Something Positive about Efexor

[4Maddie44]

So many people have called this a "wicked" drug, one that should be banned, etc.  Yes I have withdrawn from it, and it was not pleasant.  BUT for ME it is a GOOD drug.  It has helped me so much.  I no longer feel so depressed, and it has taken away my anxiety and panic attacks.

I know it does not work for everyone, and I understand all the negative comments.  When I stopped it, I went cold turkey, and after a couple of weeks felt OK.  Unfortunately my depression came back.  On the positive side - I did lose all the weight I gained on Efexor.  

Please listen, Efexor can help so much.  It has certainly helped me.  I know many people will say it is addictive and horrid etc.  Well everything is addictive in its own way.  Alcohol and tobacco to name but two.  If you can't do without something it is addictive.  So perhaps I am addicted to Efexor, but that's OK because it has saved me from deep depression.  Some anti-depressants suit some people and not others. For instance I had a terrible experience with Prozac.  So you see, nothing is wicked if it helps.  Why do some people want to report Efexor?  It helps me, and I bet it helps others too.

Am I alone?  I am fed up with reading about withdrawals.  I want to read something positive for a change.  I agree doctors don't tell you how difficult it is to withdraw, and I agree it is difficult to withdraw from.  I don't disagree with any of that.  I am sorry for all those people who want to come of it, and are finding it so hard.  I've been there too.  I know all the symptoms of withdrawal.  I also know all the benefits.

Sorry to rant, but I feel strongly about this, and I am entitled to my views.

[4Maddie44]

Hello there.  Like me, you know you need anti-depressants, and accept that.  I have just got angry again because I have just read a post here where someone is blaming drugs for their depression.

Makes me cross.  I know we all have our own views, and often we will disagree with each other.  I must learn not to get angry if people disagree with me.    

Like you I rely on anti-depressants.  I was offered Lithium, and I am not bi-polar.  A psychiatrist offered it to me because my depression was so bad.

Keep in touch

[Anneinside]

I didn't become depressed again until 2002. Between 1995 and 2002 I did have mania episodes every 3 to six months, although I didn't know what they were as I had not been diagnosed with bipolar. The pdoc from 92 - 95 did have me on lithium (Eskalith) but back then people didn't have access to the internet and I didn't know it was lithium. I'm not even sure if I knew that lithium was for bipolar.

I am currently (still) on an antidepressant, Emsam patch, which is an MAOI. I expect I'll continue on antidepressants indefinitely as I become suicidal when off them.

[4Maddie44]

Hello.  I was without anti-depressants for a year, which was very good for me.  Yes I went back on 150mg daily of Efexor, and it is still working well.

I hope you manage to continue drug free.  I hope your moods are to do with withdrawal too, as it seems too soon to be depressed again.

Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.

[md67]

Hi, I am first week without Effexor after being 5 years on 150 mg. The withdrawal is not pleasant but I agree with you that this medication is good as it helped me a lot. I just wanted to be drug free so i have decided to discontinue it but first week without it and I am already very moody and not nice to my close people. I hope this is only due to withdrawal but if not then i might go back on pills. When you depression came back, did you go back on Effexor or something else? thanks

[remar]

If it works for you Maddie then you should stay on it. I did pretty well on it but, started having some problems and had to come off it. It basically quit working. I have read that Effexor has some of the same ingredients as Tramadol. If this is true, I can see why the withdrawals can be so bad for some people.

[4Maddie44]

How are you feeling now?  Did you need anti-depressants after 1995?  

[Anneinside]

I took Effexor from 1992 to1995 and had no withdrawal symptoms even though I did not wean off it. I had moved and didn't have a doctor. My previous doctor had agreed that I was much better and it was time to stop taking medications to see how I did. It was a very effective drug for me.

[RainLover71]

Sometimes we have to be firm with our doctors or we get nowhere.I will try a variety until I find the right one.The benzos have always worked for me but they are really only a short term solution.

[4Maddie44]

You know, don't you, that I can't tell you if Efexor will work for you.  I know Prozac made me very ill indeed, in fact, suicidal.  You know, of course, all the bad things that have been said about Efexor.  We take as we find.  

I am amazed that your doctor is so ignorant about anti-depressants.  Is there another you can see?  Have you seen a psychiatrist who has prescribed drugs for you?  What is right for one person, can be completely wrong for another.  I was just giving my personal view on Efexor.  I think doctors try to find the drug right for you.  It takes a while.  Like most anti-depressants, results take 2-3 weeks, or more, to show improvements.  I am not sure you should ask a doctor for a specific drug.  

I wish you luck, and hope you feel better soon.  Let me know how you get on.

[RainLover71]

I will try it because I had no luck on prozac at all.How ong before it starts working Maddie?I agree we are all here for eachother to get opinions & who better to help then people who have suffered depression.My doctor had never even heard of most of the ssris,I had to tell her the names or she wouldn't have known a thing about them.You are so right about withdrawls aswell,everything you become dependent on will have withdrawl symptoms--the doctors are not telling us something we don't already know.I just think that it's so wrong for a doctor to have all the power when it comes to medications and when to start and stop and which ones to gives and which not to.