EFFEXOR HELL

[CMT508]

Hi everyone.  38 y/o male here. Suffered from depression after having a siezure while at work on September 29th.  I have been seeing a therapist and my Dr. put me on Celexa.  After a few weeks i couldn't take the side effects so I was switched to Effexor at only 37.5 milligrams.  I took that for 25 days and was completely out of my mind.  Trembling, nausea, lockjaw, as well as I couldn't focus on anything at all, etc.....  So today I decided not to take it at all and I have decided to quit cold turkey.I feel so much better already.  ( I also quit smoking 2 1/2 years ago cold turkey. After smoking for 15 years. so I figure I could give it a go).  So what I would like to know is has anyone had these problems with Effexor before and has anyone quit cold turkey?  If so what happened?

C.

[Brenndy]

CMT: Your case is a precariousone.  You had a seizure.  Seek, as well as follow, the advice of your physician before doing anything further.
IMO, Effexor is the WORST! of the worst.   I filed a verbal and written report with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals regarding its' product and its endless nauseating list of deleterious side-effects.  

Lyd:  I concur --wish CMT very best, and please, let us know how you are doing.
The gal is right on again!

[RubyWitch]

Many of us do not WANT to be on meds, but when the quality of our lives is compromised, when we can't work or take care of our kids or even get out of bed, sometimes there is simply no choice. Some have tried to deal with it with only therapy, and for some, that has worked out well. Some have tried a combination, (which I advise) and that works very well as often you can get by with less medication if you also have the support of a good therapist. And there are some who try and "push through it." This can be successful if your depression is mild and is based on some event in your life. You CAN push yourself through the depression of a parent dying, or losing a job, or a divorce.........for the most part, those types of depression are self-limiting, They will fade as we accept the loss of our parent, find a new job or begin to date again. But there are depressions out here that we don't know WHERE they came from and they just get worse and worse until we are virtually dibilitated.

You say that you suffered depression after having a seizure at work. That goes with my cause and effect theory. None of my business, but why did you have a seizure, and has that problem been resolved? That you have anxiety is understandable and I think with some therapy, you more than likely can beat your anxiety.

I had to try six medications before I found one I could tolerate. Most people usually try less, but I have a hyper-sensitivity to some of the ingrediants, so it took awhile to figure that out. Once we did and I got on the "right" one, within weeks I could feel the cloud lifting.
Your doctor, who is aware of your seizure, should be able to narrow the field down rather quickly for you. But you have some options here...................
I wish you the very best. Let us know how you're doing, OK? Your experience could be very valuable to others!
Peace
Greenlydia  

[CMT508]

Thanks for the advice.  I appreciate it.  This is all new to me.  I don't even know if I want to be on meds.

Maybe I should just grab the bull by the horns and push myself through it.

How many meds did you try before you found the right one?  I know we are all different but what worked for you?  I had a seizure so I am a little limited.  

[RubyWitch]

You've been on this forum long enough to know that you should NEVER quite a medication cold turkey. You were on it for a relatively short time, at a relatively low dose, but the rule has NO exceptions. Quitting smoking cold turkey, while difficult, carries with it no risks that antidepressants or antianxiety meds do. (But I DO applaud that you did it without the help of meds!)
Having given you my lecture of the day, what I can tell you is that my own personal experience with Effexor is quite similar to yours. I knew this med carried some side effects and I thought I was ready for them, but they knocked me on my butt. After two weeks, I was a total wreck and by week three, I knew without a doubt, this particular medication was NOT for me. I immediately went to my doctor who had me taper off, which didn't take long, and we tried another med which also had some bizarre side effects but began to diminish within the first week.
As you know, we are all different and we react to meds different, and now you know that Effexor is not for you. Consider it a lesson learned the hard way. Since I did not quit cold turkey, I can't tell you what may or may not happen, only repeat myself that it's a poor choice. Today is your first day without it and it may be just fine or you may begin to have some problems. At least if you begin to feel weird, you'll know why. I can't advise you what to do if that happens. Being Sunday, I would find a pharmacist and ask them if you should take a dose to get your head straight and able to make an appointment with your prescribing doc to try something else. Just don't give up............there IS the right med out there for you. Kissing frogs to find the prince............that sort of thing.
Good luck
Peace
Greenlydia