Effexor XR
I have been taking Effexor XR for around 8 years now. I have always struggled with my mood and so the docs put me on different anti depressants over the years. When it was discovered that I was B-12 deficient, I began to research the symptoms of B-12 deficiency. I had never known that someone could be deficient in B-12. I found that my mood swings were most likely because of the deficiency. Well, when I discovered the deficiency, I was going thru testing for MS and a host of other autoimmune diseases. At that time, I didn' t feel that it would be a good time for me to try and wean myself from the anti depressant. I felt I may need it due to the fears and sadness I was feeling from the illness. I have researched side effects of the Effexor and do know that it can be the cause of my symptoms as well. I guess I just thought that perhaps the doctor would know that and would test me in that area as well.
The reason I am talking about the Effexor is my brother, a paramedic, called me and told me that he has seen the effects of anti depressants on people and they are quite similar to what I am going thru. He said they usually treat these people with 50 mg. of Benedryl and the symptoms will disappear. He told me that next time I have a "flare" to take 50 mg. of Benedryl and see what happens. Now, sadly, I want a "flare" so that I can test this out. If it is as easy as weaning myself from the Effexor, then I want to know. I just had a pretty bad "flare". It was as bad as some of my worst ones. He called me two days too late. I worked myself thru it. I keep thinking that I should just start weaning myself from the Effexor now. I tried to take myself off of the Effexor a few months ago. I was going thru such misery with the withdrawal effects that I gave up and just went back to it. I thought I have way too much going on with my health right now to try and stop this drug. Now, I find out that it may be the very thing that is causing my health to decline. Effexor XR is a poison. I will never allow anyone I know to take this stuff. Once you are on it, it doesn't like to let you stop. Not to mention the fact that it would seem that people can develop Seratonin Syndrome from it. From now on, I am going to research everything that I put into my body. Docs don't seem to think about the consequences of what they are giving us Sadly, when a person is depressed, they aren't thinking about what are the long term effects. Depressed people want to feel better. They want to feel normal!
The reason I am talking about the Effexor is my brother, a paramedic, called me and told me that he has seen the effects of anti depressants on people and they are quite similar to what I am going thru. He said they usually treat these people with 50 mg. of Benedryl and the symptoms will disappear. He told me that next time I have a "flare" to take 50 mg. of Benedryl and see what happens. Now, sadly, I want a "flare" so that I can test this out. If it is as easy as weaning myself from the Effexor, then I want to know. I just had a pretty bad "flare". It was as bad as some of my worst ones. He called me two days too late. I worked myself thru it. I keep thinking that I should just start weaning myself from the Effexor now. I tried to take myself off of the Effexor a few months ago. I was going thru such misery with the withdrawal effects that I gave up and just went back to it. I thought I have way too much going on with my health right now to try and stop this drug. Now, I find out that it may be the very thing that is causing my health to decline. Effexor XR is a poison. I will never allow anyone I know to take this stuff. Once you are on it, it doesn't like to let you stop. Not to mention the fact that it would seem that people can develop Seratonin Syndrome from it. From now on, I am going to research everything that I put into my body. Docs don't seem to think about the consequences of what they are giving us Sadly, when a person is depressed, they aren't thinking about what are the long term effects. Depressed people want to feel better. They want to feel normal!
Replies
I was also on Effexor ER. I did some research as well at the beginning of the year and found out that it can cuase Parkinsin type syptoms, so I weaned myself off of it as well. It was a bit hard to get off of it but I think you might have a harder time than I did. I was only on it for a few months, you have been on it for a while! I would also like to mention that St Johns Wart may help as well. It is like a natural anti depressent, so you might want to give that a try.
I toughed it out going off of it. I wanted to cry constantly, I had the worst time trying to sleep as well, I did get through it though.
I wish you the best, I also agree about the doctors, they do not care for the most part about the side effects. I had one doc prescirde colestarol lower meds. My hair started falling out by the handful. I told her that I had to stop the meds becuase I did not want to be bald! She had the nerve to say why women can be bald!!! Really!? So that says alot when they respond that way!
I wish you the best and I will pray that he will give you the strength to get through the withdrawels! (hugs)
thank you! I am just waiting to have a \"flare\" so that I can test the theory.