along with a bit of “brain zapping” and some general “lightheadedness”).

Well, after I’d “get my little fix”, (aka “take my little pill”), I’d be back to feeling my usual pleasant, happy, self within 2-4 hours.

So, in my weak moments before noon, I guess I was sub-consciously remembering how much better I felt while I was taking my pills and I was blocking out the reason for my journey, all the terrible side effects associated with taking these pills and why I need to be free of them.

Yes, I am an addict.

I am addicted to a legally prescribed antidepressant drug.

While accepting this label is heart-breaking for me... ... it will sound pretty strange, even sad, for my friends and family to hear it coming from this person who has always been so strong. It is the truth though.

Well, I guess I should have paid better attention to those people who insisted they felt like a JUNKIE because while I stood in front of the kitchen cabinet, late this afternoon, holding the door open, I started to sob... I sobbed just like a junkie who needed a fix.

I could see my old Effexor bottle in there... with probably 14 capsules or so left of the 75mg. strength. Why did I save them? I guess I thought if things got too tough I’d have them to save me. They were my crutch and I was thinking just like an addict and had left them there on purpose...just in case!

Anyway, there I stood.... all alone....just ME....thinking that no one had to know...that I could just take one to get me by. All I wanted was to do was to reach in there and grab that bottle, open it and take one of my pills. Ah....MY PILLS...

I started shaking and crying even harder. I held on tight to the cabinet door and as if in a trance I started thinking....about my family and friends who are supporting my efforts in this journey, and thinking too, about how these money hungry drug manufacturers haven’t been telling us the whole truth and about how it’s quite possible that they don’t even know the whole truth themselves. I thought about how we, the users, are their test subjects and how no one’s testing these drugs long enough to know what withdrawal is about, what the long term effects may be, and how they’re simply ignoring the fact that people just like me, are living through days in HELL to get off of them!

As I stood there, shaking, gripping that door, I was suddenly overcome with a sense of extreme exhaustion. Exhaustion from the emotions I was experiencing right then and exhaustion from expending so much energy in doing the simplest everyday tasks these past few days. With tears still streaming down my face I let go of the door, pushed it closed, and walked away to sit down at the table.

In just a few moments the shaking and sobbing stopped and as I sat there I thought about what had just about happened. I had actually almost given in. Almost reached inside and picked up the bottle, almost taken another pill.

I took a deep breath and I realized that I had to get past this point and through this withdrawal so that I can focus on my work and on my research.

A great feeling of peace soon surrounded me, as I sat alone, deep in my thoughts. I felt as if a very heavy burden had been lifted from my being. A physical relief was accompanied by a strong feeling that I had passed through a very critical moment in my journey.

After what I have gone through today I can honestly say that drug addiction is the scariest thing that can happen to ANYONE. And even though I knew in my heart that turning back to the Effexor was not the answer...I know that SOMEONE ELSE intervened and led me away just in time.

Having experienced what I have, I now feel a much deeper compassion for alcoholics who are trying to rid themselves of their drug of choice, and for the addicts of illegal drugs as well, who steal and even kill to “get their fix”. Addiction is a sad, lonely, very frightening feeling. So for those of you who are reading this, and have never been to the place where I have returned from today, you will probably never understand, but for those of you who have traveled this journey yourself, I know you must feel as I do...
As we have truly “walked in their shoes”.

Today was a Very LONG and extremely exhausting day, both mentally and physically.

Many thanks to all my well-wishers, (both callers and mailers), who checked in.
(I wonder how you knew that it would be the hardest day of my journey so far?)
And, if we didn’t get to chat for long today, or even at all...
I felt your presence and God answered your prayers as He was with me!

Love to you all...
Goodnight!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

Day 23 The DAYTIME Nightmare has begun and NO, it was NOT all better in the morning! :-)

Trying to focus on anything today has been almost impossible. I have to look long and hard at the computer screen and then after a few seconds, (which sometimes honestly, seems like minutes), I can finally remember what I want to type. The same is true of watching TV or trying to do even the easiest tasks.

I have decided that the reason I felt more~~~ normal~~~ on Saturday and Sunday must have been from the build up of these toxic chemicals...That some of it was still inside even though I was no longer taking my Effexor. Sure, a few of the withdrawal symptoms began then, but they were mild.... not at all like yesterday and today. I am really feeling everything more intensely now.

The mosquitoes were back with a vengeance today! :-) I am so grateful that in my research I found out that others described a feeling they had as "brain zaps" and "brain shivers" so I knew what to expect and therefore I was not at all surprised when I felt them. This way it doesn't frighten me like some who have written to say it did them. It's annoying for sure. But each time it happens, I merely try to ignore it...to not become consumed by it...To just block it out and continue on as if nothing strange is happening inside my head :-) :-) :-)
(Easier said than done but I keep trying anyway!

I've received more letters the past two days from people who have either seen my posts on the forums or have run into this journal. Everyone is so supportive... from these total strangers, to my loving family and friends who knew that I would be traveling down this road and supported me at the onset,

YOU ARE ALL THE REASONS I KEEP ON GOING!!!
I thought of each and every one of you tonight, after another weak moment when I thought again about turning back. But once I ridded myself of those ~~~ silly~~~ tears, I marched right in and took a nice hot bath...
leaving that ~~~CRAZY THOUGHT~~~ behind, but carrying the wishes from all of you with me!

I know I have to keep going...I know I can keep going ....AND I know I will keep going....

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-05T20:45:00.000-07:00
Day 22 In the Mad Mad Mad World of "Coming Down"

"It Will Be All Better in the Morning"

Today I was alone as hubby returned to work after the weekend. I slept in a bit and since I work at home that's okay for me to do but others "coming off of Effexor" would probably want to take this 3rd day without it... Off from work.

I really felt like a zombie when I got out of bed this morning...A bit like I was "~~~drugged~~~". I spent a while on the computer and then as I was to go help a friend decorate for a baby shower, I started getting ready. The strange feeling while brushing my hair was back again, and as I stood in front of the mirror I had to concentrate on focusing my eyes to keep from feeling dizzy.

I finally got myself ready and when I arrived at my friends house, (yes, I drove...but carefully and without any problem at all), she had made an early lunch for us. I was~~~ STARVING~~~. It was like I hadn't eaten in days when in reality I HAD eaten breakfast. Being that hungry scares me as I have gained over 40 lbs. while on Effexor so I was hoping my appetite would decrease not increase! (Maybe it still will...) After we ate lunch we drove over to her church where we were to do the decorating. I had to really concentrate on every little thing I did while we were setting up tables and placing the decorations...I don't know quite how to explain what that's like. I felt like I was in a "daze," although I was able to speak and act in a normal functional manner. If you have ever experimented with, (heaven forbid), "illegal" drugs in your youth...I would have to liken this "dazed" feeling I have, to the "coming down" feeling one might feel from speed, uppers or other amphetamines if you are familiar with those drugs.... If not...you will soon see what I mean if you are embarking on a journey similar to this yourself.

I had two short bouts where I began to feel bit nauseous this afternoon too. On both occasions as I felt the "wave" come over me, I concentrated on breathing slowly, sipped some water, and told myself I was not going to go there:-) (I guess I heard myself too as I was able to will it away in both instances!) Whew...Nothing I hate more than throwing up!

Tonight I really started feeling the brain zaps...They almost feel and sound like there's a mosquito that buzzes intermittently inside your head. These zaps are actually a bit different than the zaps I felt when I first started taking Effexor. I won't say milder ...just different. I will have to think about how to describe them....But that will take concentration...And I am too tired to concentrate that intensely any longer tonight...

I guess I'd have to say that the worst part for me today was the unexplained bouts of crying (I did a bit of it before I left the house this morning and then had another short bout when I came home this afternoon). Maybe it's because this whole withdrawal process is taking every bit of my being to negotiate. During the moments preceding the tears I start to feel like I don't want to go through with this...That it's too much... But then I know I have to. Maybe a good night's sleep will help.... And maybe...

"It will be all better in the morning" :-)

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-04T21:58:00.000-07:00
Day 21 of Withdrawal....DAY 2 of my NEW LIFE....

A Much More Difficult Day Today.

Today we went into the city and had breakfast. Throughout the day I had several spells of starting to say something and then forgetting what it was. That is worrisome!

I noticed the strange feeling about my head again while brushing my hair this morning. It's a pulling feeling that I have described in the past. A pulling away of the scalp from the brain. It's not painful really,...Just a very odd feeling which is difficult to describe. I try to ignore it!

I found that I had to concentrate much harder on things today...The menu at the restaurant for instance... Things don't seem to "click" like usual. It is a "slowing down" sensation.... I guess I would say it's as if at times things are moving in a bit of slow motion...Including ME!

I was awfully tired most of the day...I yawned a lot too. Several times I felt like I was about to drop off to sleep at any moment (thankfully not while I was driving :-)

I am off to bed now and will see what another day brings....

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-03T22:04:00.000-08:00
DAY 20 in the process...DAY 1 of DETOX

Long day today.

No pill this morning and it wasn't until late in the day that my body started telling me that I had missed a dose....And then it reminded me rather mildly.

Only a few short-term memory losses too...Trying to remember what I was starting to say but couldn't ...And what I had come into the house for...I finally did remember that!

No other noticeable withdrawal effects today....

Tomorrow is another day...Wondering what it will bring..... Off to bed now...I feel EXHAUSTED!!!!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-02T21:32:00.000-08:00
Day 19 Another Day in Paradise...The Day Before "DETOX"

Today has been another day of reflection...Of where I have been...And where I am going.

A day of apprehension for sure.....

Apprehension in not knowing where this journey will lead me... Or how I will feel along the way.

It has also been a day of prayer...

Praying for the strength to make the journey, as I know I must, and praying too that I will not lose sight of the reward that awaits me...

Thankful prayers too... That I have my hubby to be with me these first 2 days... That I may find strength in his presence. Thankful prayers also, of family and friends who are supporting my efforts and who are praying for my safe journey.

I've prepared myself for the next 2 days by making plans to keep busy....
Plans for Saturday: Clean the garage (which will certainly take all day:-)
Plans for Sunday: Out to breakfast and locate the cemetery in Spokane where hubby's great Aunt and Uncle are buried and take photos of the headstones for family back home. Then...Do what I feel like doing shopping, walking, etc., (as this will be day 2 after all).

Let's see what tomorrow brings.....
I am ready now.....

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-04-01T20:31:00.000-08:00
Day 18 Wondering if we know what the INTERACTIONS with other medications really are???

I can’t say that today was good or bad. ~~~No dreams, but just that groggy feeling~~~ .
Not happy...not sad either…just “along for the ride” today! :-)

It was a day of reflection though. I thought a lot about what my life has been like for the past 1 ½ years while I have been taking the Effexor. It was a day of reflecting too, on all the mail I have received from others, who like myself, have in some way been affected by the consequences of these horrible anti-depressant drugs.

It was with great sadness that I read a letter just this morning from a man who had lost his wife less than 6 months ago. He wrote that she had been taking a combination of over 10 prescribed drugs, (for various reasons), so, not all of them were antidepressants. Among them were though; an anti convulsive drug, a sleeping pill, Remeron, (an antidepressant), Effexor XR, (another antidepressant), Risperdal, ( the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic medication in the US), a nasal spray, (which is used to relieve moderate to severe pain), a commonly prescribed medication for relief of migraine headache pain, a blood pressure medication, a prescription strength acid reflex medication, and another commonly prescribed pain reliever with codeine.

It made me wonder if drug companies may also be holding back any information and not disclosing everything they know about the interactions these antidepressant drugs may have with other common, (and not so common) medications, which are prescribed every day for an arrray of other illnesses both physical or mental???

That is certainly something else to wonder about…
How just how LONG are these medications tested for interactions???

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-03-31T14:48:00.000-08:00
Day 17 Can't remember when I COULD Remember...Will I ever be able to Remember Again?

I wonder what it will be like to comb my hair and not have it feel so strange. Only those who have had this same sensation will understand what I am talking about here. It’s a feeling as though your scalp is being pulled away from your brain when you brush your hair. An unreal feeling and one that I am looking forward to~~~ NOT HAVING~~~!

I dreamed again last night. I was arrested for a ~~~ FELONY~~~…I still don’t know what it was. They were handcuffing me and taking me to jail and I knew in the dream why but for the life of me when I woke up I can’t remember what it was.

This reminds again about the short memory loss again. I really HATE forgetting what I was doing…why I came into another room…what I was going to say. From what I have read many others have experienced this short term memory loss also. Another side effect? Or just a passing withdrawal symptom? I’m hoping that after this horrible drug is completely out of my system that I will be able to remember things more clearly…. the way I did ~~~ BEFORE EFFEXOR~~~!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-03-30T09:34:00.000-08:00
Day 16 They are BACK...Those Vivid Dreams returned last night...

I was hoping they were over...gone...kapoot. But... they were back with a vengeance once again. I was buying golf clubs at a garage sale in one, (thanks John), only they were old, beat-up and so ugly I was embarrassed to use them. (What was I worried about?...I don't even GOLF!). Then I was crying when I got them home because they were so scratched and banged up. Why the heck didn't I look at them BEFORE I BOUGHT THEM?

Then, in another dream some friends had 8 kids and THEY were UGLY...all of them...and our friends had turned UGLY too! I don't mean just normal UGLY here, They all had faces that should have been in MONSTER MOVIES...Even the little baby! That dream made me sad but I don't remember if I cried in that one.

Today I took my pill early and now I'm sitting here in that druggy trance you feel a little while after taking your medication. It's a bit like being sleepy...a bit like being drunk..not really caring and just kinda floating along. It passes after a while but this part isn't so bad...to me it is a bit calming, somewhat relaxing.

I've promised to help a friend next week...decorate for a Baby Shower. We have to do that on Monday...
I wonder how I will feel next Monday?

It's beautiful outside today but I have work to do inside...I hope I can get out for a walk at least...maybe I can climb the hill again :-) I'm really trying to shed a bit of this weight. I've lost 8 pounds and now that dial on the scales won't move!!!! I may join a gym after I see how next week goes.

One thing I am grateful for is that I haven't had the nausea or vomiting that so many users have written about. (And hopefully I won'tt get it either...I HATE throwing up....Don't YOU?)
beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-29T10:40:00.000-08:00
Day 15 BRAIN ZAPS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE...YOU MUST BE KIDDING!

I have heard now from a couple of people that they are still experiencing these “brain zaps” (or “brain shivers” as some have called them), LONG AFTER they are off the Effexor.

This is what I think makes me the MOST ANGRY!

Far more research should have taken place BEFORE this, (Effexor), and other drugs were rushed to market. Are we at greater risk now for all kinds of long-lasting effects because they wanted to hurry and make some money?

And what about those of us who received our drugs for free?
I didn’t sign anything saying I agreed to participate in any STUDY of this medication in return for receiving it at no cost. Did you???

I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life having to put up with short term memory loss, “brain zaps,” vision problems, and all these other wonderful side-effects and withdrawal symptoms once I have gotten off the drug (AND I WILL GET OFF THIS DRUG!!!!), but I am hearing that this may be the case. How long will they last?...No-one knows.

Wouldn’t you think the FDA should require more LONG TERM testing on these medications so that we, the consumers and prescription drug users, could be more honestly informed?

Am I just another specimen, (test subject), in an “undisclosed clinic,” (my own home),
For Wyeth or some other big drug company?

Are you?

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-03-28T08:08:00.000-08:00
Day 14 TWO WEEKS DOWN...JUST ONE TO GO!

The real test begins one week from today. I have just 8 capsules left of the 37.5mg. and I am thinking of letting Saturday be my LAST dose so I can have Sunday as my first day in 2 1/2 years drug-free!

I guess I'm getting a bit more apprehensive when I think about not taking that little pill every day. At least I know that if I go "cold turkey" on Sunday that I have one extra 37.5 mg. capsule that I could use if I had to. (Of course I still have a couple of weeks worth of the 75mgs. too but I don't want to go there!)

Am I getting scared? I think so, maybe somewhat, but I'm going to try to keep focused on how much better off I will be when WITHDRAWAL is over.

Heading out to enjoy a bit of sunshine today after a restful sleep WITHOUT DREAMS!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-03-27T21:22:00.000-08:00
Day 13 And I AM IN CHARGE HERE...NOT CHARLES!!!

Charles is my new neighbor 2 floors down who left me a nice note taped to my door late yesterday... (Don't know how to knock Charlie? I was here when you must have tip-toed up). The note was addressed "To Whom It May Concern" and was asking me to remove the bird feeder from my deck because the seeds had made a mess on his patio below. He further stated that he had "asked the birds and they didn't mind" and then also requested that I come down and sweep his patio.

I must say I was rather shocked at the boldness of Charlie's requests, as he apparently just moved in and left the note the same day, and while I am a pretty NICE person most of the time old Chuck hasn't seen nothing until he's seen how someone going through EFFEXOR WITHDRAWAL can behave!!! :-)

Seriously, I had a bit of fun with this (in my own little way), and not only did I compose some funny responses for CHARLES, I asked for suggestions from my friends and family too.

Some of those responses I won't be able to publish here :-( and none were ever delivered, but just the same, the entire fiasco made my day!

So for a bit of light-hearted fun today I have copied my responses and those that are publishable from others, here below:
(Names have been withheld to protect all identities. :-)

To Whom It May Concern:
(Err...Charles),
Where the hell did you come from? Last time I looked, (yesterday), Unit #23 was vacant.
You must have moved in during the night huh?
Well, I am sorry but I cannot comply with your request. You see, I am doing a top-secret research project for the Audubon Society. It is called "How to feed and enjoy the nature of birds in your own backyard."(AKA "How not to give a R--- A--- if you P---- O--- your new neighbor two flights down when you mess up his patio with bird seed".
I asked the birds and they said " leave the feeder where it is and ask your neighbor to either move out or clean up his own ------ patio!" There you have it!
Sincerely, Freda FInch
@ 1-800-GET REAL

Sorry Charlie-
But you see, I have no way to get down there...I am a quadriplegic and really my only enjoyment in life is watching the pretty birdys out my window.
I will send my husband, (who by the way is working 3 jobs to pay for all my medications), down on Sunday to clean up those bird seeds. Maybe while he is there you can show HIM how to talk to the birds too...He said he would really like that!
Sincerely,
Freda Finch
@ 1-800-KIS-MYAS

Hey Chucky-
My husband says if you are talking to the birds then you are probably IMAGINING those sunflower seeds!
So BUZZ OFF...(like a BEE okay?)
Sincerely,
Freda Finch
AKA Pretty Birdy Watcher
@ 1-800-GET-LOST

You're going in the right direction.
I would not add the "My husband says..." part. It denotes a helpless
reliance on a mate, and steals some thunder from the quip.
Try this variation on the one above:

Dear Charles,
If you spend any great length of time speaking with the birds, then
you are most likely imagining the sunflower seeds. Next time you have a chat with your aviary chums, could you please remind
them to clean up after themselves.
For future reference, I am also not responsible for cleaning up any dung
your pink elephants might deposit on your porch/patio area.
Sincerely,
Your Neighbor

Charles
I found your note conveniently taped to my door. I can only assume that you
are new to renting and living underneath someone. Don't fret though, my son
and his wife live on the bottom floor of an apartment building and they have
learned to deal with all that comes along with that. . . for now. (They will
be purchasing their own home soon.)
Anyway, I am certain you will soon be able to decipher a legitimate issue
from a petty inconvenience and the reasonable actions to take.
I will attempt to shift the feeder in order to reduce the amount of
leftovers being distributed to your patio below. I do not feel obligated to
sweep your patio, for the same reason I do not feel obligated to clean up
all the bird scat around the property. That would be ludicrous.
I appreciate your willingness to inform me of your concerns, but request
that from now on you limit your notes to those issues that are "noteworthy"
or have some significance.
Your neighbor above,
Etma Shorts
Or Idan T. Care
Or Sharon Seeds
Or Robin Finch
Or Reah L. Mesmaicker

P.S. If you find yourself speaking to the birds often, you may want to seek
professional psychiatric assistance.

(OR I COULD SUGGEST SOME DRUG THAT MAY BE BENEFICIAL....:-)
~deb~

Your responses were funny ... I personally would recommend that you and (your husband) should avoid putting any
letters on his door in response to his ignorance, (come on, he talks to birds, he is *crazy)...
In other words, steer clear of any trouble, honestly. Have you seen this guy?
I'm actually not sure what I would do in that situation, maybe apologize to him and move your feeder
(Even though doing that would make him think he can walk all over you), or knock on his door
and introduce yourself and then just start singing as loud as you can...
"FEED THE BIRDS,... TOPPINS,....DON'T YOU LOVE THE MOVIE MARY POPPINS??? LOOK OUT ON
YOUR PATIO SIR, THE BIRDS ARE SWEEPING AND THEY ARE EVEN MOPPIN, I WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE AMENDS TO SIR, SO COME ON UP TO MY APARTMENT AND WE'LL SMOKE
A DOOBIE AND LISTEN TO JANIS JOPLIN".
And then follow up with really loud "tra-la-la-la-la" and then leave.
When he doesn't show up, go back down to his apartment and asked him why he didn't show and that you had tea and
strumppets ready for the munchies!

Dear Charlie,
I'd sincerely like to apologize for your
inconvenience. My husband and I are honest
hard-working people (Monday is my husband's 15 year
anniversary with the US Postal Service!) and we would
never intentionally irritate a neighbor (especially
after all the stress Bob goes through at "The
Office"!). We both sincerely apologize! I will be
sure to send Bob down to sweep up your porch Sunday
afternoon. (I'd send him down on Saturday but that's
the day he cleans his guns!!)
With love,
Rita

THANKS TO EVERYONE ABOVE....YOU MADE ME SMILE!
~deb~

On to the more serious things and the reason I am keeping this journal.....

In doing my research today I was re-reading Wyeth's Home Page for Effexor XR.
This time I was a bit more critical with my reading and stopped cold when I saw this...

"EFFEXOR XR is thought to work on both serotonin and norepinephrine ...two chemicals in the brain linked to depression. Correcting the imbalance of these two chemicals may help relieve symptoms of depression."

THOUGHT to work on serotonin and norepinephrine????
Don't they know???

This was actually taken from their own website @ www.effexor.com take a look...
I think they should be ashamed, yes, but they should also be embarrassed!!!

That reminds me that I keep forgetting to mention some of the things which I know now are truly side-effects and withdrawal symptoms of this drug, but things I have learned to live with over the past 2 1/2 years and I am wondering if they will change or go away when I am off this nasty drug.

The first thing is the~~~ deteriorated eye sight~~~ and~~~ blurred vision~~~. I noticed about Thanksgiving that all at once it was very difficult for me to see the television which was no further away than it had been even the day before. And then as I thought about it I realized that for quite some time I had been having a harder and harder time focusing on things. I guess I had just passed it off as getting older and needing to have my eyes checked (it has been 2 years after all), but now it is quite bothersome and I wonder if it will even get better when I am totally off the Effexor?

Another thing that I didn't give much thought to was~~~ yawning~~~. Sometimes I've yawned 20 times or more in succession. It seems like it used to happen in the afternoons and I thought it was somehow connected with that afternoon loss of energy, although lately it seems to happen at any time of the day. I honestly feel like I could just lie down and take at nap at those moments. Is it because I AM really tired or does the yawning MAKE me tired?

When I think back to when I first went on the medication too, I can remember that my~~~ ankles would swell up~~~. That has only happened a few times since then, but in the beginning it happened at least twice a week. At the time I thought it was part of "the change"coming on and it was also August and quite warm, but now that I read what some others say I wonder if this is drug-related also.

Isn't it odd that one of the side effects that Wyeth DOES mention is~~~ anorexia~~~? I have not seen one post in any forum about that. In fact, most posts I see are complaints of weight gain. If someone out there became anorexic after taking Effexor or ANY of the commonly prescribed anti-depressants I would like to hear from you.

It's been a long day and I've worked on my research all day. (Except for those few fun moments of reading through the responses I should be sending to Charles but won't).
I've felt a bit better today too and I don't think I was overly emotional at allGOOD FOR ME!

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION

2004-03-26T19:38:00.000-08:00
Day 12 March Madness in the EFFEXOR WITHDRAWAL WORLD

The MADNESS is in the DREAMS...They are ~~~VIVID~~~and~~~FRIGHTENING~~~ I usually don't wake up crying or even wake up from them at all, but I do remember bits and pieces every morning. Strange...where do those thoughts come from?

Last night in the dream we were moving, (which is not ALL THAT UNUSUAL,as we have moved a lot), but this time we had MANNEQUIN HEADS to move. All three heads were of women...Two of them had on scarves and were of normal beige mannequin material. The third was a black velvet bald head (although I remember it was a woman too), and it had a clear glass cap on. (Something like a shower cap in the way it fit but it was made of 2" clear glass).

We were taking turns carrying the BALD ONE in my dream. It was heavy and while one person could manage to handle the other two heads at one time, this one was so heavy that we passed it back and forth while we walked. And we walked FOREVER! We walked and walked and yet we never arrived at any destination.

These dreams are something I will never understand.

~~~BRAIN ZAPS~~~ were back a few times today. I hope when the medication runs out these little electric shocks will go away too.

I went for a nice long walk in the early evening. To the top of a hill nearby. It would have been very peaceful if no one else was there, but two women were, and they wanted to "chat". Don't get me wrong...They were nice, but I had looked forward to exploring the hill alone, (with my little dog LIZA by my side, of course). I was not really in the "chatty" mood but I obliged them and we returned down the hill together, then each to our own safe surroundings we call "home".

Hubby was a bit late again tonight and has to work tomorrow (the 5th Saturday in a row now), but I will find something to do....I should be busy with my eBay sales but I would rather work on my research....We'll see.

More responses today to my request...I am finding out that more people than you can imagine have things to share about these nasty anti-depressant drugs!!!!

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-25T21:37:00.000-08:00
Day 11 Tasting WARM when it should be COLD

Well, this was a first...At lunch today I was eating some sliced turkey rolled around egg salad when I noticed that a bite was~~~WARM~~~in my mouth. Now, both the turkey and the egg salad had just come out of the refrigerator so I knew the roll-ups themselves should be~~~COLD~~~ And I was also drinking iced tea with my lunch, so nothing was supposed to be ~~~WARM~~~.

I picked up the plate the roll-ups were on, and felt the bottom. I guess I was thinking, (albeit subconsciously), that I must have sat it down on something~~~WARM~~~. No...The bottom of the plate was ~~~COLD~~~just as it should be. Then I touched the roll-ups still left on the plate...(Even though I knew they'd be ~~~COLD~~~ too. I just had to be sure and... yes they were).

I didn't give the whole thing much thought after that...Just let it go, thinking I had erred I guess. I went on working on my computer more or less forgetting the whole thing. Well, it wasn't in the next few bites, but in a bite near the end of the last lonely roll-up, that it happened again.....~~~IT TASTED AS IF IT HAD BEEN WARMED~~~The final bite was then again, back to ~~~COLD~~~.

I have not read anything to associate this with withdrawal but COULD IT BE? I'll be checking this out...

Aside from that...Still having the ~~~NIGHTMARES/VIVID DREAMS~~~Last night of blind people who could really see and were trying to fool me. ~~~That's a CRUEL joke now isn't it?

The~~~CRYING~~~returned today with a vengeance in the early evening...Again, for absolutely no reason that I can think of!

I am tired again tonight, but I didn't feel that ZOMBIE feeling today, although the ~~~BRAIN ZAPS~~~happened twice...they were there one minute and gone the next though so let's hope that's all I'll feel of them!

I continue working on my book...The research is extensive...
I posted the following in a few mental health and depression forums yesterday and today:

I am in the withdrawal stages from Effexor XR and I'm keeping an online journal (blog) of my journey @ http://stuffiwannasay.blogspot.com

I am also doing research for an upcoming book which will shed light on the problems associated with legally prescribed anti-depressant drugs and would be interested in hearing stories from anyone about their experiences with these drugs.

If you are the user of an anti-depressant medication yourself, or, if you are a family member or friend of someone who has used or is currently using anti-depressants, your personal perspective is important in this research.

I would like information concerning how and when you, (or they), started using the prescribed medication, the name and dosage, (if known), and also for what illness or condition the medication was prescribed.

Other important information for this research would cover side effects, which would include, but not be limited to, odd or strange feelings or actions encountered during the drug's use.

Additionally, if you, (or they), are now in the withdrawal stages, (or have been in the past), any information on length of time, dosage decreases, feelings, overall condition of health, etc. would be beneficial to my research.

If you are interested in sharing any portion or all of this information with me, I welcome your email to:
beach-lover@verizon.net

I addition, if you have any questions please feel free to drop me a line at the same address.

Thanks!

deb

I have already received SEVERAL RESPONSES so I am very encouraged!!!!

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-24T20:32:00.000-08:00
Day 10 This is Your Brain on Effexor...

Today has not been one of my best days...to say the least...
~~~VIVID DREAMS LAST NIGHT~~~of Rotweiller Dogs with Dachshund bodies :-(
~~~HEADACHE~~~ almost all day...just a dull ache though so I am still functional.
~~~CRYING~~~ (don't ask me why... because I DON'T KNOW WHY!!!) One spell came over me this morning for absolutely no reason and then later in the day it happened again....I was able to stop it both times so I am not a sobbing idiot like before.
This part is hard...the not knowing WHY I feel like crying AND... WHY I feel half-drugged!
I have figured out that the ~~~druggy~~~ feeling comes at about 4 hour intervals. I wonder if there's a reason for that?
I received the nicest emails these past two days. (Names are changed to protect the innocent:-) and I have copied parts of them below...
The encouragement from those who care helps me immensely.

Hello there!

I logged into the blogger website and glanced over at the "newly
updated blogs" list. That's where I saw the title of your blog. I
usually don't read other blogs online, but the title caught my eye and
I couldn't help but read about what you have been going through.

I want to encourage you in your efforts to get off of Effexor XR. I,
too, have been a SLAVE to this drug in the past. Brain zaps, horrible
nightmares, and a whopping 60+ pound weight gain are just a few of the
side-effects I experienced.

I remember when I decided to stop taking Effexor. My physician did not
want to take me off of the drug. He didn't feel like I was ready to
come off of the antidepressant, but I prayed about it and decided that
I had to do what I felt was best for my own sanity. I got off of
Effexor without my doctor's help. The first two weeks were difficult,
but eventually all of the symptoms went away.

It took months for me to start feeling normal again. I found that
Effexor made me feel "numb" to my own feelings. My husband commented
that he was "glad to have his wife back" after I got all of the Effexor
out of my system. I am working hard to lose the weight that I gained
while taking this drug.

It has been almost a year since I have taken Effexor XR. I don't miss
it one bit! AND, I don't feel depressed anymore either! You're not
alone...and you're in my thoughts while you're getting all of this JUNK
out of your system.

Take care,
H

Hi Deb...

I hope the Effexor withdrawal is going ok. Hang in there.

R

Hi,
Maybe you can come over some time this week and have lunch with me. Just give me a call. The kids are good about playing while I visit. So if you want to come over feel free.
I shared the information about the drug (with a friend). And I am going to send it to (my daugheter). I didn't think you would mind. How are you doing today? I also prayed Psalm 91 for you (and put your name in it), before I went to bed last night around 11:00. I hope you slept good. Talk to you soon. And call me any time to talk... I love you and hang in there.

J
(Also I asked for prayers (for you) at Bible study.)

Hello Deb,

I read the FDA Advisory yesterday. Isn't it funny how LONG it takes
for these major companies to listen? Thousands of people pop up to
say, "Hey, I'm having a funny reaction to this drug." They just call
us 'crazy' and turn their heads. How many people will have to suffer
before these corporations will listen?

I remember when I talked to my primary physician about Effexor.
I specifically asked him, "Will this medication cause me to gain weight,
or will it increase my appetite?" My doctor told me,"...medication cannot
make you gain weight. There are no calories in this medicine."

*rolling eyes* Let me tell you something, I gained weight on birth
control (30 pounds) when I took that a few years ago. And, if that
wasn't hard enough, then I went on Effexor and gained an additional 60+
pounds! The weight gain and the moodiness I was going through was
obvious to friends, co-workers, and family. Eventually, I even quit my
job because of the effects and everything that happened to me. It was
horrific!

This statement in your email sums it up for me!
> I can't believe that the drug companies (specifically Wyeth in our
> cases) won't stand up and admit that this drug is far worse than the
> conditions for which it is prescribed.

"...far worse than the conditions for which it is prescribed..."
EXACTLY how I feel about Effexor XR.

By the way, congratulations on your recent weight loss! Keep up the
super work. I love Dr. Phil and I think it's great that you're using
his plan to help you get back on track. (Why is it so EASY to gain
weight and sooooo difficult to lose it??) I've lost about 25 pounds so
far, and I'm starting to feel better about myself again. Thank God!

You mentioned the stress-relieving effects of folic acid and inositol.
I think that proper vitamins are ESSENTIAL in helping us stabilize our
moods after getting all of these chemicals out of our bodies. I
currently take one multi-vitamin, sub-lingual B12, calcium, potassium,
vitamin C, and extra folic acid each and every day. I have not been
sick one time since I began taking these every day. I have also had
more energy and can only recall feeling "depressed" or anxious maybe a
handful of times and never longer than a few hours at a time!

I will keep up with your blog to check and see how you're doing from
time to time. Hopefully, those nightmares will go away soon. That was
a horrible part for me...because my husband was in Kuwait during the
time when I was 'de-toxing' from the Effexor, so I was all alone and
SCARED from those nightmares!

Keep your chin up! You'll be feeling better in no time!
H

Again, I am thankful for my family and friends (and even those strangers who write), for their care, concern, and prayers.
I can't imagine this journey without you!!!

I had a wonderful foot massage from hubby (yep, he loves me too...), last night and he is ready to do it again so I will leave you tonight with this perplexing little question:

Did Paul Newman just wake up one morning and say “Gee, I’m tired of making movies...
I think I’ll just cook up some Salad Dressings? :-)

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-23T07:26:00.000-08:00
Day 9 So Does This Mean They STILL May Not Comply?....

Up early today...a bit of "insomnia caused by dehydration" last night.
I was up every 2 hours...thirsty. Never had that happen before. I'd drink a cup of water and then I'd go back to sleep and it would happen again in a couple of hours. Needless to say it was not a very restful night. I finally decided at 6:30 am just to get up and see if the DAY will treat me better! :-)
I was reading the AP article, (you can read the entire article here), regarding the FDA's Advisory from yesterday...
One paragraph reads:
"FDA asked Monday for explicit explanations of worrisome behavior changes to be placed in bold print under the prominent "warnings" section of those labels: agitation, anxiety, irritability and recklessness. Doctors spotting those traits should consider prescribing a lower dose or stopping the drug, FDA said."
Then further down in the article it says:
"Manufacturers didn't immediately say if they'd comply."

WHAT???

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-22T14:03:00.000-08:00
Day 8 Well, Well, Well...Maybe they are FINALLY Starting to Listen...

The "drugged" feeling is back today. I wonder why the withdrawal effects seem to change from day to day...back and forth, back and forth?
More ~~VIVID DREAMS~~ last night too... (or should I just call them Nightmares?). This time children stabbing a butchered cow with sticks... :-( Ugly , Ugly.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS:

MAYBE THEY ARE FINALLY STARTING TO LISTEN!!!

JUST MINUTES AGO I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY FROM THE FDA in my mailbox, which was released TODAY, March 22, 2004:

"FDA Public Health Advisory

FDA Public Health Advisory
March 22, 2004

Subject: WORSENING DEPRESSION AND SUICIDALITY IN PATIENTS BEING TREATED WITH ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS

Today the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked manufacturers of the following antidepressant drugs to include in their labeling a Warning statement that recommends close observation of adult and pediatric patients treated with these agents for worsening depression or the emergence of suicidality. The drugs that are the focus of this new Warning are: Prozac (fluoxetine); Zoloft (sertraline); Paxil (paroxetine); Luvox (fluvoxamine); Celexa (citalopram); Lexapro (escitalopram); Wellbutrin (bupropion); Effexor (venlafaxine); Serzone (nefazodone); and Remeron (mirtazapine).

Warning Information

Health care providers should carefully monitor patients receiving antidepressants for possible worsening of depression or suicidality, especially at the beginning of therapy or when the dose either increases or decreases. Although FDA has not concluded that these drugs cause worsening depression or suicidality, health care providers should be aware that worsening of symptoms could be due to the underlying disease or might be a result of drug therapy.
Heath care providers should carefully evaluate patients in whom depression persistently worsens, or emergent suicidality is severe, abrupt in onset, or was not part of the presenting symptoms, to determine what intervention, including discontinuing or modifying the current drug therapy, is indicated.

Anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, impulsivity, akathisia (severe restlessness), hypomania, and mania have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder as well as for other indications, both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric. Although FDA has not concluded that these symptoms are a precursor to either worsening of depression or the emergence of suicidal impulses, there is concern that patients who experience one or more of these symptoms may be at increased risk for worsening depression or suicidality. Therefore, therapy should be evaluated, and medications may need to be discontinued, when symptoms are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms.

If a decision is made to discontinue treatment, certain of these medications should be tapered rather than stopped abruptly (see labeling for individual drug products for details).

Because antidepressants are believed to have the potential for inducing manic episodes in patients with bipolar disorder, there is a concern about using antidepressants alone in this population. Therefore, patients should be adequately screened to determine if they are at risk for bipolar disorder before initiating antidepressant treatment so that they can be appropriately monitored during treatment. Such screening should include a detailed psychiatric history, including a family history of suicide, bipolar disorder, and depression.

Health care providers should instruct patients, their families and their caregivers to be alert for the emergence of agitation, irritability, and the other symptoms described above, as well as the emergence of suicidality and worsening depression, and to report such symptoms immediately to their health care provider.

Background

Among antidepressants, only Prozac (fluoxetine) is approved for the treatment of pediatric major depressive disorder. Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and Luvox (fluvoxamine) are approved for pediatric obsessive compulsive disorder. None of these drugs is approved as monotherapy for use in treating bipolar depression, either in adults or children.

The requested labeling changes are consistent with recommendations made to the Agency at a meeting of the Psychopharmacological Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC) and the Pediatric Subcommittee of the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee (Peds AC), held on February 2, 2004. The possibility of suicidality associated with the use of antidepressant drug products in the pediatric population was also the subject of two previous FDA communications (FDA Talk Paper on June 19, 2003, and FDA Public Health Advisory on October 27, 2003).

FDA is continuing to review available clinical trial data for pediatric patients with depression and other psychiatric disorders to try to determine whether there is evidence that some or all antidepressants increase the risk of suicidality. Later this summer, the FDA plans to update the PDAC and Peds AC about the results of this review.

FDA plans to work closely with each of the nine manufacturers of the antidepressants that are the subject of today’s request to continue investigating how to optimize the safe use of these drugs and implement the proposed labeling changes and other safety communications in a timely manner."

Well, well, well...

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-21T20:55:00.000-08:00
Day 7 One Week Down...Two More To Go...

Lots of ~~Vertigo~~ today but I was determined to keep moving. Hubby did the driving and it was wonderful to be out in the sunshine and see the crocus poking their heads out of the ground :-) Signs of new life emerging...
I'm noticing that the feeling of being "outside yourself" (that sensation of pulling your body along...trying to keep it moving fast enough to catch up with your eyes) happens at about the same time and at the same intervals each day. I'm wondering if this is an effect of the time-release. Maybe it is just before the release that this happens, OR maybe it happens because the release is only 1/2 the dose I was accustomed to?

More encouraging words from loved ones today...
*Thank you for your thoughts and prayers*

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-20T23:41:00.000-08:00
Day 6 Not Again...

UGH...Back to the way things were going a couple of days ago...MORE VIVID DREAMS last night. I woke up several times SWEATING too.
I talked to one of my sons last night and got email from the other one tonight. They make the journey easier as does my wonderful husband.

They are my ~CHEERLEADERS~ and their love and encouragement makes me strong.

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-19T21:18:00.000-08:00
Day 5 A REALLY Good Day But SHAME ON THEM

Wow...I have felt GREAT today...I haven't had the concentration problems OR the ~~~HEADACHE~~~ all day.
I hope this is the way the next 2 weeks go and then the final break-away too!
I was certainly expecting this to be much worse after having read all the on-line posts. Maybe it is better for ME since I was only on the 75 mgs. and not on 300 mgs.

It should be a CRIME putting unsuspecting patients on a dosage that high and not telling them about WITHDRAWAL!

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-18T20:28:00.000-08:00
Day 4 Bizarre Dreams and Trying to Microwave the Silverware...

Not the same today. Not as happy go lucky either.
I am having a lot more trouble concentrating on things. I put my silverware in the microwave (TWICE)
WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT????...
Luckily I caught myself and exchanged them for the bowl that was indeed supposed to go in there.
I've had a ~~~HEADACHE~~~ most of the day and that groggy druggy feeling was worse this afternoon.
I had some very vivid nightmares last night too...about a friend having cancer, (who really doesn't), and then one about some cars driving around inside buildings hitting people... very bizarre dreams.
Really tired tonight so will try to get some rest before the dreams come back to haunt me....

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-17T15:31:00.000-08:00
Day 3 Drugged...

I'm on my new dosage of 37.5 mg, (down from 75 mg) of that nasty, highly addictive drug, Effexor XR. The Doc says three weeks on this dose and then off cold turkey. So far I feel like I used to when I would delay a dose...kinda like floating...almost a "drugged" feeling...I'm having a bit of trouble concentrating...maybe I'm coming down or maybe I just need a nap :-)
Anyway, so far it is going fine...
EXCEPT...I just looked up and I can't believe that BLOG-SPOT is advertising Effexor XR FOR SALE at the top of My Blogs...

Now that makes me want to SCREAM!! :-)

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-16T10:37:00.000-08:00
Day 2 Good News Today!

So far... NOTHING.
Well, I am just a bit dizzy... but nothing terrible, and I have just now taken my second 37.5 mg dose. I feel functional.....although not energetic, but I am certainly not feeling much different than I've felt in the past when I have beenLATE in taking my 75 mgs. So...I say.....NOT BAD!

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-15T12:35:00.000-08:00
Day 1 Getting Started...

My appointment with the new Doc was at 9am and because I was running late I was a bit stressed. When I got there though, THEY were running late too! Then they still had all those many pages of paperwork to get put into my folder. (That's why I was late...I was filling out those pages and pages of new patient forms! :-)
Okay... So here I am...Armed with all my research, excited to finally be doing this, and now they want to weigh me...UGH! ... I could have done without getting on those scales but,... The truth needed to be told. I have gained 40 lbs. since I started traveling down the EFFEXOR HIGHWAY 1 1/2 years ago!
Watching that skinny little nurse slide those weights back and forth on the scales was enough to make me dizzy! And, following her hands as she adjusted them to get the perfect results was even begining to make me nauseous, but then, to my absolute horror, the next thing she did was call my "POUNDAGE" out loud!!!
I jumped off the scales, took a fast look around, (quickly thanking God that no-one was close enough to hear her), then I scooped up my purse and dashed ahead of her into the exam room!
Looking over my chart, (which was mailed to them from Dr. #1's office), she proceeded to ask me a few general questions, took my temperature and blood pressure and told me the Doc would be right in.
About 15 minutes later he arrived, and with a friendly smile he introduced himself. We exchanged some pleasantries while he too, reviewed my file and asked me a few questions. (He said nothing about my weight...I was the one who brought THAT up!)
He did ask me however,(besides the weight gain), WHY I wanted to get off of the Effexor. I explained to him the numerous side-effects I had experienced, (he was holding the list I had brought for him), and I figured that THAT should pretty much answer his question!
Next we spent several minutes going over those items on the list, one by one, discussing each in a bit more detail.
After we had finished he said that although some people have gone "cold turkey" getting off of Effexor, he agreed with me that this was not a good way to go.(Thank God).
Next he told me that he had ordered a book which lists suggested withdrawal timetables from different medications. (I wonder now...Did he just order this after I came by to set up my appointment 2 weeks ago, and told the receptionist pretty specifically WHY I wanted the appointment? Hum... Well, if that's what he did, then I figure he at least has an interest in helping me by being informed, so maybe he is okay! :-)
Next, I spent time explaining to him that I was quite aware of both the documented and un-documented withdrawal effects of the EFFEXOR XR and that many of the things I had read about withdrawing from the drug had given me a heightened sense of anxiety. I also explained that the anxiety was one of the main reasons I had put off making the forward move to get off the EFFEXOR and that the other main reason for waiting so long was the fact that since I had no medical insurance, (and since Dr. #1 had been getting my Effexor from the Wyeth Company for me @ no charge since day 1!!!!), that I could not afford to purchase the pills, if that was necessary, to complete any withdrawal plan. Of course, I was thinking 3-6 months for the tapering off at this time.
Well, he assured me that everything would be just fine and then left the room to go "double -check" the book for the prescribed timetable.
He returned just a few minutes later with this verbal prescription for withdrawal :
"Beginning today, decrease your dosage from 75mg. per day to 37.5mg. per day.
Do this for 3 weeks.
At the end of the 3 weeks you should be able to go without any further medication."
Three weeks worth of 37.5 mg. of Effexor XR accompanied his directions and as he handed the pills to me, and I thanked him, I had to wonder, after all I have read, after all I have heard.... if this schedule will really work for me.
Being the optimist that I am, I quickly shrugged off any apprehension though, and I have decided to explore the road ahead of me with faith and trust.
I will now begin my journey...
I have just taken my first 1/2 dose of just 37.5mg. and I look anxiously to the day that I will no longer be addicted to these NASTY, AWFUL, HIGHLY ADDICTIVE, (yet still perfectly legal), prescription pills called EFFEXOR XR!!!

Follow my journey if you'd like and wish me luck @:
beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-03-01T08:31:00.000-08:00
Day 18 What do we really know about DRUG INTERACTIONS?
I can’t say that today was good or bad. ~~~No dreams but just that groggy feeling~~~ throughout the day. Not happy, not sad either…just “along for the ride” today! :-)

It was a day of reflection though. I thought a lot about what my life has been like for the past 1 ½ years while I have been taking the Effexor. It was a day of reflecting too, on all the mail I have received from others, who, like myself, have in some way been affected by the consequences of these horrible anti-depressant drugs.

It was with great sadness that I read a letter just this morning from a man who had lost his wife less than 6 months ago. He wrote that she had been taking a combination of over 10 prescribed drugs, (for various reasons), so, not all of them were antidepressants but among them he listed: an anti convulsive drug, a sleeping pill, Remeron, (which is an antidepressant), Effexor XR, ( of course, another antidepressant), Risperdal, ( the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic medication in the US), a nasal spray, (which is used to relieve moderate to severe pain), a commonly prescribed medication for relief of migraine pain, a blood pressure medication, a perscription strength acid reflex medication, and another commonly prescribed pain reliever with codeine.

It made me wonder if drug companies may also be holding back any information and not disclosing everything they know about the interactions these antidepressant drugs may have with other common (and not so common) medications, which are prescribed every day for an arrray of other illnesses both physical or mental???

That is certainly something else to wonder about…

How long WERE these medications tested for interatctions???

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-02-24T10:25:00.000-08:00
In the Begining...

A bit of my background:
My doctor prescribed Effexor XR (75 mg daily), for me in August of 2002 when I complained of having uncontrollable crying spells. I wondered if they were associated with the onset of menopause as I had never been one to cry much and these episodes seemed to come without rhyme or reason. He suggested that yes, they were possibly menopause related and that a rather new, mild anti-depressant seemed to be helping other women during the menopause years. As negative information was just coming out about hormone replacement therapy I was not at all interested in taking hormones, and although I was mildly concerned about being prescribed an anti-depressant, since he said it was working for others, I decided I would give it a try.
I was given the starter packages of Effexor XR that day in the office and after filling out a few forms was told that since I did not have insurance I would qualify under the Pharmaceutical Company's income guidelines for FREE refills...3 months at a time! (Since I also take a prescription for hypertension that I must pay for each month, I was delighted to receive the Effexor at no charge).
Over the past year and a half I have experienced many of the (common?) side-effects from this medication. Those include the annoying "brain zaps", the " short moments" of an unconscious-like feeling, (which is very difficult to describe to someone who hasn't experienced it), short term memory lapses, and 30+lb. weight gain, just to mention a few.
I did a bit of research (on-line) about 6 months ago as the problem with my weight concerned me most (you know women :-), and at that time I discovered that others were experiencing the "brain zaps", "unconscious-like moments", and >"short-term memory lapses", too, as well as a host of other side effects.
Just as I was getting enough information to convince myself that I needed to get off of this medication we were transferred with my husband's job so I put my research, (and my journey) on hold. At that same time I was running out of my Effexor and having read that you could not quit taking it cold-turkey I called back to my doctor's office and the nurse ordered my FREE 3 month refill from the Pharmaceutical Company and then mailed it to me.
After the holidays I decided I really needed to re-address my concerns regarding Effexor so I started looking on-line again. This time I have ran into all kinds of new information regarding this drug, it's side effects, and problems that some users are having with WITHDRAWALS. All of this information has now given me an even stronger desire to get off of the Effexor.
From what I have read this is a HIGHLY ADDICTIVE DRUG so the sooner I get off of it the better! Also, in all of my research, I cannot locate any information about the long term effects this drug has had on anyone...even those who have taken the milder doses. THAT CONCERNS ME!
I am now prepared to take whatever steps I need to free myself from what I feel is an unsafe, addictive drug, which may have been rushed to market without adequate long-term testing. I am looking for a doctor in our new area that may possibly have some experience working in the "withdrawal" area of this medication.
I plan on a good 3-6 months period of tapering-off after the research I have done, but have seen some others that have been able to taper off in 2 weeks so I would be very interested in that possibility.

beach-lover@verizon.net
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2004-02-12T12:51:00.000-08:00
Signing the Petition...

Today as I was doing my research on EFFEXOR XR I found an on-line petition addressed to Wyeth-Ayerst, the Company responsible for the manufacture and distribution of the anti-depressant drug, EFFEEXOR XR. The petition is signed by over 4,000 EFFEXOR users, like myself, who have all, in some way, been effected by the HORRORS this drug has to offer...
I added my signature and then posted the following under the comment section:
"Thanks Wyeth-Ayerst for the FREE EFFEXOR XR DRUG (ADDICTION) PROGRAM you provide! I have been receiving my EFFEXOR XR, (and some lovely side effects too), FREE OF CHARGE from you, for the past 1 1/2 years under your special program for low income patients! I am just now realizing that this is one gift that just keeps on giving, (or is that taking, or confusing, or...oh, never mind, my memory is not what it used to be).
I just wanted to let you know that you have provided me and all the other EFFEXOR ADDICTS the opportunity to live life like we have never lived it before. For myself, and for the others, I just want to say how grateful each one of us is too, to receive our all expense-paid trips to "HELL AND BACK", in the form of WITHDRAWALS when we do try to regain our sanity and our lives. (Boy, am I looking forward to THAT TRIP!)
Wyeth-Ayerst you have not heard the end of this!
Added: 12:51 PM 2/12/2004

beach-lover@verizon.net
read and sign the EFFEXOR PETITION